Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
WRENLEY
L ucas sighed as he applied a new patch to Torch’s shoulder and arm wound. “I know this might embarrass all of us, but as the doctor for the club, I have to say it. Please abstain from strenuous intercourse and stick to easier… um, positions?” His face was probably about as red as mine.
Torch straightened and actually seemed smug or proud with the way his chest puffed out.
Lucas rolled his eyes while I thinned my lips so I wouldn’t laugh.
“Now that’s out of the way and I’m all done here, it should be almost dinnertime downstairs.”
As if on cue, my stomach growled, and I pressed a hand to the borrowed tee I wore. Eve had been sweet to lend me clothes while Courtney had brought some things in for Raya.
Torch suddenly jumped off the table, took my hand, and walked us toward the door.
“You need to eat. Thanks, Lucas,” Torch called.
Lucas laughed. “Anytime, but not again so soon.”
I pulled Torch to a stop and glanced back. “Are you coming?”
“I’ll just tidy up and come down.”
A throat cleared, and I saw Wreck now stood outside the room waiting to get in to his husband. Torch and I moved to the side, after Wreck gripped Torch’s shoulder briefly, to let him in.
Lucas’s brows bunched together. “Where’s Opal?”
Wreck’s gaze narrowed. “Your brother stole her so she can protect him from Gun’s wrath over gettin’ shot.”
Lucas snorted. “It won’t only be Kylo’s wrath he needs to worry about. Mom and Dad should be here soon.”
Oh, this is going to be entertaining , I thought as I waved to them. “See you down there.”
Wreck grunted while Lucas waved back.
I smiled up at Torch and squeezed his hand before he started leading us to the common room. It was busy with brothers, some old ladies who belonged to the brothers, and bunnies. It was hard to believe Dusty had started out as one of the bunnies before Country claimed her as his woman.
We hadn’t confirmed our relationship yet, but I presumed I was classed as Torch’s woman.
Thinking as much had my smile growing as people greeted us when we walked by.
Torch picked a table that held Country, Dusty, Saint, who held a gibbering Opal, Gun, West, Adrick, Henri, and Blaze. Torch sat beside Blaze and pulled me down onto his lap. My face ignited, but I curled an arm around his shoulders.
“It is good to see you are well rested, chéri ,” Henri teased from where he leaned around Blaze.
“Henri,” Blaze warned.
Laughing lightly, I rolled my eyes. I didn’t want Blaze to think we were offended by Henri’s words, so I quickly replied, “It’s amazing what a few hours of sleep can do to a person.”
Henri snorted. He opened his mouth to say something, but Blaze shoved a buttered roll into it. Henri glared at his man while those who’d seen it laughed. Henri bit off a piece, chewed, and continued to scowl at Blaze, who looked at Henri adoringly while he waited for Henri’s tantrum.
Henri started firing off rapid French while the loving gaze didn’t leave Blaze’s face. His lips did twitch, though.
Torch brushed his nose against my forehead before he said, “I’ll grab us some food.”
Meeting his gaze, I nodded and pressed a quick kiss to his lips before I stood. When Torch left to go into the kitchen through the swinging doors, I took his seat.
Blaze grunted.
When I stared up at him, I found his attention already on me. He asked, “Good?”
I nodded, almost laughing with how he reminded me of Torch. “I am.”
He tipped his chin up at me.
“Wrenley,” Country called from where he sat opposite us. I turned to him while Henri pulled others into a conversation. Country grinned at me, hugging Dusty close. “There ain’t enough thanks when I see my brother relaxed and happy like he is when he’s at your side.”
Dusty gave me a warm smile with a nod.
“I don’t need thanks,” I told them.
“Know you don’t. But I wanted to give it anyway because it means a fuckload to me knowin’ he’s settled.”
My heart stumbled into my ribs. I shrugged, emotions clogging my throat. I loved knowing that Torch’s brothers saw a change in him when he was with me. A happy change.
Licking my suddenly dry lips, I glanced to my sister, who was down the other end of the long table, before I met Country’s gaze and said, “Raya and I were each other’s family when our own parents didn’t care. But it’s nice to have more people in our family now.”
He winked and kissed Dusty’s temple when she sniffed. “Sorry, pregnancy emotions.”
Henri scoffed. “ Chéri , you are emotional all the time. Do not blame my niece or nephew. By the way, I would like to remind you both that the name Henri is good, oui ?”
“No,” Country said.
“But—”
“No,” Country stated with a raised brow, as if daring him to ask again.
He opened his mouth but didn’t get anything out since someone else had yelled, “Zion Storey, you were shot again ?”
Saint spun his gaze to Gun. “I thought you didn’t call her?”
Gun grinned. “ I didn’t.”
“That little fucker,” Saint snarled low.
Loud footsteps pounded the floor, and Lucas yelled, “Wait, wait.” When he appeared, he breathed heavily and nodded. “Okay. I’m here.” He rolled a hand around. “Continue.”
Wreck walked in a lot slower and stood at his husband’s back.
Gerry and Lucy, their parents, glanced back from Lucas to Saint and glowered. “You get shot and you don’t call? Next time one of us are in the hospital, we’re not calling you,” Lucy stated.
“Yeah,” Gerry added.
Saint stood, holding out the baby. “Look, Mom, it’s your granddaughter.”
I hid my laugh behind my hand.
Lucy started forward. “Don’t just think you can distract me from yelling at you— Oh, my little beautiful butterfly. Look at you today. You look adorable in that little outfit.” She pulled Opal from Saint’s arms and hugged her close while her granddaughter grinned up at her.
Saint smirked over at Lucas and scratched his forehead with his middle finger.
“Mom, focus,” Lucas called, coming over with Wreck following.
Gerry clapped his hands. “Lucy, give me toots while you deal with our son.”
I was a little surprised Country allowed this to go on—or Saint, who didn’t seem to care he was getting scolded like a little boy in front of his brothers. Though, a lot of the brothers were trying to hold in their own mirth.
Lucy handed Opal over to Gerry and faced her son again.
“Mom, I’m okay,” he told her, bringing her in for a hug.
Lucy slapped his arm but then wrapped him up in a tight hug, and we all heard her choked cry.
“Goddammit, kid. You gotta be more careful. You can’t make your mom cry,” Gerry barked, but I saw his own eyes had welled.
“I’ll be careful,” Saint told them. “Besides, if I don’t, Kylo will end up killin’ me anyway.”
Lucy sniffed, pulled away, and smacked his arm again. “And he’d have every right to.” She turned her attention to Gun. “How are you, my dear boy? I’m sorry you have to put up with our son.”
Gun nodded and gave her a hug. “It’s hard sometimes, Lucy.”
Gerry snorted. “No take backs. He’s all yours now.”
I loved all this interaction. I used to wish Raya and I had it with our parents. But I hadn’t wished that for a while now. If things hadn’t happened as they did, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have found Torch, and I wouldn’t give him up for anything.
A plate appeared in front of me, piled high with all sorts of food.
I quickly shifted over a little to make room for Torch. He put his plate down and sat.
Bumping my shoulder gently into him, I gave him a grin. “Thank you.”
He kissed my forehead and tipped his chin up, but his gaze lingered on my neck. I knew he’d be peeved at my bruises until they faded. I couldn’t change his anger over it. But I could show him I was okay. I placed my hand on his thigh, picked up a fork from the container in the middle, and dug in.
I’d made a good dint in the food when Blaze asked Torch, “You stayin’ at the compound?”
Torch glanced at me.
That was when I realized the damages to the house hadn’t even crossed my mind. No doubt Raya would stay at Death’s. “I-I hadn’t even thought about the house,” I admitted aloud. “It’ll need fixing.”
“Brothers are there doin’ it and bringin’ Harley here until we figure out where we’re stayin’ for a few days.”
Where we’re staying.
He wanted to continue living with me.
My heart galloped.
Smiling, I shrugged. “I’m okay wherever we stay.”
“Wrenley,” Raya called. “There’s room at Leland’s.”
“We could go to mine.”
I turned to Torch. “You have a place?”
He nodded. “Up the road.”
“A house?”
I’d thought he lived in the compound. Why hadn’t I even considered Torch had his own home? And since I hadn’t, I felt horrible. Maybe it was because we just hadn’t spoken about it. We still had a long way to go to get to know each other.
Although, I believed we knew the important parts.
He looked unsure at my question, brows furrowing. “Yeah.”
“Sorry, I… I thought you lived here.”
He shook his head. “Here most of the time. That’s why I bring Harley. But slept most nights in my own place.”
“But you’ve been staying at mine. I took you away from your home to stay in mine. Why didn’t you say anything sooner? Harley’s probably used to his own yard, and you, your own bed. I feel terrible that you’ve been away from your own home for so long.”
He cocked his head to the side briefly. “Harley will stay anywhere I am.”
“I think what Wrenley is trying to say is that she feels guilty for keeping you at her place when you could have told her about your house, and she would have stayed there for you.”
Nodding, I pointed at Dusty, who’d explained it perfectly, while I’d been too busy working through my thoughts that I’d made him confused.
“But that’s Wrenley’s home. Her sister is there. Her things are there.”
Country chuckled. “What Torch is sayin’, Wrenley, is that he didn’t care where he stayed. He just wanted you comfortable with him around in your space.”
I’d already gathered what he meant. He always thought of my comfort over his. Then again, maybe he really didn’t care where he was.
“Okay.” Turning to Torch, I added, “I’d love to stay at your place, please.”
“We’ll finish eating first. Then go check the house and get some of your things.”
“Deal.” I smiled.
He leaned in a little. “You sure you want to come to my place?”
Why wouldn’t I?
It was my turn to be confused. Unless he was concerned that I didn’t want to be in a house on my own with him. If that was the case, he needn’t worry about that at all.
It seemed I still had a long way to go to prove to him that I completely trusted him. That I enjoyed his one-on-one company.
“I’m looking forward to the peace,” I told him, lifting to kiss his jaw.
I jolted when it sounded like something smashed into a wall.
Torch’s hand rested gently on the back of my neck as a voice boomed, “Look out.”
A pitter-patter of claws hitting the floor sounded right before Harley entered the room at a full speed.
Torch whistled, and Harley aimed for us. We managed to get off the seat so he wouldn’t knock any of the food or a person to the ground; instead, he jumped at Torch first, then me. Whimpering, crying, and wiggling.
“Down,” Torch ordered when he went to jump at me again. Harley dropped to his bottom, and I crouched to wrap my arms around his quivering body as he sniffed, chuffed, and whimpered some more.
Torch dropped to his other side, and we both covered him in hugs and pets.
The poor boy had been beside himself.
“You’re such a good boy, Harley. We’re okay. We’re right here,” I cooed.
“Sorry,” Quake called. “I think he could scent you two and pulled the leash right out of my hand.”
“All good, brother,” Torch told him, picking up the leash. “How’s the house?”
“Gettin’ there with repairs.” He glanced to me and then Raya. “Doesn’t smell bad or anythin’, so I doubt the gas ruined stuff.”
At least there was that.
“Thank you,” Raya called from where she rested against Death.
“No thanks needed,” he said. “A few brothers are still there, but I wanted to bring him here since he was scaring some of them.”
Torch snorted. “Nothin’ to be scared about.”
“No, there isn’t,” I agreed in a sugary-sweet voice to Harley as I petted his face.
I was beyond grateful he was unharmed. I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if something had happened to him because of me and my mess. The only thing that had me twisted up inside was knowing Torch had been injured. Not that anyone could tell from the way he held himself, as if pain didn’t bother him. But I’d seen his injuries, and they were a reminder that my situation had gotten him hurt.
Still, I couldn’t bring myself to be the hero and walk away so nothing else in my life harmed him.
Instead, I wanted to glue myself to him.
“Can we make a move to leave soon?” I asked him quietly, wanting to be alone with him.
He lifted his gaze, studying me. “I want that.”
Smiling, I felt heat blooming over my face. “Okay.”
He reached out and ran a finger over one cheek. “You like the idea of being alone with me?”
He’d guessed my intentions in one. “Shush, you,” I told him, and he chuckled.
“Come see the pretty puppy,” I heard Lucy say.
“Lucy, do not take my daughter to that dog,” Wreck warned.
“Oh poo, your dadda is such a drag.”
“Poo,” Opal copied.
Lucas gasped. “Was that her first word? Oh my God, my baby girl. Say Daddy and Dadda.”
Torch stood, holding his hand out to me. I took it, and he pulled me close, cupping the side of my face, and while the others went on about Opal, I got lost in Torch’s warm gaze.
Torch’s place was a cute two-bedroom cottage-style home that really wasn’t far from the compound. We could have walked, but it had been late and dark by the time we left. Plus, we’d stopped by my house first to grab clothes and toiletries. We didn’t linger there, though. A part of me hadn’t wanted to fixate on the bad things I’d seen in the house since I’d be living in it again.
Torch dumped my bags in his room, which held a beautifully carved, dark wood, queen-sized bed. A big, plush dog bed sat in the corner.
“Oh, Harley’s allowed to sleep in your room,” I teased. He leaned against the doorframe, watching me.
His lips twitched. “He would have taken your attention.”
My belly swooped.
“Do you mean away from you?”
He nodded.
Oh God.
That was sweet to hear and had me swooning.
I winked. “Don’t worry, you have most of my attention even when he’s in the room.”
Speaking of the monster, Harley strutted in after being outside and trotted over to his bed, lying down with a moan. He was glad to be home.
“I like this,” Torch said.
I turned back to him. “What?”
“You in my room. My home. My space.”
I melted once more.
“I like being where you are,” I told him.
The corner of his mouth tipped up. “Crazy.”
Rolling my eyes, I shook my head. “It’s not. You’re an amazing man, Torch.”
Color hit his cheeks, and it was his turn to shake his head.
As I walked up to him, he tipped his chin down to keep my gaze. I rested my hands on his chest and said, “You are, and I won’t have you think otherwise.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Widening my eyes, I laughed. “Are you sassing me?”
“Never.”
I hummed. “I think you are. But that’s okay. I’ll allow it.” He snorted, and I grinned. “Let’s go brush our teeth before we climb into that amazing bed.”
His eyes darkened.
“Oh no, mister. The doctor’s orders were nothing too strenuous.”
“You could do all the work,” he suggested.
I threw my head back as an abrupt laugh left me.
His arms wrapped around me, pulling me in as he ducked his head to kiss my shoulder.
“Glad you like the bed. I made it.”
I stilled, and he lifted his head.
“Made it?” I asked. “As in put the sheets and blankets on?”
“No.”
“You made that bed? With the wood and the carvings and the pieces?”
Amusement crossed his features, a lightness settling there.
Awed, I stared at the bed, then back at him. “Torch, that’s a masterpiece.”
“Took me five years between work and other things.”
Turning, I walked over to it and brushed a hand over the fancy engravings in the wood. “It’s amazing. You should make them for others.”
“Not a job for me. Just wanted this for my place. To share with someone special.”
Oh my God, this man.
I went back to hug him. My throat thickened with emotions.
I love him. So much.
His hand slid up my spine to hold the back of my neck. “Shared this with no other. No one else was allowed in my space. A place I wanted to keep for myself. Until you.”
“Torch,” I whispered, tears dampening his tee since I had my face smooshed into his chest.
It’s too soon.
I can’t tell him yet.
But I wanted to.
He had to know how he made me feel.
His hand slid around to the front so he could touch some fingers under my chin and tap. He wanted me to look at him. When I lifted my gaze, his lips tightened at my tears.
“They’re not bad ones,” I told him.
“How?”
“They’re happy ones,” I said, his brows furrowed. “I sometimes cry when I’m feeling so much. Like I am now with you.”
He cocked his head to the side. “What are you feelin’?”
“I worry you won’t want to hear it yet.”
His gaze flickered over my face. “Don’t worry.”
I gave him another watery laugh. “Okay.”
“Wrenley.” He cupped my cheeks. “My pretty obsession. You have my heart. If I could carve it out of my chest and give it to you, I would, because you own it.”
Sniffing, I took a shaky breath and blurted, “I love you, Chase. You’re the man of my dreams, and I’m addicted to you in a way that should concern you, because I’ll never allow you to get rid of me.”
He groaned, crushing his lips to mine in a hot, deep, and wet kiss. Against them, he confessed, “You have all of me. My heart, my love, my soul. Love you.”
I rocked up to my toes to have his mouth again as my body buzzed happily.
He loves me.
He said it.
I had all of him.
All mine.