His gaze dipped to my chest. “I’ve noticed, Sunshine. Believe me, I’ve noticed.”
“So now it’s time for us to take care of each other. I don’t need you looking out for me like you used to, but I need you in other ways.” My lips split into a sassy grin.
“What kind of ways might those be?” His brows arched while a smile played at the corner of his lips.
“I think you know.” There wasn’t a quick answer to sum up all the ways I needed Priest in my life. Hewasmy life.
“You’re going to be the death of me, Sunshine. I’m not sure this old heart of mine can keep up with you.”
“Good thing it’s not your heart I want right now.” I reached down and closed my fingers around his shaft at the same moment his phone vibrated on the bedside table.
He shot a glance at his phone.
“Are you seriously considering answering that right now?”
“It’s Stone. He might have a report on those two assholes.” He reached for the phone. “Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” With my hand still wrapped around his cock, I nuzzled into him while he answered.
“Talk to me.” Priest held the phone so close to his ear that I could only hear his side of the conversation. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
I didn’t like the way his heart hammered deep in his chest or how his muscles tensed under my cheek. Something wasn’t right.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll have her there ASAP.” He cut the call and looked down at me, his eyes two dark pools of regret. “That was Stone. They picked up a guy from Savage Bones outside of Stella’s overnight. He said Eight Ball is coming for me and is planning on burning my place to the ground.”
“No!” I pushed myself up to a seated position. “Why would he do that?”
Priest climbed off the bed and pulled on his jeans. “Because he’s an asshole with a grudge who thinks I cost him several thousand dollars in business. We’re going to have to cut this short. I’m taking you to the clubhouse, where you’ll be safe.”
I took my bra and shirt from his hands. “Wherewe’llbe safe. That’s what you meant to say, right?”
He knelt down by the side of the bed and cupped my cheeks with his palms. I sensed the conversation was headed in a direction I wasn’t going to like.
“I’ve got to go after him. Stone said they got a report he’s holed up at a cabin up the mountain.”
“No.” I shook my head so hard, it seemed like I could feel my brain rattling against my skull. “Absolutely not. We finally found our way to each other. I’m not going to risk you getting hurt or,”—my voice cracked— “or god forbid, losing you. Find another way. You can’t leave me.”
“I’m not leaving you, baby. You’ll be safe at the clubhouse, and I won’t be going alone. I’ll have the best guys on the mountain right next to me, and we’re trained for this shit. Eight Ball and his band of merry misfits won’t know what hit them. But I won’t be able to do anything unless I know you’re safe. Promise me you’ll stay at the clubhouse until I take care of things?”
He made sense. The men he hung out with had decades of experience. There was no reason to believe they wouldn’t be able to handle themselves against Razor, Eight Ball, and their friends. I just couldn’t believe it had come to this.
“I need to hear you promise, Sunshine.”
I nestled my cheek into his palm and stared deep into his eyes. “Fine. I promise. But you need to make me a promise too.”
“Anything. Name it, and it’s yours.”
“Promise you’ll come back to me. Half a night with you isn’t enough. I want a lifetime of them.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners. “That’s an easy promise to keep because I want the same thing. You have my word that I’ll come back to you. I’ve got big plans for us.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and clung to his shoulders. There was no reason to believe he wouldn’t do exactly what he said and come back to me. But deep down inside, a tiny sliver of worry festered. I tried to ignore it. Life wouldn’t be so cruel as to finally give me the man I loved, then rip him away.
“We need to get going. Grab anything you need to take.” He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead, then rushed from the room.
I finished getting dressed. Besides my laptop, I didn’t have anything important at his place. Hopefully, that would change. I cast a quick glance around the bedroom and was drawn to the photographs on the wall… my dad’s work. If someone really was planning on burning down the cabin, I wanted to save the pictures.
“You ready?” Priest re-entered the room with a large duffel hanging from his shoulder.
