I don't know what to say to that, he has a point, I haven't spoken to her about this. I know how I feel about her, and I think I know how she feels about me. But how do I get that message across without sounding like a dick?
He blows out a breath and shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Ice, but I just can’t say yes to this. Give it another few weeks, brother. Talk to her about it, then bring it back to the table."
I swallow the lump in my throat and then shake out of Wrath’s grip. "I know how I feel about her, I know how she feels about me. It doesn't matter that it's only been a few weeks, another few won’t change our feelings. She's fucking mine, whether you recognise it or not, and I will do whatever I have to, to protect her and Mason," I spit out, pushing my way past Prez and the other brothers near the door. I storm out of Church in search of my girl.
Chapter Forty-Five
I'm so fucking angry right now. I can't believe he fucking said that. But what makes it worse is that I know he's right to an extent. Not about it being for life, I know that shit, I want it for life, but the fact that I haven't discussed it with her. I know how she feels, or I think I do. She's so fucking receptive to me, I know that she trusts me, but I don't know if she'd want to be claimed, I don't know if she would want this for life.
I stop outside of the door, listening to her playing piano. I need to lose the rage before I walk in there. She's suffered enough in her life, I don't need her seeing it from me also. Taking several deep breaths, I gently push open the door just a little and watch her play through the crack.
There's something about seeing the look of peace on her face, the small smile that graces her lips that calms the storm that's swirling inside of me. How can anyone hurt her? How can anyonewantto hurt her? My stomach knots at thoughts of the things she’s been through. I want to protect her, and I will, but I want her to be able to protect herself and her brother. Once we figure this shit out, neither of them will be going back there, and I want to know that if he or anyone else should try anything that she can fight them off.
Pushing the door open, I stride toward her. She stops playing and turns to look at me, the smile falling from her lips when she sees my face.
"Max?" she asks as I reach her, pulling her up to stand and out from between the piano and the stool. I wrap one arm around her waist and cup the back of her head, crashing my lips to hers before she has a chance to say anything else.
It's not a sweet kiss, it's fast and hard. And I think for a second she might not like it, but she matches my movements and it's exactly what I needed. I just needed to feel her lips on mine.
I pull away from the kiss, and we're both breathless, but the smile has returned to her face. "What was that for?" she asks.
I shake my head at her. I need to talk to her, but not now and not here. "I want to do something; I want to teach you a few things," I tell her.
"Oh," she responds, a little confused.
"Come on," I tell her, pulling her behind me as I lead her toward the gym. She doesn’t say anything, she just follows along, and this is how I know she trusts me.
She stops just inside the door as I close it behind us. I look her up and down, checking what she's wearing. Leggings, converse and my hoody. I can’t help but smile, loving the fact that she’s chosen to wear my hoody again. She's dressed okay, but I'm not.
"I need you to wait in here, baby, I will be five minutes. Okay?" I ask.
"Okay." She breathes and slips her hands in the pockets of the hoody. Placing a quick kiss on her forehead, I race out the door.
I'm back in the gym less than five minutes later. As I walk through the door, I see her sitting in the middle of the mat, her legs stretched out in front of her, her body bent in the middle, and her fingers reaching the top of her trainers as she stretches out.
"Baby?" I question.
"Oh." She sits upright and stands, turning to face me. "Sorry, I just figured while I was here, I would do a little yoga." She looks embarrassed.
I pull her to me and wrap my arms around her. Fuck, I love touching her, I love having her in my arms. "Don't apologise. You do yoga often?"
She shakes her head. "Not really, I kind of just did it when I was locked in my room for days, as a way to get exercise."
My heart twists. "You don't have to do it here, you want exercise, you can use this gym or go for a walk around the compound, you're not a prisoner here, baby," I tell her, angry that she had to find a way to get exercise when she wasn’t allowed out.
She reaches up and places a small kiss on my lips and smiles. "Thank you. I actually like doing yoga, though. I just don't do it very often."
I cup her face, my thumb running back and forth over her cheek as I stare into her eyes. They are so bright today, she actually looks happy.
"Wrath’s girl, Marissa, she does yoga if you ever want to do it," I tell her.
She gives me a nervous smile. "Oh, thank you. Maybe." I know she won't reach out to her. I might not have known her long, but I do know that she isn't the type to reach out to people, she'll feel like she's imposing on them. I don't push her, but I make a mental note to mention to Wrath about getting his girl to call Nova. But then I realise that she can't call her, she doesn't have a phone. I’ll have to speak to Data about getting her one.
"Max? What exactly are we doing in here?" she asks me as she glances around the room.
I smile down at her. "I want to teach you how to take care of yourself."
"What do you mean?"
