4. Rory #2
Then I shook, the tremors wracking through me. My knees buckled and Doc caught me, pulling me against his chest. The adrenaline crash hit hard, making my teeth chatter.
"You're okay," he murmured against my hair. "I've got you. You're protected."
"He found us. I knew he would but I thought—I thought we had more time—"
"Hey." He tilted my face up, forcing me to meet his gaze. "He's not coming back. Pope's going to make some calls. Matt's going to realize real quick that he fucked with the wrong people."
"He has friends. Other cops. He'll—"
"He's a coward." Doc's thumb stroked my cheekbone. "Men like him only work when they have power. When they're in control. He came here with backup because he was scared to face you alone. Now he knows what'll happen if he tries again."
"You hit him."
"I did." No apology in his voice. "And I'll do worse if he comes near you or Luna again."
The protective growl in his words made heat pool low in my belly. This man had just defended us without hesitation. Had put himself between me and danger. Had made it clear Matt would have to go through him to get to us.
"Mama?" Luna's small voice came from behind the desk. "Is he gone?"
"Yes, baby." I pulled away from Doc to crouch down, holding out my arms. She ran to me, Mr. Hops clutched tight. "He's gone. Doc made sure of it."
She pressed her lips together for a moment, processing. Then her face cleared. "You're really strong," she said to Doc, something like worship in her expression.
"Strong enough to keep you both safe," he said quietly. "Always."
Pope cleared his throat from the doorway. "We're going to post someone outside tonight. Just in case. Diesel's taking first watch."
"That's not necessary—" I started.
"It's happening," Pope said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're family now, Rory. We protect family."
Family. The word wrapped around me, warm and foreign and right.
"Thank you," I managed.
"Don't thank me yet. Wait until you meet the rest of the chaos." Pope's expression softened slightly. "Get her home, Doc. Long day."
Luna crashed at seven-fifteen, worn out from the move and the confrontation. I tucked her into the alcove, pulling the purple quilt up to her chin and making sure Mr. Hops was secure under her arm. The fairy lights cast a soft glow over her sleepy face.
"Love you, baby girl." I kissed her forehead.
"Love you, Mama. And Doc." She was already half-asleep, Mr. Hops tucked under her chin. "He's the best."
"He really is."
I found him in the kitchen, staring at his palms. They weren't shaking. For the first time since I'd known him, his hands were rock-steady.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah." He gazed up at me, something raw in his expression. "You?"
"I should be terrified. Matt showing up, threatening us, all of it." I moved closer, drawn by gravity or insanity or both. "But all I can think about is how you protected us. How you didn't hesitate. How you made me feel—"
"How?"
"Whole." I touched his face, feeling the tension in his jaw. "You made me feel whole. Actually, genuinely complete for the first time in six years."
His fingers covered mine, pressing my palm against his cheek. "I'll always protect you. Both of you. That's not optional."
"I know." I rose on my toes, bringing my mouth close to his. "Cole?"
"Yeah?"
"Take me to bed."
He kissed me then—hard and desperate and full of two weeks of restraint breaking wide open. His palms found my waist, lifting, and I wrapped my legs around him. He carried me down the hall to our bedroom, kicking the door shut behind us.
He laid me on the bed with surprising gentleness, then straightened to pull off his shirt. Muscle and ink and scars—so many scars. Each one a story. Each one proof he'd survived.
He came to me, covering my body with his, and the weight of him felt right. Sheltered. Home. His mouth found mine again, slower this time, thorough. Learning me. Memorizing what made me gasp.
His fingers stripped away my clothes with efficient care, and when we were finally skin to skin, we both went still.
He kissed down my neck, my collarbone, lower. Taking his time. Worshipping instead of taking. His mouth found my breast, tongue circling my nipple until I arched into him.
"Cole—"
"I've got you." His palm slid between my thighs, finding me ready. "God, you're perfect."
He took his time there too, fingers moving in slow circles that had me gasping his name. Building me up, learning what I liked, what made my hips roll forward seeking more.
"Please," I managed. "I need—"
"I know what you need." He rose over me, positioned himself at my entrance. "Eyes on me, Rory."
I met his gaze as he pushed inside, slow and deep, both of us gasping at the sensation. Perfect. Complete. Right.
He moved then—slow, deep thrusts that hit something inside me that made stars burst behind my eyes. His mouth found mine, swallowing my moans, and I clung to him like he was the only solid thing in the world.
"So good," he groaned against my neck. "You feel so damn good."
The pleasure built, coiling tight and hot in my core. His thumb found where we were joined, circling in time with his thrusts, and I shattered. Came apart in his arms with his name on my lips.
He followed a heartbeat later, his body going rigid, my name breaking from his throat. We collapsed together, gasping for air, tangled so completely I couldn't tell where I ended and he began.
"I'm falling for you," I whispered against his chest, listening to his pulse race.
His arms tightened around me. "Already fell, sweetheart. Weeks ago."
I tilted my face up to meet his gaze. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." He kissed me soft and sweet. "You and Luna? You're everything I didn't know I needed."
"We're yours." The certainty settled warm in my chest. "For as long as you'll have us."
"Then you're stuck with me forever." He pulled the blanket over us, gathering me close. "Because I'm not letting either of you go."
I fell asleep in his arms, more secure than I'd been in years. Luna sleeping soundly down the hall. The club brothers standing watch outside. Doc's steady heartbeat beneath my ear.
This was home.
This was family.
This was everything.