Page 48 of Treachery

Behind her, the room was bone-jarringly silent.

Until his voice murmured through the silence, “Nadia…baby? What are you doing?”

Swallowing, hating the burn of tears behind her eyes, then the tears spilling down her cheeks, she pressed the now wetkutte to her chest, close to her heart, and turned around, facing the room.

But her gaze immediately collided with Locust’s.

With James’s.

Opening her trembling mouth, she croaked, “I couldn’t let you do that; the Unchained mean too much to you.”

As she spoke, he shook his head. “Not as much as you do, baby.”

Swallowing, she nodded. “I believe that. I believe you.”

The badass biker, proud, powerful, and arrogant enforcer…fell to his knees before her, his gorgeous blue eyes filling with tears.

Vulnerable, emotional, he was breaking, allowing other men, who prided themselves on their strength, to see him in his moment of weakness.

It was humbling. It was heartbreaking.

It was beautiful.

From his knees, he reached out for her, and she went to him, placing her hands in his. He grasped them, pulling her closer until she was standing over him, peering down into his eyes. Eyes overflowing with love and relief and hope.

Her own tears continued to slide down her cheeks. Lord, they two looked a mess.

“You believe me?” She nodded, smiling softly. “Does that mean you forgive me?”

How could she not? Yes, what he’d done was disgusting and humiliating, but he’d done it because he was loyal to something above himself; the MC. Yes, he’d gone about apologizing and getting her back the wrong way—she wasn’t an idiot, she’d caught on to the cameras not too long after the closet incident. But throughout everything, he’d shown her, time and again, he was willing to do whatever was necessary to be there, whether she expected him to be or not. And now, with the kutte—in frontof his entire club—he’d proven what he was willing to give up to be with her.

She couldn’t ignore that, and she wouldn’t.

Nodding in answer, she gasped when James shot to his feet and enveloped her in his embrace. Hungry lips met hers, hard and desperate, stealing her breath and her senses. Hooting and whistles and cat calls exploded through the elegant room.

She ignored the rabble, focusing on the man holding her, the man her heart and body had been aching for. Her heart was still sore, but it was rejoicing in being, once more, connected to the one it craved. And her body…wantedto be sore.

You can’t jump him here! Bengwell will fire you for soiling the Garden Room!

James broke the kiss, leaving them panting, then pressed his forehead against hers. She opened her eyes to peer up into his, and his were smiling.

“Fuck, yeah, big daddy Locust!” Cluster bellowed, slapping James on the back, which made his hard chest brush against her tight, hard nipples. She nearly groaned, but James couldn’t possibly miss the way her skin flushed.

He smirked a knowing smirk.

“Let’s get out of here, yeah?” James murmured against her lips, flicking his tongue out to lick her mouth like a delicious lollipop.

Shuddering, her body thrumming, she simply nodded. Who cared if she still had three hours on the clock. Traitor Shannon and Former Best Friend Vicki could deal with things until tomorrow.

Tugging his kutte from her clasped hands, he put it back on, sighing as the leather slipped over his shoulders.

Nadia saw Frost staring, his expression guarded, but she knew James would have to answer to him sooner rather than later. Hopefully, the club prez would be lenient in hispunishment, especially since he was partially at fault for James’s predicament.

His kutte on, James grabbed Nadia’s hand, and pulled her toward the double doors.

“Good luck,” Vicki called, humor in her voice. “I’ll call you later tonight!”

“Tomorrow night!” James called back, winking at Nadia, which made her grin.

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