7. Lyla

Music thunders through the clubhouse. Kane's off on a run or at one of his strip clubs partying. I don't know exactly where he is, and I don't care because at least he's not here.

In his absence, I'm free to roam without the guys looking at me like they'll be crucified if they stare too long. As much as my father worries, the members of the club have always been respectful and kept a comfortable distance.

Sometimes they'll strike up a conversation or flirt, but it's playful. They don't try for more. They have my back, and I know they care about my safety. So I appreciate moments like this—when I can spend time around them, acting like friends and not my father's soldiers.

Taking a sip of my drink, I bury my smile when I catch Sage staring at me from across the bar.

The other perk of spending the night like this is watching Sage get annoyed each time someone innocently hits on me. He's usually more subtle, but tonight he's purposefully positioned himself so he won't miss anything.

If he wants to keep his distance, that's fine. He can pretend we aren't friends, and I'll enjoy every grimace he makes as he watches me enjoy myself without him.

Sometimes I wish he'd be jealous and storm over to me. I wish he'd finally stop resisting the tension that brews between us. But as he sits across the room and stares, he buries any hint he cares beyond the fact that he's clearly incapable of not looking out for me.

Viper walks up to me and slides onto the stool at my side. The moment he does, Sage shakes his head, not breaking my stare as he takes a sip of his beer.

"You owe me one dance." Viper grins over the top of his glass.

He became a prospect around the same time Sage did. He's young and cocky.

Viper's my age and solid muscle. Obviously attractive and he knows it. He could have any of the girls in here without having to say much more than inviting them back to his room, but I'm off-limits, and that's got his attention more than butts and boobs.

"I owe you?"

"Yep." He grins wide. "Walking around here day in and day out breaking my heart. It's the least you can do."

"Nice try, Viper." I spin on my barstool so I'm facing out at the room, leaning my back against the bar. "If you're so brokenhearted, why don't you ask Tiffany if you can screw her on the pool table in the middle of a party again."

"Fuck." He dips his chin, trying to hide his grin when I call him out. "I'd give her up for you, baby."

"I'm sure you would." I roll my eyes, taking another sip of my beer.

It doesn't matter if I'm not of legal drinking age; no one here cares.

"I would, promise. You and I could have all sorts of fun." Viper winks at me. "I'd make it worth your while."

The guy has confidence, I'll give him that. Even if he also clearly has a death wish.

It's one thing for a member to be openly bold, but a prospect doesn't get that much grace from the club president.

"I'm sure." I set down my beer and slide off my barstool. "But I think Roxy would rather have your attention if you're feeling lonely."

He follows my gaze to the other end of the room where Roxy hasn't taken her eyes off Viper all night. He winks at her, and her cheeks turn bright red.

"On that note, I'm getting some air."

"Want company?" Viper asks, not giving up.

I glance over his shoulder at Sage, only to find him still watching. A few of the girls have been circling him, but he hasn't left that spot at the bar, in my direct line of sight.

"I'm good." Giving Viper a final smile, I make my way through the crowd and out to the front porch.

It's a clear night and warm since it's late summer. I'm not cold, even wearing shorts and a T-shirt. If anything, sitting on the step to look up at the stars, I'm on the verge of sweating from the heat.

"You enjoy torturing the guys a little too much." Sage stops behind me, looking down at where I'm sitting and blocking my view of the night sky.

"It's not my fault they don't give up." I shrug.

He chuckles, moving to sit beside me on the step. "Nice night."

"Mm-hmm." Tipping my head back, I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

The air smells like the bonfire nearby, and Sage smells like gasoline from a trip he took into the city on his motorcycle today. Blinking my eyes open, I look over to see Sage watching me.

"You're going to need to start wearing longer shorts."

"Jealous?" I kick my legs out before tucking them back under me.

"No, but you're going to get me in trouble if Kane sees that thing." His gaze moves to my lap.

The way I'm sitting has my shorts riding up, and the butterfly he inked on my inner thigh is peeking out.

I tug at the hem, but it does nothing to hide the tattoo. "I don't wear these around Kane."

"Good." Sage reaches in, brushing his thumb over the sensitive skin he inked.

My mouth turns to sandpaper as he grazes back and forth, inspecting it. And I swear his touch burns a path straight up to my core.

"It healed nicely."

I nod because if I try to use words, I'll be pushing them past the boulder in my throat.

Sage pauses and his eyes dart to mine, like it just occurred to him that he's touching me. Pulling his hand back, I immediately miss it as he lifts his beer to his lips.

Everything about him makes my mind wander to dark places I swore I'd never let it go. Especially when he's wearing his cut and I'm reminded why we can't entertain this. But he looks so good in leather—being the person he's always wanted to be. It's almost enough to change my mind.

Sage's midnight eyes meet mine, and they're so dark, they reflect the fire nearby. I have to look away before I never escape them.

"I heard from Ellie," I say, once more looking up at the stars like the universe can answer the questions I've been avoiding.

"How is she?"

"Not great." I shake my head. "I think she'll be back soon."

"So you're not leaving then?"

"I am," I say. "At least, I'm leaving the compound. Maybe not LA. We're talking about getting a place in the city."

He shakes his head. "Whatever you say, butterfly."

I glare at him. "You don't believe I'll actually go?"

"I believe you want to go." He rests his elbows on his knees.

"But you don't think I will?"

He doesn't answer and it's irritating. Not because he's doubting my resolve, but because maybe he's right. What if I'm all talk but I never actually do anything?

I'm better than that.

I'm not weak. I'm a biker's daughter. And it pisses me off that it feels like Sage is judging me.

Standing up, I start to storm off, but Sage is too quick. He grabs my wrist and spins me to face him. Our bodies collide and it might as well be a new universe starting. Because the last time I was this close to him, I was too young, and he was a bad decision. Now he's everything I don't want and can't get enough of.

His fingers dig into my arms, but he doesn't step back. I have to crane my neck back to look at him. The stars frame his face, and the night holds us close as his chest rises and falls against my own.

"What?" My whisper comes out gravelly and choked.

I can't breathe the same air as him without it getting caught in my lungs.

Sage reaches up and brushes my black hair off my face, looking deep into my eyes. "I think you will go, Lyla. And honestly, I think that you should."

His fingers trace along my jaw and my skin might as well have never felt anything before him.

"You do?"

He nods, swallowing hard, and I'm mesmerized, watching his throat as my core clenches with every tick of the muscles in his neck. "But I don't want you to."

My attention snaps to him at his confession. He's never been bold enough to admit he cares. That he wants me here. Like he sees that he's the reason I'm staying, and he can't risk me slipping away from him.

"Why not?" My voice is soft, but we're so close, I can't breathe around him. "You're a biker now. I told you I'm not getting involved with a biker."

"And you're trouble. My biggest fucking headache." Sage cups my jaw in his hand, all the warmth I've ever needed in his touch. "But this is home."

I don't know if he's talking about the compound or us. Because where I live has never mattered as much as the safety Sage brings me.

"You don't want me to go?" I repeat his confession.

He shakes his head once, slowly. "Destiny, right?"

He doesn't believe in that kind of thing, which means he's saying it for my sake.

It doesn't matter—he said it. A part of him believes me even if he thinks I'm ridiculous. His stare has my breath stuttering, and I can't find my balance.

He holds me against him, and I can feel his heart pounding against his chest. He's holding back because he knows it's right, and I wish he'd stop questioning it.

His fingers dig into my back, and he refuses to let me go. Holding on. Forcing himself to resist.

My heart wages a war with my head, and his dark eyes blink down at me.

My protector.

My safe space.

One of the few people in this world I trust so much my entire body aches, desperate to hand itself over to him.

My fingers dig into his arms, and he holds me tighter. His face hovers over mine in a question. To give in or let go.

Maybe they're both the same thing. And maybe they both end the same way. Good, bad. It's all up to fate.

I press my lips together and a breeze shuffles my hair around on this warm summer night. Sage holds me in his arms, and he stares into my eyes. A decision to make, and I need it to be the right one.

Us until the end. The only ones left.

Sage starts to pull away, and I risk it. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him to me for a kiss. My heart jumps to my throat as our lips seal together, and I'm weightless.

I wait for him to fight me off—to break my heart. I wait for him to remind me of all the reasons this is wrong. But instead, he arches my back as he pulls my body to his, deepening the kiss.

One hand digs into my lower back while the other finds my jaw. Our bodies pressed tight and beating as one. His tongue tangles with mine. A collision of spearmint and alcohol and the loss of our inhibitions.

A kiss I'm wandering around lost in.

The breeze binds us together. The nearby bonfire heats the already warm night. It crackles and reminds me of how much it'll burn if I lose him.

Sage relaxes his grip, and my toes once more find the ground. I didn't even realize I was floating. My heels hit the dirt, and our lips pull apart. He stares into my eyes and shows me all his secrets.

And no matter how much I fight it, I can't deny him.

He holds me to him, and I'm floating. I'm weightless.

Maybe I'm falling.

So quick and sudden that it hurts when I haven't even hit the ground yet. I'd like to think I won't, so I hold onto that lie—I hold onto this feeling.

Destiny.

Too bad there's no controlling how that ends.