Page 9 of Tempest

Viking’s head was bent over the bike’s engine, his long hair falling forward. He seemed oblivious to my presence, but for how long?

“Shit,” I whispered, my heart hammering against my ribs.

I forced myself out of the car, my legs unsteady. Tempest was watching me, his expression unreadable. The air felt charged, snapping with unspoken tension.

“You came,” Tempest said, his voice low and rough.

I nodded, unable to find my voice. My eyes darted back to Viking, then to Tempest. The conflict raging inside me was almost painful. I wanted this -- wanted him -- so badly it hurt. But the consequences… God, the consequences could be disastrous.

“I… I shouldn’t be here,” I managed, hating how weak I sounded.

Tempest took a step closer, his presence both thrilling and terrifying. “But you are.”

I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to close the distance between us. “If Viking sees --”

“Let him,” Tempest growled, his eyes flashing with a familiar intensity.

My breath caught. This man would be the death of me, one way or another.

I couldn’t think. The air felt thick with years of unspoken desire threatening to ignite. Tempest was mere inches away, close enough I could smell leather and motor oil, could feel the heat radiating off his body.

“Kasen,” he said, my name a gravelly whisper on his lips.

My knees nearly buckled. “Tempest, I --”

He reached out, fingers barely grazing my arm. That slight touch sent shockwaves through me. I jerked back instinctively, the reality of our situation crashing around me.

“We need to slow down,” I blurted, my voice trembling. “This… us… it’s too fast.”

There was a storm brewing behind his eyes. “What are you saying?”

I struggled to form coherent thoughts, overwhelmed by his proximity, by the weight of what we were risking. “I’m saying… I don’t know if I can handle this. The club, the scrutiny. It’s all so much.”

Tempest’s expression hardened, but I caught a flicker of something else -- hurt, maybe? -- before it vanished. “You think I can’t protect you?”

“It’s not about protection,” I said, fighting to keep my voice steady. “It’s about being ready for what comes with… with being yours.”

The words hung between us, heavy with implication. Tempest’s eyes bored into mine, searching for something. I held my breath, terrified of what he might see.

I couldn’t bear it another second. Without waiting for his response, I spun on my heel and bolted for my car. My heart thundered in my chest, drowning out everything but the desperate need to escape.

“Kasen!” Tempest’s voice boomed behind me, a mix of confusion and anger.

I fumbled with my keys, cursing under my breath as they slipped from my sweaty fingers. “Come on, come on,” I muttered, snatching them up.

The car door clicked open and I threw myself inside, slamming it shut. My hands shook as I jammed the key into the ignition.

“Goddamnit, Kasen!” Tempest’s fist pounded on the window. “Don’t you dare run from this!”

I revved the engine, refusing to look at him. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, knowing he couldn’t hear me.

Tires squealed as I peeled out of the driveway. In my rearview mirror, I caught a final glimpse of Tempest. He stood rigid, his face a mask of frustration and something else I didn’t want to name.

My chest ached. What had I done?

I burst through the front door, my vision blurred by unshed tears. The familiar scent of home -- lavender and leather -- hit me but brought no comfort. I raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time, desperate to reach the sanctuary of my room.

“Kasen? That you, honey?” Mom’s voice drifted from the kitchen.

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