Six Months Later
COPPER
It’s hard to believe it’s been six months since Bella and I moved in together. I miss my family, but I keep in touch with Coal as and when I can. And I know Bella does the same with her family.
While I looked forward to living with Bella, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve only ever lived with my family and my brothers in the clubhouse. We were loud—some would say obnoxiously so—apart from Nickel. He was the quietest and preferred his own company but joined us if he felt like it.
Bella reminds me of him. She’s more comfortable with numbers than people, and she’s the perfect housemate. Tidy and happy to help around the house. Unsurprisingly—given her mother’s role in running the café over in Fitheach—she’s a kickass cook. And she has a great sense of humour.
We settle into a routine of getting up stupidly early—I’m talking dark o’clock — and going for a two-mile run. After, we go to the gym available to residents, then return to the apartment to get ready for work.
The first two weeks just about killed me. I thought I was fit, but I was nowhere near as fit as Bella. She’s a good trainer, though, and I’m now fitter than I’ve ever been, despite her putting me on my ass more often than not when it comes to fighting. The first time I managed to get her on the ground, she jumped up with a cheer, grabbed my hand, and held it above my head like a winner. I laughed, but she made me feel good about the win. I love seeing her happy, which only makes me work harder.
We reached a point where she’d taught me all she knew, so we joined a local martial arts and boxing gym. This meant I could train with men, which suited me better because I hated hurting Bella and was holding back. I loved the new gym, and Bella said the Crawan Gym, owned by the Crow MC, was run much the same way.
When this is all over, I’ll have the brothers vote on starting a gym as a business. We’re far out of the city, but I’m sure those serious about their fitness would be happy to travel.
After our morning training, we leave for work at the same time, and I always kiss Bella goodbye at her car. When we first moved in together, we were under constant surveillance. I don’t think they’re watching anymore, but I’m not going to say anything because I live for those early morning kisses. I think Bella does, too, because she hasn’t stopped me.
Those kisses are as intimate as we get, even though we share a bed. Sharing a bed with the woman I’ve wanted for so long is wearing on my control. Our morning kisses are my reward for keeping my dick in my pants, even when I wake with her cuddled against me. For a woman who’s not overly affectionate out of bed, she’s like an octopus in bed.
It makes me wonder what she’d be like if she relaxed enough to let someone in. One day, I’ll find out, but that day isn’t today.
Knowing we’re running late for work, I break our morning kiss and rest my forehead against Bella’s. A smile tugs at my lips as her lashes flutter on her cheeks before she opens her eyes. They’re so beautiful, I could drown in her gaze.
“Have a good day, Spice,” I murmur, stepping away and getting on my sled.
She laughs at my nickname as she gets into her car.
“I will, Sugar.”
I’m Sugar to her Spice. It fits, even if the guys I work with think we’re nuts.
Bella goes to her office around the corner from where I work as a mechanic. Like every day, my stomach clenches as she disappears, knowing I’ll worry about her until I see her again this evening. Some days, my concern gets the better of me, and I call her so we can meet up for lunch.
It’s what I would do if we were in a real relationship. While the surveillance of us seems to have relaxed, we still have to make everything look normal.
We’ve gone from strangers to friends as the months have passed. It happens naturally as we spend so much time together. The more comfortable Bella becomes with me, the more she opens up, especially about what happened between her and Sam. My heart aches for her. Even now, years later, I can still see her hurt and know she still has feelings for him. It guts me, but I also know she won’t be able to move forward until she forgives herself.
I listen and comfort her when she needs it. She’ll learn in time that I’ll do anything for her.
My favourite day is Friday when we both leave work early, order a takeaway, and spend the evening watching movies. She’s a fan of blow ‘em up action movies, which is another plus in her favour. Not that I really watch them. I much prefer watching the expressions on Bella’s face as she shouts instructions at the screen, then huffs when the actors do the opposite. It amuses me, and I end up laughing.
“They’re so stupid. Now they’ve been caught.” She mutters, glaring at me like it’s my fault.
“It’s a movie, Bee. It’s entertainment.”
“Not for me. They give me heart palpitations.”
“Come here.” I lift my arm, and she curls up against me. “Switch your big brain off and enjoy the movie.”
She grumbles and mutters but curls up against me and settles down.
I live for Fridays because I know we’ll spend the entire evening together, and nine times out of ten, she ends up snuggled against me. We don’t have much downtime for the rest of the week, but Friday nights are ours. We don’t discuss our assignment on those evenings—it’s an unspoken rule between us.
As expected, it takes time for Bella to earn the trust of her boss at work, but as time passes, she’s given more responsibility and gradually gains access to high-profile ledgers. This is when she notices discrepancies.
I’m pulled from an oil change when my phone rings. Stripping off my gloves, I’m surprised to see it’s Bella.
