“Nope, I’m just not ready to give you up yet.”
She rolled over in my arms to face me with a pleased expression on her face. “You say the sweetest things.”
“I say what I feel,” I said gruffly.
I waited to see if things would get awkward, if she’d withdraw for real, or if she might feel content just lying with me. I was relieved when she moved closer and slid her fingers into my hair. It was a sweet, womanly thing to do. It made me feel wanted and cherished. Apparently, having an old lady could turn the roughest biker into a sappy fool.
Chapter 11
Winter
Iwoke up to the smell of coffee and bacon drifting up from downstairs. Fuse’s arm was across my waist and there was a kitten sprawled out on half my pillow. For the first time since my father sold me, I didn’t jolt awake in a panic. This morning, I woke up safe in Fuse’s keeping. I had the luxury of just lying here basking in the moment with him.
Yesterday, after what I fondly think of as the best devirginizing a woman could hope for, we eventually got up and went for a ride on Fuse’s bike. It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. We even stopped at a pub on the way for food. I haven’t been anywhere in so long, it felt really good to get taken out. Fuse reluctantly agreed to it, so long as we stayed near the clubhouse. We came back late and crashed out.
It was too bad that Fuse was already stirring behind me because I would have liked to sleep in.
He pressed a kiss to my temple. “Morning, sleepyhead. How did you sleep?”
“Like the dead. It must have been the amazing workout, long ride, and late night.”
“Yeah, about that…”
I reached up and pressed my hand over his mouth. “Don’t say we can’t do that again because it’s too risky.”
“Alright, I won’t say it. We’re getting closer to putting the smack down on Viper. We can’t afford to take unnecessary risks now.”
I nodded, feeling like he just rubbed some of the shine off our morning.
Fuse untangled himself from the blankets and pulled on his pants. Glancing over his shoulder, he said, “I’m gonna grab us some coffee and a bite to eat. Do you want anything in particular?”
“I’m not picky. Get me a little of whatever you’re having.”
“You got it, sweetness.”
One of the kittens followed him out the door, clawing to climb up his pants. I saw him stop just outside the doorway and put her on his shoulder. The other stayed behind, making biscuits on the side of my pillow.
I moved around to face her and rested my cheek on my hands.
“I’m glad you’re a biscuit maker instead of an adventurer like your sister.”
She stopped kneading long enough to give me a loud purr and then went right back to it.
Fuse came back in record time with a whole tray of food, including eggs, bacon, toast, muffins, and coffee sweetened just the way I liked it. I was still trying to figure out what to say about that when I noticed something leather was folded underneath the tray.
I pulled it out and discovered it was a leather vest. There was the Dark Slayers patch on the back, above the logo it said, ‘Property of’, and underneath, ‘Fuse’.
A property cut.
My breath caught in my throat because I knew the significance. All the old ladies wore them around the clubhouse.
I looked up at Fuse. Before I had the chance to say anything he spoke.
“In our world,” he explained, “that cut means anybody who touches you will suffer for it. It means you’re under my protection and that of my whole club. It means club girls stayout of your face, nobody gets to question you about anything. It means you belong. We become your family.”
For someone who was all alone in the world, having people who want you and are willing to go the extra mile for you means the world. No one wants to wander the world alone.
He continued. “It also means you’re mine. I want to make sure you understand that none of the brothers or any other man with an ounce of common sense will hit on you because wearing my cut is a visual clue that we’re in an exclusive relationship.”
