Chapter 11 #2
Then like a fucking dumbass I asked, “Any allergies?”
“Nothing that I know of yet,” she said.
I nodded, “Same.”
Then I finished the quick meal of eggs, bacon, and french toast.
“So, how long have you lived here?” she asked.
I looked over my shoulder as I finished the french toast and said, “Fifteen years.”
She lifted a brow, “Fifteen years. Wait, how old are you?”
I chuckled as I plated everything and said, “I’m forty-two.”
Her eyes went comically wide, “Bullshit.”
I nodded, “Yep. Forty-two.”
“How?” she asked with her mouth dropped open.
I smirked, “Well, nine months before I was born, my mother allowed a watering can to enter her love garden...” I trailed off as she burst into laughter.
Then she shook her head, “Smartass. But really. How does someone who looks like you’re only thirty-one or so, be forty-two?”
I shrugged, “Good genes, I guess. Fuck if I know.”
She nodded, “Well... does it bother you?”
I lifted a brow as I carried the plates to the island, “Does what bother me?”
“That I’m a lot younger than you,” she shared.
“Does it bother me that you're sweet? No.
Does it bother me that you have a good head on your shoulders?
No. Does it bother me that you're gorgeous? No. But what does bother me is you not being mine yet in every way I can make you mine. What does bother me is that I gotta find a way to deal with fuckers who see you until I can make you mine.”
“So, what you're saying is, you don’t give a shit I’m only twenty-four.” She asked with a small smile playing on her lips.
I shook my head, “Not a single fuck. You?”
She shook her head, “No. I think older men do it better.”
I smirked, “That we do, baby girl.” I bent my head and placed a kiss on her temple. There, I whispered, “That we do.”
And really... I was fighting a losing battle with my cock.
Because she had just licked the maple syrup off her fork with her tongue.
Was there anything about this woman that didn’t turn me on?
I was thinking not.
Thankfully, other than a few moans here and there for her, we ate in relative silence.
And I was also thankful that the top of the island hid my waist.
Because every time she moaned, I had to adjust my cock.
We had just finished eating, and I had foolishly stood up and started collecting the plates so I could wash them... Kimber had other ideas.
And now... I had nowhere to hide the fact that I seriously needed to adjust my cock right now.
She had her hands on her hips, glaring up at me because I wouldn’t let her clean the dishes.
Fuck me, was she gorgeous, but when she was starting to lose her temper... she was something else entirely. There wasn’t a word for it yet, which meant I needed to call Webster’s and have a word made.
“Baby, I get it. I cooked; you want to clean. But look at it from my perspective. I’m a man.
Therefore, we do stupid shit all the time that makes no fucking sense.
And a lot of the time, our women want to smother us in our sleep.
So, in order to make sure that doesn’t happen, I’ll do the dishes. Yeah?”
She obviously caught onto the fact that I was a different breed of man because her face went soft.
Fuck me, but that was sexy as fuck too.
Then she nodded.
I watched as she moved around the island, then over her shoulder she shared, “Since I can’t help with the dishes, I’m going to snoop.”
I chuckled, then winked, “Have at it, baby. Got nothing to hide from you.”
Ten minutes later, I was walking through the house when I finally found her on the back deck leaning against the banister.
I walked forward and pressed my front to her back, then braced my hands on either side of her forearms.
“Got any plans for the rest of the day?” I asked.
She shook her head, “Nope. Well, I would have had things not gone down like they did.”
“And what would that be?” I asked.
“Helping my sister-in-law and brother get to the airport for their flight so they could go on their honeymoon.”
I nodded, then rested my chin atop her head, and asked, “So, care to share what all went down last night?”
She sighed, “Honestly, I’d like to pretend that yesterday didn’t happen. Not when I’m having one of the best days of my life. Can I share it with you some other time?”
I pressed a kiss on the top of her head and said, “Yeah, baby, here whenever you're ready.”
“What’s your malfunction?” she asked.
I frowned, “What do you mean?”
“You're still single.” She said.
Ahh, I got what she was asking.
I got what she wasn’t saying.
Therefore, I grinned. “What was your malfunction that caused you to walk into our clubhouse for the first time yesterday and not when you were at least twenty-one. That way, we’d already be married with a kid on the way.”
She went still in front of me.
I grinned.
“Grey,” she said softly.
I chuckled, “Okay, I’ll stop. So, plans. I got nothing to do today, so how about we go to town, get you some things, and you chill here with me, and I’ll even let you cook dinner.”
I knew she was biting her bottom lip; I just fucking knew it; therefore, I said, “Quit biting.”
She giggled. Then she said, “And if I can’t cook?”
“Then I’ll cook,” I said.
“I can cook,” she shared.
Forty-five minutes later, I was parking my truck outside of Target.
I glanced over at her and said, “Wait for me.”
She smiled and nodded.
I climbed out of my truck, closed the door, and then rounded the hood.
I opened her door and held out my hand to her.
She smiled as she placed her smaller hand in mine and climbed down from the truck.
“Wherever we go, you wait for me. Okay?” I said.
She nodded, “Care to share why?”
“’Cause I gotta make sure it’s safe for you to leave the safety of the vehicle.”
I watched.
Mesmerized.
Those pale blue eyes of hers swirled with emotion.
And I would have given anything to ask her what that was.
But then I watched as a tear trailed down her cheek, I brought my thumb up and wiped it away. “You, okay?”
She smiled, “Just really wanting to be pinched right now to ensure I’m not dreaming.”
I chuckled, “Do you bruise easily?” I asked.
She winced, “Unfortunately.”
I nodded, “Then you’ll just have to settle for me telling you that you're not dreaming.”
An older woman walked by and said, “You don’t lose that one, sugar.”
Kimber glanced up at me.
I could see her thoughts spinning in those light blue eyes of hers.
I winked, “Come on.”
Then I steered us inside of Target.
Fifteen minutes later, I was frowning, “Why the fuck are you checking the prices of shit?”
Because that was the sixth time she had done that. And I didn’t get it. Didn’t she get that since I told her we were going to the store that I was paying?
And I knew that she didn’t get it when she responded.
She lifted a brow, “That’s what you're supposed to do to make sure you get the best deal.”
It was my turn to lift a brow, “You get that I’m paying, right?”
“Grey,” she whispered.
“You like that candle?” I asked.
She bit her lip, I glared, she snickered, then sighed and nodded.
I winked, “Then get it.”
“Grey, I...” she started, but stopped at my glare.
“The moment I learned of you, I stated my intentions towards you. But let me break it down. You will be mine as soon as you're ready to claim me. That means, as mine, you don’t pay for shit. You don’t open your own doors.
You don’t pour your own drinks. You don’t carry anything heavy.
And you are damn sure not to bat an eye at spending my money.
Cause I ain’t had anyone to really spend it on.
It’s sitting there. It’s been sitting there for this moment in time.
For you to come along and buy shit, take it to my place, that will be our place, and put your stamp on our house. ”
I knew I just laid a lot at her feet, and judging by the way her eyes were wide, I moved.
I carefully took the candle out of her hand and placed it in the cart, then I wrapped my arm around her waist and steered her further down the aisle.
She dazedly pointed.
I grabbed it.
Thirty minutes later, we were checking out when she shared, “As my man, you won't have to worry about me stepping out on you. As my man, you won’t have to worry about where I’ve been or where I’m going.
As my man, I’ll get up and make you breakfast if you have to leave me early in the morning.
As my man, you’ll get lovins as many times as you want it. ”
I winked, “Where do I sign up?”
“Girl, can you make a sign-up sheet for both of you?” Our cashier asked.
I burst into laughter while Kimber started giggling, then she too burst into laughter.
I shook my head, “Can’t sorry. I don’t share, and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t either.”
I looked at Kimber, who winked in confirmation.
The moment we were back home, I knew she had taken my words to heart, because she only stared at me for a minute or two as I started to grab the bags, then she headed to the house and unlocked the front door.
I carried the bags inside and set them on the island, then said, “Let’s go put your stamp on the house, baby.”
And we did.
Candles.
Towels.
Pajamas.
Slippers.
A robe.
Bath salts.
A bottle of wine.
A wine glass.
A rack for the tub.
Bubble bath.
Toiletries.
Then I said, “Have your bath, baby.”
Then I walked out of the bathroom, closed the door, headed to the fridge, tagged a beer, and headed to the garage and worked on a project bike.
I had come out here to work because if I heard the sounds that she made while covered in bubbles and water, I’d be moving on her before she was ready.
Slow and steady.
Slow and steady.
An hour later, I had just looked up from the bike when I saw her moving towards me.
She had on a white tank and a pair of navy sleep pants, then she grinned. “You were right. Making my stamp on this house is perfect.”
I grinned.
Then I asked, “Wanna watch a movie or something?”
She licked her bottom lip, then asked, “Actually, can I sit out here with you and talk while you work on that bike?”
Something in my heart seemed to stutter at her words.
She was a rare beauty.
And I was thankful as fuck that it had been me who had been asked to talk to her last night.
Merlin came by his namesake for a variety of reasons.
I winked, “You got it, baby girl.”
She grinned.
Twenty minutes later, I was telling her about the parts on a bike. What they did. What they were for. What not to do while driving a bike. What to look out for.
Then she asked, “Since you plan to be in my life, that means that your club plans to be in my life. Can you tell me more about it?”
I dropped my head.
“Grey?” she called out.
I kept my head lowered.
My mind was stuck on one thought.
She was going to give the club a chance.
Cause she knew that it came with me.
“Fuck me,” I whispered.
“You, okay?” she called out.
I shook my head, “No. I’m not. Trying hard as fuck not to make you my ole lady and wife your ass up.”
I lifted my head and looked at her.
A slow smile started to spread across her face, then she whispered, “Grey.”
I winked.
“Okay, club. Here’s our motto. That’s the best way I can describe it. Okay?”
She nodded.
“Family is not always of blood but of pain. Women and children are off limits. Feds are off limits. Pigs are off limits. Hardcore drugs are a major offense. Hurting a brother is a major offense. Only Harley-Davidson, Triumph, or Indian is allowed to be driven. Kutte is sacred. A property tattoo is a must. Should you violate any of the bylaws, there are only two ways out of the club. Death or Banishment. Respect is earned. Ole Ladies are off limits. Untouchable.”
“But of pain?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. Sometimes painful moments show you who your friends are. Who your true family is.”
She nodded, “I get that.”
I gave her some time to process our motto, and waited for her to ask more questions, and when she didn’t, I got back to work on the bike.
Then I heard her sigh, “I walked in on my soon-to-be sister-in-law fucking my father.”
I over-twisted the bolt, then I jerked my head in her direction, “Come again?”
She smiled a sad smile at me, then she said, “I told my mother. I got disowned for talking about our family near others.”
At her words, I felt my mouth drop open.
Was she serious? Disowned for being a respectable person and not being afraid to speak the truth?
“You're shitting me,” I said.
She shook her head, “Afraid not, since the wedding didn’t take place. I also got disowned for being the reason that all that money was wasted.”
“When it was your father fucking your soon-to-be sister-in-law?” I asked, stunned.
She nodded.
“She was marrying your brother? Right?” I asked.
She nodded.
“What did he have to say?” I asked.
She smirked, “He blamed me for embarrassing the family.”
“I wanna kick their asses.” I shared.
She smirked, “I’d let you.”
“Fucking hell,” I said.
She chuckled, “Yeah. Fucking hell.”
Hesitantly, I asked, “Your mother?”
She shook her head, “Sided with my father. Disowned me.”
I shook my head, then growled, “Some people shouldn’t be allowed to procreate.”
She chuckled, “Right.”
“Thank you for sharing that with me,” I said.
She smiled, “Thank you for caring enough to ask.”
I winked. Then I shared, “After that heavy, you're not cooking for me tonight.”
She burst out laughing.
For the next three hours, things between Kimber and me seemed to flow.
I found out what her favorite things were. Like she only liked one brand of socks because the inseam on others aggravated her.
She learned that I fucking hated to stop a show mid-way through and that I wouldn’t touch fucking cottage cheese even if you paid me ten million dollars.
She also shared that she had no clue that Kourt was a club whore. And after how Kourt had reacted to Kimber’s presence, I made a mental note to keep an eye on that shit.
Cause if someone was going to be steering clear of the clubhouse, it sure as fuck wouldn’t be Kimber.
I made us dinner of Shrimp Alfredo with Creole seasoning.
Again, she moaned.
Again, I had to adjust my cock.
Then... sadly... an hour later, I stopped in front of her door.
I pressed a kiss on her forehead and said, “Night, baby girl.”
“Night, Grey,” she whispered.
One day.
One day, I would hear her say that while she had her head on my chest, that light blonde hair trailing over my arm, her body curled into my side, as she fell asleep.
And I would want that. Just like that for the rest of my life.
I had my work cut out for me.
Damn, but I was looking forward to it.
But what I wasn’t looking forward to was the knock at my front door.
Except....