CHAPTER EIGHT
DREAD
Pulling into Honey’s driveway, I cut the engine, and the silence settles around us.
My eyes flick to the rearview mirror, where I can see both boys sprawled out in the backseat, dead to the world.
Tommy’s head is tipped back against the headrest, mouth hanging open, his small chest rising and falling with each breath.
Fuck.
Something in my chest twists looking at this kid who had to step up when his piece-of-shit father couldn’t be bothered. Eight years old and looking out for his little brother with diabetes, and making the call for help when he was scared.
The kid's got more balls than his old man ever will.
Fucking Eddie.
My jaw clenches. That mother fucker pulled his hand back, ready to hit Honey. The thought of him thinking he could put his hands on her makes my blood boil all over again. He’s a fucking runt, but still…she’s a tiny woman. Woman being the key fucking word.
I flex my right hand, feeling the sting in my knuckles. Shoulda’ beat the fucking brakes off that bum. I would have, too, if there hadn’t been so many witnesses.
I turn toward Honey and sigh. I wasn’t expecting to feel the way I do about her after a day. Hell, it hasn’t even been that really. Maybe a few hours.
Taking in her silhouette, I wish I knew what was going through her mind. She’s barely said a word since we left Daytona. Looking at her now, I can see that she’s wiped the fuck out.
“You okay, baby?”
She twists in her seat, glancing back at her sleeping sons before turning to me. Her bottom lip starts to tremble, and before I can say another word, her face crumbles. A soft sob rips from her throat, the sound tearing right through me.
“Ah, hell.” I reach across the console and pull her into my lap. She doesn’t resist, just collapses against me, her body shaking as she finally lets go.
I’ve been waiting for this. She held it together the whole drive to Daytona, kept it together while we got the boys, even kept it together during the confrontation with that prick.
But everybody has their breaking point, and Honey just hit hers.
“It’s okay,” I murmur into her hair, one hand rubbing slow circles on her back while the other cradles her head against my chest. “I got you.”
Her fingers curl into my shirt as she cries, and I just hold her, letting her get it all out. Each sob feels like a punch to the gut, but I don’t bother trying to quiet her. She needs this.
I close my eyes and hold onto her, doing my best to be the strength she needs.
“Let it out, baby. It’s okay. I’ve got you.” I want to kill that son of a bitch.
Fuck him. Nobody’s gonna make her cry like this again. I’ll make damn sure of it.
After a few minutes, the sobs quiet down to small hiccuping breaths, and she lifts her head. Even with mascara streaking down her cheeks and her nose all red, she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, wiping at her face. “I didn’t mean to fall apart on you.”
“Don’t apologize.” My voice is rough. I’m not used to feeling this protective over anyone who isn’t a part of my club.
She sniffles, eyes still watery. “I’m sorry I ruined your Christmas party.”
I snort. “I didn’t really want to be there anyway.”
Something ugly shifts behind her eyes before the shutters come down. She stiffens in my arms. “I should get my boys inside.”
Before I can stop her, she’s sliding back into her own seat, her hands busy straightening her clothes, fixing her hair—anything to avoid looking at me.
What the fuck just happened?
One second she’s holding onto me like I’m her lifeline, and the next she can’t get away from me fast enough.
“What’s going on?” I study her profile in the dim light.
“Nothing.” She keeps her eyes on her lap.
“Bullshit.” I know it’s something. “Something I said just now set you off.”
She starts to deny it again, but I cut her off. “You’re lying. I can see it all over your face.”
“I know about you and Sarah, okay?” The words burst out of her like she can’t hold them back anymore.
I cock my head to the side. “What do you think you know about Sarah and me?”
“That you had a thing for her. That you’ve been moping around the clubhouse because of her.” She finally looks at me, and I can see the hurt in her eyes. “The ladies I met tonight told me.”
A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. Honey’s eyes narrow.
“Is that funny to you?”
“Baby, there is no ‘me and Sarah.’” I shake my head. “Never has been.”
She looks confused. “But they said—”
“I was attracted to Sarah. I was interested in her.” I reach over and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “But it wasn’t meant to be. She’s with someone else now, and I’m over it.”
“You are?”
“Yeah.” I brush my thumb across her cheek. “Because I’m into you.”
Her cheeks flush crimson, and she bites her lip. “Oh.”
“Yeah, baby. Oh.” I can’t help but grin at the look on her face.
I reach over, snake my arm behind her back, and drag her into my lap again. This time when our eyes meet, there’s no mistaking the heat I see there. I cup the back of her neck and pull her mouth to mine.
She melts against me with a soft sigh, her lips parting as my tongue slides against hers.
She tastes like the White Claw she had at the clubhouse earlier, and something sweeter that’s all mine.
My hand fists in her hair, angling her head to deepen the kiss.
When she moans into my mouth, my cock stirs to life.
I want to take my time with her. Want to lay her out and worship every inch of her body until she’s begging for release. But not here. Not with her kids sleeping in the backseat.
I pull back, both of us breathing hard. “Let’s get your boys inside.”
Her cheeks turn pink, and she nods.
“Give me your keys.” I pat her hip. “Don’t move.”
I slide out from under her and jog around to the front door of her house. The lock sticks a little, but eventually the door swings open.
I hustle back to the truck and help Honey down, dropping another kiss on her lips before going to the back door. I ease it open, careful not to wake the boys. Tommy doesn’t stir as I lift him into my arms.
Standing back, I wait while Honey gathers Jackson against her chest, and we head inside together.
The second I step through the door, my lips turn down.
The place is in bad shape. Honey’s done an admirable job making this dump feel like a home, but it’s still putting lipstick on a pig.
The walls need paint, there are water stains on the ceiling, and I can see cracks running along the baseboards.
“Caleb,” Honey whispers, pointing to a door off the hallway. “That’s Tommy’s room.”
Carrying her sleeping boy into his bedroom, I lay him down on the air mattress. As I straighten, I glance around his room. It’s nearly empty except for the makeshift bed and a single cardboard box in the corner with “Tommy” scrawled on the side in black marker.
The thoughts running through my head are crazy—absurd. This place is a shithole. Nowhere is good enough for Honey and her boys.
Heaving a heavy sigh, I make up my mind right here and now.
Honey and her boys are going to be mine, and there’s no way in hell I’m letting them stay in this dump. Somehow, some way, I’m going to get them into my place where I can keep them safe, where nothing and nobody can ever make her cry again.
Honey tiptoes into the room. She aims that sweet smile that goes right to my dick at me before leaning over her son and pressing a kiss to his forehead.
Fuck.
“Jackson’s all tucked in in his room,” she whispers, straightening up. There’s exhaustion written all over her face, but there’s something else there, too.
Want?
Need, maybe?
Before I can put a name to it, she grabs hold of my hand and drags me behind her out of Tommy’s room, and quietly closes the door behind us.
For a moment, she just stares at me, like she’s waging a war in her head I don’t know about.
I’m not sure what to say or if I should offer to go. And maybe she’s not sure how to ask me to leave. I’m way out of my depths here.
I open my mouth to ask her what’s next, but my jaw snaps closed when she grabs my hand again and pulls me behind her.
She pushes open another door, and I realize we’re in her bedroom. It’s as sparse as the rest of the house—just a blow-up mattress on the floor with a single pillow and a thin blanket.
Honey closes the door with a soft click and turns to face me. The tension between us crackles like a live wire ready to set this whole room ablaze. Her blue eyes are dark with need, her lips slightly parted. And just like that, my control snaps.
I close the distance between us and lift her up against me. Her legs wrap around my waist as my mouth crashes down on hers. This kiss is different—hungry, desperate, all teeth and tongue.
“Fuck, baby,” I growl against her lips. “Been thinking about this since I first saw you.”
Her hands are in my hair, pulling me closer. “Me too,” she breathes.
I walk us to the air mattress, lowering her down gently. She looks up at me, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her eyes never leaving mine as I pull my cut off and toss it onto the cardboard box beside the bed.
“You sure about this?” I ask, giving her one last chance to back out.
She sits up and pulls her shirt over her head, revealing a sexy lace bra.
“I’m sure,” she says, her voice steady despite the blush spreading across her chest. “But…”
I cock my head to the side.
She bites her lip. “It’s been a really long time.”
My lips twitch. “How long?”
“Six years.”
My brows go up.
Holy shit. That’s a crying fucking shame.
Yanking my own shirt off, I drop to my knees in front of her. We need to remedy that immediately.
I lick my lips and motion her closer. “C’mere.”
She scoots to the edge of the mattress, and I capture her mouth again, one hand sliding up to cup her breast.
Honey arches into my touch, a soft moan escaping her. My cock thickens.
Reaching behind her back, I unhook her bra, and her perfect tits spill out.