Fuse (Book 3 Hell Raisers MC)

4

FUSE

“How’s your little lady holding up with the news?” I rolled my eyes as I had Fiona join me at the booth and Tank was on his way in as well.

“She’s surprised.” I told her and made sure to stop there. I didn’t want to make her news about her possible dad being involved, was between her and I.

“But she’s not freaking out?” She asked and I shook my head and saw my lady walk out of the back and look around and nod at me so I nodded back. She collected a few menus and she headed right to us.

“Hey, any drink orders for me to go get?” Daisy asked and FIona smiled at her before diving into a conversation about coffee and what creamer they had currently and I watched her talk like everything was normal.

“She seems ok.” Fi told me and I nodded before watching Tank settle in.

“I’m tired just looking at you. You got in at 3 am, got here around 7, have been here all day….” Tank shook his head but maybe he’d get it if it was Fiona.

“Like you wouldn’t find the will power to do this if it was Fiona.” I told him and he froze briefly and looked over at her. It had been a couple months for them… at least since her being taken from her place of work and losing their baby and then getting past and killing a few guys. It was all needed… but it did hurt their mindset.

“Does she know you just got back?” I shook my head at his question and made sure that they stopped talking when she came and set the coffee and the soda down and then a refill for my tea.

“Ready to order food?” Daisy asked and looked at them before me and I smirked softly and she blushed before looking at Fiona.

“I think ill go for the meatloaf today.” Tank told her and like always he didn’t need a menu so FIona was the only one that had one.

“I’ll take the meatloaf for dinner tonight.” I told her since I have had a few other items today too.

“What the hell, might as well all seem like we’re having a meal together, I’ll take the meatloaf too with home fries on the side please.” FIona told her and handed over the menu and then started to add buckets of sugar to her coffee.

“Ok, it won’t take long.” Daisy told us and swirled around and headed right to the kitchen and I heard her tell them to put a rush on the orders for her.

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the girl from a few weeks ago walk in and I saw Daisy relaying some stuff to her and take off her apron. She was off… early.

“Give me a minute.” I told them both as I stood and she seemed to notice and just wait near the kitchen door. “Come here.” I grabbed her elbow and walked towards the back and she was biting her lip hard when we stopped and I cupped her jaw one more time. “You’re off now?” I asked and she nodded and opened her mouth to tell me something but I pushed her jaw closed.

“You’ll either order food and join us, or I can get mine to go and we can go to your place.” I told her and she gulped and looked down and away.

“You’re not going to let it go-“

“Daisy, this is you. Nothing is going to happen to you. I won’t let it. So you’re here, I’m here. If you’re headed home then we both are. I will walk you, I will drive you, I will make sure that you land your ass on your couch-“

“I have plans tonight.” She whispered and I felt my gut clench. I was gone two weeks and she moved on?

“With who?” I asked and slowly crossed my arms and she gulped again.

“I know he kind of made you uncomfortable but we have this thing we’ve been doing, wine night.” She said and I was confused. Who made me uncomfortable? Her ex?

“Who you talking about babe?” I asked before pushing myself on her more. If she was already back together I would back off. I’d never take someone from another person.

“Well, really it’s only the third time we’ve done this so it isn’t something that keeps happening. Or like something I just didn’t tell you about it last time but really it was-“

“You going on a date just tell me.” I told her and she blinked like she was confused.

“Date? No it’s Wine Night. You remember my landlord s***h neighbor? The one who hit on you? Aiden.” She offered and I nodded. “He invited me over for Wine night with another lady from the building, she’s his coworker too.” She explained and I felt my stomach relax and my heart fill with hope one more time.

“You’re going home then?” I asked to make sure and she nodded.

“Aiden ordered wine and Italian food from this nice place-“

“OK babe, let’s get you home to enjoy your night. I’ll get my meatloaf to go-“

“Are you sure? Tank just got here.” She whispered like she was worried for me and I smirked.

“They came to check in on you. If you’re leaving and I am leaving, then they get a date night without having to sit with me.” I told her and she nodded slowly… looking back over to them and then she looked back up at me quickly. “What?”

“I didn’t do anything but they’re looking over at us.” She told me and I laughed lightly before nodding.

“Sweetheart, get your gear, meet me out by my bike.” I told her and made sure that she knew that she wasn't getting out of this with. me. I had an extra helmet for her too.

I got her replacement to get my stuff togo, I made sure there we was enough cash to cover my dinner and gathered my jacket before getting it on before heading out. Tank told me to get some sleep if I could and to let him know if I needed help with someone tomorrow to watch over her.

“I’ll be good.” I told him knowing I wasn’t set to work until Friday. My parents contacted me last week and told me they were taking a detour so they wouldn’t be home for a while and I was glad they weren’t also on my plate to juggle.

“Vic?” I turned at her voice and smiled when I saw her hair down and her jean jacket on. I made sure to make a show of moving my helmet and then holding one out for her.

“Come on.” I saddled her on my bike, got on as well, she was slowly wrapping her arms around me as I revved the engine and I made sure that she was ok as I sped off and headed towards her apartment. I didn’t think about it until after, but this was her first ride on a bike and I should have been careful.

But when we got to her apartment complex she was smiling wide and f**k if I didn't want to kiss her. But that would come. In time.

“Are you… do you really have to come with me?” She asked and I paused, wondering if she didn’t want me near her at all.

“I don’t have to, but I would like to at least make sure they didn’t break in when they got your new address.” I told her and she nodded and blushed hard. “Sweetness, you don’t want me around tell me now. I’ll have someone else protect you-“

“It’s not that.. it ‘s… it’s just Aiden.” She whispered and then took a deep breath and looked down at the helmet she still had in her hands. “I told him my secret… and he might bring it up and I don’t want you to be embarrassed about it-“

“Baby I don’t care about being embarrassed about him flirting with me.” I told her and she shook her head slowly.

“No… he might bring up my confession from a couple weeks ago. I told him that in middle school I had a brig crush on you and he sort of tried to make me make a move on you next time I saw you… but you were gone for like two weeks so-“

“Yeah. I got back this morning. Me, Trigger, Raid and Gash all were down helping Tank’s cousins.” I told her and she looked up at me in shock. “I stopped by before leaving town to tell you but you weren’t working, so I let the girl know…” I told her and she seemed to think about that.

“I know she told me a regular would be gone for a few weeks but she didn’t tell me it was you.” She told me and seemed to be relaxing a little.

“Yeah, it was the next morning after the initial s**t going down that Tank told me I was needed down there. I helped handle the issues and came back this morning.” I told her and she seemed worried. “And you’re going to o go and have fun, I can take off once you’re safe-“

“You don’t have to… now that you know my secret it’s ok for you to join us.” She practically forced herself to say those words and I smiled softly before wrapping an arm around her and getting us to the front of the building. I had my helmet, held hers as she got the key in the front door and I made sure that she was leading the way again.

We got to her floor and down near her place before we saw a glimpse of Aiden. He was already in his doorway with another woman and I nodded as they both seemed to pause and watch us.

“You can go have fun and I can wait.” I told her after she told them to give her 5 minutes and she would be over.

“Are you leaving again soon?” She asked and I knew, in that moment, I wouldn’t leave her again until all of her s**t was dealt with and she was mine completely.

“Not until you’re taken care of and not unless it’s an emergency. But this time I won’t be leaving it to someone else to tell you I will tell you myself.” I told her and she nodded slowly.

“So you’re free to check my place, if you have to go-“

“Baby i would spend the night if you let me but if you’re not going to be comfortable I can go and come back in the morning before your shift-”

“I start at 5 am… you don’t have to-“

“Yes I do.” I cut her off and she looked around and then back at me.

“Then stay here… relax. I don’t mind.”

“If I relax I am more likely to fall asleep so don’t worry about me. I got here around 3am so I will crash hard.” She looked worried now. And I hated that I wasn't going to lie to her but I didn’t want her to be worried about me. I could handle a lot of stress on days where I already had little sleep.

“Don’t you worry about me, go have fun. I will kick my feet up and wait for you to get back and go to sleep.” I told her before she could say anything more. I opened her front door up and smiled at Aiden and the other lady and gripped my woman’s waist before ushering her out of her own door. “Don’t worry about me.” I repeated and she nodded slowly and walked out and into the other apartment.

I shut her door and made my way over to the couch before sitting and reclining back a bit. I turned on the Tv, some show was on and I closed my eyes briefly before drifting off to the sound of relationship problems.

Daisy

“Girl!” Aiden squealed and I rolled my eyes. He closed the door after her and I saw Tilly giggle as she handed over a glass of wine to me. “When did he show back up?”

“Today. He’s been out of town for the past two weeks and I didn’t know. He came back this morning around 3 he said and he was at the diner with Tucker showed back up around 7. He’s been at the diner all day and he wants to go back with me when I work in the morning. So hopefully if I drink a few glasses he will be asleep by the time I go back.” I told them and Tilly started in on how nice he sounded and Aiden went on and on about Tucker being back and how he had approved my lease despite the lies that man told because he knew that Tucker was a lying son of a b***h.

“Oh he isn’t that bad-“

“Honey, he tried to tell me you were a prostitute who used and sold drugs.” Aiden told me and I felt the shock wash over me. No wonder I could never get a lease for the months I tried to move out before.

Tucker tried to keep me in the trailer park so I had no other choice. He was a f*****g son of a b***h.

“Well, you’re here, you’re free, and you have a hunk of a man watching over you… I say you’re winning.” Tilly winked at me and held up her wine glass and we all toasted to the fact Fuse was over in my apartment.

“So, did you tell him you had a hankering for some dirty biker s*x?” AIden asked and I laughed freely thinking of how ridiculous that would be if I had.

“Like I could tell him that. He’s tired, he’s not really dating me.” I told them both and they just stared at me. “I mean come on… to tell Victor that I wanted him to f**k me would lead him to thinking i am just a toy.” I shrugged knowing it might not be that way completely. “But who would date someone who just cameras right out and said ‘I want to have s*x with you because I have been thinking about it for years’… I had wanted Victor to be my first. But now I am not even sure I could enjoy s*x… I tried with the doctor, you know… but it wasn’t good.” I shrugged when telling them that.

“I think that doctor guy was just greedy. I’ve had bad lovers… who were just really nice men… s*x is an art and not everyone knows how to please their partners.” Tilly told me and I nodded slowly. Maybe… but who knew if Victor would be better.

“Men like your victor would be heaven in the sack. I have had my share of in the closet biker men… San Francisco is crawling with all types… but really, he’s gotta make it good or you if he wants to keep you. See how fast you got rid of that doctor after a few chances? Men like Victor would try until you had a good time.”

“You can’t possible know that Aiden.” I shook my head… s*x wasn’t amazing or cool… it was painful and awkward and over way too fast. I’ve seen s*x scenes that women were huge actresses acting like it was amazing and a man’s c**k didn’t hurt… it was crazy to think how bad s*x felt.”

“Well you don’t have to give in to s*x with Victor… but if you do tell him about the doctor not being able to make you c*m and he might satisfy you many times over.” Aiden told me and rubbed my shoulder as I joined them at the table.

Tilly dished the food for us and I made sure that I would eat between chatting and I made sure that we talked about them before getting more wine. I stayed until about 10 and they encouraged me to stay true to what I wanted so when I opened my door and saw Victor sleeping, something inside of me relaxed.

I padded around getting ready for bed and got him a blanket to lay under and spread it over him. He didn’t stir or snore… but he was soft looking, relaxed like me.

I got undressed and changed into my shorts and tank top before climbing into bed. I felt bad that he was out on the couch, but really… it wasn’t like I had a spare bed or felt ok with him sharing my bed.

I still laid awake for longer than usual thinking about it, but eventually I was out like a light and didn’t dream, didn’t even slightly wake up until my alarm went off. I rolled around in bed for the next few minutes before getting up. I showered, I did my hair, I walked out to make my coffee and wondered what I should do with Victor.

“VIc?” I called softly and he didn’t stir. He had moved from laying upright to completely taking up the couch. “Victor…. I am getting ready for work. You can stay here, door locks automatically but you said something about going with me.” I tried again to see if he would stir… but again… nothing.

I bit my lip wondering how I could wake him up nicely. I walked over and waved my cup of coffee under his nose; nothing. I tapped his shoulder, nothing. “Victor…” I called and ran my hand over his hair and he blinked his eyes open slowly. “Hi. I’m getting ready for work, if you want to stay here that ok-“

“I’ll get ready too.” He whispered and slowly sat up. I blushed hard as I realized he had stripped down sometime last night after I came home and put the blanket on him.

“Coffee?” I asked him as I headed back to the kitchen to see about making him a cup or me a to-go cup.

“Yes please.” He told me and I got the sugar container and then a spoon and grabbed my creamer out and made sure to make it all available to him before making my coffee for my walk to work.

Or… rather,… ride to work. I sipped my coffee and watched as Victor pulled on his shift he had taken off. I heard the jingle of his belt being done and I made sure that I wasn’t looking until I heard him sit back down.

I swallowed the last of my first cup and went to brush my teeth before going to prepare my second cup. I smiled when I saw him sipping his own cup in the kitchen, he leaned on the counters and was seemingly waiting on me.

“How did you sleep? The couch is still kind of new so it shouldn't be so bad.” I had fallen asleep on it before and I had a sore back but that was because I fell asleep on a pillow and slept wrong. He seemed ok.

“It’s ok. I’ve slept on worse.” He told me and I nodded.

“I’ll get your order in as soon as we’re at the diner.” I told him when I heard his stomach growl.

“Sweetness… we’re going to talk first before we head out.” He looked at the clock and I saw I needed to be at work in half an hour.. but he was taking me on his bike so that takes my travel time down to 8 minutes at most if we get stopped at a few red lights.

“Ok… is this about the Rubianos?” I asked and set my coffee cup in the sink before waiting to hear more.

“No honey… about us.” He told me and I paused but nodded.

“Us?” Is this the speech where he starts to tell me about my friendship being conditional on something? On this whole situation?

“You’re going to have to listen to me.” He told me and I nodded. “I’ll be here from now on. Helping you out. Taking care of simple stuff like half rent and-“

“You can’t pay half my rent.” I cut him off and I looked up as he started to crowd me into my counter and I lost my breath. “Victor-“

“That crush in middle school wasn’t one sided. Didn’t end either. Not for me. You’ve been mine in my head… you’ve been untouchable and distant because I can’t drag you into my club… I never wanted you to be apart of what the club used to be like.” He told me and I gulped as he seemed to focus on getting me to listen and I could feel my heart beating so fast that I could feel it in my finger tips.

“It’s ok if you don’t want me near the club, I get it.” I whispered wondering if that was where we were going.

“No baby… that’s not where this is going. Tank has Fiona cleaning the mess up… he is prez now, he cleaned up the club, it’s safe for you. But I am explaining that when I was thinking about wanting you that’s what held me back. And then you dated a doctor and I decided I would let you go if he made you happy. You didn’t need me ruining that and keeping you in the dirt with me.”

“What are you talking about? The dirt?” I was the trailer trash, he had a house, parents who were married and loved each other… he had gold.

“Just listen ok?” He asked me and I nodded but my eyes still flashed to the clock and he seemed to notice and he looked too. “Long story short, I want to date you, in a very serious way. You’re it for me, always have been. But I get it if you don’t want me.” He told me with a quick breath and I felt my brian catch up.

“You want to date me.” I repeated and he nodded.

“I want you Daisy. I want to take care of you, help you, protect you.” I let that sink in… slowly. Very slowly.

“This isn’t where you start trying to tell me what to do and what to wear and where I can and can’t work.” I didn’t want a repeat from my ex. He tried to make me quit the diner and work at his practice… keep me close he said. More like keep an eye on me and make sure I can’t leave.

“I might ask if you want fewer hours when you don’t have to work so much… but other than that no.” He offered and I gulped and nodded slowly. “You can think about it. I am still going to take care of the debt and the tuckers, but I want you to know what my intentions are. I am not here to take from you… but I do want to share things with you.”

“Why now?” I asked after a moment of letting that sink in as well.

“Because I’ll be damned if I almost lose you to another man again. Last night when I thought you were going to be busy on a date I couldn't let myself lose another opportunity, so I am putting myself out there. If you’re not ready that is ok too. But I won’t stop myself from trying with you. Not at this time in my life when I am ready for you.” He told me and I was stunned by his confession.

He wanted me, not just now… but for a while. He wanted me. Me!

“So you want to date me.”

“Hell woman… if you were on the same page as me I’d be moving you into my place and taking care of you and letting you work the hours you want.” He laughed but nodded as if he was being serious.

“This isn’t a joke, you really want to date me. Like a relationship.” I added and he moved his head in near my face and I could feel his breath. “Ok.” I whispered since he was so close.

“Perfect.” He smiled and I melted inside as he brought his lips to mine and for a split second I didn’t move until his lips moved against mine and I let my brian turn off. I let my lips move against his, opening my mouth when he nibbled my bottom lip and I gripped the counter as he stepped against me until I could feel his whole body.

It felt like it was my first real kiss… like… I’ve been kissed before but it didn’t feel like this, but then I’ve never kissed the man I’ve basically been in love with my whole life.

This better not be some cruel joke and I wake up to my alarm when the kiss starts getting good.