When he whispered to her in the darkness, his voice was like satin—smooth and cool. There was nothing rough or menacing about him. But he wasn’t soft. His muscles were lean. He was built with narrow hips and long legs.
Ryatt Donovan was fucking fit.
McKelle liked him because he didn’t give off player vibes. He might be a nice guy, but there was something about him.Rizz.He had a laugh that vibrated low in my gut, an easy smile, except when he was looking at me, then he looked pissed, which for me, made him even hotter. But even grimacing he had full, soft lips.
I wasn’t sure what concerned me more, that I’d gotten hard hearing him get my girl off or the physicalreaction I had to him. As they kissed, I wondered how he’d taste and how his lips would feel against my skin.
I had deep feelings for McKelle. Was it love? Fuck, if I knew. I only knew I’d never cared about anyone the way I cared about her. That she wanted exclusivity wasn’t about the sex for me. Exclusivity meant I was hers, and she was mine. If she wanted fidelity, I was still all in. I wanted to be a good boyfriend. I was trying.
I’d promised McKelle there wouldn’t be anyone else. But she hadn’t expected to bring another guy into our relationship. Not even I would’ve considered someone like Ryatt. Tell that to my dick and the filthy thoughts I was having about him and my girl.
After last night, she needed to be honest with herself, I needed to be honest with her, and if this sharing situation was going to continue, we needed to be honest with Ryatt, or someone was going to get hurt.
My heart hammered in my chest, matching the rumble of my bike between my legs. Once we left McKelle’s, Ryatt and I rode back into town. He veered off toward his NA meeting, and I flipped a U-turn.
Later today, we were meeting up at the MC. That wasn’t going to happen until I talked with McKelle. I turned onto the access road to her family’s property.
Linda was in the paddock with her horse. Cece hung on the fence. When she saw me, she waved, jumped down, and rushed over.
“Hi!” She legit looked happy to see me return. Not so much for McKelle’s dad as he stepped out of the garage, wiping his hands on a shop rag.
I dropped the sidestand and killed the engine.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked.
Ah fuck. Not the conversation I had in mind, but one that was long overdue, at least from his perspective. Icould go my entire life not having a father/boyfriend conversation.
I followed him into the garage.
“Adult conversation, sis. Go help your mom.”
Cece kicked a small rock. “Don’t leave without saying goodbye,” she said to me.
“Never.” I crossed my heart.
Lane pointed at the stool in front of his workbench. He sat on an overturned orange utility bucket. “I’ll talk. You listen. This is a one-sided conversation. I don’t need excuses or your promises, Cruz. I don’t think you’re a bad guy, but your poor choices affect McKelle. I admit, when you pulled up with McKelle on the back of your bike last night, I grabbed my gun.”
An injection of fear hit my bloodstream. I understood why he had issues with me. I’d emotionally hurt McKelle, but that was behind us. At least, I was trying to give her reasons to forgive me. To show her she could trust me.
But to pull a fucking weapon on me?
Lane’s brows furrowed. “Christ, Cruz, not to shoot you. Although, there have been times I’d like to beat some sense into you. I grabbed my gun because I wasn’t sure what you’d do to Ryatt when you discovered him waiting for her in the loft.”
He rubbed a hand over his forehead and exhaled an exasperated sigh. “I’ve never told her she couldn’t love who she loves. But I’ve told her you’re not good for her. I think Ryatt would be.”
Silence stretched between us as he stared hard at me.
“I don’t know what you want me to say.” My gaze narrowed. I knew exactly what to say to him. McKelle was mine. But Ryatt gave her something I couldn’t. He wanted her family, but also racing, soft whispers, andlaughter. But no way was he taking her from me. Because she’d branded herself on my soul, just as I’d done to her. “He would be good to her.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
“I don’t want to be disrespectful. You might not think I’m good for her, but I’m who she wants.”
“This week she seems to want Ryatt.”
I shrugged. “I’m not mad. I won’t tell her who to date. He might be temporary. We both know I’m not.”
“Ah, shit.” He rolled his shoulders. “Is he good with her dating both of you?”
