Page 62 of Straight to Me

“I’ll swing by the clubhouse later, borrow one of the vans.” Pursing my lips, I cross my arms looking at him. I wonder if his being so insistent on needing to take me everywhere is him caring, or his need to control.

“You just don’t want me to drive, do you?”

“No, it’s not that,” he smirks. “Not entirely.”

“I knew it.”

“Look, I can grab a van—”

I hold my arm out and click the button. My car beeps as it unlocks. “Look, I can drive my car.”

His lips part slightly and his eyebrows pull to the top of his head. He looks startled at my mocking him, in a good-natured way. “You’ve done it now, Madison. Enjoy your weekend!” Jess says with a grin and closes the door behind me.

“The first night we met, you went off at me for keeping an eye on you. Do you remember what I said afterwards?” he asks. I look down, knowing full well he’s referring to how I should’ve been punished for speaking to him that way. My soft face gives him the impression I’ll submit.

I won’t. “What I remember is younotapologising for watching me all night.”

His eyes light up more when I look at him defiantly, crossing my arms to show I’m not backing down. “Wow,” he chortles. “When we get home—”

“When we get toyourhome,youcan apologise for being such a control freak,” I cut him off. He smiles rubbing his hand over his face. He must seriously be so used to people just doing what he says because of his biker status.

“I can’t wait to get you home,” he says eagerly, taking a long breath in.

“Your home,” I remind him.

VP steps closer making me step back against the door. I hold my breath as he leans down towards me, his hot breath caressing my cheek. “Just you wait, lady.”

My breath escapes. My legs clamping shut.

We stay like this for too long and Jess opens the door, making me fall. I clatter to the floor and she jumps back as I thump on my bum. VP smiles. “I'm getting flashbacks from the first night we met,” he laughs from above.

“She was drunk. Wasn’t she?” Jess says.

“Hey! I wasn’t that drunk.” I go to stand on my own but VP holds out his hand. I contemplate ignoring it, then consider it a peace offering.

Surrendering, I put my keys in my bag, leaving my car here. Then I grab my rucksack and chuck it on my back before VP passes me the helmet. “Madison you sure you can ride with such a big bag?” Jess asks making her way to her car.

“Well, we wouldn’t need to worry if I was driving. You can blame your new bestie for that.” I nod at VP mounting the bike. She smiles, blowing me a kiss.

We arrive at his and go straight inside, dumping my bag on the floor. “Do you reckon Lynn will pop round with another tasty meal?” I ask, undoing my jacket and placing it on my bag.

“She probably thinks you’ll start cooking for me.” He grins, walking past me into the kitchen.

“I can cook something for us. What do you fancy?”

His eyes watch me suggestively as he lights a cigarette. The tight sensation in my lower body twinges, forcing me to shift on my feet. I watch him slowly place the lighter back in his pocket, his eyes never leaving my body.

“VP, stop.”

“Stop what?” The corner of his mouth rises. He absolutely knows what he’s doing. He unlocks the back door and walks to the shed at the end of the garden.

I follow him, and he hands me a ladder to hold. “You can help me get the stuff from the loft.”

Damn it.“I don’t have to go up there, do I?”

He pauses, looking to me. “Not scared, are you?”

“Scared. Me?” VP smiles, knowing I’m lying. “I’m claustrophobic. Always manage to convince myself that the worst is going to happen.”

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