Chapter 14
14
JESSE
J esse woke to the scent of Keely—warm vanilla and something sweet—something uniquely her . It wrapped around him, grounding him before he even opened his eyes.
The steady beep of the heart monitor told him he was still in the hospital. His side ached dully, reminding him of the bullet he’d taken. The fact that Keely was beside him, curled into his side, her fingers laced with his, told him everything else he needed to know.
She hadn’t left him. He probably didn’t want to know what she’d had to do to pull that off; he was just glad she’d done it.
He turned his head slightly, careful not to jostle her. Her hair was a wild mess against his chest, strands falling across her cheek. Her breathing was deep and even, her body warm where it pressed against his. He found the sight unexpectedly devastating.
Keely Malone, all stubborn fire and reckless defiance, had stayed. The woman who let no one in, who fought tooth and nail for control in every aspect of her life, was here—holding his hand in her sleep like she didn’t care if the whole damn world saw it.
Jesse felt something shift inside him, something permanent and untamed. She was his.
He wondered if she knew she’d been his from the moment she walked into his life with her sharp mouth and wicked eyes, challenging him at every turn. He’d spent a long time pretending he could keep his hands off her, but the second she let him in—truly let him in—there had never been another option.
He had never belonged to a woman before, not like this. Not in a way that felt like his goddamn soul had tied itself to hers. He thought about the many conversations he’d had with Vanessa Ellington, the best-selling romance author who also played at the club. She believed in love at first sight and soul mates. Jesse had believed in neither… until he’d met Reed’s bratty little sister.
Keely stirred, her lashes fluttering as she shifted against him. Jesse squeezed her fingers, watching as her brow furrowed slightly before she blinked up at him. For a moment, she just stared.
Then she shot upright so fast she nearly ripped the IV out of his arm. “Jesse?” Her voice was rough, panicked, still thick with sleep.
He grinned—damn, that hurt—and squeezed her hand again. “Mornin’, darlin’.”
She pressed both palms against his chest like she needed him to breathe, as if she didn’t trust her eyes alone.
“You’re awake.”
“Noticed that, did you?”
Her eyes snapped to his, the fire in them flaring to life. “Don’t be an ass, Jesse. I thought you...”
She cut herself off, shaking her head like she couldn’t even say the words.
Jesse shifted, cupping the back of her neck with his free hand, pulling her down until her forehead rested against his. “I’m right here, Keely. I’m not going anywhere but home with you.”
She shuddered. Her breath ghosted over his lips, her fingers gripping his hospital gown in tight fists. “You promised me, you bastard.”
Jesse chuckled, even as the sound came out rough. “Yeah, you mentioned that earlier. Pretty sure you cussed me out while I was unconscious.”
Keely lifted her head, glaring at him. “You deserved it.”
“Probably.” He ran his thumb along the nape of her neck, soothing her even as she vibrated with emotion. “You gonna let me make it up to you?”
She swallowed, her throat bobbing. “That depends.”
Jesse quirked an eyebrow. “On?”
Her fingers tightened in the fabric covering his chest. “Did you mean it?”
His pulse kicked up. “Mean what, darlin’?”
She inhaled sharply, her voice a strained whisper. “That you weren’t leaving. That this—us—wasn’t just some heat-of-the-moment bullshit.”
Jesse’s chest ached, and it had nothing to do with his injuries. He caught her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look at him. “I don’t say shit I don’t mean, Keely.”
Her lower lip trembled, but she caught it between her teeth, biting back whatever emotion threatened to spill free. “Then say it now.”
Jesse’s jaw ticked. He hated that she doubted this. Hated she thought, even for a second, that he would walk away. So, he did what he always did when Keely pushed him too far.
He took.
Jesse fisted the back of her hair and pulled her down, crushing his mouth against hers in a kiss that left no room for questions, no space for doubt. Keely gasped, her hands flying to his shoulders, but she didn’t push him away. She never pushed him away.
He devoured her. Licked into her mouth like he owned her, like he was claiming her, like he needed to make damn sure she understood.
She was his.
Not just in bed. Not just in the dark, but always and in all ways. None of this keeping things confined to the bedroom shit. Keely needed a keeper, and he’d elected himself to the job… for life.
Keely moaned into the kiss, shifting so she was half on the bed, her body pressing into his like she needed to feel him as much as he needed to feel her. Jesse let out a rough groan, his free hand sliding down her back, gripping her hip, anchoring her.
Then he pulled back, just far enough to brush his lips over hers as he murmured, “I meant it, darlin’. As I’m laid up, I’ll see if I can’t get one of the guys to find me some collars and a ring to choose from.”
Keely’s breath stuttered.
Jesse pressed another slow kiss against her mouth, softer this time, but no less possessive. “I love you.”
She trembled, her fingers digging into his shoulders. “Jesse…”
He nipped at her lower lip, breathing her in. “Say it.”
Her lashes fluttered, her body melting into his. “I love you.”
Jesse exhaled, his grip tightening. “Again.”
Her voice wavered, but her eyes burned with defiance. “I love you, you overprotective, infuriating, impossible asshole.”
A grin tugged at his lips. “That’s my girl.”
Keely let out a shaky laugh, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Jesse stroked a hand down her spine, content to hold her for as long as she needed.
After a long moment, she pulled back, studying him with those sharp green eyes of hers. “So… when do I get to take you home?”
Jesse chuckled, already regretting it as his ribs protested. “Soon, darlin’.”
Keely huffed. “Not soon enough.”
Jesse caught her jaw, tilting her face up so she had to look at him. “You’re not getting rid of me, Keely. You belong to me.”
She swallowed hard, then nodded. “Good. Because you’re mine, too.”
Jesse’s gut clenched, a wave of something fierce and right rolling through him.
Yeah. He was hers. And he wasn’t going anywhere.
Jesse had fought enough battles to know when a war wasn’t over. Sure, Nico Alvarez was dead, his empire dismantled, and Keely was safe, but as he sat in his hospital bed, waiting for the inevitable confrontation, he knew damn well that the hardest fight was still ahead of him.
Reed Malone.
Keely’s brother. One of his closest friends. The man who could either accept what Jesse already knew in his bones—that Keely belonged to him—or make his life a living hell.
Jesse dragged a hand through his hair as the door swung open.
Gavin walked in first, his usual cool demeanor in place. “Well, well, look who’s not dead.”
Dawson followed, grinning. “Shame, too. We had a hell of a wake planned. Open bar and everything.”
Hawke leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “I was gonna say some real nice words about you, man. Guess I’ll save them for next time.”
Jesse rolled his eyes, shifting slightly in the hospital bed. “Y’all that disappointed I pulled through?”
Gavin shrugged. “Nah. Just means you get to pay your tab at the Spur next time we go out.”
Jesse chuckled, but the sound was rough. He wasn’t at a hundred percent yet, not even close, but he’d survived worse. Hell, if he could survive Keely, a bullet to the gut was nothing.
Speaking of Keely—she had gone to grab coffee, leaving him alone for this. He wasn’t sure if she was giving him space to handle his business, or if she just didn’t want to witness the bloodshed when her brother arrived. Because he was coming. Jesse could feel it.
And sure as hell, a second later, the air in the room shifted as the door opened again.
Reed.
He stood in the doorway, his posture deceptively relaxed, but Jesse knew better. Reed’s eyes were sharp, his jaw tight, his gaze locked on Jesse like a heat-seeking missile. The conversation was coming, and there was no stopping it.
The room went quiet.
Dawson muttered something under his breath. Hawke let out a low whistle. Gavin, the only one dumb enough to poke the bear, clapped Jesse on the shoulder. “This should be fun. Try not to bleed out before we get a chance to grab a drink.”
And just like that, the team filtered out, leaving Jesse alone with Reed.
The silence stretched.
Jesse didn’t look away.
Reed crossed his arms over his chest, his stance solid, unshakable. “You gonna tell me what the hell you were thinking?”
Jesse let out a slow breath. “You really need me to spell it out?”
Reed’s eyes darkened. “Twice you put yourself between her and a bullet.”
“I’ll do it again,” Jesse said, his voice calm, unwavering. “Every damn time.”
Something flickered in Reed’s expression. “You love her.”
Jesse met his gaze, steady and sure. “Yeah. I do.”
Reed snorted, shaking his head. “Shit.”
Jesse braced himself. He expected a fight, a warning, maybe even a goddamn punch to the face, but Reed just stared at him for a long moment, something unreadable in his expression.
Then, finally, he spoke. “Don’t fuck it up.”
Jesse blinked. “That’s it? No threats? No lectures?”
Reed ran a hand over his face, exhaling. “She’s my sister, Jesse. My little sister.” His voice was rough, worn at the edges. “I’ve spent my whole damn life making sure she had everything she needed. That she was safe. That no one broke her.”
Jesse swallowed hard. “I’m not gonna break her, Reed. I’m going to spend the rest of my life doing the same. I love her, and she loves me.”
Reed’s gaze sharpened. “So, I’ve been told.” He took a step closer, his voice dropping. “I’m not supposed to threaten you, but I don’t care. If you ever hurt her, I will end you. No hesitation. No discussion.”
Jesse inclined his head. “Understood.”
The two men held the stare for a long, weighted beat before, at last, Reed nodded once and turned toward the door. He paused just before stepping out. “And Jesse?”
“Yeah?”
Reed glanced over his shoulder, something dangerously close to amusement in his eyes. “You’re going to make this legal, right?”
Jesse let out a breath. “Collar and ring as soon as I can get someone to help me find what I want.”
Reed grunted. “Good.” Then he walked out, leaving Jesse alone with the realization that he’d just won the most important battle of his life.
A second later, Keely stormed in, coffee in one hand, frustration in her eyes. “Please tell me my brother didn’t try to murder you while I was gone.”
Jesse chuckled, his ribs protesting the movement. “Nope. He just threatened my life and left. Real civilized conversation with the usual dick measuring.”
Keely rolled her eyes. “He’s lucky I love him and so are you.”
Jesse’s gaze locked onto hers. “Yeah?”
She grinned. “Yeah.”
Jesse reached out, snagging her wrist, tugging her down until she was practically in his lap. “Say it.”
Her body softened against him, and whispered, “I love you.”
Jesse didn’t waste another second.
He took her mouth, kissing her like he’d been starving for it—because he had.
Keely moaned against his lips, her hands fisting in his shirt, her body pressing flush against his. Jesse swallowed the sound, deepening the kiss, owning it.
When he finally pulled back, her flushed cheeks, bright eyes, and uneven breath were clear.
Jesse pressed his forehead to hers, his grip possessive. “We’re going to make this work, Keely. Whatever it takes.”
She inhaled sharply. “Even if my brother tries to kill you?”
Jesse chuckled. “He can try, but I’ll win… my dick is bigger than his.”
Keely’s laughter was breathless, her fingers threading through his hair as she whispered, “God help me, I love you.”
Jesse kissed her again, slower this time, but no less consuming.
She was his, and nothing was ever going to change that.