Chapter 261: Keys
*You are either the bravest fucking idiot I know or the world record holder of stupidity. Either way, you’re a fucking stupid idiot. – Celt*
Cookie had kissed Karan on the cheek just before leaving. He and his crew had been working weekends and evenings to get the house ready for Rye and not interfere with their regular jobs. This morning he wanted to make sure everything was ready before Rye moved in.
When Karan woke up, Cookie and last night’s playmate were both gone. On the nightstand was a set of keys and a note in Cookie’s elegant handwriting declaring that he loved her, and the keys were for Chance.
She was talking to Taz when Chance walked in. As he passed by, Karan handed him the keys. He headed straight for the stairs and the room that Rye was staying in.
They met on the landing between the first and second floors. Chance could only grin at her. She wore jeans and a pink retro t-shirt with ATL on it. And of course, the practical black nonslip black tennis shoes. If there was anything that he disliked more than the Volvo it was those shoes.
Chance held out his hand in a closed fist with the keys tucked inside. Rye held her hand palm up expecting her own keys. When a key fob hit her hand, she looked at him confused.
“What’s this?”
“Car keys. There are others if you don’t like this one.” He said with a little shrug. “We can go by later today.”
The small smile faded, and her face hardened as her back straightened. Her eyes lost all emotion and her face was stoic. Placing them back in his hands she walked down the stairs. He caught up with her near the bottom.
“Rye.” Chance called and she turned to face him.
The whole place came to a standstill and looked at the quiet woman who had unknowingly brought the clubs biggest man whore to heel. She was pissed about something, and he was concerned. Whatever she was upset about, he was to blame.
“No.” Rye said simply before turning away from him.
“What about Michael?” Chance asked ignoring all the eyes on them. Especially the pale blue eyes belonging to the redhead who saw more than anyone wanted her to.
“What about Michael?” she demanded whirling around to face him again.
“What would have happened if you had broken down with Michael in the car? It’s bad enough that the damned Volvo doesn’t have heat. You were fucking freezing last night. He’s barely five pounds. You can’t carry him around like that.”
“He’s not your problem. And neither am I.”
“You’re not a problem.” He told her stepping in front of her and gently touching her gray patch of hair. “The two of you are far from being any type of problem.”
“Just a charity case.”
“No. Nothing like that.”
“I will not be in debt to a man like you.”
“What the hell does that mean?” he asked dropping his hand as his anger rose.
“You know how my mother paid her debts.” Rye whispered angrily. “I will not be indebted to you or any other man.”
He stood in shock for a moment as she walked towards the door. Shaking his head, he began to stalk towards her.
“Seriously? Is that really what you think of me?” he demanded.
“What else should I think of you?” She yelled back turning to face him. “Between your admission and all the women that talk about getting… done in your room, what else is there to think?”
“I haven’t stayed in my room in two months. Whoever they’re fucking isn’t me!”
Rye shook her head at him. “I won’t owe you.”
“I’m not asking you to pay me for it.”
“Men never do.” She stated.
“I’ve never paid for sex.”
“To quote my mother the night she sent a man into my room when I was fourteen, there’s a first time for everything.”
There were several sharp breaths taken around them as Karan and some of the others heard her statement. Rye stood defiantly knowing that she would never be seen the same way again. She would now be seen for exactly what she was.
The daughter of a whore.
Chance took two steps closer to her and grabbed her hand. Placing the keys in her hand, he wrapped her fingers around them. Keeping her fingers closed around the keys he placed his other hand on the back of her neck pulling her closer and tipping her head back.
“If you insist on paying me for it, there is only one thing that I want.”
His lips were tender against hers. Chance opened his mouth slightly and nipped at her bottom lip with his teeth. Rye gasped and he slipped his tongue inside her mouth running it along her teeth. Opening her mouth, he coaxed her tongue into a dance with his. Then he pulled his tongue back before lifting his head slightly before giving her another light kiss. After a final brush of his lips across hers, he moved away, keeping his hands on her.
Their eyes met and held as he moved his hand. His fingers barely touched her gray patch before he released her and walked away. Just as Karan pulled her into a hug, they heard his bike roar to life.
“Come on, sweet girl.” Karan said guiding Rye into the bar.
Nessie stepped behind the bar and flipped the lights on. Karan joined her at the end of the bar.
“I thought you said watching him fall in love would be fun.” Karan hissed.
“Aye, watching him fall was fun.” Nessie said turning and looking at the woman being swarmed by old ladies. “But watching her fall is going to hurt. A lot.”
