Page 11 of Triplets for the Rival MC

“What about when you were a kid? What films or shows were you obsessed with?” she asks me.

I shrug. “None really. We didn’t have a TV. My parents sold it for drug money.”

To my surprise, Tori doesn’t offer me the same shallow condolences that most people do when I tell them anything about my childhood. “Shit. You missed out! I don’t know what I would have done without television as a kid; the kids on those shows were my only friends.” She says this without any self-pity, which I admire. She isn’t the sort of person to blame her upbringing for her woes, and I appreciate that. I try to be the same way. “What did you do to keep yourself entertained as a kid then?” she asks me.

“I liked taking things apart and figuring out how they worked, then I’d put them back together again. I also spent a long time looking at maps.”

Tori’s brow furrows with curiosity. “Maps? What kind of maps?”

I think back to my childhood. The dirty trailer that I called home. “My parents sold pretty much anything of value. One day I found a pile of old road maps, probably left behind by the previous occupant. I used to study those maps. I used to imagine how I’d travel each and every one of them when I was older. I’d dream of traveling far away. It came in pretty handy, helping me become our road captain, seeing as I know the roads without GPS. Got all the coordinates I need up here,” I say, tapping my head.

Tori smiles at me. It’s a sad smile, also filled with understanding. “I used to dream of getting away, too. I read a lot of fairy tales and spent a long time dreaming of being rescued by a prince. Though as I got older, I realized life wasn’t like that.”

“Well, now, just because we rode bikes and not horses doesn’t mean we weren’t the white knights who rescued you from the dragon,” I say with a cheeky grin.

Tori laughs. “You guys are about as far from fairy tale princes as you can get. But I guess you have a point, you did rescue me.”

“To be fair, that wasn’t our original intention. You’re the one who turned us from evil princess stealers into heroes,” I point out. I’m amazed now how we could ever have believed we’d follow through with our plan and hold Tori against her will. The thought of causing her any pain hurts me now. If her father wanted her back, would we have even been able to do it once we got to know her? Probably not. I know I don’t want to let her go now.

“Nah, you guys were always the good guys. Being here is heaven compared to home,” she says, gesturing around her.

“What was it like?” I ask gently.

“Maybe you can understand this. But I feel like while I was there, I didn’t know any better. I thought it was normal to be told every day how useless and awful you are. I thought I deserved it.” She takes a deep breath, as if trying to hold back her emotions. “My father always blamed me for my mother’s death, and I guess I did feel responsible, even though I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t ask to be born.” I reach out to take her hand in mine, trying to comfort her. She looks up at me with wide, trusting eyes. “Thank you for showing me how people should treat each other.”

I nod, feeling a little choked up. But I want Tori to know I understand that we’re the same. “I was like that too, I thought that if only I had been better behaved, more lovable, my parents wouldn’t have picked drugs over me. It was only when I met Maggie that I started to realize I wasn’t the one who had failed. Your father failed you; he didn’t do his job, just as my parents didn’t. It is not our fault, and we don’t have to live with that burden. You get to choose to be the person you want to be, to lead the life you want to live, to be happy. Not him. You deserve happiness, you deserve love and affection, you are enough,” I tell her, looking into her eyes so she can see my sincerity.

Tears spring to Tori’s eyes, and I move around to the other side of the booth, climbing in beside her and pulling her into my arms. She cries into my chest, finally hearing the words she should have been told long ago. I started out tonight planning on either flirting and seducing Tori or getting over my attraction to her, but I find myself drawn to her even more. I want to be the one to make her happy, to protect her, to love her.

Shit. I think I’m falling for her.

Chapter 8

Tori

My grand plan to seduce Hunter went out the window last night. I wasted the perfect opportunity. We were all alone, and I ended up crying like a baby in his arms. I’m not going to make the same mistake again tonight. Tonight, I’m going to be fun, sexy, desirable Tori. Or at least I’m going to try.

That plan went out the window when Shelly asked me to work the late shift. Of course, being a people pleaser, I agree. The guys went upstairs an hour ago and all the club members have left. I say goodnight to Shelly and lock the doors behind her. I listen to the sound of her motorcycle riding away before I take one final look around, then turn out the lights and head upstairs.

After washing the grime of the evening off in the shower, I change into a pair of skimpy shorts, and a strappy lace-trimmed top that barely contains my boobs. It’s only as I’m about to climb into bed that I realize I forgot to get a glass of water. Figuring the guys are all fast asleep by now and no one will see me, I pad on my tiptoes to the kitchen.

I jump as I turn on the light, clutching my hand to my chest. “Jesus! Hunter, what are you doing sitting in the dark? You scared me half to death!”

He chuckles and gets up from the couch where he was sitting. “Sorry, princess. I didn’t mean to scare you. I couldn’t sleep. I like to sit and look out at the stars, having the light on makes it pretty hard to see,” he says earnestly.

He seems almost shy to admit it, vulnerable. It’s a rare moment of candor from him where he isn’t acting a part or being a wild card. Impulsively, I flick off the light switch and head over to him, trying not to stumble as my eyes adjust to the darkness. “Show me,” I tell him.

He takes my hand, guiding me to sit next to him on the couch. From this angle, there’s a perfect view out of the large window and up at the full moon surrounded by a scattering of stars. I look out in awe.

“Beautiful,” Hunter murmurs.

I’m about to agree, but then he tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, and I turn to see he’s not looking at the sky at all. He’s looking at me. My breath hitches, and I become acutely aware of his proximity, and of my state of undress. His lips part, and the moonlight caresses the sharp angles of his face. Without realizing it, I move closer to him, our lips a whisper apart. “Tori,” he murmurs.

I’m not sure if it’s a warning, but I close the gap, pressing my lips against him. He hesitates for only a fraction of a second before he kisses me back. He tastes like whiskey and peppermint. His firm hands grip my waist as I climb onto his lap, straddling him, our kisses growing more urgent. I start to unbutton his shirt, but he stops me, placing a hand on mine and breaking our kiss.

“Tori…” he says.

“I want you, Hunter,” I say before he can give some bullshit excuse as to why this is a bad idea.