Page 50 of Charger

“Thank you. That’s very kind of you, but I don’t know how much I’ll actually be around.” My eyes scan over them all. From Tank, to Maggie, to Zach, and then Tequila leaning over the bar. “I just needed to talk to Charger. See this place for myself. See what our child is going to be around.” My eyes snap shut, realizing what I just said. By the shocked look on their faces, I would say no one knew. “Sorry, I meant…” Zach swiftly moves around Tank, taking hold of my arm. He leads me outside the clubhouse, guiding us around the corner. Well, if this wasn’t a repeat of the other night… “Sorry, I didn’t mean to spill that out in front of everyone.”

He stands with little space between us. He’s so close, my heart beats out of my chest. For some reason, I can’t focus on anything, hear anything, see anything but his bare, smooth, muscled chest in front of me. The way his sweatpants hang low, showcasing his subtle V-shape… The tattoos inked across his arms…

I squeeze my lips tightly together to stop myself from licking the bead of sweat trickling down his rippled abs. If he keeps doing this, I will lose every ounce of willpower I have.

“Pretty girl…” I snap my focus up to his eyes, which are peering into me.

I get lost again.

A small piece of hair is stuck to his forehead, but with that too, I have to stop myself. I want to reach up, swiping it ever so slightly away. Stop thinking about how good he looks.

“You fight now?” The words leave my lips in a seductive way, almost as if the thought of him fighting is turning me on. Damn, it is. His eyes burn into mine with his chest practically pressed up against my smaller frame. When I lay my head back onto the stone behind us, he eyes me like he wants to lick and suck me dry. Please, do it. Put me out of my misery.

“Yeah, I fight now. But I don’t ever want to see you down at the pit again, get me, Jules?” I hear him. I want to say, “Sure, fine,” but my mouth doesn’t seem to function right now. “Would you like me to go put a shirt on?” He leans forward, brushing his lips against my ear. “You seem distracted.” He smells of pure man right now. I can’t see beyond his body. His frame covers everything from the outside world. I’m shielded, completely protected from anything dangerous. I don’t want to leave his comfort, but I know I should.

Spinning around, escaping the proximity between us, I cross my arms around myself. “No, I think I’ll be okay. Thanks. Try not to flatter yourself.”

“Just like old times.” He smirks, and my lady parts do a dance.

“I just needed to see what exactly was involved in your life. Chloe can’t be around you if it’s dangerous.”

“You think I would expose my daughter to these people or this place if I thought it was dangerous?” He sighs. “Look, Jules. There might be some things that are out of my control, being involved in certain things, but I can promise you that I would never put her in harm’s way.”

There’s no denying the sincerity. “Everyone seems nice.” I smile. “A lot nicer than…” I catch myself, not wanting to finish that sentence. Zach steps to me.

“A lot nicer than what?”

“Nothing, I should go. And I am so sorry for just showing up like this. Guess it was a little spontaneous.” When I hug my midsection, his smile disappears.

“Jules, I can also promise you this…” He waves his hand around. “This place, my club, is completely safe. They would die for me and whoever I care about.” My heart skips. Does he mean me too, along with Chloe? “I just want to make sure you understand that.”

“Yeah, I get it. Although, you being involved with an underground fighting pit is a little scary.”

“Trust me, it’s taken care of. You’ll be kept safe from it. As long as you listen to me and do what you’re told.”

Oh, hell no.

“I’m sorry, do as I’m told? Look here, buddy.” I point my finger into his chest. His very hard, muscled chest. “You don’t get to tell me what to do. You don’t own me.”

“I’ve always owned you, Jules.”

The air grows heavy and I swallow nervously. “Whatever.” I turn, heading toward my car, but I spin back around. “I’ll be in touch about our daughter. Goodbye.” Once again, I stomp to my car like a little pissed off high schooler. Zach grabs my arm. Why does he always have to touch me? It’s radioactive. It’s torture. Complete and utter torture.

“I’m just trying to keep you safe. So, when it comes to things you know nothing about, things involving my club, you will listen to me.” He rubs the pad of his thumb down my bottom lip. “Now, tuck that sass away, Jules.”

Staring at him in silence, I nod.

Before I get in and take off back home, like my life depends on it, I decide to give him something to hold onto. “She’s amazing.” I rub my arm because of the slight awkwardness. “She’s so smart and polite, but also has this spunky side. Which I think she gets from you.” I chuckle.

“Yeah?” His face lights up.

“Yeah.” I smile back. “I, uh, I’d better go.”

I go to open my car door, but Zach plants one of his hands on it, slamming it shut. I’m sandwiched between my door and Zach’s body. The little flutter my heart does electrifies my body, sending it straight to my lady parts. The throbbing starts, then the aching. His chest comes in contact with my back, causing me to scream on the inside. Dying. A slow and torturous death. His hardness growing more and more the longer we stand like this, he presses it into me. I can only imagine what it’d be like now. What he would be like now. My mouth is open as I breathe deeply. He skims my arm before planting his other hand on the roof of the car. Can’t we just stay like this? Let me soak him in. Let me feel him touching me, so I can hold onto this feeling. A feeling I never want to let go of now that we have been reintroduced. His breath, the warm subtleness of it, hits my neck in a quickened pattern.

“Zach, I think…”

“You’re the only one who’s allowed to call me that, pretty girl.” Pretty girl. Damn, if that still doesn’t affect me… “But don’t call me that in front of anyone here again, got it?”

---