The thought honestly hadn’t evenoccurred to me. “Because it’s the middle of the night and we’ve been on onedate,” I replied, clearly baffled by his question.
“You’re so not getting this,” hemuttered, but didn’t elaborate.
I lifted my head and looked him in theeye. “I’mgonnaleave town Cole, it’s for the best,”I said softly.
His eyes narrowed and his grip on theback of my neck tightened.
“I’ve been patient and tried to letyou figure it out in your own time but clearly that isn’tgonnahappen,” he sighed, exasperated. “Babe, I’ve staked my claim. You’re mine.You’ve been mine since you got on the back of my bike,” he decreed.
My eyes widened in shock.
“You know it, I know you do. You’rethe exception to my rule,” he whispered, roughly giving me another neck squeezeand bringing his forehead to mine.
And I realized that I did know that,I’d been fighting it, but I knew it. And while part of me wanted to squeal withjoy, the other part felt complete trepidation.
“All this shit, it’s not yourresponsibility or your fault,” he continued. “We got word that fucker Jake andsome others are making plays against us,” he informed me. “I’d a been in thisshit whether you were here or not. You’ve just proved to be a damn good way toget us riled,” he muttered.
That did make me feel better I had toadmit. But I was still confused.
“So this isn’t just Jake trying tofuck with me?”I asked, my brows furrowed.It’s whatI’d assumed all along.
I felt Cole’s entire body stiffen, wehadn’t talked about the details, but I assumed his father had filled him in onmy history, the pieces he knew anyway.
“I don’t doubt he’s fucking with yousweetheart,” his deep voice rumbled. “But there’s a lot more to it than justthat,” he explained. “And for now, the less you know, probably the better,” headded.
I nodded, surprisingly fine with that.
“So no more talk of leaving town orapologizing to your best friend for that piece of shit,” he said, firmlylooking intently into my eyes. He doesn’t deserve anything of yours, not onefucking thing but especially not fucking guilt. You get that?” he demanded.
I nodded. “Yeah, I get it,” I saidsoftly before I cleared my throat for what I had to ask next. “How much do youknow?”
Whatever he saw in my expression madehis eyes soften as they looked back into mine. Clearly he understood what I wasgetting at. “Enough. Not what’s in your head or what you remember, ofcourse.But I know your father was a good man who did thebest he could when your mama died,” he said softly as I bit back the emotion thatwas growing in my chest, threatening to suffocate me. “I know that Jake fuckingSilverahad something to do with him getting killed.I also know that Jake and you had something when you were kids that obviouslyhe thought more of since he expected you to be at his side when he took overrunnin’ the club. Clearly you had other ideas, because yousplit the first chance you got,” he said, and I thought I detected a hint ofpride in his tone. “And I know that you’re as hard as nails as you are soft andsweet, and you’ve got something I want not only to protect, but selfishlysomething I want for myself, too,” he murmured while kissing my forehead.
Wow that was sweet. I sagged into himunable to convey with words how much gratitude and longing I felt for him inthat moment. He was unlike any of the men I’d grown up with. He had a hard edgefor sure, but his heart was as warm as they came.
“Sleep, babe, everything’sgonnabe fine,” he assured me.
“K,” I muttered.
“Can Kat come to the barbeque, too?” Imuttered, half asleep.
I was sure I felt him smile. “Yeah,babe.”
Then it was lights out.
I woke up feeling warm and I smiledwhen I felt the wall of Cole behind me. He was pressed to my back yet againwith an arm thrown over my waist, pulling me close. I’d never been with someonewho liked to cuddle, and it was a welcomed change. My skin began to hum withthe awareness of him and I grinned as I scooted my behind that much closer tohis boxer covered body. He growled softly in response, and his arm got tighteraround me. My whole body lit up as I rolled to face him. His eyes were wideopen, sleep only a memory as his gaze bore down into mine. His hand traileddown my torso, clenching at my waist and I could tell it was taking all of hisrestraint from launching himself at me.
I looked him over, my eyes hungrilydevouring his form and thought, “fuck it.” I sat up and slowly pulled mycamisole over my head.
I saw his eyes widen in response, hispupils dilated and his nostrils flared. It was the most animalistic responseI’d ever seen in a man before, and it sent a rush of wetness between my legs.
“You are the sexiest fucking thingI’ve ever seen,” his deep voice rumbled as he did in fact launch at me,throwing his body over mine. He pulled me into a passionate kiss as his handstrailed like liquid fire down my smooth back and into my shorts, cupping myass.
“You have no idea how much I’ve wantedto have my hands on this ass,” he groaned, squeezing me firmly.
I sighed in response as his handspulled my shorts down and off my legs.
His mouth trailed from my mouth to myneck and further still until it reached one of my nipples. I heard my ownintake of breath when he took one in his mouth and sucked, nibbling slightlyuntil I was fighting back a loud grown. It occurred to me absently that Kat washome and that the walls were by no means thick.
