Chapter 23
Ava
I hadn’t seen Commando all day and since speaking to him over the phone the previous night, I was anxious to see him again.
I worked my shift, my fingers tingling every time the doors of the bar burst open. Commando hadn’t returned, even when it was time for me to leave.
“Have a good night, kid,” Elwood called out to me, while he ate a massive burger at his table by the window. I smiled at him, as I walked out and just when I pushed open the door, my nose bumped into Commando’s expansive chest. I gasped with surprise, and looked up to find him staring down at me, a glimmer of a grin on his face, his cheeks dimpled, his jaws chiseled and sharp.
“Ready to go?” he said and I crinkled my brows at him.
“Yeah, I was just leaving for Charity’s place,” I said and he reached for the books in my hands. I was hoping to get a chance to study a little tonight, but the bar had kept me busy.
“I’ve made you some spaghetti. It’s back in my apartment,” Commando said, tucking the books under his armpit. My eyes widened, and I could feel my cheeks burning. This guy was just full of surprises. I wouldn’t have expected him to be able to boil water if he had to. How had he pulled off a spaghetti dinner?
“With meatballs?” I asked, arching an eyebrow suspiciously at him.
“The works,” he said and we smiled at each other. Without waiting for a response, Commando turned to walk back towards his bike and I followed him.
“I have my entrance exam tomorrow,” I said and Commando stopped in his tracks, his eyes were searching my face. He was looking at me again, in that way he did so that I felt naked under his stare.
“I’ll take you,” he said and I licked my lips. I wondered if he could tell that I was nervous about it.
“I haven’t had much time to study,” I said, blushing again and Commando stepped towards me, looking over my body with his dangerous blue eyes.
“Have I kept you busy?” he asked and I bit down on my lip.
“Kinda,” I said and embarrassedly tucked a few strands of hair behind my ears. How was he able to make me so weak around him? Why couldn’t I resist him?
“You’ll be fine, princess,” he said, in a deep but kind voice and when I heard that word, princess, I felt my stomach cramp up. He’d used that term, over and over again when we had sex. And now for the first time, he was using it in a regular conversation. I was afraid of my knees visibly wobbling.
“I haven’t studied nearly as hard as I should have. I really need to pass the exam,” I said and Commando reached out and moved my fringe away, clearing my forehead. It was such a tender moment, and he surprised me again. I would have agreed to anything.
“You will pass the exam, Ava. Tonight, I need you,” he said and his eyes darkened. A storminess had taken over his blue eyes and his mouth was set in a firm line. My heart dropped to my stomach.
“What happened today, Kelley? Where were you?” I said, using his name for the first time. His fingers lingered on my face, he stroked my cheek with his thumb and I could feel the goosebumps erupting all over my arms.
“There is a war going on. Between us and another group,” he said and I grabbed his wrist at my neck and squeezed. I wanted to know more. I wanted to know everything.
“A war? What kind of war?” I asked. Our gazes were locked, it was quiet around us and the street lamps were the only source of light.
“We have to protect our territory, I have to keep the streets safe,” he said, and I could feel my breathing become ragged. There was so much I wanted to ask him, but I knew I couldn’t. I couldn’t push him. Commando was capable of opening up to me, I knew that. But he would have to do it in his own time.
“Safe from what?” I asked tentatively. Did I even want to know?
“Safe from the Black Skulls. And I need to keep you safe, princess,” he said as I held on to his arm. That was all he was going to tell me.
“Did you…?” I tried to get the words out. I needed to know if he had found Blaine yet. I didn’t care what happened to that bastard anymore. Commando clenched his jaw, his eyes piercing me and twinkling.
“Not for now,” he said and we remained silent for a few moments.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, breaking away from me. I felt like I had been holding my breath, and I sighed and then forced a smile on my face.
“I could eat,” I said and Commando led the way to his bike again.
“Good, because I’ve made enough to feed an army,” he said as he helped me up on his bike again.
I could feel my body thrilling, at the sight of him; tall and strong, his shoulders heaving, the muscles of his thighs moving swiftly as he threw his leg over his bike and sat down in front of me. I got a whiff of his masculine scent and my senses reeled. This was the sexiest man I had ever met, and I was going home with him.
Going home!
“Commando,” I said, just as he started his bike. I was hesitating to wrap my arms around his waist again.
“Ava,” he said, his head turning sideways to hear me better.
“What about the rule of your club? Big D told me that you guys are very strict about it. We shouldn’t be together. We shouldn’t be seen together,” I said and immediately regretted my decision to say anything. Weren’t things great the way they were? What more could I have wanted? Me saying this could possibly have ruined the night.
“Elwood knows. I told him,” he said and I felt that tingling in my fingertips again.
“Elwood?” I said and recalled that flashing smile he had given me as I left the bar that night.
“Yeah, he’s my father and he’s the President of the Club,” Commando told me and I bit down on my lip, trying to suppress a happy smile. He had told his father about us! I didn’t want to start harboring false hopes that this could actually mean something to him…that this was more than just fun for him. But he had told his father about us!
“Now hold on tight, princess, this is going to be a fast ride. I don’t want the spaghetti getting cold,” he said and I wrapped my arms around him, leaning my face tenderly on his back.
I was just realizing now, that this big strong man, who belonged to a hard motorcycle club and sometimes returned at night with his knuckles bruised and bleeding…had spent all evening cooking me spaghetti.