Chapter 10
Jennifer
C arver—Matthew—ran his fingertips up and down my bare arm. Sunlight was just beginning to creep through the curtains, bathing the room in a soft, yellow glow. I hadn’t been back to sleep since he’d fucked me into the mattress—not once but three fucking times. After the first time, he’d flipped me onto my stomach, pulled my hips into the air, and fucked me from behind. And the third time, we were lying in bed, and he pulled one of my thighs over his hips and slid inside me a third time, slowly fucking me to sleep.
It was like now that he’d had me once, he couldn’t get enough. And honestly, I couldn’t get enough either. He was everything I’d ever wanted in a man—protective, soft with me, safe . Being a beast in bed was just an added bonus.
A very nice bonus.
“Will you tell me what you can about what you did to my father and his club?” I tentatively asked, adjusting my body so my head rested more comfortably on Matthew’s shoulder. I didn’t expect him to tell me anything, really. Women were kept in the dark to protect us. I understood it. But I wanted a moment to revel in my father’s suffering after all he’d done to me.
Keeping me locked in the clubhouse. Smacking me around when something didn’t go his way. Forcing me to go without food when he felt like I needed to be punished, even if I hadn’t done anything to deserve it. Locking me in a closet for days if I inconvenienced him in the slightest.
“They don’t have bikes anymore,” Matthew said, leaving it at that. I frowned, wondering what he and the other guys did, but I knew not to pry. If I could know, he would tell me.
“Oh,” I said softly, not knowing what else to say.
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe, princess. I need you to know that. To memorize that. To hang onto it when things start heating up around here-because they will.” I looked up at him, only to find his hazel eyes already on me. “You’re mine , princess. Mine to protect. To take care of. To love.”
My breath hitched at his words, my heart skipping a beat in my chest. Butterflies erupted in my stomach. I sat up on my elbow so I could hover over him, hopeful and afraid at the same time. Hopeful he really meant those words and terrified of what it would do to my heart if he said it was just a slip-up. An accident.
“To love?” I croaked, hating the emotion tearing at my throat. Hating that my uncertainty could be heard in my voice.
Reaching up, he cupped my cheek, nodding his head, his eyes solemn. No hint of joking could be seen in his expression. “Yeah, princess. To love. Because in all this insanity, within mere days, I’ve fallen for you. I will burn this entire fucking world to the ground to protect you, and I’ll never let a flame touch you. You…” He sighed. “Some fucking how, princess, you became the center of my entire fucking universe.”
Tears slid down my cheeks at his admission. Leaning down, I kissed him, hoping he could feel everything I didn’t know how to put into words. Groaning, he kissed me back with the same conviction, pulling me down so I rested on top of him.
“I love you, too,” I whispered, my voice shaky. “Please don’t make me regret doing so.”
He kissed me again, and I closed my eyes, soaking in the moment. “Never, princess.”
Matthew leaned against the counter, a mug of coffee in his hands, his eyes tracking every move I made as I cooked breakfast for everyone. Lindsey stepped into the kitchen, smiling warmly at me when she saw I’d taken over for the morning. “Oh, you didn’t have to make breakfast,” she said, but I could tell she was grateful for it. Especially since she looked a bit pale this morning.
“I wanted to,” I assured her. I was in a damn good mood. I’d found my place in the world—right by Matthew’s side. I never thought I’d want to stick around another club if I escaped my dad’s, but here I was. Ready to stick around for this man.
“I’ll leave you two to it,” Matthew said. He reached up and gently squeezed Lindsey’s shoulder. “Morning, Lindsey.”
“Morning, Carver,” she said, aiming her smile at him. “Can you send Eric in here to wash dishes while we finish up?”
“Sure thing.”
He left the kitchen, and a minute later, Eric came in dragging his feet, looking grumpy. He let his eyes linger on me for a moment—like he was trying to figure me out—and then he looked at Lindsey.
“Carver said you needed me in here?”
She pointed to the sink. “Start washing those up so we don’t have to tackle so much after breakfast is done.” Then, she gently nudged my hip with her own so we could stand at the stove together. She worked on the pancakes and sausage while I worked on the bacon and eggs. We fell into an easy conversation, and she told me about where she’d come from. How she’d been looking for a job and Blink had hired her. Then she told me about how she tried to quit after they slept together for the first time, and he’d refused to budge.
It was hard to picture that big, grumpy man loving someone as sweet as her, but they worked. And that was proven when he came in to make himself a cup of coffee and kissed her before palming her belly and then silently leaving the kitchen, never saying a word.
I eyed her belly, wondering if she was pregnant. If she was, she wasn’t showing yet. And… oh fuck, my dad could’ve taken that from them, too.
I suddenly felt sick.
When breakfast was done and we were all sitting around, Carter raised his coffee mug in my direction. “So, I guess this is now a welcome-to-the-family moment?” he asked, a teasing smile on his lips.
“Fuck off,” Matthew snapped at him, his palm coming to rest on my thigh. “Stop being an asshole.”
“What? We all heard?—”
“Carter,” Blink growled in his direction. Carter rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh. Then, Blink turned to me and inclined his head in my direction. “Welcome to the family, Jennifer. You now have the club’s full protection as Carver’s old lady.”
Lindsey beamed at me. Eric grunted, not looking happy about it, but I understood. From what I’d heard, Lindsey was the reason he had a home here. Somewhere safe to rest. And my family had almost gotten her killed. I just hoped he would come around soon.
I truly didn’t mean any of them any harm.
Grit forked a piece of pancake and looked at me. “Yeah—what he said. Except if you moan like?—”
“I’m going to fucking stab you,” Carver snarled at him, picking up his fork and clenching it tightly.
Grit barked out a laugh, and I giggled. Carver looked over at me and smiled before leaning in to kiss me. My cheeks went a little red, but I still kissed him back, happier than I ever had been in my life.
I knew shit was going to get rough around here very soon, but I knew I was safe with this club. With Carver. I was done trying to run.
I was staying right here. With this incredible man who’d given me a second chance at not only earning his trust, but a second chance at life and love.