“It has no personal touches at all,” she says, staring into my soul. “It looks like no one lives here, or maybe someone who isn’t planning on staying here long. You don’t even have anything on your desk.”
I take off my own shoes and sit down next to her. “Maybe I don’t know how long I’m going to be here.”
She looks confused, her brow furrowing adorably. “This is who you are, isn’t it? Or who you want to be?”
I change the subject, because I don’t know how to answer that. Yes, this is who I am, but I feel restless here, like something isn’t right. “You hung up on me today.”
“You had me followed,” she says, lifting her chin stubbornly.
“I just wanted to make sure you were safe,” I tell her, raising my hands in surrender when she’s about to object. “Yes, I know you can protect yourself, but I’m still your man, and I just wanted to make sure. Is that the worst thing in the world? Bad shit happens every day, and I don’t want any of it touching you.”
“I was in a public place and not alone. You’re being paranoid. Talon didn’t need to waste his night just making sure I was okay,” she says, licking her lips. “And the girls wanted to talk to those guys, not me, before you decide to bring that up. I don’t have eyes for anyone else, Ranger. I’m not a woman you have to worry about whenever I go somewhere. I only want you.”
Everything in me softens, except for my dick. That hardens. Fuck. The shit she says. “I know that, Jo. I trust you. You wouldn’t be here right now if I didn’t.”
She places her hand on the center of my chest. “Good, I’m glad. I mean I almost shot Talon today, but I didn’t know it was him, so I don’t think that really counts.”
I grin. “You’re going to have to tell me that story from the beginning.”
She gives me a quick rundown of the night, and I can’t help laughing, picturing Jo with a gun pressed up against Talon’s back. “You’re something else, babe.”
“Are you going to kiss me now?” she asks, her teeth running along her lower lip. “Ever since you walked into that bar, I’ve just wanted you to be inside of me. Stop making me wait, Ranger.”
Fuck.
I lift her onto my lap and start kissing her.
She doesn’t need to tell me twice.
? ? ?
I wake up with her wrapped in my arms. I love having her here in my bed, and even though it hasn’t been mine for very long, it’s still good to have her in what I consider my domain. Not wanting to wake her, I slide out of bed and throw on some sweatpants. I head into the kitchen, wanting to make Jo breakfast in bed, since I’ve never really done anything like that for her. I make some pancakes and fry some bacon and eggs, then pour orange juice and coffee, and take it all back into the room, setting it on the side table closest to her. Then I climb back into bed and start kissing her neck. I wonder if she’s going to be hungover today. One thing I do now know is that she’s much louder in bed after she’s had a few drinks, something I particularly enjoyed.
She’s amazing.
“’Morning, babe,” I say, sucking on her neck gently so it doesn’t leave a mark. “I made you breakfast. How are you feeling?”
“’Morning,” she whispers, voice thick with sleep. “What did you make?”
“You hungry?”
“Yes,” she says, opening her eyes and wincing. “Do you have any aspirin?”
“Yes,” I say, kissing her forehead. “I’ll get you some with some water. The food is next to you.”
She glances to the table next to her, her eyes widening. “Oh wow, Ranger.” She sits up and takes the orange juice first. “You made all this?”
“Yes.”
She finishes the whole glass. “You’re the best ever.”
“Dehydrated, are we? Is there anything else you want from the kitchen?” I ask, getting out of bed and waiting for her response.
“No, that’s it, thank you.”
She takes a piece of bacon in her hand, takes a bite, and groans. “So good.”
Nothing like the noises she was making last night, but my dick still twitches. Fuck—it’s like he’s enslaved to her.
I smile and head to the kitchen, grabbing the pills and water and giving them both to her when I get back to my room.
“Thank you,” she says, swallowing two of them with some of the bottled water. “I can’t believe I pointed a gun at Talon last night.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Babe, that and the picture you sent me were the best things of the night. I know I didn’t tell you, because I was too busy fuming, but you looked so fuckin’ beautiful.”
In fact, that’s kind of why I sent Talon. I didn’t want any assholes hitting on her, and I knew they’d try because look at her. I was being a little possessive, I couldn’t help it, but she’s mine and any other man can fuck right off. Do I trust her? Fuck yes. Do I trust men? Fuck no. Whenever there’s a pretty woman about, men turn stupid, and if anyone tried to touch her inappropriately, like that amazing round ass of hers, I’d want to murder them with my bare hands.
“Thanks,” she says, ducking her head. “Aren’t you going to eat something?”
“I’ll eat after,” I say, getting back into bed. I kind of just want to lie here with her for a bit. I’m not hungry yet, but I can’t let her go hungry. I want her to come back here. I hear noise in the kitchen and know that the men must be awake.
I hear Talon yell, “Where’s my breakfast?” then, “Have you ever seen him make breakfast before?”
I hear Ronan say, “Nope.” And make a whipping noise.
Vinnie starts laughing, then calls out, “I’d ask his woman to cook for us, but I don’t want to get shot.”
More laughter.
I glance up at Jo to see how she’s taking this, but she just looks amused.
“I should go out there with my gun just to teach them a lesson,” she says, smirking and eating another piece of bacon before starting on the pancakes. “So you don’t make breakfast for all your women then?”
If only she knew.
“Only for you. And I’ve never had another woman in this bed, Jo,” I say, lying back and just watching her. “I don’t think you understand just how different you are for me.”
She stops chewing and lowers her hand. “You’re different for me too, Ranger. I’m in a biker clubhouse right now. I don’t think I’ve let that sink in. Before you, the only time I’d be here would be if we were doing a raid.” She pauses, then adds, “I don’t know where the boundary line is, but it’s been crossed. I told my partner about us and he’s not happy at all. I hope he’ll get over it soon though.”
I hate that her partner is giving her shit because of me.
“Do you want me to talk to him?” I offer, flashing my teeth. “Say the word, babe.”
“No, I’ll handle it,” she says, her tone final. “It’s between Travis and me. He heard things about your MC, about raids here, and how Arrow was put behind bars. He’s not taking all of it very well, having me associated with all of that.”
I bite my tongue and let her have that. It’s her work, her career, and her relationship with her partner, and I know she’s a strong woman who values her independence. It’s hard to step back and watch when you care about someone though, sometimes you just want to fix everything for them.