Chapter Three #3
I shrugged a shoulder and turned to finish up our food, but I heard the soft snicker behind me.
If she kept that up, I might be tempted to forget she was likely sore and take her again anyway.
No one got away with teasing me. Lyssa wasn’t just anyone though and having her do it made me want to smile.
I felt lighter than I had in a while, despite the fact trouble was on her heels.
I’d keep her safe, help the Dixie Reapers any way I could to make sure those men never got their hands on her, and for once, I’d think about the future.
While I usually thought ahead by a few weeks, months, or even years, it had always been about the club.
For the first time in a while, I wanted to make plans with a woman.
I dished up our food and set the plates on the table, then got us each a bottle of water.
After I sat down, I knew I’d need to talk to her about Lo and my son.
No one here knew about them, but it wasn’t right to expect her to live the rest of her life with me and keep something like that from her.
It wasn’t the sort of thing you just blurted out, but I wasn’t sure how to ease into it.
Maybe I needed to get her talking about herself first.
“You took your own virginity, so does that mean you didn’t date?” I asked.
“It’s hard to date when the guys are scared of your dad and grandfather.
I had a Prospect who wasn’t too much older than me I wouldn’t have minded dating, but I knew better.
My dad would have made his life hell. We hung out sometimes, but that’s as far as it went.
I went on some dates in college. Never saw anyone on a regular basis or had an official boyfriend if that’s what you mean. ”
I shoved a bite of food in my mouth and wondered about the Prospect she mentioned. Did Torch know the guy was hanging out with Lyssa? That she’d wanted to date him? Probably not or he’d have been long gone.
“I mentioned a woman I’d wanted to claim. She’s Brick’s sister. Charlotte. You won’t see her around here, so don’t worry about feeling awkward or anything. And I never slept with her, just so you know. She moved to Alaska and married some nerdy wildlife guy.”
“Her loss is my gain,” she said.
I cleared my throat knowing this was going to be the hard part. “Before Charlotte, I hadn’t been serious with anyone in a long while. When I was younger, back in high school, I had a steady girlfriend. Asked her to marry me.”
Lyssa braced her arm on the table and leaned a little closer. “What happened? The two of you drift apart after school? I’ve heard that happens, especially if distance becomes an issue.”
“No. She, um, got pregnant our senior year. We married right after high school.” I set my fork down, the food feeling like lead in my belly.
“She died. Her and our son. After that, I pushed people away. Didn’t let a woman get close, until Charlotte.
We just didn’t want the same things. I think she’d have been miserable if she’d stayed.
She seems happy, and that’s all I want for her.
Besides, if she’d stayed, you wouldn’t be sitting here with me. ”
She slumped a little in her chair, not meeting my gaze.
Had it been too much? Would she second-guess being with me now?
Wouldn’t matter. I wasn’t letting her go, especially when there was a possibility she could be pregnant.
I’d lost my shot at a family before. Lyssa was my second chance at happiness.
“Tink, it was a long time ago. Before you were even born. Hell, I wasn’t even part of a club back then. It was my grief over Lo and our son that eventually led me to this way of life.”
“It’s a lot to take in,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“You wishing you’d picked another club to run to? Or maybe a different Reckless King?”
She finally looked at me. “No. I don’t have any regrets, Eric.
I’m sorry for all the pain you suffered, and I know Charlotte leaving had to hurt too.
But I’m a selfish bitch because if your wife hadn’t died, if Brick’s sister hadn’t left, you would have never touched me.
I’d never wish for something horrible to happen to an innocent person, and yet… I’m glad you aren’t married.”
I reached out and took her hand. “Tink, I think you were put in my path for a reason. Just know, if I seem overly possessive or controlling, I’m not trying to dictate your every move. But I need to keep you safe, need to know you aren’t in danger. I’ve lost too much to let anyone take you from me.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Eric. You’re stuck with me.”
If she thought that was a threat, or supposed to make me reconsider a relationship with her, she had a lot to learn.
I wanted to be stuck with her. Already my life seemed a little brighter.
Not only would I have her in my bed every night, but we had a chance to start a family.
There were a lot of rooms in this house, and I wanted to fill as many of them as we could.
Since she had three siblings, I didn’t think she’d mind having a big family.
And if she didn’t want more than one or two kids, well…
I’d just do my best to convince her we needed at least three.
I’d be with her every step of the way. I didn’t plan on leaving her home with the kids all the time while I escaped to the clubhouse or elsewhere.
No, I wanted to experience every second of fatherhood.
Even at eighteen, when I’d been scared shitless, I’d still looked forward to holding my son, watching him grow up, and teaching him stuff.
I had no idea whether or not things with Lo would have lasted, but nothing would have kept me from my kid.
Maybe I needed to thank Tony. Because of his relentless pursuit of Lyssa, she’d come running to me.
Best damn day of my life.