The Biker's Fate Chapter 139

Darien

"Well, you're wrong, Darien." He studied me for a minute and then smiled. "From the second I met you, I haven't been able to get you out of my head. See, I have this thing for girls with boys' names. Always have. I think they're adorable and when they're attached to the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, it kind of throws me off my game. Follow that up with the fact that said woman is sweet, thoughtful, and funny as hell, it drives home the reality I'm not good enough for her. And when she's standing in front of me, all I want to do is kiss her, but I know I have to go slow because I can't scare her away."

"Logan," I whispered.

"I guess what I'm trying to say, Darien, is that I like you too. But it's you who's irresistible, and it's me who's scared to death of falling in love with you, especially when you bring me gifts for no reason, lookin' sexier than should be legal. But it's when you whisper my name... the one no one but you will ever call me, and I'm gone."

With that, he leaned down and kissed me. Slowly and sweetly like I was the most precious thing on earth. His hand came to my neck and his fingers stroked my cheek as I opened my mouth to deepen the kiss. I was done. In that second, I needed him like I'd never needed anyone before and I finally understood what Pauley had been saying. That someone like him could break someone like me.

I broke the kiss and shook my head. "I can't do this."

"Why not?"

"Because if we do, I'd want something exclusive, and I know that's not your thing."

"How do you know that's not my thing?" he challenged.

"Because Pauley and Kim both said it's not."

He sighed. "How about we take some time to get to know each other and while we're doin' that, we'll be exclusive?"

This time it was my turn to study him. "Are you being serious right now? Because remember what I said about believing people when they tell me things."

"Babe, I can't make any guarantees about anything, but I haven't been with anyone since the night you came to the club."

"What? Why?"

He laughed. "Because I can't get you off my fuckin' mind. You want a confession?"

"I don't know," I said.

"The reason Train was draggin' those guys off the dance floor was because I told him to."

I gasped. "You did? Why?"

"Because I couldn't stand the thought of another man touching you."

"Oh," I whispered and bit my lip.

"Yeah, oh." He leaned down to kiss me again. "Come and meet some of my brothers, then we'll talk some more."

"Don't you have to work?"

"I'll work better if you're here."

"How so?"

He got nose-to-nose with me. "Because instead of finding my fantasies getting away from me, distracting me from my job, I'll have the real thing close by."

I laughed, patting his chest. "Oh, you're good."

"We've got close to five hours before we open, so we'll sort out the deliveries, have dinner, and then you'll go, yeah?"

"What if I want to stay the whole night?"

Mack took a deep breath, sliding his hand to my neck again. "It's not a good idea for you to stay tonight, Darien. If you want to come back another time, I can arrange it, but I have a shit ton of work to do tonight and we wouldn't get to spend any time together."

"Maybe I should go now, then."

He shook his head. "Right now, I've got time, so I'd love it if you stayed."

"Okay."

Taking my hand, he guided me out of his office and to the front of the club.

"Yo, Mack!" A tall, incredibly good-looking dark-haired man was attached to the booming voice.

"Hey, man, what's the problem?"

The man handed Mack a clipboard. "Supplier shipped the wrong fuckin' amount again."

Mack released my hand and scanned the pages. "Okay, I'll deal with it. Knight, meet Darien."

I reached my hand out. "Hi."

Knight took my hand with a smile. "Nice to meet you."

"Give me a second, babe," Mack said, and left me standing with Knight as he pulled out his phone and walked away.

"You're Pauley's sister," Knight remarked.

"I am. Do you know her?"

"Met her a few times when I go into the restaurant to see Kim." Knight smiled. "You and Pauley look alike."

I chuckled. "You're sweet. My sister's gorgeous."

"So are you."

I blushed and dropped my head slightly. "Sorry, I don't mean to act weird; I just don't hear that often." I raised my head. "And I'm not saying that to try and get a compliment, just so you know."

Knight laughed.

"I have a little filter problem."

He grinned. "Don't change a thing, Darien."

Mack walked back to us, a curious expression on his face. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," I said, and smiled.

He handed Knight the clipboard. "They're gonna fix it and give us a thirty percent discount."

"Are they guaranteeing it won't happen again?"

"Later," Mack said.

Knight nodded. "Nice to meet you, Darien."

"You too," I said, and watched Knight take the bottles of alcohol behind the bar. I smiled up at Mack. "You're busy. I should go."

"I hate to admit you're right, but this is something I need to deal with."

"Totally get it."

"I'll walk you to your car."

I nodded. "Thanks."

Mack took my hand again and we walked out to my awaiting car. I pressed the key fob and pulled open the driver's door, but before I could climb in, Mack slid his hand around my waist. "I'll call you later."

"If you're busy, call me tomorrow."

He smiled. "I'll call you tonight."

"Suit yourself. Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Were you and Kim—"

"No," he interrupted.

"Never?"

"No."

"Why not? She's gorgeous."

He smiled. "One, she's Dani's best friend. Conflict of interest, since Booker and I are tight. Two, we'd kill each other and we recognized that pretty early on, so it never happened."

"Did you want it to?"

"Not really. Honestly, babe, we knew we'd be nothing more than friends and she's more like a sister to me now, so it's just never been on the table."

"Okay."

"Ask, yeah?" He patted my hip. "Always ask. I've never been a saint, but I don't cheat, and I won't ever lie to you. If I can't answer the question, I'll tell you that. Club business is usually off the table, but you can still ask."

"I've been known to be nosy," I warned.

"What woman isn't?"

I gasped in an effort not to laugh. "Jerk."

"Am I wrong?"

"No, probably not, but you're not supposed to say that."

"Says the woman without a filter," he teased.

I smacked his arm. "I'm leaving."

"Yeah?" He squeezed my hip and I didn't move as he grinned and leaned down.

I nodded. "Yeah."

His mouth covered mine and I forced myself not to melt into him. Good God, the man could kiss. He broke the connection far too soon and I wrinkled my nose in disappointment. "So... you're going to call me later?"

Mack laughed. "Yeah, babe, I'm gonna call you later."

"God, I sound like a love-struck teenager."

He stroked my cheek. "I like that, Darien."

"You do?"

"Yes. I like everything about you."

I bit my lip. "Same... well, all but the chauvinism."

He chuckled before he kissed me again quickly. "Text me when you get home."

"Bossy."

"Lots of practice, Darien, remember that."

I laughed. "You don't scare me, Logan 'Mack' Reed."

"Well, that's a good start, then."

"Are people often afraid of you?"

A loud whistle startled Darien, and then Pug yelled, "Mack! Need ya inside, brother."

Mack gave Pug a chin lift and then focused back on me again. "Text."

I gave him a salute. "Yes, sir."

He chuckled and kissed me again. After waiting for me to get into the car, I noticed he waited until I drove out of sight. I grinned the entire way home and texted him when I arrived safely.