Page 3 of Bren

Not waiting for a reply, I removed all my belongings from the car, locked it up, and headed to the apartment that I’d rented while I was here.

My plan went exactly how I wanted it to: a hot shower, bed, and then sleep. I also made a vow that from now on I’d be living my life on my own terms, no matter what. I’d put last night behind me and forget it ever happened. I should have known better than to test fate. Because she sure knows how to stick it to you when she wants.

Chapter 2

ALEC

I woke up with my cock in my hand and a mess on my sheets, the memory of a blonde, faceless woman riding me hard still fresh in my mind. This wasn’t the first time it had happened. Most mornings I woke like this, and I wasn’t sure what to think. I’d been having these recurring dreams of a faceless blonde woman ever since my night in Dallas four months ago.

She was there, just out of my reach. I felt like I should know her, but something kept me from remembering. I knew I’d been really drunk that night, but I felt sure that I should be remembering something. It was like that itch that you have on your back. You know, the one just between your shoulder blades that you couldn’t quite reach, but if you could, it would feel just right. That’s the itch I’d had constantly for the last four months. Ever since my night in Dallas.

If it was just the dreams that I was having, it would be okay, but my dick didn’t want to work either. No matter who I was with, as soon as it came to do the deed, the fucker disappeared on me. I’d gotten worried that I’d caught something, so I’d seen the doc, but all had come back clear; I was healthy as a horse, except for not being able to keep it up when with a woman.

If I jerked myself off… no problem, obviously; in my dreams, no problem. I was fucking frustrated. Coupled with the fact thatI was still carrying around the earring that my last one-night stand had left in my bed, I was a grumpy bastard.

Grumpy enough that Sam and Cash had both reamed my arse over my attitude in the last week. I’d apologised because they were right; I was being a dick. Eventually, I’d cracked and told them about the woman I was having dreams about and my dick not working. I’d expected a ribbing; instead, they’d both said to give it time and that things had a way of working out.

Easy enough for my brother to say; he was married to a hot piece and getting it on the regular. As for Sam, he’d been in love with the same woman since he was fourteen years old. And while he’d had a few relationships after she’d told him he was too young to get serious and they needed to live their lives, I knew he wasn’t really into any of them. They’d been placeholders until recently, when Bella had made it clear they were never going to happen. As far as I was concerned, she was an idiot; she would never have better than Sam.

With a grimace at the wetness of my sheets, I get up and strip the bed, rolling up the bedding to take to the laundry room. Hitting the shower, I get ready for the day. I’d been helping out in the garage owned by Cash’s MC, learning new techniques that I hope to implement in our workshop back home. I have maybe another six months left, then I’ll be heading back home to the UK.

Hurrying out of my room, I make sure to lock my door. This MC was a lot different to the one I’d grown up in. After finding one of the club whores uninvited in my bed, I’d learned to lock my door. Although with Maestro taking over as President, I have a feeling he’ll be getting rid of them sooner rather than later. If there was one thing I didn’t like, it was people invading my space without my permission.

Entering the kitchen, I nod at Sam, who was already there eating. Walking into the laundry, I chuck my bedding in the washing machine, add detergent, press start, and leave it to do its thing. Going back into the kitchen, I help myself to toast and cereal. It was in the mornings that I most missed home and the breakfasts we had. There was no way Aunt Maggie would let any of us leave the house without eating unless we were heading to the gym; then she’d feed us at the café. While I’d loved the freedom that had come with spending time in my brother's MC, there was a lot to be said for how Reaper did things back home. We were far more family-oriented, and I missed it. I know Sam did too. Not much longer and we’d be going home.

“Morning,” I greet Sam.

“Morning,” he replies, picking up his phone when a text message dings on it.

“Huh,” he mutters.

“What?” I ask around a mouthful of food. Sam wrinkles his nose and wipes at a bit of milk that had spurted out of my mouth at my question.

“You’re fucking gross, man.”

Smirking at him, I continue to eat, waiting for him to fill me in. “Bren’s stopping by before she leaves to go home.”

“I thought she’d have left already; wasn’t her course nearly finished?”

Sam nods, “Yeah, but they offered her a discount on another one, so she stayed for that one, but she’s done now.”

“Huh,” I mutter as I continue to shovel food into my mouth. I was in a hurry because I was late getting to the garage. “What time is she coming in?”

“Late this afternoon; she’s only staying the night. She can bunk in with me as it’s only one night.”

“Okay,” standing up, I hurriedly rinse my plates and shove them in the dishwasher. “I’ll see you later; I’m late.”

Sam shakes his head, “Dude, you’re always fucking late.”

Sam doesn’t expect a reply; it was always the same with him and me. He was Mr. Responsibility, and I was there to make sure he had some fun. I’d catch up with him again this afternoon when Bren came in. It would be good to see her; the last time I’d seen her was in Austin, and we’d had a good time together. I’d forgotten how much fun she was once you got past her quiet seriousness. You didn’t grow up like her, Ben, and Ellie had without coming away with scars.

Bren’s was that she needed to ensure that everyone had enough money so that they never starved again. It meant she was serious most of the time. I’d known about her little crush on me when we were teenagers, but she’d grown out of that. She’d even had a semi-serious boyfriend during college. Not that any of us had liked him, and they hadn’t lasted. It had been good to see her in Austin, so I was looking forward to seeing her today, even if she’d seemed a little off in the last few texts we’d exchanged. I’d worry about that later; for now, I needed to get my arse to work before Buck and Cash got on my case for being late.

I spent the rest of the day in my favourite place. There was nothing like a garage. I loved everything about it; I couldn’t wait to take what I was learning back to the Crow Garage and implement the changes there. I’d already spoken to Gunny and looked into costs as well as space because the garage we currently had wasn’t big enough. Bella was on the lookout for premises. I’d sent her a wish list and left it with her. If anyone would be able to find something suitable, it was her.

Pity that she wore blinders around my best friend.

Chapter 3