Page 19 of Tracked By Hound

One week.

That’s how long we’ve been playing house. We act like a normal couple in every sense of the word, not a woman and her temporary keeper.

Christ, what the hell is happening to me? I’m acting like this thing between us is forever, but it can’t be. At the end of the day, Chelsea is only here until her brother repays what he stole. A dark thought causes me gut to twist painfully. I’ve developed intense feelings for Chelsea, and she acts like she feels the same, but is she simply biding her time? Making the most of her situation until her brother comes to retrieve her?

As if sensing my presence, Chelsea turns and I watch as a blush creeps up her neck when she catches my stare. Just a single glance, and my world tilts on its axis. That sexy mouth stretches in a wide smile, and her eyes light up as she sets her phone aside and straightens to give me her full attention.

“Good morning,” she beams, reaching up to slide a curl behind her ear. “I made breakfast.”

I nod, my eyes firmly on her honey brown ones. “I see that.”

“You got home late last night, and I wanted to let you sleep in.” Chelsea takes a step forward but must see something in my face that makes her hesitate. “I hope I wasn’t making too much noise in the kitchen. I tried to be as quiet as…”

I’m already striding toward her before she can complete her statement. I wrap an arm around her waist and yank herhard against me, then I kiss her. Chelsea is clearly startled as she freezes for a second before her arms circle my shoulders and she’s kissing me back.

It’s unnerving.

That I need this as much as my next breath. Before Chelsea, there was no one. First came a family that never gave a shit about me and then an uncle who only let me stay because I could help him with his small garage. Then I joined the military when I turned eighteen because I had no idea what to do with my life, spent eight years of my life learning how to track bad guys for Uncle Sam on the other side of the world before coming home to do pretty much the same thing for the Steel Rebels.

Then I met her, and suddenly, I had everything.

I am a fool to allow myself to get lost in the light of a sun that will soon be taken from me. To get drunk off her lips. but I can’t help myself. The same way I couldn’t stop myself from falling for her.

Chelsea sighs into the kiss, the sound deep and content. It brings to the surface an animal inside of me, and in the blink of an eye, I have her against the counter, licking into her mouth like a hungry man. With her so close, surrounded by her soft body and addictive scent, my mind goes blissfully blank. I kiss her with complete abandon, my lips clinging to hers like she holds the air I need for my lungs, and she responds in kind. Her body is pliant against mine, her little whimpers turning into moans when my hands drop to her pert ass, squeezing the perfect mounds with my hands. My dick is hard as steel, and I realize that if I don’t pull back, I’ll soon have her bent over the counter, fucking her into oblivion.

Chelsea whines when I break the kiss, those gorgeous eyes blinking up at me in confusion, and I almost give into thedesperate need to fuck her where we stand, but I can’t. I’m already running late for the meeting Saint set up yesterday. I’ve been neglecting my duty to the club and spending too much time holed up in here with her.

“That was my apology,” I say, my voice rough even to my own ears. “I can’t stay for breakfast.”

Her face falls, and I force my eyes away from her swollen lips, pushing back the need to damn it all to hell and kiss her again. I wish we could make love in the kitchen like we did yesterday morning. I’d lay her on the counter and eat out that pussy until she’s all warm and wet for my cock. We could make love in the kitchen and then move to bed, spend the rest of the day huddled together until the sunlight fades. But I have a duty to the club. One I’ve been overlooking.

“I have a meeting with Saint,” I tell her. “We have a lot to do, and I’ll probably be downstairs all day.”

Chelsea smiles, circling a finger around my peck. “It’s so tempting to try and convince you to stay,” she says, and I have no doubt in my mind that she would succeed. In fact, she wouldn’t have to use that much effort in her attempt.

“I’ll be thinking of you the entire time,” I promise, taking her hand and bringing it to my lips. She blushes at the move, the pink in her cheeks deepening into a pretty red, and once again, I’m tempted to stay.

“Miss me,” she whispers, leaning in and brushing her lips over mine before pulling back. She leans against the counter and angles her body to reveal her shapely legs and the sexy outline of her tits. “See you later.”

Fuck, now how the hell am I supposed to focus on the meeting with the image of a half-naked Chelsea floating in my mind? When did my shy virgin become such a siren? I forcemyself to walk away, adjusting my erection as I move toward the door, hoping it goes down before I get to the office, and grateful that it’s a bit easier to conceal tucked into the waistband of my tight jeans.

Saint is not alone when I get to his office, but I am not surprised to find the club’s VP, Knox, present as well. But seated on the leather couch across from him are Gray and Scarlett. Now them, I am surprised to see. Scarlett is the daughter of the Chrome Vipers’ late president. A month ago, Gray was sent to spy on our rival MC and find evidence of their involvement with trafficking women and auctioning them. While falling in love, he and Scarlett were able to prove that the Vipers were indeed the scumbags we thought they were and brought them down. The money that was earned through their illegal activities was set aside to open and fund a women’s shelter.

The same money Chelsea’s brother stole.

“You’re right on time, Hound,” Saint calls out when I let myself in, slowly closing the door behind me. I nod to the others before walking to the only empty chair in the office. “Another sum was deposited to the account two days ago.”

Saint’s words give me pause, and for a panicked moment, I imagine Chelsea’s brother covering the amount and taking her away. I thought I had a month with Chelsea. It’s only been a week, goddamnit! I force my hammering heart to calm down as I ask, “In full?”

“No, we’re still short two hundred grand.”

I try to hide my relief at his words, keeping my expression carefully neutral. Though it isn’t lost on me that somehow Ransom has managed to come up with over half the sum in only one week. He’s clearly motivated to get his sister back sooner rather than later. “So, what is it you wanted to discuss?”

“Right,” Saint claps his hands and turns to the couple. “I called Scarlett here because the money that was stolen was hers to begin with, and since she’s also a whiz with math and did all of her father’s accounting, we need her help to see if we can go ahead with the shelter even without the full funds.”

“Then what is he doing here?” I ask, nodding toward Gray, whose hand is firmly clasped with Scarlett’s.

“I go where she goes,” the man says, and I snort, putting on a disgusted look at the cheesiness, all the while pretending I don’t want to leave this room and seek out Chelsea.

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