Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
GRIMM
“You gonna let her get away?” Tripp asks, the both of us hearing the door slam closed behind Apricot.
“I know where she’s going.” I shrug, speaking the truth. Since she moved in, she’s been known to go for walks and always ends up at the park. I don’t need to go looking for her.
“If that’s so, why not go after her?” Tripp snarks.
“Because I fuckin’ know my woman and I know she’ll be back.” I make sure to point out the fact Apricot is my woman.
“If she was yours, she wouldn’t have been going out with me,” he points out.
“Slight misjudgment on her part,” I retort. “And it’s one that won’t happen again.”
“Bullshit.”
“You wanna leave?” I invite, more than ready to be done with this shit.
“I think I’ll stick around,” Tripp says darkly.
“I suggest you don’t,” I say, leveling a glare at him. “I also suggest you not bring up the past again. That shit’s not me.”
“Not you?” Tripp snorts. “Yeah, right. Last time I saw you, asshole, Point was talking about grooming you to be his second in command.”
“Things change. Just as they seem to have done for you,” I point out. “Life works out in strange ways, and I’ve never looked back.”
“Right.” Tripp grunts. “You got a chance to make something of yourself, and you joined a motorcycle club.”
“Damn right. If you fuckin’ must know, they’re the ones who pulled my ass out of the fire. Gave me a place to belong. Now, I’ve got that shit.”
Tripp shakes his head and lets out a breath before taking a step closer, getting directly in my face. “You hurt her, be warned, I’ll be the first to step in and make sure she forgets you altogether.”
“Not gonna happen,” I tell him, anger nearly boiling to the surface that he’d brought up not just the past but called me a name I hate more than anything.
The asshole’s lucky I don’t beat the shit out of him for that alone.
However, I’ve got bigger fish to fry. I need to go after Apricot and get shit right with her.
Before she got home and well before I’d gotten to her place, I’d take the time to come up with a plan and that plan starts today. I’m not going to fuck her just yet, though she’ll know how much I want her and what I intend for us to be doing in the near future.
“You fuck up, just remember, Kingston, I’ll be here,” Tripp says, eyes narrowed. Slowly he takes a step back, spins on a heel, and stomps out the door.
I close the door, making sure to lock it.
I turn back to the room and take in the homey feeling Apricot’s given the place.
On the entertainment center, she’s got pictures of her and her sister.
Her with her parents. Another of her with members of the club.
Fuck, there’s even one with the members where I’m standing directly next to her, my arm around her waist, Pirate’s arm around her shoulders.
If I’m not mistaken that was her eighteenth birthday.
Moving through the place, I head to the stairs leading upstairs to her room.
She’s got it designed with natural colors that suit her in every way there is.
Earthy browns, light grays, nothing over obnoxious, and nothing boring.
On the walls, she’s got silhouette photos that catch my eye.
One thing I’m learning is she’s got an eye for imagery.
Especially what she displays throughout the house, but these are sensual.
A man embracing a woman, the touch they share, you can see it, but mostly you can feel the pleasure the couple hold for each other.
The erotic silhouette brings questions to my mind, and I wonder if she’s into similar sexual acts I figured she’d never want to try.
I make my way deeper into the room, shoving the thought of the ways I want to fuck Apricot and to the bag I’d tossed up here earlier when I first arrived.
I didn’t get a chance to do anything before she got home, and I’d rushed back down to greet her.
More like bombarding her into knowing that I’m not playing around where she’s concerned.
Too much time has passed between us as it is, and I know it’s my own damn fault.
Having already showered, I change into a pair of sweatpants that ride low on my hips, place my clothes next to the bag, and hang my cut on the back of a high-back chair Apricot has next to the window.
Once done upstairs, I head back downstairs to wait on the couch for Apricot. I could easily go find her, but I’m sure she’ll be back soon and what I have to say to her, I highly doubt she’ll want anyone else to hear it.
I sprawl out and nab the remote to the TV and pull up a show at random to wait.
Finding a game on, I drop the remote, reach into my sweatpants, snag my phone, and yank it out.
I order a pizza from the local Italian joint in town that has the best pies you can get.
I also order a thing of honey BBQ wings, knowing they’re Apricot’s favorites along with two slices of homemade cheesecake with the chocolate-caramel topping.
Once I finish, I place my phone next to the remote and settle in for when Apricot gets back. A grin slips into place at the mere thought of the fun it’ll be when she realizes I’m still here.
Ten minutes go by before the back doors open and I don’t bother moving from my spot.
I’ll let her find me and see what her reaction is.
Then figure out what the next course of action is where she’s concerned.
When I came up with my plan, I was sure to come up with different levels of it in order to take her on.
Apricot isn’t just anyone to me and never has been.
I still don’t think I’m what she deserves, but that doesn’t mean I’m not taking what’s mine. Especially now after this shit.
“What are you still doing here?”
I tilt my head back on the cushions to stare at her as she makes her way fully into the room. I hide my satisfaction at her cheeks blushing when she sees me. It’s fucking cute as hell. The pure innocence shines through her in moments like this.
“Relaxin’,” I answer and go back to watching what’s on the TV, not that I’m really paying attention to it. My focus is on Apricot.
Out of the corner of my eye, I follow her movements until she’s entirely in my sight.
I give her my eyes when she’s in front of the TV.
She surprises me when she steps closer, then closer, until she’s right in front of me and leans in about to snatch the remote from where it sits.
Before she can, I make my move, gripping her wrist and yanking her to me.
I flip us until I have her on the couch, her back pressing into the seat and I’m next to her with my upper body over hers.
“Now, this is more like it.”