“Sometimes I can't believe I'm really here. With you. Doing this.”
Skin smiled, folding the long scar on his cheek. “Believe it, woman. If you want, we can spend every summer doing this. Can't imagine any other way worth spending the time when I'm not with my brothers. I'm gonna hit the town looking for places outside the woods next week, before winter creeps in.”
“Oh, we're moving in together already?” I couldn't hide the hope in my eyes.
“Damned straight. I'm not gonna let my old lady live with her folks forever. What kinda man would I be? Shit, come shopping for places with me. It'll give you something to think about.”
I reached across the table for his hand. “I'd like that. This is all happening so fast...”
“Yeah, it is. When I spot something I want, I move like lightning, babe. You'll figure that out fast, if you haven't by now.”
“No, I kinda had a clue.” I took another bite of my food, chewing slowly, enjoying the warmth and strength of my fingers in his. “What makes a man like you so decisive? There's got to be more to it than...well, that.”
I motioned at his beautiful chest with my fork, staring at the Deadly Pistols MC tattoo blended into his huge muscles. The smoking gun and skulls across his torso seemed more like a birthmark than something he'd gotten later in life, intricately and forever part of him.
“There's more, yeah. But it all begins and ends with this club, the only family I ever had, especially once my folks died.”
I frowned. He'd mentioned it before, but it really hit me for the first time. Guilt filled my heart, reminding me how I'd lied to my two perfectly sane, loving parents.
“My old man bit the dust when I was just shy of fifteen. The club had a run in with the wrong gang hauling meth on a run through Kentucky. They chased our guys right off the damned road with their trucks, and Dad caught the worst of it, a bullet through his back and a cracked skull in a ditch.” He held up his hand, studying the big Pistols ring there, the same one he'd given me as collateral in Ricky's spa.
“This is all I've got left of him. It's a good reminder how quickly things can go to shit. I live my life moment by moment, babe. Sure, I'm a planner when it comes to numbers, but fuck if I hesitate when I'm onto something good, or taking out any threats to the things I love. It's all I know how to be, and it hasn't let me down yet.”
“You're a good man, Skin.” I smiled softly, squeezing his hand. “I had my doubts after the rescue...but not for long. I get why you did what you had to. You risked your life for me when I was just a stranger, you and the other guys in your club. I wish I'd gotten a chance to thank them.”
“You will. Bring 'em beer or BLTs, and they're good.” His eyes flashed with a jealous, possessive energy. “The only man you gotta be concerned about pleasing from now on is right here in front of you. You're mine, babe, and I'm never letting go. Not for anything.”
His tone made me shudder. He was really, truly serious. He spoke with an anger ten times deeper than my dad's when he'd thrown the detective out.
This man had killed for me once, and he'd do it again in a heartbeat.
I finished my breakfast and sat back in my chair, safe and satisfied. It was the first time I'd felt this way in months since he'd saved me from the pimp.
“It's a beautiful day,” I said, loving how the light came through the window and caught his hazel eyes. “Can't we take a hike?”
“Sure, but there's something I've gotta take care of first.” He stood up and walked over to me, pulling me up with both hands.
His lips crashed on mine. The addiction in my body reawakened, tingling for him already, no matter how many times we'd enjoyed each other last night.
“What's that?” I purred.
“Turn around.” The edge in his voice told me he wasn't asking.
As soon as I did, his hands were around my waist, tearing down my jeans and panties in one stern tug. I gasped at how quickly he unraveled me, how fast he made me go from wet to completely soaked.
Completely his.
Skin took me right there. He bent me over the kitchen table and mounted me like a bull. He held me by the hair and fucked me hard, so damned hard I whimpered, loving his masculine force colliding into me.
Halfway through, he grabbed my shirt and pulled the loose corner down, just enough to expose my shoulder. “Fuck, babe, I can't get enough of how good my brand looks on you. I wanna see that every time I've got my dick buried in you to the hilt. You hear me?”
I did. I tried to moan a reply, but nothing except hot breath came out as he moved his hips faster, slamming into me, taking me to the edge.
“Every. Fucking. Time,” he growled, quickening his thrusts.
I couldn't hold it. I never could with this man, and it thrilled me to surrender to him again.