Page 31 of Bolt's Flame
Bolt’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought he might walk away. But then he took a step closer, his voice deceptively calm. “I’ve been out on club business, Fiona. You got a thing for him? ‘Cause if you do, tell me now.”
I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “You’re unbelievable, Bolt. You’ve got no right to ask me that.”
I turned to walk away, my heart pounding in my chest, but before I could take more than a few steps, I felt his hand wrap around my wrist, stopping me. His grip was firm but not harsh, and for a second, the tension between us was thick. You think I’d be afraid of Bolt right now, but I wasn’t. I knew no matter how angry he was that he would never hurt me.
“Wait,” he said, his voice softer now, almost pleading. “Don’t walk away.”
I paused, my back still to him, my heart racing. Part of me wanted to keep going, to let him stew in whatever twisted mess of jealousy he was dealing with. But another part of me—the part that couldn’t help but care about him—made me stop.
I turned back to face him, my eyes locking onto his. “What’s really going on, Bolt?”
He let go of my wrist, running a hand down his beard, the frustration clear on his face. “I don’t know, okay? I just—seein’ you with him, laughin’ like that — it got to me. It fucking pissed me off because I know he’s into you.”
“Why?” I asked, my voice quieter now, but still challenging him to be honest with me. “Why do you care? You made me think you wanted something with me and then you just ignored me all week. For all I know you’ve been running with some other woman, not meaning a word you said about wanting more with me.”
He hesitated, his gaze flicking away for a moment before coming back to mine. “I do want more with you. But I couldn’tafford any distractions and you’re one hell of a distraction. You’re all I think about, and that will get me killed out there.”
His words hit me deep, the raw honesty in them catching me off guard. I stared at him, my mind racing, trying to process what he’d just said.
“You could have just told me,” I muttered, my voice softer now but still holding a trace of bitterness. “You push me away, and now you’re acting like I’m doing something wrong by talking to someone else?”
“Yes, I should have just been upfront,” Bolt admitted, his shoulders sagging slightly. “I know I made a mess of this, alright? I don’t know how to handle this...us. You’re the first woman I’ve ever been serious about.”
I looked at him for a long moment, the anger and frustration starting to ebb away, replaced by something else. Something softer, more vulnerable.
“I’m not asking you to figure it all out right now,” I said, my voice steady. “But if you’re going to be in this, be in it. Don’t do this half-in, half-out stuff. I’m not playing games, Bolt. My heart can’t handle it. I’m dealing with too much right now.”
He nodded, his gaze steady on mine. “I’m in, Fiona. I just need to figure out how to stop screwin’ it up and juggle club business at the same time.”
I smiled, the tension between us finally breaking, if only a little. “Well, just being honest would be a start. Silence isn’t the way.”
For a moment, we just stood there, the warm night breeze whispering around us, the sounds of the clubhouse in the background. Bolt pulled me into his arms and murmured, “You sure you don’t have a thing for Gearhead?”
Bolt didn’t wait for my answer, but leaned down to take my mouth in a hungry kiss, pulling me closer. I let out a soft sigh,forgetting about all the worries that had been circling in my mind for days now.
“No,” I finally managed as we parted, breathless. “Gearhead’s nice, but it’s you I want.”
He let out a chuckle, the warmth of it radiating through me. Our connection was more than just physical; it was a bond that had been forged over not only attraction but an intimacy that was more about the soul, two people who were meant to meet.
It was a fanciful thought, but I felt it.
“Damn straight better stay that way,” he whispered into my ear before his fingers traced along my cheekbone, brushing back a strand of hair. “You’re sure you’re ready for this? A relationship so soon after...”
I answered with another kiss, pressing myself closer to him. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”
Bolt smirked then, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight as he held me closer. The sounds of the club faded into nothingness as we lost ourselves in each other. We moved together in the moonlight; everything about Bolt — his scent, his touch — was intoxicating.
“Promise me,” he murmured into my ear. “Promise me you’ll stick around, even when things get rough.”
“I promise,” I whispered back, my fingers tracing the rough outline of his jaw. The moon’s silvery glow reflected in his eyes, making them almost appear ethereal.
His nod was barely perceptible in the darkness. “Good,” he breathed, his voice thick and rough. He pulled me even closer, his strong arms encircling me in a tight embrace, his mouth coming down on mine again. God, he was one hell of a good kisser, the way his tongue stroked mine as his hands moved down to cup my...
“Fiona get inside.”
We broke apart at the sound of dad’s voice, a voice that was entirely too close. Oh God, how much did Dad see? I didn’t tell him about Bolt since he ignored me all week; I figured what was the point.
“Go inside Fiona,” Bolt said, giving me a gentle push. “I need to talk to Horse.”