CHAPTER FIVE

Sadie

One Week Later

I've spent all week trying to prepare for my next tutoring session with Clover, but my mind has been all over the place. I have been busy with culinary school during the day and my online business degree at night, and I'm preparing tutoring lessons in the meantime.

Currently, though, I am mixing the batter on my never-fail chocolate souffle. I bake when I am stressed, and these are my favorite things to bake because not only do they taste amazing, but they always turn out incredible, which gives me a special kind of high.

But as I mix the batter, my mind wanders. The thing that's really getting to me is that the one thing I can't get out of my mind through all of this is Maverick. I've been so careful up to now to keep this purely professional between Maverick and me. That slip with his name though, making it more intimate, more friendly, was stupid. He's getting under my skin. I let myself relax a little. That sexy, stubborn asshole is part of the reason Clover is the way she is. Maybe his heart is in the right place. It's obvious he wants what is best for her, but he's going about it the wrong way.

Because that is what bikers do.

Think they know best.

They're above everything, above everyone else, above the law.

And it gives them a god-like complex.

An arrogance that Maverick clearly has.

The only problem is that it's causing Clover confidence and self-worth issues because she wants to be co-dependent. While that works for some people, Clover must find her own path.

I thought baking tonight would help—would set my mind at ease. There's something about creating something delicious from nothing that makes me feel accomplished. Lord knows I was once like Clover. Felt like I couldn't do jackshit on my own. That I needed to depend on my family to get me through. But I found a way to carve out a life for myself. To fight for myself. I may still only be twenty-one and finding my feet through this crazy life, but fuck if I am not fighting every damn day to be the best I can.

I fold the batter into the ramekins to place onto the baking tray, which goes into the oven for around ten minutes. After closing the hot door, I stand back at my kitchen counter, staring at the mess I've made, and let out a long sigh. Normally, I would feel joy at creating something special, but I have an unease settling in the pit of my stomach.

My mind focuses on Maverick, and I don't know why I can't shake it. There's something about him that has me equally riled up and then curious to get to know him more. "Jesus, Sadie, get a fucking grip."

Dipping my head, I clear up the mess in my tiny kitchen when my cell blasts from the other side of the room. It's not massively late, but late enough for it to be past etiquette not to call people at this time of night. Wiping my hands on a cloth, I make my way over to my cell on the coffee table, my eyes widening when I see the caller ID.

My stomach twists in apprehension like it does every time he calls, but I know I need to answer. Even though every time I do, another piece of me dies inside. Clearing my throat, I hit the button to answer.

"Wes?" I whisper down the line, hoping like hell it's definitely him on the other line.

"Yeah, it's me. Can't talk for long. I found a second to come out to check on you. You doing okay?" my little brother asks, his tone caring and concerned.

Clenching my eyes shut, a tear slides down my face as I lean against the back of the sofa, needing the support. Sniffling, I clear my throat. "I'm okay. Are you?"

He lets out a long puff of air. "Okay is a relative term in our family, Sades. You know that."

Standing taller, my bottom lip trembles. "Leave, Wes. Before they drag you too far into their shit. I'll tell you where I am. You can come live with me—"

"Sadie, no. I can't know where you are. No one can! If they knew I was still talking to you, they'd force your location out of me. So never, ever, fucking tell me. No matter what. Promise me!"

Tears stream down my face as quickly as I wipe them away. "I promise. I just miss you, Wes. You were the only good thing about our fucked-up family."

He softly chuckles. "I don't know how you turned out so goddammed normal. So pure. When the rest of us are bound for Hell…" There's a pause, and then he continues, "Just, wherever you are, tell me you're making a go of it and keeping your profile low?"

My mind shifts to my association with the LA Defiance MC. I never wanted to be near criminals again. I never wanted to be around an atmosphere that could cause me trouble. When I took on Clover, I had no idea what I was in for. But just because of my history with low-lifes doesn't mean I am going to abandon Clover. She needs my help, and I am going to help her.

"I'm keeping my head low to the ground. I promise, Wes."

"You need anything, anything at all. You know how to message this number."

"I do. Thank you. And Wes?"

"Yeah, Sades?"

"I love you."

He chuckles down the line. "Don't go soft on me now. You know we don't do this emotional shit, Sadie."

"Okay, I take it back, asshole." I snort out a laugh.

Wes sighs. "All right, fine, I fucking love you too. But if you tell anyone I said that, I will deny it."

Grinning from ear to ear, I move back toward the kitchen, that uneasy feeling in my stomach seeming to lighten a little. "Be safe, Wes."

"You know me, Sades."

"Exactly! That's what I'm worried about."

A muffled sound covers the cell, some hushed talking echoes as background noise, and I tense all over, waiting for Wes to come back on the line, but before he says anything else, the line goes dead.

My breath catches in my throat, my bottom lip quivering while I try not to rush straight to worst-case scenario. Tears well in my eyes, but I shake my head and let out the breath I was holding. "It's okay, Sadie. He'll let you know he's okay when he can. This has happened before. It will be fine." I begin chewing on my nails, my foot tapping impatiently on the floorboards, when the timer sounds on the oven, making me practically jump out of my skin.

"Fuck!" I yell, my hand slamming to my chest to stop my heart from bursting out of my chest. "Calm the fuck down, Sadie," I mumble before reaching for the oven mitts, open the oven and pull out the souffle.

They smell amazing, but as I place them on the counter, they almost instantly deflate in unison. Letting out a groan, I lean against the opposite counter, throwing the cloth on the island, and huff. "Figures."

It's not like me to have a baking failure, and I try to think back to what went wrong. Then it hits me. I was ruminating while beating the batter. I over-whisked it, letting all the air out. I was too busy thinking about Maverick and ruined the one thing I am good at.

"Urgh! Fucking Maverick is screwing everything up."

Moving over to the souffles, I grab a cloth and swipe them all into the trash, ramekins and all. I have had just about enough of this shitty night. I need to clean up and sleep off this bad mood.

After cleaning the kitchen, I check all the locks, then move to my bedroom to get changed, but as I grab my silky nightgown, my cell beeps. I turn, reaching for it so fast it fumbles and drops to the floor. "Dammit!" I mumble and fall to the floor, picking it up to see Wes' code name, BOND, come through with a text message. I put him in my cell as BOND for two reasons. One, after James Bond, because he's like 007, kind of playing the role. But secondly, because of the sibling bond we share.

BOND: He came in. Had to hide the burner before he saw. Sorry if I scared you. Promise I'm fine. Talk soon. W x

My eyes flood with tears as I let out a relieved exhale. Sliding the cell up onto the edge of the bed, I slowly stand from the floor. Finally relaxing a little, I reach for my silk nightgown that dropped from my hand. It's summer and really warm right now, and since I obviously can't leave my windows open, I have to keep my clothing light.

After doing all the before-bed preparations, I slide into my soft, comfortable sheets. Maverick is still on my mind, and it's annoying the fuck out of me. The fact I have to see him tomorrow when I tutor Clover is probably what's bringing this all on tonight. But I'm not going to be any good to anybody if I don't get some sleep.

Turning to the lamp on my side table, I switch off the light and try to get comfortable. I close my eyes, and it feels like it takes me forever, but I'm just drifting off when I hear movement from the other side of my bedroom. A scraping noise and then a gust of wind blows over me.

How did they find me? Did they get Wes to talk?

I turn over in bed dramatically to face my window and see it's open, the curtains billowing effortlessly with the breeze. My heart rate spikes, knowing I definitely checked it was shut. I sit up, my breathing fast and erratic, as something to the left of me grabs my attention.

A shadow.

A presence.

My head frantically spins, my breath almost stopping at the fear ravaging my body when I spot a person sitting in the chair in the dark, staring at me. Their luminous eyes are glaring right at me.

I can't help but let out a scream as I grab the sheets, yanking them up to cover myself because my nightgown leaves nothing to the imagination. "Who are you? How the hell did you get in! What do you want?" I yell.

He stands, then walks over to the edge of the bed. As he gets closer, his face is lit by the shards of moonlight streaming in from the open window. I clearly see the intruder is none other than Maverick.

I gasp when he leans down, his strong hands grasping the end of the foot board while he stares right at me. A sense of relief hits me that he's the lesser of the evils that could be breaking and entering. "You need to stop trying to take over my sister's life. She's not a pawn in whatever game you're playing, Sadie."

There's clear threat in his tone, and my breathing begins to slow as anger surfaces at the fact he would consider it all right to break into my home at night and try to scare me.

Well, I am not so easily run off.

He can try all he likes, but my priority is Clover.

Sitting up taller, I glare at him. "First of all, I'm not playing any damn games. But you sure are an asshole breaking and entering. I should call the fucking police."

Maverick shakes his head. "You're not going to call the police because they wouldn't get here in time. If I wanted to hurt you, Sadie, which I don't…" He pauses, then continues, "I'm just here to warn you."

I stand, not caring that I am barely wearing any clothes. His eyes linger up and down my body, the moon shining in from the window just enough for him to see every damn thing. "You don't scare me, Maverick. I've had bigger threats than you in my life. So whatever this is, it's not going to work. My only interest is helping Clover."

Maverick steps toward me, but I don't back away while he invades my space. He smells of leather and aftershave. It's so fucking intoxicating as I stare right into his gorgeous brown eyes.

"You should be scared, Sadie."

Standing taller, I glare at him and shake my head. "You're pathetic. Coming here in the middle of the night trying to be the big fucking man. That shit doesn't work on me, asshole. Get your tatty leather cut and stained jeans the fuck out of my house."

He scowls, his eye twitching, a low growl reverbing from his chest. "Don't ever diss the cut."

Tilting my head, I let out a scoff. "I don't give two shits about your cut."

He reaches forward, grabbing my shoulders, a steely look in his eyes, but my panic mode switches into gear. My hands fly up, slapping him across the face. He jerks back, his eyes wide when he stalks toward me again as I back up. "Sadie!" he grunts the word out, my nightgown strap falling from my shoulder, exposing my right breast.

He stops dead still, his hands falling from me, his eyes on my face, not on my breast, as I heave from the tension of the moment. Our eyes lock, the energy in the room shifts, and my heart hammers in my chest so fast I can barely breathe.

The carnal look in his eyes, the way his hands felt on me, is making me crave something I didn't think was possible. This interaction is all-consuming, and I can't fight it. My breathing is hard and fast. The electricity between us is capable of igniting this room into a blazing inferno.

I need to taste him.

I surge forward, my hands sliding into his hair, holding his face to mine. My lips slam to his, ravishing him. Our tongues collide so harshly I can barely breathe as his hands slide to my ass, hoisting me up around his waist.

His teeth graze along my bottom lip, biting, causing me to moan with passion. This kiss is everything. Maverick pushes me up against the wall, and his hand slides down between us, his calloused fingers tearing at my panties.

"Maverick, I…" I start to protest, but the words die on my lips when his rough finger brushes over my clit.

"Shh… you're going to take what I give you. Nothing more. Nothing less," Maverick warns. The cool night air streams in from the window, a stark contrast to my overheated skin, sending a shiver through me, but I rock my hips, needing more.

Maverick rests his forehead against mine, nipping at my lower lip. Then, without warning, he sinks two thick fingers deep inside. My very breath is cut off at the sudden fullness, but when he growls, shifting his fingers in and out, my lungs expel the breath I am holding.

I'm so wet. The sounds of what he's doing to me are all I can hear between our ragged breaths. Instead of being embarrassed, I'm turned on even more, and I throw my head back, not caring when it hits the wall, and I release a whimper. "Fuck!"

"Moan for me." Maverick groans against my throat, licking and sucking his way to my collarbone.

He quickens his pace, circling my clit with his thumb, and my lower belly tightens. I'm on the edge. I need more. Wrapping my arms around Maverick's neck, I try to use the leverage to meet each thrust of his fingers. I cry out, sweat covering my body, my legs tensing…

… then, nothing.

I glare at him, panting with disbelief. "What the fuck, Mav? I was right there!" I all but scream at him, my impending orgasm hanging on by a thread.

The son of a bitch has the audacity to smirk. "Tsk tsk, Sadie. I warned you. You would only take what I give. Nothing more. Remember that the next time you're begging me to come."

My eyes burst open.

I gasp for air.

My body lifts off the bed.

My skin is dripping in sweat.

I try to gather my bearings, glancing around the dark room.

There is no sign of Maverick…

… anywhere.

The window is bolted shut, and the curtains aren't blowing in the breeze, but my panties are completely soaked.

What the hell just happened?

A glimpse of the alarm clock on the side table shows it's just after three in the morning. It was just a dream. A freaking almost sex dream about Maverick. What the ever-loving fuck!

Letting out a disgruntled groan, I flop back on the bed, my forearm covering my eyes while my stomach churns in disgust.

"Oh my God, Sadie. Eww, no, just no." I shudder at the thought.

The idea of anything sexual with Maverick makes me feel all kinds of weird, so I move to get up out of bed, even though it's the middle of the night.

"I need a shower. I feel so fucking dirty!"