Tight, sinewy, muscles covered in ink.
It was probably a mortal sin to look like that after having a heart attack.
“You’re staring,” he said as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall in front of me.
I swallowed.
“So are you,” I whispered.
He bit the inside of his cheek as he quietly assessed me before he nodded.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without jeans or facial hair,” I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s kind of a shock to the system,” I continued, cocking my head to the side. “What’s your excuse?” I asked, running my sweaty palms down my denim clad thighs. I watched him intently, waiting for his bullshit excuse and saw the faintest glimpse of a smile form on his lips.
God, I wish he smiled more.
He shook his head, the smile disappeared and for a split second I wondered if I imagined it.
“Make a man wish he didn’t hit the bottle so hard,” he muttered. “Then maybe I’d remember when you became so bold,” he said, pushing off the wall as he turned and took a seat next to me on the bed.
Bold?
He thought I was bold.
He had no idea it was taking every bit of courage I had to be here, demanding he see the woman I am and not the girl I was. Maybe then he wouldn’t feel so guilty.
I glanced down as his thigh brushed mine.
“Didn’t think I’d see you until I got out of here,” he started, fidgeting with his hands until he finally placed them on his knees and leaned forward. He looked over his shoulder at me. “Thought I scared you off the other day,” he said, huskily.
“I told you once before I’m not afraid of you,” I said, clearing my throat so it didn’t sound so raspy.
He kept his eyes pinned to mine for a moment before letting them dip lower. I tried to follow their path but lost all train of thought when he placed his hand on my leg.
“I owe you an apology,” he said, his massive hand wrapped around my thigh and gave it a slight squeeze before he lifted his eyes back to mine. “So, pretty…” he murmured.
His closed his eyes briefly before blowing out at a breath and standing up. I felt the loss of his touch instantly and automatically stood with him. He crossed the room, putting as much distance as possible between us before he fell back into the chair in the corner of the room and dropped his face into his hands.
“You don’t owe me anything, Blackie,” I blurted. “You saved me once again,” I added.
“I’m not talking about that,” he growled, lifting his head. “I’m talking about the night at the clubhouse,” he clarified.
“No,” I said, shaking my head, closing the distance between us until I was standing in front of him. I would not plead with him not to take back that night.
Not this time.
With Reina’s words playing on repeat in my head I decided the only way for Blackie to accept this thing between us was to remind him of what it felt like to be with one another. Maybe if I reminded him of how it felt when the rest of the world faded and it was just us maybe then he’d think twice about his apology.
“No?” He questioned as he narrowed his eyes. “I took something from you, Lace, something you can’t get back and something I won’t forget. I fucked us both that night,” he seethed.
“You didn’t take anything I wasn’t offering,” I retorted. “I know you think I’m a little girl but I’m not and I haven’t been for a while. You may be my first but you weren’t the first man to touch me,” I ground out. “I’m not some goody two shoes, too prim and proper to get down on her knees because her father is some big bad biker,” I sneered.
“Shut up,” he shouted.
“No! You said you saw me that night, but it was a lie wasn’t it? Because if you did, you’d see I loved every fucking minute of having you. Open your eyes Blackie and take a look, take a good long look,” I dared.
“I see you, Lace, been seeing you for a long time now,” he said, reaching out and gripping my hips. “Don’t tell me to fucking open my eyes because I’m trying so fucking hard to close them and not look at you. It’s a real struggle to tame the beast inside me and not spread you wide and take you every which way a man can take a woman,” he said through clenched teeth. “Trust me, I fucking see you, girl and you’re all woman.”
I licked my lips as I felt something down in the pit of my belly ignite. An animalistic sound escaped his lips, something feral, and oh so fucking hot.
Was the beast becoming unleashed?
Yes, please.
His fingers dug deeper into my hips and he pulled me between his legs.
“Sit,” he commanded, pulling me down so that my ass sunk between his thighs. He brushed my hair aside, and I felt his hot breath against my ear as he leaned over my shoulder. “You feel that?”
I did.
His thick erection strained and twitched against my ass. A short breath escaped my lips as my back fell against his chest and his arms wrapped around me, pressing me tight against him.
“Answer me,” he demanded.