Page 40 of Jackal

I looked over my shoulder, and Shivana was leaning against the door frame, gawking at me while biting her lip.

“You’re insatiable, woman,” I said as I dropped the towel and walked toward her.

“You did that on purpose. You knew I’d see you in all your glory and be unable to resist.” She smirked as she ran her hands over my chest.

“I was simply getting dressed. If I was trying to tease you, you’d know it.”

Her brow pinched. “Ohyeah. I’d know. My ass cheek is still on fire,” she said with a push to my shoulder.

I wrapped my arms around her and cupped her ass with a good squeeze that made her yelp. “Good. A little reminder of your man.”

Her hands went to my ass, and she pulled me even closer. “Do you do like a hundred squats a day? Shit. What was I saying? Oh! About that. What do you mean when you saymy man?”

“Well, you’re my woman, so I’m your man. I don’t do that side chick shit. Nor would I need to with you.”

Her brows shot up. “But not the whole Old Man, Old Lady stuff, right?”

“For now.” It was too soon. For her, anyway. I wasn’t ready to spout sonnets, but I knew myself. I was only going to fall harder. The realization that all of this happened around the same time was a sign in my eyes. I was meant to be here, now, so that she would come into my life. I couldn’t handle a bunny. I needed a woman. And Shivana was all woman.

“Okay, I still don’t understand, then, but I assume that means I shouldn’t be seeking fun with anyone else.”

I jerked her against me, squeezing her ass again, knowing it stung. “It means you’re mine. If you feel like you need fun elsewhere, maybe I haven’t done my job.”

She grinned. “Look, I need to know that you’re not doing this because of myvirtue, or whatever. Because seriously, you don’t owe me anything, Jackal.”

I grabbed her face with one hand, angling it up so she could see how serious I was. “Lil Bird, this isn’t about owing each other shit. I wanted you before I knew about that. I still don’t feel worthy of someone like you, but I damn sure won’t squander the chance to earn it.”

Her wide eyes blinked rapidly. “Jackal–I–worthy of me?” She let out a humorless laugh. “I’m just a silly woman with little to no life experience and a few degrees. That doesn’t make me above anyone.”

I let go of her face but kissed her forehead and tried to fix some of her wild hair. “You’re above me. Above this. But I can’t let you go now, Shivana.”

Her eyes glistened and she sniffled. “Why me?”

“Why me?” I asked in return. “I’m just a roughneck rider. But you still decided I was your biker daddy.”

Her brows shot up. “What? Who told you that?”

Tucking a piece of loose hair behind her ear, I said, “These guys gossip worse than women at a salon.”

She covered her face. “Oh God. You weren’t supposed to hearthat.”

I pushed her hands away. “It’s alright. I’ll be your biker daddy, Lil Bird. But about that,” I said as I grabbed her hand and pulled her to sit on the bed then pulled on my boxer briefs. “I gotta go out tonight. And probably the rest of the week. I know you’ve only been around a short time, but you’ve noticed Eagle takes off, right?”

She nodded. “Yeah. And Lacy and Daisy tell me things.”

My hands went to my hips. “Do they?”

She rolled her eyes. “Not, like, insider secrets. They tell me everythingisa secret. You guys go traipsing around at all hours and we have no idea where or why and that it’s best that way. Is that the gist?”

Letting my hackles down, I grabbed the clothes I’d laid out and started dressing. “Pretty much. You already sawfirsthand some of the shit that can happen. Which is why I need you to promise to stay put.”

She shifted, pulling the sheet up further. “Stay put? Like a fucking child?”

“No. Like my woman who I can’t protect if I’m not with you,” I said, pulling my cut on.

She fell back onto the bed with a huff. “I said I wanted a biker daddy, not another dad.” She leaned up, resting on her forearms. “Apparently I should have been more specific, but again, that wasn’t for your ears.”

Climbing on the bed, I straddled her wide hips and pinned her arms. That one brow cocked high. I surmised that was her annoyed face after watching her all this time.

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