“You, Lee, are an incredible man. Of course, you have a mountain of baggage. Your childhood was as traumatic as it gets, and I’m guessing you haven’t had much professional help to deal with it. But you don’t scare me. I’m onto you. You’re trying to warn me away, but it won’t work. I know shitty men. I lived with one for almost two years. You’re not that. You’re a good man, Lee, really fucking good.”
Lee.She hadn’t used his real name since he’d told her his club handle in her Texas apartment. But hearing it now somehow made her words that much more meaningful, and he didn’t have a clue how to process that.
“You don’t scare me, Lee,” she whispered again. “You’ve seen me at my lowest point. Hell, you rescued me from my lowest point and never once judged me for staying with Jason or for how I handled the situation. You deserve the same grace. I willnever make you feel bad for surviving hell and becoming the man you are today.Never.”
She spoke the words with such sincerity that if he didn’t have proof otherwise, he’d start to believe her.
“You make me feel safe. I’d gotten to the point where I didn’t recognize how constantly tense and on edge I was around Jason. I never felt safe, and not just from the outside world, but from him. No matter what you’ve done or who you worry you are, the fact that I feel safer with you than any other man says it all.”
The way she talked made it sound like they were more than a few secret hookups. Wild thoughts, but maybe they could find a way to try for something more.
Though if Copper killed him, it would put a damper on the plan.
“You’re thinking hard.”
He grunted. “I guess.”
Beth rested her head back on his chest as she squeezed him to her. “Come on. It’s late. Let’s get some sleep.”
“Beth, I can’t stay all night. Or more accurately, I can’t wake up in here tomorrow morning.”
Her sigh punched him in the chest. “I know. Can you stay for a bit?”
No. Of course, he couldn’t. That would only make him want her more.“Yeah. I can do that.” He tugged her hair, tilting her chin up for a soft kiss before tucking her back against his chest.
Her breathing evened out almost instantly, and the arms that had been squeezing him slackened but didn’t fall away. Warm, sexually satisfied, and comfortable, Saint couldn’t resist the lull of sleep for more than a few moments. He shut his eyes and drifted off, promising himself he’d only take a short nap.
The next thing he knew, someone pounded on the door like a damn SWAT officer. He didn’t have time to register the feel of Beth sprawled all over him before she shot up. The blanketslipped down, baring her tits. It did nothing to erase Saint’s morning wood.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, frantic. She brushed her hair out of her face. “It’s morning, and you’re still here.”
Another loud knock sounded, followed by Gator’s voice. “Sorry to wake you, Beth, but your dad is on his way here. Thought you might want to, uh, have breakfast with him.”
Her eyes widened to the size of bike tires. “He knows,” she whispered. “Oh my God, he knows you’re here.”
Christ, it was too early and too brutal a wakeup for so much drama. He smoothed a hand down Beth’s silky back.
“Maybe, but he’s trying to help us, so don’t leave him hanging.”
“Oh, uh, thank you, Gator. I’ll be out in a few minutes.” She drew up her knees, wrapped her arms around them, and dropped her head against them with a groan. “The loudest and most obnoxious club member knows you stayed here last night.”
“Yes, but he’s also a loyal motherfucker who loves both of us and saved our asses right now.” Saint continued rubbing her back as she turned her cheek, resting it on her knee to watch him.
“That feels nice.”
“For me too.” On the outside, it seemed he touched her to comfort her, but he did it for himself as much as for Beth. Touching her grounded him, as though some of her confidence in him transferred through the contact.
Her eyes fluttered shut as a happy hum left her. Saint couldn’t resist leaning forward and stealing a kiss. She sighed against his lips, then wound an arm around his neck and shifted into his lap. The kiss, which started soft and sweet, turned ravenous within seconds. His dick, which softened the second Gator knocked, hardened once again. Beth rocked against him, whimpering before she tore her mouth away.
“Shit. We can’t do that now.”
He chuckled. “You started it.”
“Uh, pretty sure you kissed me.”
He gave her ass a light pinch. “Technicality.” Her sassy eyeroll made him laugh. He loved how she could give him hell without fear of repercussions, the way she’d had to worry with her ex. “Get dressed and go out there. I’ll slip out the window and wander in through the front in a few minutes.”
She shook her head, whipping her hair around. “What? No, that’s ridiculous. You can’t go out the window like some naughty teenager caught sneaking into his girlfriend’s room.”
