CHAPTER 9
HONOR
I’m in that half-awake, half-asleep stage. Content to lie in bed and revel in the way my body’s aching, in all the best ways.
I’d known he’d be good at sex, but holy shit. He’d rocked my world. More than once. No wonder I was aching. There was something to be said for a man that knew what he was doing.
A full body shiver runs through me at the memory of last night. Opening my eyes, I look around, not sure how I feel about waking up alone.
Sitting up, I drag the sheet with me, holding it to my bare breasts.
I push my hair away from my face. I search the room.
It’s the first time I get to see his bedroom in the light of day.
It’s big, with masculine accents from the dark grey covers on his bed to the grey blackout curtains.
There’s a large armchair, lamp and table with books in the corner of the room.
I begin to try and make out the spines of any books towards me, wondering what types of books a man like this would read.
Not being able to make any of them out, I come back to my view of his room.
It is at that point I realise; that’s it though. No dresser or anything else. There are two doors off the bedroom, and I know one is the bathroom because after our last round in the early hours of the morning, Luca had taken me to the shower. I’m assuming the other is a walk-in closet.
Turning, still feeling alone, I set my feet on the floor, curling my toes in the rug that’s on the hardwood floor. I look around for my clothes but don’t see them anywhere. I frown.
I’m tugging the sheet out from the bed to wear as a toga, when Luca appears in the doorway carrying two coffees.
My mouth goes dry, and desire pools in my belly when I see him.
Sleep mussed hair in disarray, glasses, bare chested, and wearing low slung soft lounge pants, showing the deep V and happy trail that led to his cock. The man was teasing me.
He raises a brow when he sees me. “Going somewhere, baby?”
I flush, looking up from staring at his waist, but tilt my chin. “To find you,” I admit.
“Back in bed, baby,” a smile tugs at his lips.
“Didn’t get to start my day like I wanted.
” He prowls towards me, putting the mugs on the nightstand.
He slides an arm under my legs, and one behind my back, situating me on the bed, when I don’t move quick enough.
I scoot back against the pillows, wincing slightly before I take the coffee, he holds out for me.
I find my voice. “Thank you, honey.”
Luca reaches out, grips my chin, turning my face to him, eyes narrowed as he studies me. “Are you sore?” His voice is laden with concern.
My eyes soften at the concern on his face. “I’m fine honey, nothing a hot bath won’t sort out. I used muscles I haven’t used in years.” When he doesn’t lose the concerned look, I say more firmly. “I promise. I’m fine. I’m stronger than I look.”
He slides his fingers from my chin and cups my cheek, his thumb feathers along the curve of my cheek. Lowering his head, he touches my lips with his in a soft, flirty kiss. “Okay, but you’ll let me know if I’m ever too rough.”
I roll my eyes and pat the bed next to me. “Yes, I will. You know that. I’m fine, I promise. Now come sit. Have you heard from Maverick? Are the boys, okay? What time is it?”
Luca laughs at my rapid-fire questions, but he finally moves and settles in the bed next to me. I scoot closer and rest my head against his shoulder, getting my first sip of coffee as he answers me.
“It’s just gone eight in the morning. The boys are fine. Angel had them come over to her and Axle’s this morning for breakfast. She’s got them for the morning, but needs them picked up at around one, so she can go next door to the garden centre.”
Embarrassment floods me. Not sure how I feel about the fact that Angel’s got my boys, so that I can get my freak on with their father. I mean she’s not my mom, but she is. Gah, so bloody complicated.
Luca’s shoulders shake with laughter when I say it out loud, “Ugh, not sure how I feel that my Mom, who is also not Mom, is taking care of the boys, so that I can get my freak on with their father.”
“Baby,” he chuckles. I tilt my head up and can’t stop the smile that curls my lips, because he looks so bloody happy. “Angel doesn’t care. She’s happy for us. I’m not sure what to say about the mom, not mom side of things. That’s got to be fucking complicated for you both.”
He’s not wrong. “I had a Mom,” I started trying to explain. “But Angel feels like a Mom too.”
“So,” he shrugs. “The way I look at it is you’re lucky.
You had fucking fantastic parents the first time round because Angel was strong enough to know she couldn’t give you what you’d need.
Those parents are, unfortunately, now gone.
They’ll never be forgotten because they made you the woman that you are, and baby, just saying, you’re a fucking phenomenal woman. I wish I’d got to meet them.”
My throat clogs with emotion, as he presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“As for Axle and Angel, well, they’re just happy you’re here with them and getting to know them.
They don’t want to take the place of your parents, but I know if you ever decide that one day, you’d like to treat them as such, they’ll be fucking thrilled.
” He pauses, takes a sip of his coffee before he continues, “You couldn’t ask for better people to fill that spot.
You’re lucky, baby. Most people don’t even get one set of good parents, and you’ve got two that love you to the ends of the earth.
Something to think on, but you don’t need to make any decisions today.
See how you feel. None of you are going anywhere; you’ve got time. ”
He's right. I don’t have to make decisions right this minute. Turning my head, I kiss his shoulder. “Thank you, honey.”
“No thanks necessary, Honor. Time is all you need. Now we’ve got that sorted, tell me about your vehicle, and why you get a constipated look whenever I bring it up.”
“Ugh, fine,” I mutter, draining my coffee. I lean over and place the mug on the nightstand. Gathering the sheet, I turn so that I can see Luca’s face when I explain.
“So,” I start to speak, fingers fidgeting with a fold in the sheet. “My SUV isn’t strictly legal.”
Luca’s brows rise. “Think you’d better explain.”
I narrow my gaze at him. “I’m trying, but you keep interrupting me,” I huff.
He chuckles and apologises, “Sorry baby, you’re right, I’ll restrain myself. Carry on.”
“Thank you,” I purse my lips against a smile. “Anyway, as I was saying,” I start dramatically.
“Cruising for a spanking, baby. Less sass, more story,” Luca growls.
I snort and slap a hand over my mouth to stop the laughter.
Happiness bubbles low in my belly, as Luca pounces, swooping me up and onto his lap, giving my butt a firm swat.
I shriek with laughter. He joins me, and I end up astride his lap, both of us laughing.
When I’ve got myself under control, I grin at him.
“You know, spanking is not really a punishment if I like it.” He narrows his eyes. My smile widens. “Just saying.”
“Fucking hell.” He tilts his head back on the headboard, staring at the ceiling as if it’s going to give him answers. “You’re going to be a pain in my ass, aren’t you?”
“Maybe,” I shrug unrepentantly. “But if I am, you’ll love every minute of it.”
Luca tilts his head back to look at me. Eyes soft and happy. “Yeah baby, I will. Now tell me.”
“Okay. So, you know that my dad was overprotective.” I remind him.
Spook nods.
“Well,” I continue, “he had our vehicles modified so that we can carry weapons with us that are not strictly legal. I’ve also got a full medical kit, MRE’s, and camping equipment.
Anything that I’d need if I ever had to go off-grid.
That’s why I was a bit squirrelly, because whoever is driving it, will be carrying firearms and stuff.
It’s not legal. He did the modifications himself on all our vehicles, so nobody but us knew about it. ”
When I’m finished, I peek up at him. Luca’s looking stunned, mouth agape as he stares at me. He snaps it shut.
“Jesus, baby, I really wish I’d got to meet your dad. Where are the vehicles? I’m assuming somewhere safe?”
I nod, “Yeah, I left them with friends of my parents in Dodge City. The Nelsons. They’re storing all three vehicles in garages under their apartments.”
“The Nelsons,” Luca smirks, “From Nelson's Honkytonk Saloon & Bar?”
“You know them?”
Luca starts laughing, “Yeah, I know them. They’ve got connections to the Saints Outlaws MC, in Kansas City.”
“Well, okay then.”
Luca reaches out, and pushes my hair back from my face, cupping my cheek.
“Let’s get dressed, then we’ll sort getting them picked up.
You contact the Nelsons to expect my people tomorrow, and I’ll have three of my guys from Hit It go and pick them up.
We’ll bring them here. We’ve got a barn near Maverick’s that we can store them in. ”
I shake my head, “Nope, we can use them. I’d like to give one to Angel, and the other to the MC.
It can be used as, and when, you need it.
I’ll be driving mine though. I’ll have to show you where all the secret compartments are and how to access them.
The only thing I ask is that nobody, but the Saint’s know about them. The less that know the better.”
“I agree. I have to admit I can’t wait to see them.”
I snigger at his excitement.
“You’ll love them,” I grin. Leaning forward, I press my lips to his in a fleeting kiss. “Now, how about that bath before we have to get back to the land of the living.”
He taps my thigh, “Scoot baby, I’ll start the bath.”
I slide off his lap and onto the bed as he gets up. Turning, he leans over me, fists pressing into the bed on either side of my hips. He gazes down at me with a soft look. “Love you, Honor. Fucking thrilled you came into my life. I’ll make you happy, baby. I promise.”
Oh, be still my heart. This man.
“I know, honey. But it’s a two-way street.
I’ll give back to you what you give to me.
That’s how it works. Love you, love the boys.
I didn’t realise how lonely I was until I met all of you.
My life is infinitely better for coming here.
We’re going to be so bloody happy, it’s going to ooze out of us. ”
Luca closes his eyes and presses his forehead to mine for a minute. Emotions that I can’t read run over his face. I wait him out.
He opens his eyes, “Christ, so fucking sweet. Too sweet for me, but you said yes to my cut. No escaping now.”
He still doesn’t get it, but he will. I love everything about him. He thinks I’m too sweet, but he hasn’t had time to understand all that is me. I may be a glass half-full type of person, and I see the best in people, but soft doesn’t mean weak. And if there’s one thing I’m not, it’s weak.
I guess I’ll just have to show him.
Not that I’ll be thinking about anything much for the next hour or so. Not when I’ve got all that delicious, muscular bare skin under my hands.
My mama didn’t raise a fool. Luca would learn that once I set my mind to something, there wasn’t much that could change it.
Not ten minutes later, he’s sinking his hard length into me, and I’m grinning smugly as he growls at me.
Too soft my ass!