13. Under My Skin

Casey’s POV

In the silence, I felt a tension, but also this awkward feeling I just couldn't figure out. I was standing there with a guy I'd only known for a few days. A guy who kept dragging me into all these new, weird things in my life. Noah Adam. His gaze was intense, and his lips were so close. I'd almost never felt a pull this strong before. I was just trying to hide from my mom so she wouldn't catch me coming home with Noah, but this was making things way too intimate with him.

Footsteps were getting closer. I was worried it was my mom. I wanted to look, but I couldn't. If I moved even an inch, my lips would definitely touch Noah’s.

"Looks like you're enjoying this," Noah teased.

I smacked his chest, a brave move, but pure annoyance flared up.

"Shh, don't be noisy."

"Why don't you want to be seen with me in front of your mom?"

"My mom already knows you're in a biker gang. She doesn't like you."

"Why do people like you and your mom always think bad things about biker gangs?"

The footsteps got even closer. I was so worried my mom would actually see me with Noah. I pushed Noah deeper into the shadows, but suddenly, Noah’s body accidentally moved backward. Turns out there was an unlocked door behind us, covered by all the climbing plants. We couldn't even see it. We stumbled into the yard, falling, and I landed right on top of him.

"Wow, you're pretty bold, Casey." Noah actually smirked, teasing me.

My heart was pounding. This was way too intense. And the memory of my dream about having sex with Noah flashed back. My eyes widened. I must be going crazy. I immediately got up. Noah did too. I brushed off my clothes, even though they weren't dirty; it was just a distraction from how nervous I felt.

"Your cheeks are red," Noah said. "You're blushing."

"It's just the slap mark from earlier."

"But why are both your cheeks red? The slap was only on one side, wasn't it?"

Damn it! Noah was doing this on purpose. He wanted to mess with me!

"Can't you just shut up? Why do you love annoying me so much?" I grumbled, irritated.

Noah's hand suddenly clamped over my mouth. My eyes widened, trying to struggle.

"Your mom!" Noah whispered.

I panicked. My blood felt as though it had stopped flowing. Instantly, the wind blowing felt cold as it hit my skin. Crap. I totally forgot we were hiding.

"I thought I saw Casey just now?" My mom's voice came from outside. "She's here, right?"

I closed my eyes. Hoping she wouldn't catch me with Noah. Our position was terrible. If she saw Noah in her yard, she'd kill both of us.

"I must have seen something wrong. She's not here." My mom's voice sounded again.

My mom walked away. I heard her footsteps receding from where we were. Immediately, I peeked through the climbing plants, and so did Noah. He smiled at me, but his smile had a mocking edge.

"You lived in a big city before this, but why is your mom so possessive?"

"None of your business!" I immediately moved away from him. "Just worry about yourself. Your dad's a mayor, and you're in a biker gang!"

"Why not? Life needs challenges. I don't like monotonous things."

I sighed. That definitely wasn't an honest reason. There had to be something underlying why Noah did this. Was it because of that pretty woman, Rebecca? Was he mad at his dad for having another woman besides his mom? I don't know. I didn't care, and I didn't want to speculate.

My mom had apparently left, but strangely, she didn't take her car. She ordered an Uber. Why? Why didn't she use her car?

"What's wrong?" Suddenly, Noah's face was right next to mine. I immediately slapped him.

"What the fuck!" Noah clutched his cheek.

My eyes widened. His lip, which was already bleeding from fighting that jerk earlier, was now bleeding even more.

"Oh, no, no. You're bleeding, Noah." I panicked. My slap must have been too hard.

Noah wiped his lip with his hand. The blood was smeared on his palm. He looked at it with a blank, almost casual stare.

"Just a little bit," Noah mumbled.

"You're bleeding!"

"I know. Forget it. I gotta go."

"Where?"

Noah glanced at me, his lips forming a smile.

"You're so curious."

"I'm not curious. I'm just asking."

"I told you. You'll fall for me, eventually."

"Fuck you, Noah. Just go away! Don't bother me again!"

"I helped you, Bitch. Did you forget?"

Ah, damn it. I forgot I owed Noah one today. I couldn't be mad at him. It was annoying, but I was also grateful I made it home safe.

"Tomorrow you should go with your mom. If you want to go to college by yourself, make sure you walk in crowded places. Don't walk in quiet spots." Noah warned me.

"Are they going to look for me?"

"Yeah." Noah looked at me seriously. I realized that now I was accidentally involved in a biker gang feud. "You just need to listen to me. As long as you don't wander around aimlessly, they won't bother you. Next time, don't bring Lucas. He's a coward."

"But Lucas is nice to me! He's the only one I'm close to in class."

"Just listen to me! Don't argue." Noah's voice volume sharply increased. "I'm leaving."

Noah left, exiting through the door hidden by the climbing plants. For some reason, there was a feeling inside me that didn't want Noah to go. I felt empty after he was gone.

"What's wrong with me?"

***

Noah POV

I got to the Black Hell clubhouse just as the sun was setting. I really shouldn't have been here until things downtown were stable, but I had to come.

When I walked in, I saw James, Sherly, and Trish, one of our Black Hell members, chilling. Sherly was making out with James, while Trish was going wild. Sherly's really something else. She's a woman who can never get enough sex. James loves her and lets her do whatever she wants. James just wants Sherly to be happy, even though sometimes I think it's too much. I don't know. I'm no saint either, but I don't think I'm the type of guy who'd let my woman sleep with other guys.

I sat on the couch, watching this wild scene. Sherly's moans were super clear. Her curvy, hot body could always keep pace with her partner's speed in bed. Unfortunately, my mind wasn't focused on that.

"Noah, join us!" Sherly saw me and asked me to come over.

"I'm not in the mood," I replied.

James let Sherly go down on him. James's groans showed how much of a pro Sherly was. I just sighed a few times. It seemed too noisy here. I decided to go to the bar area and sit there instead.

My mind was wandering everywhere. I was bothered by Casey's appearance, and now, indirectly, I'd dragged her into this dark world I live in.

James came over, zipping up his pants. He probably knew I was here because something was bugging me.

"Why don't you finish with Sherly first?"

"Trish took over. Why the long face, Dude?" James patted my shoulder.

"Becky showed up downtown. He almost raped Casey on the street."

"You helped her?"

I didn't say anything, but James knew what I was thinking.

"I hate to say this, Noah, but you've dragged Casey into our world. Becky knows Casey was with you. You need to warn Casey. She needs to leave Wood Town."

I stared at James. "It's worse than that, James."

"What do you mean, Noah?"

"I used Casey. I introduced her to my dad as my girlfriend ."

"You're really messed up, Noah! You dragged a clueless woman into this dangerous feud. Why involve your dad and Casey?"

"My dad's been sniffing around. I needed a way to make him stop investigating me and Black Hell!"

"You're just making this more complicated, Noah! Casey's in danger, and you're putting Black Hell in the middle of this mess. I'm not scared of the Fallen Bike, but I don't want to go against the government. They're even more terrifying than the mafia!"

"That's my dad, James!"

"But you also know how messed up the government in this town is! I don't care if he's your dad, but you can't sacrifice Black Hell."

I massaged my forehead. I knew this was going to get complicated, and I'd figure out a way not to involve Black Hell, but something else was bugging my mind right now.

"So, you're seriously falling for that girl?" James asked, totally fishing. "Don't tell me you're doing all this just to protect her, Noah!”