Savage: Iron Dragons MC by Olivia Stephens

complaint or expression of discomfort. She had been the rock that had steadied his labored breathing and worried thoughts. If it had not been for her presence, Keith wasn’t sure what he would have attempted.
     
    Once she had patched him up and he was feeling better however, Keith’s anger had abated and sense had slowly crept back into the forefront of his mind. He knew he could not attempt to get close to Kovic again so soon, and he realized that he needed to be smart in order to achieve his end goal. He still wanted revenge on the man. That had not changed. What had changed was the knowledge that his actions would set off a chain reaction that would affect everyone who surrounded him, so he had to be careful. He had to protect those he cared about. It only mildly surprised him that he now included Kristina in that group.
     
    It was on the heels of this thought that he recalled the last few moments in Kristina’s dorm room. He could feel the moment before it had happened. She was asking about him; she was interested in his past, in his life and in his choices. He could see the interest; the curiosity burn behind her eyes, and it lit this fire inside him that he couldn’t quite understand. He answered her questions as best he could, and he could see the respect in her eyes grow. He felt his breast swell with pride, as her reactions turned emotional and she started to lean towards him.
     
    Keith understood three things in that moment. The first was that Kristina was going to kiss him. The second was that he desperately wanted her to kiss him, and the third was that he was terrified of what would happen afterwards. It was the last thought that dominated, and in the end, he had pulled away and made an abrupt departure. So abrupt in fact, that he had not even bothered to thank her for the way she had helped him.
     
    Keith opened his eyes, but her face was still looming in front of him, a constant reminder that his life was starting to change. Keith tried to shake away her image, but even after he had washed, dressed, and eaten breakfast, Kristina’s image still lingered.
     
    “I should thank her,” Keith whispered to himself.
     
    He got on his motorcycle and sat there for a few minutes, wondering whether he should head straight for the garage or if he should head in the direction of the campus. He battled with himself for a long time before he finally admitted defeat and wheeled his bike around towards Kristina. It took him less than ten minutes to get there. The dorm was more crowded than the last time he had been up there, and he didn’t miss the passing glances and the suspicious stares he was afforded by the students who passed him in the halls.
     
    He made it to Kristina’s dorm room and knocked once. When the door opened, it was not Kristina that stood before him, but a taller woman with light eyes and dark hair. The expression of annoyance on her face froze there for a moment before it turned into one of worry.
     
    “Who are you?” she asked in a tone that suggested she already knew.
     
    “My name is Keith,” Keith replied. “I’m… a friend of Kristina’s.”
     
    “A friend?” the girl replied, as though she didn’t believe it. “Are you from Lee and Seton Motors?”
     
    “Yes,” Keith nodded. “Are you the roommate?”
     
    She narrowed her eyes infinitesimally. “I am,” she said. “The name’s Marie.”
     
    “Nice to meet you,” Keith said in an attempt to be cordial.
     
    “Kristina’s not here,” Marie said abruptly.
     
    “When will she be back?” Keith asked.
     
    “I… not anytime soon,” Marie said a little too quickly.
     
    “You’re a bad liar.”
     
    “And you shouldn’t be here,” Marie countered without missing a beat.
     
    “Why not?” Keith demanded. “It’s a free country.”
     
    “That doesn’t give you the right to do whatever the hell you want,” Marie said pointedly, and Keith got the feeling that she had read up on all the local news