How?I want to ask.
How the hell is he going to take care of a situation where a bullet is a finger’s press away from blowing my genius brain out? But he’s asking for trust, I realize. Just like I asked for his trust a couple days ago in that courtroom.
“Fuck this!” Gareth yells, and I scream when two shots ring through the air. I have a moment to question if it’s supposed to hurt. If I’m going to feel life slip from under my fingertips after the trigger has been pulled, but my feet stay rooted to the floor and the pain never comes.
Slowly, the grip on my arm loosens, followed by a loud thud.
And then I’m being pulled into familiar arms, a solid grip that sends my heart galloping for an entirely different reason. “Don’t look down, baby, I’ve got you,” Trigger whispers into my hair, burying my face into his chest so I don’t accidentally see whatever it is he just did to Gareth.
I’m too weak and shaky to fight him on that. “Is he dead?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he says just as I catch the sound of sirens and feet stomping toward my apartment.
Trigger guides me out of the apartment as cops flood the place, and it isn’t until we’re in the hallway that he pulls back from the embrace. His brows are drawn in concern as he runs his eyes over my face. I wince when he runs a finger over the bruise Gareth left behind. “Did that fucker hurt you anywhere else?”
“No.” I shake my head, looking up into his captivating blue eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think—”
“Fuck, baby,” he says, emotions thick in his voice as he pulls me back into the embrace. “I could have lost you to that maniac. Damn near killed myself on the way here. The thought of him hurting you…”
“I’m fine.” This time, I do the comforting, running a hand down his back. We stay like that for a while, until I feel a heavy presence watching from behind. I turn around and I’m met by my father’s hard eyes.
He clears his throat. “Thank you, Maeve, for exposing Gareth’s actions to me. I trusted that man for too long, and you never should have been exposed to a man like him. You could have been killed, and I only blame myself.” His voice catches, and there are tears in his eyes. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”
“We’re fine, Dad. Maybe you should thank Trigger for saving both our lives despite everything that was done to him.”
My father is a prideful man, but after a moment of hesitation, he faces the man he unknowingly helped ruin. “I regret what happened to you,” he says sternly. “I will personally see to it that all your charges are dropped, and I’ll petition the court to clear your record of previous convictions.”
I blink at that, stunned by my father’s words. It’s not an apology, but it’s the closest thing I imagine we’ll get from the man. He steps forward and I watch with amazement as he puts out his hand for Trigger to shake. “I would like to thank you for saving my daughter’s life. I’m forever in your debt.”
The dream doesn’t end with my father’s words, or even after the two shake hands. I feel like I’m in some kind of alternative universe as we give our statement, but my father sends us off, saying he’ll take care of the rest. A part of me still believes I’m in some kind of dream as I ride with Trigger to the clubhouse. He takes me to his apartment, helps me change out of my clothes and into his T-shirt, then tucks me into his bed.
“I just need to head down to update Saint, will you be okay for a few minutes?” he asks, reaching up and touching me and…I ache. I’m reminded of this morning when he left. I’m already so used to his little touches and caresses, but when he stormed out this morning, he didn’t touch me.
“Gareth said you slept with Anya for more than just one night.”
He shakes his head, rubbing a hand down my cheek. “It was just one night, but I think he assumed it was ongoing because she was seeing other men at the time too. Heck, I barely remember the night,” he says, brushing his lips over my cheek. “I never saw her again after that single encounter.” I close my eyes when he leans in to brush his mouth over mine. “Gareth obsessed over anight that meant nothing to either party. But I suppose I should thank him. In a roundabout way, he brought you to me.”
His words put me at ease, and I feel my insecurities slip away. “Okay,” I say with a smile. “You can go ahead and do what you need to do. I’ll be waiting here.”
“I won’t be long,” he promises with another kiss before he leaves.
I tug the covers over my shoulders and bury my face in his pillow. It smells like him, warm and comforting. A combination I desperately need now. I wait for exhaustion to carry me away, but I find it hard to settle.
“God,” I whisper, nuzzling his pillow with my nose as I feel pressure build up in my core. I inhale deeply and slowly, and I feel myself growing wet. It’s freaking inconvenient timing, but I can’t help it. I hump Trigger’s bed, rocking my hips slowly, but find no satisfaction.
After everything that’s happened, the last thing I should be thinking about is sex, but I find my hand sliding between my thighs. I close my eyes and bite hard on my lip as I rub my middle finger between my folds, whimpering at the sensation that rolls through my body.
My skin begs for those large hands and that firm mouth nudging mine to open for him. His tongue invading my mouth and pulling me into an erotic mating dance. I turn to lie on my back, shoving off the covers and spreading my legs. A whimper slips out as I tease my clit in slow strokes, picturing his hands teasing me. I imagine his hand sliding under the T-shirt and pinching my aching nipples until they’re overly sensitive.
I’m wet. So damp I can feel my juices slowly trickling down my thighs as I inch myself closer to an orgasm.
“Trigger,” I pant as my thighs begin trembling. “I’m so close…”
“Then let me get you there,” a deep voice murmurs into my ear, and my eyes shoot open to find Trigger hovering over me.
“What, when—”
He cuts my words off with a kiss. I moan when he slants his mouth over mine, his tongue slipping in and stroking softly against mine in the most delicious of moves. His hand reaches between my legs and nudges mine to the side before he starts stroking my clit.
