Shadow and Skulls (Rebel Skull MC Series Book 6)

13. Chapter Thirteen

Last night was the best night of my life. I hate that she has to lie and keep this from her family. But at the same time, I’m selfish. I need to know her right now. In every sense. There’s a certain urgency in my veins, yet when I’m with her, I’m still able to be slow and intentional.

Believe me, I know I’m making no sense.

Maybe the urgency stems from how bad people were treating her at school. I needed to stop the pain she was suffering there. Period. I had to slip into her world and nip that shit in the bud. Hopefully Dan will understand why I’ve done what I’ve done.

I had to make her mine now, and I have no regrets about that.

Her nose wrinkles as my finger trails over her forehead. “Little shadow,” I sing-song.

The way her lashes brush the apples of her cheeks as she blinks her eyes open warms my heart. Slowly, recognition of where she is becomes clear … the true test … a shy smile tugs at the corner of her mouth as she dips her chin to her shoulder.

“I thought we could go to the diner down the road and have breakfast before your test.”

She winces, turning her big blue eyes my way. “I forgot about that.”

“It’s not too late to take the classes,” I offer, trying to soothe the worry on the face.

My heart slows when she raises to her elbows, bringing her nose a few inches from mine.

“It’s not that. I’ve been studying.” She lets out a harsh laugh, throwing herself back against the pillows.

We both stare at the ceiling. “You’ve been studying?”

“I haven’t wanted to be in school for a long time now.” She rolls to her side, her eyes heavy on the side of my face. “I’m not worried about the test. It’s just that it seems so insignificant compared to what’s happening between us.”

“So, you don’t regret it?” I ask, not specifying whether I’m talking about her quitting school or us.

The room illuminates as her smile rises like the sun on the horizon. I settle my gaze over her face, wondering how I got so lucky to be the one to witness its beauty this morning.

“I’ll never regret anything again. Everything I’ve done … everything that’s happened to me, it all brought me to you.” Her gaze lingers on mine a few seconds before she slides off the bed. “I’m going to take a quick shower.”

When the bathroom door closes behind her, I literally pinch myself. I’ve been watching Kelsie for a few weeks now, and that is the brightest I’ve seen that girl smile. The woman who got into my bed last night isn’t the same one who just left it. Yeah, I’m a good lover, but I can’t take the credit for her transformation.

I think she learned something new about herself when she chose to join me in my bed. It was the first time she’s made such a bold choice on her own. Something so simple, yet most of us take it for granted.

She’s stepping into herself, into being a woman. I think she’s finally realized she is the creator of her life.

God, I’m excited to get to know this version of her.

That is if the club lets me live after this.