Chapter 29
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
Payden
When Logan walks through the door, I dive into his arms. Dozer, who hasn’t left my side after the blast, wags his little tail as Logan envelops us both in a hug. He kisses the top of my head.
“Please don’t ever do that to me again,” I whisper into his chest.
“What? Defend your honor?”
“Leave like that. I was scared shitless.”
“What the hell happened out there?” Ivy chimes as Logan releases me. “Dec came in here saying the Skeltons followed him after he left New Orleans and they attacked the clubhouse. What the fuck?”
“It’s true,” he says, putting his arm around my neck. “They were after Payden because after followin’ Dec they must’ve seen us arrive yesterday. They were in it for the cash, and obviously to try and destroy the Hellions once and for all, any excuse to throw fuckin’ explosives around.”
“Fuck that,” Chloe says, folding her arms over her chest. “They can try, but they’ll never get the better of the Hellions.”
I love their loyalty—it makes me homesick for my club sisters.
He leans down and kisses me on the lips. “How you doin’?”
I nod. “I’m okay. I was just so worried. Have you seen Dec?”
“He was out there in the thick of it, but he’s okay.” He strokes my cheek with his thumb. “He’s a big boy. You worry about him a lot.”
I shrug. “We were as thick as thieves growing up. Peas in a pod, even though we couldn’t be more different than two people can get.”
“I get it. I’m close to my brothers. We’ve been through some shit together to say the least.”
“Are we okay to go out there now?” Chloe asks, biting on her lip.
Logan pets Dozer on the head gently. “Just sit tight for the moment. The boys are securin’ the area. Bane will be on his way back in a few.”
“How did he take it?” Ivy winces.
Logan raises his eyebrows. “About as good as can be expected.”
“Great, he’ll be insufferable for the next hundred years,” she sniffs.
“This is all because of me,” I start, shaking my head. “Declan said they were onto me?—”
“Don’t go there,” Logan says. “None of this is your fault.”
“Your old man is right,” Chloe agrees. “Laying low was what you came here to do. It’s nobody’s fault, least of all yours, that the Skeletons were fishing at the bottom of the pond just to make a buck. It’s typical behavior of them.”
For someone who is around the club occasionally, according to what Ivy told me yesterday, she sure does know a lot about what’s going on around here. Or maybe Hollywood has something to do with it.
“Ugh, don’t get me started.” Ivy rolls her eyes. Then she glances at her phone as she frowns, then mutters, “Holy shit.” She looks up. “Uh, I’ll just go take this in the other room.”
I don’t even need to ask if that’s Shadow calling to make sure she’s okay.
“I’m gonna make some coffee.” Chloe thumbs behind her. “You guys up for a cup?”
“I’d love one,” I say gratefully.
“I’m good,” Logan replies.
When Chloe takes off, Logan stares down at me, then takes Dozer from my arms, kissing him on the head. “I don’t know about you, but this little dude has seriously grown on me.”
“Please tell me we’re gonna keep him.”
“We?” he smirks. “You fallin’ for him, too? Should I be jealous?”
“Oh, I fell for him the first second I saw him,” I laugh.
Logan bumps me with his hips. “So you’re sayin’ I should feel threatened, then?”
“Over a three-legged dog? I don’t think so.” I lean up and kiss him chastely. “I guess a lot can happen when you open your mind to new possibilities, and give your heart the opportunity to grow.”
“I love it when you say smart shit like that. And yes, we’re keepin’ him.”
“I love you.” I blink. I don’t know where that came from, but there I go, shooting my mouth off without warning. “Shit?—”
He places a finger over my lips. “Say it again.”
I shake my head. “I can assure you that I didn’t think it through?—”
“Oh, so you don’t love me?” He tips his head to one side. It’s almost comical because Dozer does the exact same thing. Like they’re both trying to figure me out.
“I didn’t say that. I-I, shit, Logan, you have me lost for words.”
“Maybe I loved you the first time you walked into my bar.”
My lips part in shock. “The night I asked you if you wanted to fuck?”
“No. Long before that. You came in with Jas and Luna and sat at the end of the bar. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”
I swallow. “Why didn’t you ever say something?”
“Well, you were seein’ someone then, and honestly? You’re out of my league, Payd. Anyone with half a brain can see that.”
It’s my turn to place my finger over his lips.
“Don’t talk like that. If we’re gonna make a go of this, I don’t wanna hear any more negative talk.
Okay? I’m not better than anyone else just because of my profession, or my quick wit, or my high IQ.
” His lips twitch as I also try to keep a straight face.
“You’re just as funny when you let your guard down.
You’re smart. Handsome. Hot as fuck, and you have a cute dog. ”
“We have a cute dog.”
“Oh, that’s right.” I wrap my arms around his neck. “I love you.”
“I love you, Payden Elizabeth Benedict, but I’d argue my quick wit is far funnier than yours.”
“Are we really gonna argue about that?” I laugh.
“We could? Then have great makeup sex.” He bumps me with his hips and I feel his hard length.
I shake my head, placing a palm on his chest. “The clubhouse was just under attack and you’re already thinking with a different head?”
“My girl just told me she loved me, give a man a break, sugar.”
I kiss him again, that warm fuzzy feeling washing over me.
He loves me.
I love him.
I don’t know how we got to this place, but we’re here, and it feels strangely calm. I haven’t had much calm in my life. To be honest, I can’t remember the last time my life wasn’t chaotic.
“What are you thinkin’?” he asks between kisses.
“What I’m going to do when I get back,” I say honestly. “What’ll become of the firm and Jeremey’s legacy.”
“Well, I’ve got a bar to renovate if you really wanna take your mind off things.”
“That honestly sounds like my kinda jam.”
He pulls back, his face suspicious. “It does?”
“What? Just because I’m a fancy lawyer doesn’t mean I can’t use my hands for hard labor?”
“You could use those hands for hard labor on my body if you need to unleash,” he mutters against my lips.
“Uh, huh, or you could use that dirty mouth on my body instead, Daddy.”
A slow grins spreads across his face. “I like that.”
“I’m glad. It’s certainly better than old man, right?”
“This is the quick wit you spoke of earlier, I’m guessing?” He cups my face with his hands. “Very funny, sweetheart. I’ll show you old man when I tan that ass with my goddamn paddle.”
“Ooh, you have sex toys and you’re telling me this now?” I tease.
Dozer moves between us as we both glance down. “Not in front of our child, Angel.”
“Oops. I forgot he’s sensitive.” I cover his ears. “But I’m sure he won’t object to his official adoption.”
“Shh, I wanted to surprise him.”
I grin, and it feels good. There’s been a lot of death and destruction surrounding us both, and right now I want to forget all of it. I want to go and snuggle with my boys and forget about all of it.
“Oops.” I kiss the top of Dozer’s head as he licks my face.
“It’s official, you’re his mom now.”
I glance up at Logan. “Congratulations, you really are a daddy.”
I love how his entire face lights up when he smiles. I wish he’d do that more often. His brow lifts, his eyes sparkle and he looks far less intimidating somehow.
“Well, who’d have thought it’d take one little misfit and a roadtrip to bring me to that conclusion?”
“Wait, I’m a misfit?”
“As bad ass as they come.”
“I could adopt it as my biker name.”
He laughs out loud. “Biker name?”
“Yeah, you get Hustle, I could be Misfit. I can see it now; a patch with sparkly letters.”
“You thinkin’ of joinin’ the Stilettos?”
“Ha-ha. I guess I wouldn’t make a very good prospect. I don’t like taking orders.”
“Except when you’re on your knees for me.” He piques a brow. “Right, Angel?”
The way this man makes me feel is indescribable. That warm, fuzzy blanket is back and I don’t fight it. “Something like that.”
“I say we ditch Ivy and Chloe and go upstairs for the rest of the day.”
“We should help with the cleanup.”
He starts to kiss me. “After.”
“No, that would be rude.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” he mutters against my lips.
“Yes, you do, and we’re here as guests. It’s because of me that the Skeletons were even here,” I remind him. “I think we should help.”
“You’re givin’ me blue balls, you know that?” I can tell in his tone he’s exasperated, but he knows it’s the right thing to do.
“Gotta keep you on your toes somehow, old man.” I know I’m asking for it, but I’m past the point of caring.
I want him.
“Oh Angel, you’ve got no idea exactly how much this old man wants you, and after the cleanup? You are mine for the rest of the day and night.”
I waggle my eyebrows. “You do drive a hard bargain.” I slide my hand between us and palm his hard cock. My god, this man is the sexiest damn being on the planet.
“How do you take your coffee?” Chloe calls from the other room, making us jolt.
Shit, I almost forgot she was there.
I screw up my face and whisper to Logan, “Hold that thought for just a little longer.”
I stifle a laugh at the groan against my neck.
I can’t wait to hold him. I can’t wait to give myself over to this man that I love. Most of all? I want to do it all back in New Orleans and have Dozer with us. My heart melts at the idea.
It’s time to stop hiding and get back to the city that I love.
It’s time to go home.