Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
I tear into Skyler’s room with my blood boiling. When he closes the door, I whirl on him. “You weren’t going to ask me to marry you, you were just going to plan it and spring it on me?”
“No. That’s not…” He stops and grimaces, shoving a hand into his hair. “It sort of just happened that way.”
“Don’t you think I should say yes, first?” I put my hands on my hips to keep from punching his too handsome face.
He clears his throat, looking like there’s something very sharp in there. “Of course. But if you give me a second, I can explain everything.”
I’m so mad, I’m shaking inside. My voice goes up an octave. “You mean you can explain that you’re no better than the other men who have been ordering me around my whole life?”
He looks like I did hit him in the gut. His hand even goes there to press against his abs.
“Sweetheart, I didn’t even think about that.”
“Well it’s time for you to think about it now.”
He watches me, his chest rising and falling in a choppy rhythm. “I’m sorry. Fuck. I never want you to feel like that. I wanted to do this to protect you. So when I meet your father, there is no question, you’re mine. You’re under King’s Protection.”
I’m frozen to a block of ice. “Wait. Back up. Meet my father. You’re not serious.”
“Yeah. I am.”
“No, Skyler, you can never meet him. He will kill you. Please don’t do this.”
He takes a slow step forward. “It’s going to be a controlled environment. I won’t be alone.”
Panic is making me queasy. “No. No. I don’t want you to.”
“I want this done once and for all. He won’t terrorize you for the rest of your life. That’s over.”
“It’s not that easy. He’s now decided I’m worth a half-a-million dollars,” I reply with my body feeling very heavy. Like I’m in a bad dream and can’t escape.
“This club takes care of its own,” Skyler promises solemnly.
My stomach decides it’s time to live in my throat. It’s nearly impossible to speak. “I don’t want blood on your hands because of me.”
“More blood,” he says, brushing my hair back, tipping my face up so he can see my eyes. “I have a plan. The club is onboard. I want you to trust me with this.”
I bite my cheek, trying to stop the tears from leaking from my eyes. But it’s a losing cause when Skyler presses his hand over my heart. “But first I need you to trust me with this.”
Oh god. I look away, the first tears sliding down my cheek. “I’m not good at trusting.”
“You will be,” he replies in that confident way he does everything, as he pulls me close. “Marry me, Gigi. Make me the happiest biker in the world.”
“You’re crazy,” I say with a disbelieving laugh. “Club men don’t get married, they claim old ladies.”
Skyler backs me up, step-by-step until my back is against the wall. He’s breathing harder, his muscles hot against me. “Not the men I know. I want it legal, I want us to show the world this isn’t just some casual handshake.”
I close my eyes, desperately trying to ignore how good he feels surrounding me with his strength. A shield. What I’ve always wanted.
But my stomach feels like I’m sliding down a very slippery slope, as I whisper, “I don’t know anyone who is married. Isn’t that weird. I have no idea how to be a wife.”
He brushes his lips across my ear and rasps. “Now you do. Katie and Skull are married. See it’s not so dangerous. She’s happy. You will be too, I promise.”
I dash the tears off of my cheek, a strange tugging sensation in my chest making it hard to breathe as I look up into those stormy blue eyes.
“You really want to marry me?”
He drops to one knee, bringing my hand to his lips for a growly kiss. “I would be honored to call you my wife.”
“Oh my god,” I whisper. “Did I hit my head that hard in that car wreck? Because this can’t be my life.”
“Welcome to the wild side,” he says with a grin, linking his fingers with mine, turning my palm up and placing a suggestive lick there.
Flutters tickle my stomach.
“I’m waiting for your answer, sweetheart.”
“Wow,” I say in a choked voice. “I can’t believe I’m about to do this. Yes. Yes. Okay.”
He grabs me off my feet and carries me to the bed shouting, “Fuck, yes!”
I’m crying, laughing and gasping a little as he tumbles onto the bed with me.
”Aren’t we supposed to get married now since that guy named Cannibal can officiate?”
“You’re right,” he sighs against my neck. “I was caught up in the moment. Caught up in your sexy irresistible spell.”
He slides off the bed and tugs me to my feet and I look down at myself. I’m wearing his shirt, his joggers, and nothing else. Not a bra or panties and I don’t even have shoes.
“I’m not dressed for a wedding. This is a little unconventional, even for an outlaw biker union,” I say motioning to my clothing situation.
He’s out the door before I can say anything else. “On it!” He yells back to me as the door slams closed.
I cover my face. “Oh my god, what have I done?”