Chapter 20 #2
“I think I’m just going to hang out in here for a while. Tony stocked some snacks in the cabinet over the coffee bar, so I can eat something later if I get hungry.”
Trick gave me one last look, then quietly left the room. I continued pacing until Elvis wrapped himself around my feet and I almost tripped over him.
I picked him up and nuzzled my cheek against his head.
“If it bothered me that much to hear him call her babe, I can’t imagine how I’ll feel when this is over,” I whispered.
Elvis was decidedly not interested in hearing about my problems, which he made clear when he wriggled free from my hold and jumped out of my arms.
Trick returned about ten minutes later, balancing a plate of sandwiches in one hand and a large bag of potato chips in the other.
“You need something a little more filling than a few snacks. Viking was eating the soup and grilled cheese by the time I got back, so hopefully a turkey club and chips are all right instead.” he said, setting everything down.
I got the feeling the food was a peace offering, and suddenly I felt like an absolute idiot for making such a big deal out of it.
“I’m sorry for overreacting like that. It upset me, but I should have just explained my feelings instead of being so bitchy about it. I don’t like being called ‘babe’, and every time you’ve said it, it’s bothered me. I should have said so before now,” I sighed.
“It’s stupid, but Beau used to call me that.
When I found out about his cheating, I read the chats on his Tinder account and all the messages he’d saved in a hidden app, and he called every single one of those women ‘babe’ as well – never by their names – like we were interchangeable.
Then I realized he did it so that he didn’t risk calling the wrong woman by the wrong name.
He didn’t call me ‘babe’ because I was special, he did it to make his life easier and to keep himself from getting caught.
That just added to my sense of betrayal, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. ”
Trick immediately crossed the room and pulled me into his arms. “Don’t apologize for calling me out on my bullshit. If I’m doing something that upsets you, even if it’s because it triggers something from your past, I need to know about it so I can fix it.”
He cupped my face in his hands and placed a sweet, gentle kiss on my lips. “I am truly sorry for making you feel disrespected, Lauren.”
He glanced down at the table, spotting Elvis creeping closer, clearly curious about the food.
“We need to eat before he decides to help himself to the sandwiches.”
I felt remarkably better after I ate and made the mistake of telling Trick that.
“I told you so,” was his smug response. I threw a potato chip at him, which the cat promptly pounced on the moment it missed the target and landed onto the carpeted floor.
Trick laughed and grabbed me around the waist, lifting me so that I was straddling his thighs. He cupped my jaw and his laughter faded as he stared into my eyes.
“Are we OK now?”
My brows rose at the vulnerability in his question. I nodded, then pressed a kiss to his lips. I draped my arms over his shoulders as the kiss deepened. His hands dropped to my hips, pulling me closer. He released my lips, then trailed a string of tiny kisses across my jaw and down my neck.
He reached up to grasp my hair in one hand, then used his grip to angle my head so he had better access. I cupped the back of his neck, holding him close as I rolled my hips, seeking even closer contact with his body.
Whipping his T-shirt off, he tossed it across the room, then captured my mouth in a searing kiss. I scraped my nails lightly down over his chest, flicking over his nipples then circling them with my fingertips.
“That feels so good, darlin’,” he praised.
I bent my head to kiss my way down his neck, but he jerked away with a curse.
“Dammit, I didn’t even make it ten fuckin’ minutes,” he muttered half-under his breath as he flopped back against the cushions of the couch. “I’m sorry, Lauren, it just slipped out.”
I was confused for a moment as I replayed his words, then understanding dawned.
“I don’t mind it when you call me darlin’, it’s the other word I can’t stand,” I assured him.
He studied my face carefully, then nodded. “I just don’t ever want you to feel that you aren’t special.”
His simple, heartfelt statement brought tears to my eyes. In seconds, I was a sobbing mess, clinging to Trick as all of the anxiety and fear from the last few days, combined with the guilt from learning about Dustin, hit me in a tidal wave of emotion.
In the aftermath of my breakdown, he continued to hold me, offering silent support that helped heal my wounded spirit.
Eventually, I shifted off his lap and curled up next to him on the couch.
I traced my fingertips over his chest, then down his arm, lightly circling the small tattoo on his forearm.
It was a skull with flames coming out of the eyes, and I recognized it as the same image on the back of their MC’s cuts.
“I’m surprised you don’t have more tattoos,” I commented idly. “I think most of your club brothers have more ink showing than they do skin.”
He grimaced. “I’m not a fan of needles, but the club bylaws require all patched members to have the skull insignia and top and bottom rockers inked on either the chest, back, or arm.”
“That must have been tough on you.”
His chest vibrated as he chuckled softly. “Not really. Sinner’s wife, Grandma Frankie, took pity on me and got me a Valium from one of her friends. It calmed my ass down long enough to get the tat done.”
I fell silent again, then hugged him around the waist.
“Thank you, Jase,” I whispered. He responded by kissing the top of my head, then wrapping his arm more tightly around me.
“I like hearing my real name from you, Lauren darlin’,” he admitted, and I smiled at the new nickname. “You can use it anytime you want to.”
I lifted my head to look at him. “I thought only family was supposed to do that?”
He shrugged one powerful shoulder. “It’s usually reserved for someone special, so yeah, you can call me Jase.”
Tears welled in my eyes again, and I blinked rapidly to keep them from falling. Wanting to lighten the mood before I freaked him out by blurting my feelings for him, I asked, “How did you get your road name?”