Chapter Twelve

"What the hell, Skye?" Dio carried his duffle and helmet up to the front door of his house. "I should call your dad to come and get you."

Skye stood on the step, having beaten him home after he told her to go back to her apartment.

"Why involve him? I came over because I need to tell you something." She held up a bag. "Plus, I promised to give you a massage every morning and night until you feel better. I never go back on my word. Besides, I owe you. When I called the clubhouse, I wasn't expecting you to come with Brett to fix my tire. I thought Cord would send one of the prospects."

She talked too damn fast, he couldn't get a word in. He unlocked the door and swung it open. "My back is better."

She put her bag down and frowned. "Why are you lying?"

"I'm not."

"I saw you limping."

"I'm okay, or I will be." He dumped his things by the door. "Jagger's letting me work in the shop, and staying off my bike seems to help."

She sighed heavily and approached him, putting her hands on his chest. "I'm sorry. I made you ride tonight, and now you're hurting. There's no reason to lie if you're in pain. I can help you with that." She took his hands and pulled him toward the bedroom. "Stretch out on the mattress. I'll give you a massage and undo the damage I've caused you." She led the way. "I'll have you feeling better in no time."

He watched her firm, plump, butt cheeks peek out from her shorts when she moved. Her hips swayed side to side, hypnotizing him.

"You need to go home." He stopped beside the bed before he lost the argument.

"I will." She slid her hands under his vest and had the leather off him before he could stop her. "When I'm done. Right now, I'm going to work the muscle spasms out of your lower back."

She pulled his t-shirt out of his jeans and worked her hands under the hem. He grabbed the material at the back of his neck and whipped the shirt over his head to keep her hands off him.

"Oh, good." She patted his stomach. "You finish getting undressed and stretch out on the bed. I'll grab my bag. I brought a new lotion that I hadn't tried before. It's supposed to feel wonderful, and I'm anxious to see what you think."

She hurried out of the bedroom. He groaned, shoving his hands in his hair. He had no intention of getting on that bed. Instead, she needed to spit out what she had to say and then get home before it got too late.

Jesus...she shouldn't have walked out of the apartment dressed the way she was. His balls ached. The woman in that car when he pulled up was not his Skye. The Skye he'd watched grow up had her whole life in front of her. She shouldn't be throwing it all away, going out and getting into trouble .

Skye returned to the room. "Go ahead and get on the bed."

"No."

She glanced at him as she rummaged through her bag. "Does it hurt too much? We can try the stretching exercises while you're on your back like we did the other day."

"I don't want a massage."

"That's what ninety percent of my clients say, especially the men." She laughed softly. "Ironically, most of my returning clients are men. So, that's a pretty good record if I do say so myself."

She grabbed his wrists and guided him to the bed. "Sit. I'll lift your legs and put your feet on the bed."

Skye dropped to her knees and worked on the laces of his boots. That was the last straw. He grabbed her upper arms and lifted her to her feet.

"Get out." He turned her around, grabbed her bag, and ushered her to the front door.

"What did I do?" She stumbled, trying to keep up with him. "Can you stop and let me talk?"

"No."

"Dio." She dragged his name out in a long whine. "What have I done? You're acting like you're mad at me."

"Look at you." He let go of her and opened the door. "You can't run around dressed with your ass hanging out and your tits—"

"The bitch you were with on your birthday was dressed like this, and that hadn't stopped you from getting a blow job." She crossed her arms, making her breasts overflow her bra. "Come on, Dio. I've been running to you for most of my life whenever I needed you. Can't you see that I'm no longer a little girl."

"Yeah, princess. I can see. I'm seeing too much of you." He glanced at her breasts and looked away. "You need to leave."

"Why?"

He opened the door. "You're going to get me killed."

"What?" She laughed. "How?"

"Your dad will kill me if he knows you're here." He pointed and waved his finger up and down. "Looking like that."

She gawked at him. "This is practically my second home. You've always welcomed me here. My parents sent me here when I was younger. No one is going to kill you. You can't be serious."

"Dead-ass serious." He met her gaze.

It physically hurt to deny her anything. He'd start a war to protect her. But he was late to the party. Something wild was going on with her and he had no idea what to do with the woman who stood in front of him.

She'd gone through her rebellious stage when she was thirteen years old. He had no clue what hit her now at twenty-one.

"Dio, you know I love you," she whispered.

"I love you, too, princess, but you must go home."

She stepped closer, wrapped her arms around his middle, and pressed her body against the front of him.

"You don't understand. I want— "

The rumble of an approaching motorcycle drowned out the rest of what Skye was saying. He stepped over to the window and gazed down the driveway. Skye followed him, refusing to let go of him.

When the lone headlight turned off, he groaned. "Your dad's here."

He extracted himself out of Skye's arms. His torment would end. Maverick had every right to kill him for all the thoughts and fantasies going on in his head. Maybe dying would put him out of his misery.

"Skye, look at me." He waited until she looked up at him, hurt written all over her face. "None of this is your fault. Do what your dad says."

She frowned. "What isn't my fault?"

He walked out to the living room and opened the door. Skye followed, hanging back as if they hadn't exchanged words.

Maverick approached them. He had no more time to warn her that their lives would change. There was no way Maverick would welcome him around his family anymore, nor would he want Skye around him.

His MC brother went straight to Skye. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, of course." She frowned, glancing back and forth from Dio to her dad. "Why is everyone acting so weird?"

"Cord called me." He pulled Skye into his arms. "He told me you were stuck on the side of the road."

"I got a flat tire, and then some guy stopped, probably to help me, but I didn't want to get out of the car when he was there." She kissed her dad's cheek. " Dio and Brett came and changed the flat for me."

"Good call." Maverick kissed her forehead and looked at her bag on the ground. "Are you heading home?"

"No," she said.

"Yes. She is." Dio leaned against the doorframe. "Go home."

"But, what about your back?" Skye put her hand on his forearm.

His skin heated under her palm. She had him burning up.

"Something else came up." He motioned toward Maverick. "I need to talk to your dad."

"About what?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Club business." He wasn't going to let her control the situation.

She was playing with fire. He was only a man. His life was on the line.

"Come on, I'll carry your bag to your car." Maverick looked over his shoulder at Dio. "I'll come back."

Dio walked into the house to keep his gaze off Skye's ass and went to the kitchen. Pulling the whiskey bottle out of the cabinet above the fridge, he never bothered getting a glass, he tipped the bottle back and took a healthy swig.

Before he took another drink, Maverick walked into the house. He couldn't let Skye go on like that any longer.

His MC brother took in the alcohol and said, "Do you want to explain why my daughter has decided to change the way she dresses?"

Thank fuck he'd noticed. It would be hard to explain everything if Maverick was unaware of what his daughter was wearing.

Even though Maverick wasn't a drinker, Dio offered him the bottle and set a glass on the counter in case he needed one at any time during their conversation.

"I've tried to send her away whenever she's come over here lately." He itched for a cigarette. "I told you she spent the night."

Maverick leaned against the fridge and crossed his arms over his chest. The silence was killing him. He should shut up and let Maverick handle his daughter, but he had to tell someone.

"I think she's..." His jaw ached. "I don't know, brother. I don't know what's going on in her head. Ever since—"

"Ever since she walked in on you with that bitch at the clubhouse, Skye has changed," said Maverick.

He raised his head and nodded. "Yeah."

"Brooke has said the same thing."

"I'm worried about her." Dio straightened. "She can't be coming over here when she's acting like that."

Maverick cleared his throat.

"I'm only human, man." He picked up the bottle and took a drink. "She's a beautiful girl."

Maverick remained quiet. Dio gripped the back of his neck. He was pussy-footing around the truth.

The more Skye was around him, the more he wanted her. All her teasing had him strung up tight. And that couldn't fucking happen. Eventually, he would explode.

"What are you saying?" Maverick frowned. "Is my daughter safe with you?"

Irritated that he'd even ask, Dio scoffed. "On my life."

He would never hurt Skye. He'd go to the grave protecting her.

"Then, what's the problem?" Maverick exhaled loudly. Brooke believes she'll work through whatever bothers her. In the meantime, we all support her. If you can't do that, then distance yourself from her."

"It's not that I can't..." He grabbed the whiskey bottle and drank straight from it. Then, he wiped his mouth with the back of his forearm.

Maverick wasn't listening to what he was saying. Maybe Maverick couldn't see what Dio was seeing, couldn't hear what he heard come out of Skye's mouth, couldn't feel the emotions thick in the air.

"Listen to me." He paused, making sure he had Maverick's attention. "Brother to brother, Skye's throwing herself at me."

There.

He'd said it.

Maverick met Dio's gaze. "There's never been a time that Skye hasn't thrown herself at you." Maverick met his gaze. "You've had more patience than anyone in her life. She's lucky to have you."

Dio's head was going to explode. Was he going to have to spell it out?

"Listen, I appreciate how you look after her." Maverick pushed off the fridge. "Brooke and I are both grateful for how much you've supported Skye over the years. Hell, you're family, brother."

Tension clamped down on his neck. He pressed his hand to his lower back. His whole body ached. Maverick failed to understand how serious the situation between him and Skye had gotten. Maverick had no reason not to trust him around Skye. But he was only a man—and Skye was pushing him too far.

"Skye is twenty-one years old." Dio held up both of his hands. "I fuck girls her age."

Maverick chuckled. Dio stared at his MC brother. It was official. Maverick had lost his damn mind.

"I need to get home before Brooke starts worrying, " Maverick said, walking out of the kitchen. "Thanks again for helping my daughter. I owe you one."

Dio hung his head, knowing Skye's dad left without understanding the problem.

He wouldn't hurt that family for all the money in the world. But Skye was wearing him down.