I study his face, and I can tell there's something he's not saying. But I also know that pushing him won't get me anywhere. So I just nod.
"Okay. Dinner at the clubhouse sounds good."
He kisses me, soft and sweet, right there in the school parking lot. "I'm proud of you," he murmurs against my lips. "For going back today, for being strong."
"I had a good reason to be strong." I kiss him again. "You."
We get in the truck, and as we drive toward the clubhouse, I rest my hand on his thigh. He covers it with his own, and we ride in comfortable silence.
Whatever's happening tonight, whatever reason Dime has for wanting us at the clubhouse, I trust him. I trust that he's doing what he thinks is best, that he's trying to protect me even when I don't know what I need protecting from.
And for now, that's enough.
The clubhouse comes into view, and I can see several bikes parked outside. More than usual for a weeknight. Dime parks the truck, and we head inside together.
Devil's in the kitchen, just like Dime said, and the smell of good food fills the air. Dani's sitting at the bar, and when she sees me, she jumps up.
"How was your first day back?" she asks, pulling me into a hug.
"It was good. Scary at first, but good."
"I'm so glad."
Storm and Lee are at one of the tables, along with a few other club members I recognize. They all nod at me when I walk in, and I feel welcomed in a way I haven't before. Like I'm not just Dime's girlfriend. Like I'm part of this family.
We eat dinner together, laughing and telling stories. Devil's cooking is incredible, and I find myself relaxing into the evening. Whatever tension I felt from Dime earlier seems to have dissipated, and by the time we're done eating, I'm full and content.
This is what family feels like, I realize. Not the family you're born into, but the family you choose. The people who show up for you, who care about you, who make you feel like you belong.
And as I sit there with Dime's arm around me and Dani laughing at one of Devil's terrible jokes, I know I've found exactly where I'm supposed to be.
Fourteen
Dime
The next morning, I wake up with Allison's leg hooked around my waist, her knee nudging against the morning wood that's making itself known. I groan when she moves her leg, and it rubs the tip of my dick.
"Fuck…" I mumble, grabbing hold of her hand that's trailing down my stomach toward the waistband of my boxer briefs. "Do we even have time for this?" My voice is gravelly as fuck. "We've both got to be at work."
She buries her face in my neck. "We've always got time for this."
Her hand slips beneath the waistband, and all thoughts of being responsible and getting to work on time fly out the window. I roll her onto her back, settling between her thighs, and she makes this sound that goes straight to my cock.
"You're going to be the death of me," I tell her, kissing down her neck, before going further and taking her nipple in between my lips, using my teeth to worry the nub.
"What a way to go though," she teases as she reaches down and hooks her fingers around my length.
I laugh against her skin, before taking her hips in my hands. I hold her tenderly while we take both of our clothes off. When we're both sweating and breathing heavily, I spread her thighs further apart and press easily into her body. As she holds on tightly, I show her exactly how much I want her.
We take our time, slow and sweet despite the fact that we're both supposed to be somewhere else. Her hands are in my hair, pulling just hard enough to make me groan, and when she comes apart beneath me, my name on her lips, I follow right after.
We lie there for a minute, catching our breath, and then reality crashes back in.
"Shit," Allison says, looking at the clock. "We really need to get up."
"Five more minutes."
"We don't have five more minutes." But she's smiling as she says it, running her fingers through my hair.
