The drive took forever.
But not so long as the walk through the clubhouse. Room by room, he searched for her, his anxiety increasing exponentially until he reached the top floor. Was she still here? Or had she changed her mind?
Heart beating an erratic rhythm in his chest, he pushed open the door to his room.
Moonlight streamed through the window overlooking the grounds below. His gaze followed the soft light as it washed across the hardwood floor. And then he saw an angel.
Long dark lashes rested on creamy cheeks, and her T-shirt caressed the sweet curves of her breasts. His hands trembled as he remembered the softness of her skin beneath his palms, and when he finally drew in a breath, he caught her scent of wildflowers in springtime.
He had never before watched her sleep. Never realized how much softer she looked in repose, younger, unburdened.
Under his scrutiny, she awoke, stretched, her breasts straining against the thin fabric of her shirt, and then she caught him with her gaze.
“Hi, baby.”
His throat seized and he pressed himself against the door jamb to keep from walking toward her, taking the one thing he longed for most in this world. The only thing he had ever truly wanted.
“Why are you here?” His words came out harsh, abrupt, but she didn’t flinch.
“I wanted to see you.”
His siren beckoned. An arm outstretched. Inviting. Beguiling.
Jagger remained resolute by the door. Duty before all else. Duty before desire. Duty silenced the keening of his heart. “I can’t.” His voice cracked, broke. “I can’t do this. You need to leave.”
“I’ve lived this life,” she said. “There aren’t many people who could say this to you, but I understand. Truly I do. I’m not saying what you did to Banks was right, and I’m not saying I agree or even that I forgive you, but I know you were trying to protect me and uphold the code, and the code says ‘Club first.’”
She threw back the covers and slid off the bed, her only clothing a T-shirt and a tiny pair of panties. He dipped his gaze, trying not to notice her beautiful, long, supple legs, or the tiny frills peeking out from beneath her shirt. But his cock swelled and his heart pounded and by the time she reached him it was all he could do to stay still.
“I also know you’re hunting for Jeff. Any MC president would do the same.” She leaned up and kissed his neck. “I’ve warned him. Despite what he did to me, I’m still his sister and I owed him that. I understand what you have to do, but I can’t condone it, and I can’t stay. I’m leaving tomorrow, so tonight I came to say good-bye.”
He closed his eyes and fisted his hands by his sides, but her scent surrounded him, her voice warmed him, her touch inflamed him, and his heart squeezed in his chest when she leaned closer and brushed her lips over his.
“Say it, then.”
Her lips whispered over his cheek. “Not just words. When I’m gone, it will be forever, and I didn’t want to leave the way we ended things. I want to spend the night with you. And in the morning, you’ll do what you have to do, and I’ll do what I have to do, and we’ll say good-bye and never see each other again, but right now those choices don’t have to be made. Right now, it’s just you and me alone in this room, and I want you so much it hurts.”
She unbuckled his belt and then slid it through the loops, doubling it before she placed it in his palm. “I trust you, Jagger. I want to give you everything. Make this beautiful for me so I never have nightmares again.”
He broke. Split wide open, his damaged heart drawing him down to the angel in front of him with the power of a desire that had waited a lifetime to be fulfilled. As he took her in his arms, cleaved to her warmth, he knew with a certainty that shook him to the core, she was wrong.
He would never say good-bye.
“Clothes off. On your knees. Back to me.”
She stripped off her shirt and panties, then knelt on the bed and positioned herself as he directed, her body trembling under his scrutiny.
“If you feel uncomfortable or afraid; you want me to stop or slow down, just say the word.”
“Okay.”
Jagger gently eased her hands back and then bound them together, tightening the leather around her wrists. Her back arched ever so slightly, her ass on display. He ran a hand over the creamy cheeks and steeled himself to restraint.
“Too tight?”
“No.”
“Feel me, sweetheart.” He swept her hair away from her neck and pressed his lips to her nape, slow and tender, fanning the flames of her desire. “Don’t think about anything except my lips, my hands, my body on yours.”
He eased her down until her cheek pressed against the cotton sheet and her ass was up in the air.