CHAPTER FIVE

– EASTLYNNE –

I lean against Fletch and try to relax. Why did I invite Rourke to my own freaking home? My head feels like it's going to implode in my skull. I know I'm stressing and I brought it all on myself, but it just felt like I…wanted and needed to prolong our time together.

Rourke is fun and easy to be around. He doesn't get close to me without giving me a slight heads-up first. Mostly it's a touch in a teasing matter; a little nudge with his hand on my lower back, a bump with his shoulder against mine, brushing his fingers against my forearm, that kind of stuff.

Strangely enough, I crave his closeness and I like touching him in return. Whenever I touch his skin, it feels like I get a slight current of electricity. I'm sure it's only my imagination or my reaction to him, but it feels nice.

In a matter of days, he's managed to jump from a complete stranger to friend status. That's not the scariest part, though. It's the longing deep inside me where curiosity burns. I want to step over the fictitious line and kiss him. Feel his lips against mine…and more.

I close my eyes, tip my head back, and growl out my frustration. "Why am I like this?"

"Like what? Sexually frustrated?" my sister says and snickers when my eyes turn in her direction to give her a death glare.

"What?" She shrugs. "You're easy to read. Besides, you going over to the Iron Hot Blood ranch every day this past week is a good indication that Rourke has slipped under your skin. And if you need my advice? Let him slip under your sheets, way more fun."

"I don't need your advice," I snap. "Besides, it's all your fault, you go and get under the sheets with him."

There's a stabbing pain inside my chest, and a load of anger filling my veins, as soon as those words tumble over my lips. The thought of Rourke with anyone else makes me…angry? Jealous? Ugh. This is insane.

"You should see the look on your face." Cosima laughs and pats Fletch. "I'm not into Rourke, sis. He's cute, I'll give you that, but not my type."

"A tattooed, rough, cowboy biker who is a gentleman deep down is anyone's type," I mutter.

The corner of her mouth twitches. "Ah, but it's the gentleman deep down part I have issues with. I want the dirty, rough, tie me up, spank my ass, choke my neck bad boy instead."

"Oh. My. Fireflies. You did not just blabber that stuff out to me." I shake my head. "Whatever you do in the bedroom is so not meant for my ears, Cosima."

Cosima snorts. "I prefer it outside of the bedroom. A little outdoor action never hurt anyone."

I'm about to put my fingers in my ears to stop the oversharing when my sister points at something. "Someone's early."

Turning, I notice the stunning creme, golden-colored horse trotting toward us. Rourke explained how Colt, one of the older generation, breeds these rare horse coat colors. It's called Cremello and with their pink skin and blue eyes, they are definitely a sight to behold. The man riding the horse, though? Just as freaking stunning.

Fletch gives a loud, high-pitched neigh which Rourke's horse instantly returns.

Rourke chuckles. "Evenin', ladies."

"Hey, Rourke, nice to see you again." Cosima turns to me. "Why don't you two go out riding since Rourke is all saddled up. I'm gonna head for my bed, early day tomorrow morning and all. Have fun you two."

She's striding in the direction of the house before I can utter one single word. My gaze bounces to Rourke. He's leaning with his forearms on the horn of his saddle and is piercing me with his blue eyes.

"I like your sister, she has great ideas," he states.

Great ideas, right. "If you think outdoor action is better than in a bed, then yes. 'Cause that's her idea of having sex along with it being dirty, rough, tie me up, spank my ass, choke my neck–"

I abruptly stop rambling when his gaze turns heated. My cheeks are flaming when I realize what my screwed-up mind just threw out in the open.

"I hate her," I grumble. The anger and frustration I feel about myself makes me add, "It's all her fault. Cosima's the one who said you weren't her type. When I told her that a tattooed, rough, cowboy biker who is a gentleman deep down is anyone's type, she started spouting about having issues with that and then threw out those…those–"

The corner of his mouth twitches before he finishes for me, "Things she enjoys."

I wave my hand dismissively. "Yes. That."

"Mind telling me the reason why you described me to your sister the way you did?"

"Yes," I snap. "I do mind. In fact, I just remembered I have things to do. You should leave."

He swings his leg off his horse, ties the reins to the fence, and jumps over it to come to a stop in front of me. "The description you gave of me has flaws, East."

My breathing picks up and he leans even closer to whisper in a husky tone, "I'm not interested in your sister, darlin'."

I swallow hard and my voice becomes all strangled when I ask, "Why does my description of you have flaws?"

His smile becomes almost feral. "The only times I've been a gentleman deep down is when I'm with you. Believe me when I say I'm anything but. Once you don't get spooked easily anymore? Then all bets are off." He moves his mouth right next to my ear to add on a low growl, "I'd bet my horses to prove you'd also enjoy all the things your sister mentioned when I'm the one doing it to you."

A shiver runs through me. Not due to the evening breeze, but because I'm overheated by Rourke's words and closeness. He's staring down at me and all I can do is slightly part my lips and keep my eyes locked with his.

My heart is pounding and it feels as if it's slamming against my rib cage. My brain jumped onto a freight train and I'm momentarily locked in whatever trance Rourke put me in. His calloused fingers slide over my bare shoulder, onto my neck until he gently cups the back of my head to pull me close.

At the same time, he leans in and presses his lips against mine. A kiss. Rourke is kissing me. My eyes close and I bury my fist into his leather vest to keep myself from floating away. That's what it feels like. Floating. I have no thoughts at all. I'm caught off-guard, swooped away, and prevented from doing anything other than feeling what he's doing.

Tingling spreads from my lips down to my nipples, my belly, my clit. Sensory overload and the scariest thing? I want more. His tongue breaches my mouth, warm and prodding, swirling against mine. Did I just moan? He definitely growled because I felt the vibration every-freaking-where. I'm now groaning in objection when his mouth leaves mine.

Rourke curses and pulls me flush against his body, his arms wrapping around me as he places his chin on the top of my head. "Fucking hell, woman. You taste like you're meant to be mine, and it's a flavor made to last a lifetime."

He pulls away again and cups the side of my head when he says with a determined voice, "Come on, let's go for a ride. We have much to discuss and what just happened is only a fragment of it."

I frown and am still at a loss for words when he asks, "Do you need to saddle up or are you gonna ride Fletch with just the neck rope?"

I shake my head in an effort to clear the fog he created and mutter, "The rope is enough, and I don't even need that but it's what I prefer when I'm working."

Rourke leans forward and gives me a boost.

"I could have made Fletch bow, it's one of the first things I taught him because he was too big for me to jump on," I grumble.

"So you've told me. I just like helping out my old lady, me being a gentleman deep down and all." The annoying man shoots me a wink and opens the paddock fence for me.

I glare at Rourke while I guide Fletch out. Rourke closes the paddock and takes the reins of his own horse. I watch his muscled thighs in jeans, along with his tight ass as he mounts his horse when I realize what he just called me; his old lady.

I'm about to ask why he called me that–knowing about the meaning since we talked a lot the past few days and some was about his club and brotherhood–when he says, "We think they killed Winfield, revenge for Buckey, and we could be next."

"What?" I gasp and bring Fletch to a stop by leaning slightly back.

Rourke winces. "I'm sorry, but with you coming over these past few days, working with Buckey? They might have had eyes on us and saw you. I have no clue if you could be a target as well, but I'm not taking any chances."

"What does that mean?" I warily ask.

Rourke clicks his tongue and his horse starts to move again. I let Fletch fall in step beside her.

He stays silent for way too long, so I ask again, "What does that mean?"

"That shit is fucked-up," Rourke states with a pained voice.

"No shit," I deadpan.

His head turns my way. "I don't care about the blowback the club will be hit with. We'll handle whatever comes our way, always have, always will. Hell, my parents did it before me so we're not going down any time soon. What I'm talking about is me and you."

I frown and wonder why he's worried about me and him.

"You should be worried about yourself and all the others," I mutter and let my fingers slide through Fletch's manes.

"I'm staying the night at your place, East," he states.

My eyes widen and I instantly fire back, "No, you're not."

"Yes," he growls. "I most certainly will. I cannot leave you unprotected. Now do you understand why I told you it'll fuck up shit between us?"

I fall silent and try not to panic. The frustration in his voice, along with the expression on his face, shows he's struggling with what he just mentioned makes me pause. I like spending time with him and definitely like my body's reaction to everything he does to me.

My mind is all jumbled, my body along with it. Maybe I'm hiding behind my beloved wall I made myself to keep everything and everyone out of my personal space. I don't think I'm ready, if I'll ever be ready at all. Though, if I believe that…then I never will.

"Please say something. I can see in your eyes that you're rambling to yourself inside your head."

I jut out my chin. "You don't know what goes on inside my head."

"True, but I would like to." His smile makes the dimple come out and play, causing my belly to flop.

I release a deep sigh and stare straight ahead. "No, you really don't. During discussions I have to repeat some lines or words inside my head. Same with watching TV. Inside my head it's like a tornado touching ground during an earthquake while a tsunami is on the way. Havoc. Then you kiss me and everything hits pause."

Giving slight pressure with my leg, Fletch instantly replies and we race away, letting the wind hit my face while Fletch's manes rock wild and free before me. The thrill of going fast, feeling this powerful animal underneath me gain speed while he runs freely is a true adrenaline rush.

My fingers are wrapped around the rope and I close my eyes to relish in the escape this gives me. The sound of Fletch's hooves hitting the dirt, his grunts, the wind trying to slow us down; everything lightens my mood. I lean back and let Fletch know to slow down. A giggle slips from me as we come to a stop. This is exactly what I needed.

"That's a perfect sound," Rourke remarks as he stops next to us.

I give him a big smile. "I love riding. I love this horse, this land, and the path I take to live my life because it's my damn life. I have a lot of issues, believe me, I'm more than aware of the roadblocks I also place there myself. I can be difficult to be around or embarrass others."

"So fucking what, East? We all have demons," Rourke growls. "Some fight them head-on, others a silent battle inside their head. Some people carry their heart on their sleeve, while some have a tongue as sharp as a whip. Every single person has the fucking right to be who they want to be and do what the fuck they want, okay? We might live in the same world but we all lead our own life. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise or make you feel like shit."

His words mean a lot and it's why I tell him, "Okay. You can spend the night. But I'm not having sex with you."

His smile is huge and I swear I hear him mutter under his breath, "Not yet, but we will."