too large for her liking, and curves that she didn’t care much
for, Lucien still managed to make her feel so feminine and petite.
“What
do you think, Callie?”
The
way he said her name had a chill and tremor moving through her. That was a no.
He had not told her father, and although she was thankful because Kink would
have flipped his shit, and because she knew she didn’t want anyone’s
relationship to be strained, she had a feeling things would become that way
eventually.
“Lucien,
you made yourself clear back at the clubhouse. I left, went away because you
told me to. I don’t understand why you’d show up, act like you care—”
“I
do fucking care.” His voice grew harder. “I worried about you, Callie, and the
only way I could not lose my shit and destroy something was to come up here and
make sure you were okay.”
That
had her shutting up, swallowing the lump that was suddenly in her throat, and
she was stunned that he had said the last part softly, intimately even. The
sound of footsteps approaching had Callie turning. Meredith and Brandon were
walking toward them, and by the looks on both of their faces it was clear
Lucien standing here shocked them. He was intimidating on the best of days, but
with his anger still below the surface, and the aura of his dangerous nature
simmering so close, she knew anyone within a foot of him could sense how
powerful this man really was.
“I,
uh, Brandon and I were going to head out for something to eat, and catch up,”
Meredith said, tripping over her words, but she was staring at Lucien as she
spoke. She finally looked at Callie. “You’re okay?”
“I’m
fine. This is my father’s friend, Lucien.” She nodded at Lucien.
Meredith
eyed him curiously. “Damn, hardcore biker in the flesh.” Meredith almost sounded awed, but Brandon looked a little hesitant to even be
so close to Lucien. “So you want to go with us, or, uh, something else you have
planned?” She eyed Lucien again.
“Actually—”
“I’ll
just take you back to the dorm, Callie. It’s late, and your dad probably would
be pissed knowing you’re out partying with a bunch of drunk adolescents.” He looked at Meredith. “No offense,” he said, but he didn’t sound
very genuine.
She
didn’t bother saying her dad knew where she was, that she had told him she was
going to a frat party. None of it would have mattered when it concerned Lucien
wanting something. It was weird hearing Lucien be all responsible sounding,
especially as she knew he was less than sedentary when it came to his life and
partying. She wanted to argue, to tell him he couldn’t just show up and start telling her what she could and couldn’t do, but she
was ready for this night to be over with, and didn’t want to start any more of
a scene than Lucien had already caused.
“None
taken,” Meredith said, and then the sound of someone puking in the not too far
distance came through, confirming Lucien’s words. Meredith looked over her
shoulder, and then when she looked back at them she had this scrunched up nose. “Hence why we are leaving, because the sound and smell of
vomit is kind of doing me in.” She shrugged. “You’re good with going
back to the dorm though?” she asked Callie, and eyed Lucien again.
“I
was thinking of heading back anyway, and I know you two want to catch up, so
it’s fine.” Callie looked at Lucien, and felt her arousal and annoyance wage
war.
“Okay,
only if you’re sure.”
Callie
nodded. “I am, but thanks.” She smiled, knowing that this whole frat scene
wasn’t for her anyway. And since Ritchie had tried to kiss her, it was a little
uncomfortable.
“Well,
don’t wait up for me,” Meredith said. “Seriously, I haven’t seen this guy in
the flesh in forever. He moved away junior year, and seeing him here totally
caught me off guard.” Meredith was looking at Brandon. Callie didn’t know the
deal with them, or how they had been friends with benefits but
for, Lucien still managed to make her feel so feminine and petite.
“What
do you think, Callie?”
The
way he said her name had a chill and tremor moving through her. That was a no.
He had not told her father, and although she was thankful because Kink would
have flipped his shit, and because she knew she didn’t want anyone’s
relationship to be strained, she had a feeling things would become that way
eventually.
“Lucien,
you made yourself clear back at the clubhouse. I left, went away because you
told me to. I don’t understand why you’d show up, act like you care—”
“I
do fucking care.” His voice grew harder. “I worried about you, Callie, and the
only way I could not lose my shit and destroy something was to come up here and
make sure you were okay.”
That
had her shutting up, swallowing the lump that was suddenly in her throat, and
she was stunned that he had said the last part softly, intimately even. The
sound of footsteps approaching had Callie turning. Meredith and Brandon were
walking toward them, and by the looks on both of their faces it was clear
Lucien standing here shocked them. He was intimidating on the best of days, but
with his anger still below the surface, and the aura of his dangerous nature
simmering so close, she knew anyone within a foot of him could sense how
powerful this man really was.
“I,
uh, Brandon and I were going to head out for something to eat, and catch up,”
Meredith said, tripping over her words, but she was staring at Lucien as she
spoke. She finally looked at Callie. “You’re okay?”
“I’m
fine. This is my father’s friend, Lucien.” She nodded at Lucien.
Meredith
eyed him curiously. “Damn, hardcore biker in the flesh.” Meredith almost sounded awed, but Brandon looked a little hesitant to even be
so close to Lucien. “So you want to go with us, or, uh, something else you have
planned?” She eyed Lucien again.
“Actually—”
“I’ll
just take you back to the dorm, Callie. It’s late, and your dad probably would
be pissed knowing you’re out partying with a bunch of drunk adolescents.” He looked at Meredith. “No offense,” he said, but he didn’t sound
very genuine.
She
didn’t bother saying her dad knew where she was, that she had told him she was
going to a frat party. None of it would have mattered when it concerned Lucien
wanting something. It was weird hearing Lucien be all responsible sounding,
especially as she knew he was less than sedentary when it came to his life and
partying. She wanted to argue, to tell him he couldn’t just show up and start telling her what she could and couldn’t do, but she
was ready for this night to be over with, and didn’t want to start any more of
a scene than Lucien had already caused.
“None
taken,” Meredith said, and then the sound of someone puking in the not too far
distance came through, confirming Lucien’s words. Meredith looked over her
shoulder, and then when she looked back at them she had this scrunched up nose. “Hence why we are leaving, because the sound and smell of
vomit is kind of doing me in.” She shrugged. “You’re good with going
back to the dorm though?” she asked Callie, and eyed Lucien again.
“I
was thinking of heading back anyway, and I know you two want to catch up, so
it’s fine.” Callie looked at Lucien, and felt her arousal and annoyance wage
war.
“Okay,
only if you’re sure.”
Callie
nodded. “I am, but thanks.” She smiled, knowing that this whole frat scene
wasn’t for her anyway. And since Ritchie had tried to kiss her, it was a little
uncomfortable.
“Well,
don’t wait up for me,” Meredith said. “Seriously, I haven’t seen this guy in
the flesh in forever. He moved away junior year, and seeing him here totally
caught me off guard.” Meredith was looking at Brandon. Callie didn’t know the
deal with them, or how they had been friends with benefits but
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