Chapter Six
Amber
Amber sat quietly in a chair behind her brother listening to the meeting. After her outburst, she was fuming. She had never been so pissed off, listening to them talk like she wasn’t even there. Like who the fuck does that? Then the Neanderthal in the back of the room had to open his mouth. By then, she’d had enough.
Then the guy in the back stood up again and made another smartass comment, she really thought Devin would go ape shit on him, she could feel the anger rolling off him in waves. However, she was surprised to see that it was actually Reaper who defended her. Surprised and turned-on as fuck.
She was even more astonished at how that made her feel. Viper was as tall as Reaper, but where Reaper was layer after layer of muscle, Viper was lean. He was smart-mouth jackass, while Reaper smooth confidence. And the strength, the protectiveness, that Reaper showed was hot as Hades! Amber knew she would be changing her panties after this meeting. No way could she spend the rest of the day in wet underwear.
Amber watched as Reaper walked back to his seat. Their eyes met and she could see the tight grip he was keeping on his control. She couldn’t help but wonder, if she wasn’t in the room, would he have held back as much as he was.
The meeting continued with the group coming up with a plan. Around the clock watches, scouts checking out local Velvet Blood stomping grounds. Devin figured he would look for Ratchet before Ratchet came looking for Amber.
Amber answered questions when they were directed at her, but otherwise she kept quiet for the remainder of the meeting. How did her life get so messed up, she wondered? All she wanted to do was going back to when things were normal. Living in her tiny apartment, working all day, then sleeping alone all night.
Well, maybe not the sleeping alone part, she thought to herself. She wouldn’t mind Reaper sleeping in the bed next to her though.
Lost in thought, Amber didn’t realize the meeting was over until Devin touched her shoulder, making her jump. “Damn it! You scared the hell out of me!”
“Daydreaming?” Devin laughed.
“Something like that,” she told him.
“Care to share?” he asked.
“Not no, but hell no!” she laughed.
“Hmmm. That interesting huh?” he laughed.
“Something like that,” Amber smiled at him. “I guess I’ll head back to your room. Unless you need something else from me?”
“Actually, Reaper is going to take you back to your apartment so you can get your clothes,” he said.
Amber looked over to where Reaper was standing, talking to another biker. Did he really want to take her, she thought? After last night, she doubted it.
“You can’t take me?” Amber asked Sledge.
“No. Reaper has a truck here at the clubhouse. I can’t really haul clothes back on my bike. Plus, I have some more calls that I need to make. Don’t worry Amber, he’ll keep you safe,” her brother reminded.
“I know, but I’m sure he doesn’t want to play taxi driver and babysitter all day,” Amber replied.
“Do you need a babysitter?” he inquired, rolling his eyes.
“What the hell! Did you just roll your eyes at me?” she asked astonished. “Devin Derek Parks! I will slap them eyes straight out of your head. Roll’em at me again!”
Sledge chuckled, “You better grow a set first little sister.”
“Please! Don’t think that just because I’m a woman, that I don’t carry a set of balls. I just wear mine higher than you,” she retorted, pointing at her breasts, “Helps to prevent chaffing.”
The two siblings burst into laughter, causing several of the Henchmen to turn and stare in their direction. Getting serious, Amber asked, “You don’t think Reaper would let you borrow his truck to drive me to my apartment?”
“Really Amber? You think I haven’t noticed the way he looks at you? Or hell, the way you look at him? Because I do.” Now it was Amber’s turn to roll her eyes.
“Let me tell you little sister, if there is one person who I think even closely deserves you, it’s Reaper. I trust that man with my life. But be careful. He has a past that continues to creep up on him from time to time,” Devin warned. “Either way, he already agreed to take you. So go!” Devin said, pushing her towards the door.
Amber looked at him, really looked at him. If she didn’t know better, she would think her brother was playing match-maker. But that wasn’t Devin’s thing...was it?
Amber walked away from her brother, shaking her head and approached Reaper. She’d have to examine Devin’s words more later. Maybe she could figure out what he was trying to tell her, other than the obvious. Coming to a stop next to Reaper, he looked down at her and smiled. That one gesture sent a horde of butterflies to her stomach.
“You ready Peaches?” he asked.
“Yep,” Amber said and turned to glance at her brother. Devin was across the room talking to someone, but looked her way and gave a wink.
Amber shook her head and turned back to Reaper, smiled, and started towards the door. Reaper walked behind her with his hand on her lower back. The pressure felt good, reassuring. Devin’s words were still rattling in her head, as Reaper steered her down the hallway and into the bar area of the club.
Did Reaper really like her? How could he? He knew literally nothing about her. And even so, could she trust another man again? After all, look where that got her all her life! Every damn man she encountered. All let downs. All liars. Was Reaper really any different?
“What’s on your mind Peaches? I can smell the wheels turning in that pretty head of yours.” Reaper said quietly.
“Just thinking about something my brother said to me,” she replied, a confused look on her face.
“Oh? What was that?” he asked.
“It’s silly really,” she laughed. “Devin seems to think you like me because of the way you look at me,” Amber said, like it was no big deal. Like she wasn’t fishing. Throw out a line, and see if he bites, Amber thought to herself.
Reaper suddenly stopped walking. Amber turned to look at him and couldn’t help but laugh. A real laugh. He looked totally uncomfortable, it was hilarious. And he bit, she thought reaching for his hand.
“Come on Zander. I need clothes or I’ll be forced to walk around here naked,” she told him, deciding not to think too much about the new information she was gathering.
“I don’t fuckin’ think so. Nobody is seeing you naked. If they did, I would be forced to kill them,” Reaper said in a serious voice.
Where the hell did that come from? she thought to herself.
She wasn’t his. What did he care if someone else saw her naked? There was a huge difference between being protective and being controlling. Considering Reaper knew little to nothing about her, and they were not in a relationship, his comment sounded more on the controlling side. Amber knew she should be irritated about that, but she could tell he did care. Maybe Devin was right. Maybe he did like her.
Amber stopped for a minute and just looked at him. She had no doubt that he meant what he said, he wouldn’t let anyone see her naked; but would he let himself? And why did that question seem to turn her on even more? Holy shit! What the hell was wrong with her?
Reaper put his hand on her back again, and escorted her out of the main door and into the parking lot. If what Devin said was true, Amber knew that from this moment, everything would change. Oh hell...today was going to be another crazy day, she thought as she walked toward the line of vehicles.