Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Meghan
The mall bustles with energy as I trail behind Tindra, Dasha, Starla, and Flora.
The girls are chattering excitedly about outfits and school supplies, their voices blending with the ambient noise of shoppers and piped-in music.
I can't help but smile at their enthusiasm, especially Tindra's.
My daughter's eyes are bright with excitement for her first day of school tomorrow.
As we pause outside a trendy clothing store, I catch Flora's gaze.
She's hovering at the edge of the group, her body language still a bit hesitant.
I decide to make an effort to include her.
She’s the new girl on the block, but we’re going to make sure she feels welcome.
I nod toward the window display. "See anything you like, Flora?"
She startles slightly, as if surprised to be addressed directly. "Oh, um, yeah. That top is pretty cute," she says, pointing to a deep blue blouse.
I smile encouragingly. "Why don't you try it on? My treat."
Flora's eyes widen. "Oh, no, I couldn't?—"
"I insist," I say, gently steering her towards the store entrance. "Consider it a welcome gift."
As we browse the racks, I keep an eye on Flora.
Runes' words echo in my mind—how this shopping trip is meant to ease Flora into club life.
I'm not sure how I feel about that responsibility, but I can't deny the girl seems to need some kindness.
"So, Flora," I begin casually, "how are you liking the clubhouse so far?"
She pauses, a hanger in her hand.
A small laugh escapes her. "It's... different. But honestly? It's a lot better than some of the places I've stayed at."
I raise an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Oh? How so?"
Flora shrugs, her gaze dropping to the floor. "Just... cleaner. Safer. People seem to actually care about each other there. As a mother, I know Florencia is safe, and this little one will be too."
My heart twists a little at her words.
I remember all too well what it's like to feel adrift, searching for a place to belong.
"The club can be a real family," I say softly. "It's not always easy, but there's a lot of love there."
Flora nods, a small smile playing at her lips. "I can see that. Rio's excited about us being with you all, and everyone's been really welcoming, besides that one girl."
Lexi.
“Don’t worry about her. She’s just bitter.”
I think about Rio, soon to be prospecting for the club.
I wonder if Flora truly understands what she's getting into.
But it's not my place to warn her off—and who am I to judge, anyway?
"Well, you and your little ones are always welcome to come hang out with me and Tindra if you need a break from all the testosterone," I offer with a wink.
Flora's smile widens. "Thanks, Meghan. I really appreciate that."
As we rejoin the others, I notice Flora seems to stand a little taller, laughing more freely at Starla's jokes.
It's a small thing, but I feel a sense of satisfaction at helping her feel more at ease.
Tindra bounds up to me, arms full of clothes. "Mom! Can I get these for tomorrow?"
I laugh, shaking my head at her puppy-dog eyes. "Let's see what you've got there, missy."
As we head to the fitting rooms, I can't help but reflect on how much has changed these last few months.
In all honesty, moving back to Tallahassee was the best thing I could have done.
I only wish I did it sooner.
The rest of the shopping trip goes off without a hitch and we drop off Flora at the clubhouse before heading home.
I pull into the driveway, the familiar sight of our modest house greeting us after a long day of shopping.
As I shift the car into park, Tindra leans forward from the backseat, her eyes bright with anticipation.
"Are we heading inside now, Mom?" she asks, a hint of excitement in her voice.
I turn to face her, a small smile playing on my lips. "You bet we are, sweetheart. And guess what? Your dad's meeting us here for a family movie night. He's bringing pizza, too."
Tindra's face lights up like a Christmas tree. "Really? Dad's coming over?" She practically bounces in her seat, her earlier exhaustion from shopping seemingly evaporating.
I can't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. "Yep, he'll be here soon. Why don't you go inside and get everything set up?"
As Tindra scrambles out of the car, I take a moment to collect my thoughts.
It's been a while since we've had a proper family night, just the three of us.
The thought of Tor being here, in our space, sends a flutter through my stomach that I quickly push aside.
Tindra calls from the front door, impatience clear in her voice. "Mom, come on!"
I grab the shopping bags and make my way to the house, watching as Tindra practically vibrates with excitement. "Geez, kid, you'd think you haven't seen your dad in months," I tease.
Tindra rolls her eyes, but her smile doesn't falter. "It's not just about seeing Dad. It's about all of us being together, you know? Plus, I finally have an excuse to make him watch that new superhero movie with me."
As we step inside, I can't help but feel a warmth spreading through my chest.
Despite everything we've been through, despite the complications of our lives, moments like these remind me of what really matters.
"All right, all right," I concede, dropping the bags by the stairs. "Why don't you go pick out the movie while I get some drinks ready? Your dad should be here soon."
Tindra nods eagerly and dashes off to the living room.
I head to the kitchen, my mind already racing with thoughts of the evening ahead.
Family movie night with Tor—it's such a normal, domestic thing.
Yet in our world, moments like these are precious and rare.
As I'm reaching for glasses in the kitchen, I hear the familiar sound of a key turning in the lock.
My heart skips a beat, knowing it's Tor.
Before I can even turn around, I hear Tindra's excited squeal.
"Dad!" she exclaims, and I step out of the kitchen just in time to see her rush into Tor's arms.
Tor's face lights up as he wraps his strong arms around our daughter. "Hey there, princess," he says, his deep voice softening with affection.
He holds her close for a moment, and I can see the tension in his shoulders ease.
It's moments like these that remind me of the gentle side of this man who can be so fierce in other aspects of his life.
"Go upstairs and get changed into something comfy, okay?" Tor tells Tindra, ruffling her hair. "We've got a movie night to get to."
"Okay!" Tindra chirps, bounding up the stairs two at a time.
As soon as she's out of sight, Tor's eyes lock with mine.
The intensity in his bottle-green gaze makes my breath catch.
I can tell he's about to say something serious, and I brace myself.
"Meghan," he starts, his voice low and gravelly. "I wanted to apologize for how things went down last week. I know I can be... difficult sometimes."
I exhale slowly, surprised by the apology. "Thank you," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's been a long time coming."
Tor nods, running a hand through his dark hair. "I know. I just... I need you to try and understand things from my side. The club, the danger, Starla knowing when I didn’t. It pissed me off. Hell, it fuckin’ hurt me."
I feel a familiar mix of frustration and understanding wash over me. "I do understand, Tor. I really do. But I don't want to fight anymore. Can't we just... try to move forward?"
He takes a step closer to me, and I can smell his familiar scent—leather and something distinctly Tor. "That's what I want too, babe. More than anything."
Just as the tension between us threatens to ignite, Tindra's voice rings out from upstairs. "I'm gonna take a quick shower!"
Tor's serious expression melts into a mischievous grin.
He chuckles, his eyes gleaming. "I think that means we have time for a quickie."
I roll my eyes, trying to ignore the heat building in my core. "Who said you're getting one?"
"I did," Tor growls, and before I can react, he's scooped me up in his arms.
My protest dies in my throat as he carries me swiftly to the laundry room, kicking the door shut behind us.
He sets me down and immediately reaches for the dryer, flicking it on.
The loud hum fills the small space, and I realize he's creating a noise buffer.
My heart races as Tor turns back to me, his eyes dark with desire.
"Tor, we can't—" I start to say, but his hands are already at the hem of my shirt, slowly lifting it.
"We can," he murmurs, his lips brushing against my ear. "And we will."
As his fingers graze my skin, sending shivers down my spine as he slides down my jeans and panties.
I know I'm fighting a losing battle against my own desires.
The rational part of my brain screams that this is a bad idea, that Tindra could come looking for us any minute.
But as Tor's lips find mine in a searing kiss, I find myself giving in to the intoxicating pull between us.
I break away from the kiss, breathless. "Tor, Tindra could come find us any moment," I whisper urgently, my eyes darting to the closed door.
Tor snickers, his bottle green eyes twinkling with mischief.
He leans in close, his voice low and devilishly handsome as he says, "Then we'd better be quick."
I shake my head, torn between anxiety and arousal. "You're nuts, you know that?"
"Yeah," he grins, his hands sliding down to my hips. "And that's why you fucking love me."
My heart skips a beat at his words.
I do love him, more than I care to admit sometimes.
But right now, his cocky attitude is both infuriating and incredibly arousing.
"I do love you," I admit, trying to keep my voice steady. "But not when you're being a cocky asshole."
Tor's grin widens, and before I can react, his hand slips between my legs.
His thumb finds my clit, rolling it in slow, deliberate circles.
A gasp escapes my lips as warmth floods through my body.
"Really?" he murmurs, his eyes locked on mine. "'Cause you seem to love this cocky asshole."
I can't help the moan that escapes me, my body betraying my attempts at resistance.
The way Tor makes me feel is unlike anything I've ever experienced—a heady mixture of desire, comfort, and an overwhelming sense of rightness.
"God, Tor," I breathe, my fingers gripping his shoulders for support.
The dryer's hum seems to fade into the background as my focus narrows to Tor's touch, his scent, the intensity in his gaze.
Tor's lips crash into mine, silencing any further protests.
His strong hands shove me back against the dryer even more, the metal cool against my heated skin.
I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him closer as fumbles with his jeans, freeing himself.
He pushes inside me with one powerful thrust.
The sensation is overwhelming, and I have to bite my lip to keep from crying out.
Tor sets a punishing pace, his hips slamming against mine with an urgency that matches the thunder of my heartbeat.
"Shh," he whispers against my ear, his breath hot on my skin. "Remember, we gotta be quiet."
I nod, burying my face in his neck to muffle my moans.
The vibrations from the dryer add another layer of sensation, and I can feel myself rapidly approaching the edge.
Tor's hand comes up to cover my mouth as he senses my impending release.
It's just in time—my scream of ecstasy is muffled against his palm as waves of pleasure crash over me.
As my inner walls clench around him, I feel Tor stiffen, his own climax following close behind.
For a moment, we stay locked together, our ragged breathing the only sound in the small laundry room.
Then reality starts to seep back in, and I become acutely aware of our precarious situation.
"We should..." I start, but Tor's already moving, helping me down from the dryer.
We hastily clean up and straighten our clothes, exchanging heated glances and suppressed giggles like teenagers.
Just as Tor reaches for the doorknob, I hear footsteps approaching.
"Shit," I mutter, my heart leaping into my throat.
Tor opens the door, and there stands Tindra, her eyebrows raised in curiosity. "What are you two doing in here?"
I freeze, my mind racing for an explanation.
Tor glances back at me, and I see a flicker of panic in his eyes before he manages to school his expression.
Thinking quickly, I reach between the washer and dryer, pretending to grab something. "Your dad tried to fix this damn hose for me," I say, hoping my voice sounds steadier than I feel. "But there's a hole in it so he wrapped it up. We'll need to go to a hardware store tomorrow and swap it out."
I hold my breath, waiting to see if Tindra buys the lie.
The fear of being caught, of permanently scarring our child, mixes with the lingering afterglow of our encounter, creating a dizzying cocktail of emotions.
Tindra scrunches up her face, her delicate features contorting in a way that reminds me so much of Tor. "Ugh, and this is why I'm glad dad is around, so he can do all this manly stuff."
I bite my lip, trying not to laugh at the irony of her statement.
If only she knew what her dad was really doing in here just moments ago.
Tor turns to her, his bottle-green eyes twinkling with amusement. "Is that the only reason?" he asks, his voice carrying that gentle teasing tone he reserves for Tindra. "And to think I was gonna start giving you a chore list with an allowance, or talk to your mummo about a receptionist job at her spa."
I watch as Tindra's eyes widen, her interest piqued. "She has a spa?" she asks, her voice rising with excitement.
Tor nods, but then puts on an exaggerated look of consideration. "But if I'm only good for all the manly stuff, I don't know..."
I can't help but admire how easily Tor navigates this conversation, deflecting attention from our near-miss and engaging with Tindra.
It's moments like these that remind me why I fell for him in the first place.
Tindra grabs onto Tor's hand, her pale skin a stark contrast against his tanned, tattooed arm. "Come on, Dad!" she pleads, her sage green eyes wide and imploring. "I'm only playing around, and I need a job. It's not like mom's gonna let me work at Beans & Babes!"
At the mention of the coffee shop, I feel a surge of protectiveness.
Beans & Babes, while I love what I’ve developed, it’s definitely not a place I want my daughter working.
Before I can say anything, Tor's voice rings out, firm and unyielding. "Damn straight, and neither am I."
I nod in agreement, relieved that we're on the same page about this. "Absolutely not," I add, my voice equally firm. "But we can definitely talk about other job options, sweetheart."
As I watch Tor and Tindra interact, a warmth spreads through my chest.
This is our new normal, and it’s amazing.