Page 23 of Rise In Arms

I clear my throat. “Where’s Hazel?”

She takes another bite, chews, swallows, then finally answers, “She’s in the bathroom showering.”

“Right…,” I reply, feeling a little out of place. I take a seat on a nearby chair and stretch my legs out, watching as she continues eating the croissant, loving how now and then she smiles as she looks over at me.

“Sorry, I was just so hungry,” she explains, shrugging her shoulders.

“Don’t apologize.”

She frowns then, and I sense that she wants to say something else. “What’s on your mind?” I prompt.

“I’m sorry, Kane,” she says softly, looking down at the gray carpet under her feet.

I cross my arms over my chest and wait until she looks up at me again. “For what exactly?”

“For slapping you,” she whispers, her face turning pink.

I laugh loudly, and I think she’s surprised by my reaction, and I also notice her gaze is fixed on my mouth. “Eh, I deserved it. I shouldn’t have assumed you’re a whore.”

“Has Hazel never mentioned me?”

I shrug. “Hazel mentions a lot of things, a lot of people. Can’t say I can keep up with her life.”

She nods. “Hazel talks a lot about you,” she admits.

I smirk at that. “Is that so? Like what?”

She rolls her eyes and chews at her bottom lip. “I don’t know, she just says how much she loves you, and how if it wasn’t for you, she wouldn’t be where she is today.”

“That’s not on me,” I respond. “My sister’s talented, got nothing to do with me.”

“You’re too modest.”

“Yeah, well it’s true,” I say, running a hand over the back of my neck. Charity looks around the room, then back at me. “What is it?”

She goes to answer then stops. “It’s nothing,” she finally says.

“Say it,” I demand.

“It’s just… I don’t know, I pictured you to be different… in person.”

I stretch, raising my arms above my head, and her cheeks flush a little when my T-shirt raises up and exposes some skin. “You pictured what exactly?” Charity gets up from the bed, walks over to where I placed the coffees and grabs one in her hand. She takes a sip then turns toward me and begins to giggle. “What’s so funny?”

Her skin flushes even darker. “I don’t know, when Hazel said you were in a biker club, I just pictured you to be all….”

My voice is husky when I command, “Say it.” I stand up and close the distance between us. She freezes when I’m mere inches away, and I tighten my fists at my sides, trying to ignore the way my hand aches to reach out and cup her cheek. I want so much to kiss her and taste every inch of her, just to prove to her exactly what kind of biker I am.

“Um… I….” Her gaze moves between my lips and my eyes, and just as I’m about to take her in my arms and devour her mouth, I come to my senses and shake my head to clear it. You need to stop this, Trigger, she’s not yours. What is it with me wanting women that belong to someone else?

“Hey, you two,” Hazel says coming out of the bathroom, a cloud of steam behind her. “Did I interrupt something?”

I turn to face Hazel and walk toward her, laying a kiss on her head when I get close enough. “Just getting to know your friend, that’s all.”

“Hmm. So, when are we leaving?”

“As soon as you ladies are ready,” I say, looking back over my shoulder at Charity. Her eyes quickly flick up to meet mine, and I smirk, knowing she was just checking out my ass in my jeans. Looks like we have something in common—she wants me too. She blushes when she realizes I caught her, and quickly heads toward the vacant bathroom. I follow her with my eyes, and I get a nice shot of her ass, which I also take a moment to admire. Then it’s back to business. “I gotta make a call, Hazel. I’ve brought you some breakfast and coffee. I’ll meet you two out front in fifteen.”

Oblivious to any tension in the air, Hazel responds, “Okay, and thanks for breakfast, you’re the best.” I lean in and kiss her head again, my eyes looking into the bathroom the whole time. Charity has her back to us, but I can see her face in the mirror above the sink. She’s brushing her hair but stops when our eyes meet. Every single part of my body stands to attention at that moment, and I feel an ache in my chest that I just can’t explain. She bites down on her bottom lip, and I swallow hard around the lump that’s appeared in my throat. Fuck, I want her so badly. She sneaks a smile, knowing exactly what she’s doing to me. Fuck, I better get my shit together.

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