Chapter 6 Warden
Warden
The welcome party is nice, if that’s what this is called. Everyone swarms me with questions, asking me how I’m doing. While they’ve all experienced their fair share of near-death experiences, this wound is my first. They’re curious how I’m holding up.
Before I can even talk about myself, I notice the change around me. Most of the prospects are no longer wearing bare cuts. They’ve been patched in by the looks of it. Explains why the mood is so light.
Everything must be going really well.
“Thanks to Leah, I don’t think I could’ve had a better time healing.” Lifting my shirt, I show off the stitches that are close to being removed. Still scabbed over, as long as I don’t pick at it, it shouldn’t scar terribly.
Kansas nudges my side, more cheeky than I am. “Must be nice to have all of her attention. Most she does is slap a band aid on us and calls it a day.”
He’s exaggerating, but he’s got a point. I can’t deny the special treatment I’ve received, nor do I mind it. If she got all flustered over all of these guys getting hurt, I’m not sure I’d be able to contain my jealousy.
Our relationship has worked as well as it has because, despite not settling down, neither of us has tried hooking up with anyone else since meeting each other.
All of these guys already acknowledge my feelings, knowing well enough that she’s not on the table. Despite not wearing my cut, or being tied down, they all keep their respectful distance.
Looking past the bodies surrounding me, I spot Leah sitting at the bar almost by herself. Raven’s pouring her shots, her mouth moving as they’re deep in conversation.
Diesel’s telling a story about getting stabbed when I suddenly have to excuse myself despite being the one in the spotlight. I hardly even hear the response I get in return before I’m moving around them.
Reaching Leah quicker than I should, my stomach throbs, but I can hardly feel it as I’m shaking my head at Raven. Having no clue how much Leah has already consumed, I cut her off by stealing the shot glass in her hand.
Ready to pick a fight, her eyes grow wide when she sees me. Then comes the smile, large and lopsided.
Fuck. She’s drunk. She barely ate today, so drinking on an empty stomach?
Looking at Raven for answers, I get a shrug in return. Great. Awesome.
“She said she wanted some.” Like the excuse is plausible, she returns my frown and tucks the bottle away. “Got it. Cut off.”
Leah gasps and groans. “No. Warden, drink with me. This is great.” Reaching for the shot in my hand, she slumps against my chest when I slide it far away. Instead of flinching back and worrying over me, she remains where she is, hiding her face.
Stroking her back, I move to her hair next. “What happened, sweetheart? What did I miss?”
Ever since we associated her drinking with whenever she’s become overwhelmed, turning something good into a bad habit, she’s chosen to be sober over the last two years. She’s going to beat herself up later. I know her too well. What could’ve happened in the last thirty minutes?
Something must really be bothering her if she slammed back too many to get in this state. “Leah? If it’s me, you know I’m fine. I’m great, even.” Stroking the back of her neck, I consider doing something silly to reassure her. A backflip, maybe.
Fuck that, actually. My body wouldn’t let me do that even if I wasn’t wounded.
Warming my stomach with a sigh, she finally looks up. Her eyes are glossy, and panic arises. I think this is bigger than needs to be seen by the other club members.
“Hey, hey. How about we go somewhere a little more private, huh?” Trying to stay calm and not panic, I realize how well this is going to play out. I don’t do well with tears. Taking her hand and coaxing her off the stool, I wrap an arm around her before I become completely useless.
The one time I get an excuse to pick her up in front of all these guys to make sure they know she’s more mine than not, and my damn stomach is getting in the way.
“I was supposed to stop caring.” Mumbling her groans, she leans against me, and I continue rubbing her back as we move, silently shushing her. It doesn’t work. “You should go to Meadow Falls. I’m just greedy, Warden.”
Having no clue what she’s going on about, I try to get us to our destination a little faster. If she thinks I’m going anywhere, then she should remember who she’s talking to. This place is my home. She’s my home. I’m not going anywhere.
Leaving the bar behind us, all while ignoring the slight attention we’ve snagged, I lead her toward the row of rooms. Hunting down one that is vacant, we make our way in.
“I think you should lie down for a little bit. I can go fetch you some water and—”
Her grip on me tightens enough that I feel her fingers digging into my wrist. “Don’t leave.”
Okay. I’m starting to figure out the problem here. For some reason, she’s set on believing I’m going to run off somewhere and not come back.
“Let’s lie down then and chill until you sober up a little bit.” Leading her over to the bed, I kick off my boots before sitting down. Prying her fingers off my wrist, I kiss her knuckles before releasing her. As soon as I’m settled on my back, she’s crawling down next to me.
Letting me tuck an arm around her, my mouth brushes her forehead before my thumb swipes at the corners of her eyes, before even a single tear can stain her rosy cheeks.
“Want to tell me what happened?” Caressing her skin, each stroke of my finger calms her down more and more.
Sniffing her sorrows, she turns her face away, tucking her nose into my throat. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“Not going anywhere. I’ll repeat myself until my face goes blue.
” Stroking her hair next, a corner of my mouth lifts.
“Want to give me a little credit here? I have no intention of dying, either. I’ve gone years without any injuries, which has to speak for something.
The only reason that I got shot was because my head wasn’t on my shoulders. I was distracted thinking about…”
Pausing, I realize telling her the truth may lead to her blaming herself, especially when she’s in this shape.
“Our last conversation?” She closes her eyes. “I pushed you away out of fear. I was really mean. You should not like me.”
Rubbing the back of her neck, it’s a wonder she doesn’t start purring or pass out on me.
“It sucked, sure. But knowing I’d need to make you like me again gave me the push to come back breathing.
” Even if I was bleeding out. “The worst thing you could say to me is that you’d never want to see me again, and I still wouldn’t hate you. ”
The words are right there on my tongue. The confession I considered saying way back when.
“You love me.” Grumbling the words for me, she pops an eye open to take in my startled expression. “You told me you wouldn’t.”
Mouthing a response I’m not even sure I want to say, my brain struggles.
Pulling away, she sits up and stares down at me. She’s got a little pout on her lips. “You made me care about you, too. We’re screwed. What are we going to do?”
My heart picks up in my chest, and I get the silliest idea. “Why don’t we just stop fighting it and take one day at a time?”
My pulse is still kicking, growing louder and louder. She can hear it, can’t she? How in the hell do the other guys take this on? I feel like I’m having a heart attack here.
Leah blinks, considering my words. “What if you die? Then I won’t have anyone.”
“Then I won’t die.”
“You can’t promise that.”
My smile grows. “Well, I am. If you’re mine, there’s no way in hell I’m not coming back to you. Are you kidding?”
Looking up at me with those wide eyes again, she searches mine. If she’s looking for any signs of me lying, then she’s going to be searching for a long time, and she’ll be disappointed. I mean every word I said.
I regret not telling her sooner. Even if it risked pushing in ways I shouldn’t, she wouldn’t have gotten this upset in the first place.
Well, if she knows that I love her, I don’t have any reason to hold back now, do I?
Catching her chin with my finger, I stroke her cheek with my thumb. “You are trouble, Leah. Such a handful, you know that? How long have you been holding back on me, and why does it take getting yourself in this state to be honest about all these feelings?”
Pulling back to pout at me, she stares long and hard at my face. Just when I think she’s trying to think of a reason, I realize she’s staring at my mouth.
Her flush looks even deeper now that I’m not completely distracted by this exchange of feelings.
Instead of giving me an answer, she leans down and presses her lips to mine.
The kiss is all soft heat and the faint, husky hint of tequila. Her aim is off, her mouth landing clumsily against the corner of mine before sliding, warm and searching, to find a better fit.
I go perfectly still. My hand, still cradling her jaw, steadies her. She lets out a small, shaky sigh against my mouth, a sound of profound relief, and her entire body seems to melt into the touch.
My thumb strokes her cheekbone, feeling the incredible heat there, and I kiss her back with the same gentle, unwavering certainty. As her tongue swipes across the space between my lips, I can’t help but open up to really taste her.
Her tongue is warm and clumsy, a slow, sweet exploration. A soft, contented sound vibrates in her throat, and the sound goes straight through me.
Shifting my weight, guiding us until I’m flat on my back on the worn blanket, she follows, leaning over me. The new angle deepens the kiss. Her tongue slides against mine once more, and she lets out another little sigh, this one breathier, more pleased.
Her hands begin to wander. Her fingers, tentative at first, trace the line of my throat, the sensation sending a shiver down my spine that simmers into something hot. They drag down, over the hammering pulse at the base of my neck, to the collar of my shirt.
Her touch is a brand through the thin cotton. Without prompting, her fingers slip beneath the collar, touching me directly. Her fingers are searing and demanding. The woman touching me isn’t concerned with the stresses of everything happening between us as she melts.
If I keep this going, it’s going to feel less pleasurable and more like I’m taking advantage of the situation.
Right now, Leah is feeling the most vulnerable she has in her lifetime. I can see this, and her future self will as well. I can only imagine that she’s been holding onto her feelings as long as I have mine. So, as much as I want to continue this, I won’t.
Stopping her from letting the kiss become something more, I hate the way she frowns in misunderstanding.
“You’re drunk, and I am incredibly sober and still healing. As much as it hurts me to say this, I think we have to wait.”
Thankfully, she nods. There’s still a part of her that is still strong enough to hold back. Instead of climbing on me, she licks her plump lips before lying back down, cuddling my side. A yawn leaves her, and I already know we’re not leaving this bed anytime soon.
I guess we really are staying here tonight. Tomorrow will be interesting.