Uncontrollable Temptations (Tempted #3)(15)

“Thank you,” I cried, trying to pull myself together. “Anyway, Jack came into the kitchen when I was having my meltdown. I don’t know when he came into the kitchen or why but I remembered hearing his voice and it pulled me out of my thoughts, out of the memories. I don’t know what it is about that man. I mean it’s crazy I barely know him. I can count on one hand, and that’s being generous, the facts I know about Jack.”

“What are they?”

“His name. How he likes his coffee is another. His club is called the Satan’s Knights and the only reason I know that is because when I was on the back of his motorcycle I was staring at his patch on the back of his leather jacket.”

“He’s part of the Satan’s Knights motorcycle club?”

“Yes,” I answered, narrowing my eyes toward her. “You’ve heard of them?”

“It sounds familiar,” she said passively. “So, what you are saying is that you feel safe with Jack? Am I right?”

I pondered her question for a moment before nodding my head.

“Yes amongst other things.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“I don’t feel like a freak. I know I hide from myself, from the world, but somehow he sees right through that. I feel like he sees me, who I was before the fire. It sounds ridiculous but the moment I wrapped my arms around him and held on tight, I felt alive. I didn’t remember what it was like to enjoy something until the moment he revved his engine. He took me away from the darkness, no questions asked, and brought me back to life,” I whispered. “He calls me Sunshine,” I said, my words more of a realization than a declaration. “Ironic isn’t it? Since he’s the one who brought light into my life, even if it was just for a short while.”

“Sounds like there is a connection between the two of you,” she said softly. “Maybe he sees something in you he can relate to.”

“Maybe, but it doesn’t matter. He hates me,” I said, leaning back against the sofa, my shoulders slumped in defeat. I was up half the night kicking myself for being so rude to Jack. I had no business insulting the man who helped me. But he was going to kiss me and I had to stop it. I had to stop it because I wanted it too. Jack not only breathed life into me with a ride on his motorcycle but with his mere existence. He made me feel things. With his touch, he jumpstarted those feelings I thought had died. He made me question if I could live again, really live and not just exist. I had forgotten every sensation, completely consumed by the numbness inside of me, until last night. And that scared me more than anything.

“Why do you say that?”

“I pushed him away. I insulted him and asked him to leave,” I cringed.

“And why did you do that?”

“Because I was scared if I didn’t push him away, I’d let him in. He has the power to unravel me, all of me, my secrets, my scars, my sorrows, everything with just one look,” I admitted.

“I don’t think that would be such a horrible thing,” she expressed, her eyes traveling the length of me as she looked at me thoughtfully for a moment. “It’s a nice change, Reina. Real refreshing to see,” she said, with a smile. “I think you owe the man an apology.”

I remained silent, leaving out how the napkin he had given me with his contact information felt as if it was burning a hole in my pocket.

My time was up so I shrugged my jacket on and thought about apologizing to Jack. I was never one for apologies, always tasted bitter in my mouth, but Jack deserved an apology. The thing was, after the way he left my apartment I wasn’t sure he’d even want to hear me say the words that always seemed to choke me up.

After I left Dr. Spiegel’s office I wandered around the city for a while. Today was my day off and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t want to stay in my apartment. I bought myself an overpriced cup of coffee and walked around aimlessly. I forgot how colorful New York was, how entertaining it was to just watch people live their lives. The hustle and bustle of the city, the constant rush—I missed it.

I stopped in front of a bakery, watching as a worker filled the display window with freshly baked goods, and then it came to me.

Cherry Pie.





Chapter Seven




I paid the cab driver, carefully balancing the pie in my hand, and climbed out of the car. I expected a house, or maybe even an apartment building but the address Jack gave me was to a large warehouse. I made my way past the fence that lined the perimeter of the property and crossed the parking lot. I don’t think I had ever seen so many motorcycles in one place before. Each of them were meticulously kept as they lined the front of the building. I felt the pangs of desire creep inside me, wishing I could get on the back of one again.

As I got closer to the men that were huddled around outside laughing, I could feel their eyes settle on me. I wasn’t sure if it was my heart that was pounding so loudly in my ears or if it was the music blaring from inside the warehouse.

“What do we have here?” A big burly man drawled as his eyes inspected me, violating me with just one stare.

My feet stilled, and I stared back at the man, my mouth agape, taking him in. He smiled creepily as he elbowed the biker beside him. “Look at what I found, Pipe. Hot damn, what a pretty little piece of ass.”

“Aye,” the beast called Pipe said. What kind of name was Pipe? I shook the ridiculous question from my head and licked my lips. “How you doing little lady?”