"Fuck, I hate to do this, Veronica, but I have to go. Club shit."
Disappointment flickers, but I nod, understanding that when the Hellions call him, he has to go. "Promise me you’ll be safe."
“Promise,” he tells me as he dresses quickly. When he’s done he places his hand on the mattress and leans down, kissing me deeply. "Luke and I will be over tomorrow. Together. We want to talk—really talk—about us. All of us. I’ve waited so long for you, and I’m not waiting any longer."
“Okay.”
“Get some rest, Veronica.” With those last words he turns to leave, stopping at the door. “I’ll lock up on my way out.”
“Oh shit,” he mumbles. “I didn’t use a condom. I promise I’m clean, Veronica. But I’ll get tested if you want me to. And if you get pregnant I won’t leave you.”
“It’s okay.” I gasp breathlessly. “I’m on the pill.”
I burrow under the covers, the scent of him still clinging to the sheets. As sleep pulls at me, my mind wanders. Could I be happy with just two? Josh and Luke, sharing me, loving me without the drama?
And maybe... just maybe, Hank could learn to be okay with sharing, to fit into this without tearing it apart. The thought lingers, a fragile hope in the darkness as I drift off to sleep.
Chapter 25
Luke
Lastnightwasfuckinglong as hell. Thankfully, other than the knife that Onyx took in his leg and the bullet that grazed Stryker’s arm, no one else was hurt. But we now have one less wannabe gang on our turf selling drugs.
Doc asked me to stick around so we could talk when he was done. He’s still taking care of Stryker so I make my way to the kitchen for some coffee. The sun will be coming up soon, and I have an early client at the shop today. So no sleep for me.
I’ve just sat down at the table, mug in hand, lifting it to my lips when a very tired Doc strolls inside.
“Is there more?” he asks, a hopeful look in his eyes.
“Just brewed the pot. You’ll have the second cup.” I take a sip on mine, flinching when the hot liquid burns my tongue.
I sit and wait as he makes his own cup, then sits down across from me. He, unlike me, blows on his coffee first before taking a sip. “Fuck, that’s good,” he says, sitting the cup down in front of him, letting out a yawn as he runs his fingers through his hair.
“What did you need to talk to me about?” I ask, thinking out of everyone there could only be two people he’d be concernedwith discussing with me. And one of them I could murder at the moment.
He doesn’t look me right in the face; instead, he keeps his head down as he runs a circle around the rim of his cup with his finger. He lets out a heavy sigh and glances up, locking eyes with me.
“I went to see Veronica last night.”
My stomach tightens. This could be good or bad. It all depends on how she took it. “Yeah? And how did it go?”
He nods then lets out a heavy exhale. “I was waiting at her apartment when she got off. I couldn’t wait any longer to talk to her. To let her know that I, that we,” he gestures between the two of us, “want to be with her.”
“And how did she take it? Is she still fighting it?”
“We ended up sleeping together.”
Holy shit.
Everything in me goes numb. Not from jealousy. But because Doc cracked her armor. It means we finally have a chance to prove to her that we could share her without conflict. I just wish that Hank would get his head out of his ass.
“That’s big. And how was she after?”
“She was good. I would still be with her if I didn’t get a fucking text to come do patch up jobs. Before I left I told her,” Doc continues, “that we both want her. No matter what’s going on with Hank. That we want her regardless.”
I swallow hard, lifting my hand to rub the back of my neck. “How… how did she take it?”
“She didn’t run,” he said with a small laugh. “She actually listened. And then I kissed her and she kissed me back. From there things escalated.”
