Page 46 of Protected by the Biker (Grim Reaper MC)
“I’m fine,” she said, still holding onto my hand. “I won’t get out of your sight, mom.”
The woman chuckled, rolled her eyes, then left the two of us alone. I walked her towards the back of the bar. The music was quieter back there, and it was easier for us to hold a conversation without yelling at the top of our lungs. There were a few people scattered around in the lounge-type area. Three couches were positioned against the wall, and there were some bar stools that aligned a large, glass window that allowed you to look at the bar and onto the dance floor. We took a spot on the couch. She crossed her leg over the other. I couldn’t take my eyes off the portion of her thigh that was exposed as soon as her leg lifted up.
“My name is Harrison.”
“Carina. It is nice to meet you.”
She extended her hand for a formal introduction. I shook it firmly, but still with a hint of delicacy.
“I’m sorry, I should’ve gotten you a drink.”
“Oh, no,” she said, sliding her hand onto my leg after we released our grasps with each other, “I don’t need any more of those. I’ve had my share for the night.” She giggled and put her hand over her mouth.
“So, tell me about yourself? Are you single? I don’t want to intrude.”
“Yes. I am single. I have been single for just over a year now, so it has been a while since I’ve been in a relationship. In fact, it has been a while since I’ve even gone out. My friend, Freya, the one who talked to you before you took me over here. She is my best friend, and if it weren't for her, I would probably still be at home, grading papers and whatnot.”
“Papers?” I took a sip of my drink. “So, you’re a school teacher?”
“Yes. I teach third grade.”
“A school teacher? Nice.”
“Yes. I love my little buggers.” I skimmed the surface of her body with my eyes while she pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “So,” she continued, “what do you do?”
“I um–”
“Oh, wait,” she clapped her hands together once. “Let me guess. Can I guess? I bet you I can get it right.”
I smiled. “Shoot.”
“CEO?” I shook my head. “Um, fire man?” Another wrong answer. “Stripper?”
I chuckled. “Are you telling me what you wish I were, or are you making educated guesses?”
Her hand found its way to my chest as she laughed. “No, no I’m not telling you what I wish you were. I mean, you just have that aura about you. And,” she licked her bottom lip, “it doesn’t help that you are so well put together.” I let out a chuckle and she blushed.
I put my arm around her on the back of the couch and she scooted closer to me. The faint music thumped beyond the thick glass between us and the dancefloor. Comfortable silence permeated between us, which surprised me. How did being around her feel so natural? We watched men and women move around to the beat of the music. Some ground on each other while the rest danced with a little bit of space between them.
“So, Harrison, what do you really do for a living?” Carina asked, breaking the silence.
“I guess you can say that I have my own business. I am into stocks and bonds and things like that.” I went to my normal go to whenever someone outside of the department asked what I did.
“Oh, really? Shouldn’t you be somewhere on Wall Street?”
“Nah. I’m good where I am at right now. I make enough to live wherever I please.”
“I see.”
Just then, Freya walked into the lounge area. She smiled as soon as she saw the two of us sitting close to each other. “Wow, I didn’t expect this,” she said as she walked closer. “Are you ok, Carina?”
“Yes, I am fine.”
“Ok. Well, we are getting ready to go to another spot, so come on.”
“Um,” Carina hesitated, “but… what if I don’t want to go?”
“What?”
“What if I don’t want to go… just yet.” Freya looked confused as she stood in front of us with her hands propped on each side of her hips. Carina sighed, then looked at me.
“Hold on for one second, ok, Harrison?”
I nodded my head, and with that, she got up and pulled Freya away from me. They stood on a couple feet away from me, talking back and forth. I couldn’t make out anything they were saying, but the whole time, I was fixated on everything below Carina’s waist. She had some curves on her, and all I wanted to do is know what those thighs felt like wrapped around my hips.
Freya glanced at me a few times as the two of them spoke. Moments later, the both of them walked back towards me.
“Listen,” Freya said as she pulled out her phone, “I want your name and number right now, alright?”
I looked confused as Carina sat down next to me. Freya stood in front of me, waiting impatiently. “I’m serious. Name and number. Well, she already told me your name, so I just need your number.”
“Good Lord, Freya,” Carina said, laughing. “I told you to let me take care of it.” She cleared her throat and looked directly at me.
“My girls are ready to go, but I am enjoying my conversation with you. So, I told her that I was going to stay and then when it was time to go, I would just call for an Uber or something. She is vehemently opposed to that–”
“Damn straight I am!” Freya added.
Carina shook her head, then continued. “The only way she would be cool with it was if she got your name and number so she could call the police if anything went wrong.”
“I need it all. Name, number, address, social security number, mother’s maiden name, what High School you went to? I need all that shit.”
I laughed as Freya stood in front of me, completely devoid of the friendly smile that she had when she first came back here with us. I liked how protective Carina’s friends were.
“Freya, I know this is your best friend, and I can assure you that I will not bring any harm to her. In fact, whenever she calls for her ride, I will make sure she gets in there safely. But, for your comfort, I will give you my name and address. Alright?” Freya stared at me as if she were trying to decide how genuine I was. Finally, she gave in and smiled.
After she got my info, she glared at me, then quickly looked at her friend. “Carina, I will be calling you at the top of the hour, every hour. If you do not pick up your phone, I am calling the police. I do not want you to text me because he could just send a text from your phone. I want to hear your voice; do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, mother, I will answer my phone.”
“I am not playing, Carina.”
“Ok, ok. But, I will be fine, ok? I am not drunk, so don’t worry.”
Freya lingered in front of us for a few more seconds before she spoke up.
“Ok. Call if you need anything.” She leaned forward and gave Carina a hug and at the same time, she sent one last threat in my direction.
“I will have the police on your ass like wet on water. My uncle is a cop, so yeah, you better not be a fucking psycho.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Finally, she turned and left the two of us alone. I let out a loud laugh.
“Wow. She really cares about you, doesn’t she?”
“Yes. Yes, she does. We have been friends since middle school, and I know she would give her life just to make sure I am ok.”
“That is a good thing. I haven’t had too many friends like that in my lifetime, so, I can’t really relate.”
We sat quietly for the next few minutes. When I looked at my cell phone, the clock just dipped past 1 am. I didn’t realize how quickly time had gone by since we had been together.
“You want to come with me? There is a balcony on the top of this building that nobody knows about. We really aren’t supposed to be up there, but I know a few ways around that. There is a good view of the Chicago skyline.”
“Sure,” Carina smiled.
I stood up as she joined her hand with mine and with that, we walked through the crowd in the bar. I held tigh
tly to her hand, occasionally glancing back at her to make sure that she was ok. After we cleared the double doors and stepped into the hallway, we headed down the corridor and walked to the stairway.
“Stairs? We can’t take the elevator?” she asked, looking up the twelve flights of stairs.
“No, no elevator. I mean, we aren’t supposed to be up here, remember?” I could see the hesitation on her face and suddenly, I squatted down. “Come on.”
“Come on, what?”
“My back. Hop on. I’ll be your elevator.”
She laughed. “Are you fucking serious? Twelve flights of stairs? And you’re going to carry me?”
“Come on. The elevator is going up right now.” I looked behind me as a confused smile stretched onto her face. “Come on, Carina. Trust me. Climb on.”
