Page 51 of Jackal

We weren’t sure how to move forward yet, anyway. They were smarter than we expected. Instead of blindly following us, they lay in wait. They knew we’d eventually have to return to the clubhouse, and that road and direction was the only way back. After Hawk and I were taken back to the clubhouse to tend to our wounds, some of the guys combed the woods for anyone else, and for clues to how they came and left. There weren’t any trails out there and I never saw a light, only heard the bike. It had to have been some kind of crotch-rocket to make it out there with all the leaves and pine needles. It wasn’t raining that night, but summers in Georgia were riddled with thunderstorms that could drop inches of rain in less than an hour. Mix that with all the brush from the woods, and a bike like mine would be slipping and sliding, if not sinking into the ground.

“Hey, what’s on your mind?” Shivana asked as we lay in bed. Her warm skin was still sticky from the round we just had. I loved feeling her bare skin against mine. It was so soft in comparison.

“Nothing. Just thinking how many more times I can get you to come before you pass out.”

She rubbed her face into my chest, then settled back on my good shoulder. “I’m not sure I can stand now as it is. But I love experiments.” She lightly ran her fingers through the small patch of hair on my chest. “Seriously, though. You’re more quiet than normal.”

Pulling her close, I said, “Just worried.”

“About the other club?”

Sighing heavily, I answered, “Yeah. But it’s not for you to worry about, Lil Bird. It’ll be okay.”

“I’m sure it will. You guys have come out on top since I’ve been here, albeit with a few cuts and holes,” she said as her hand went to my other shoulder where she inspected her handy work. “Those can come out soon.”

“You’re really handy with a needle and tweezers. You sure you don’t want to be in a hospital or something? Working in the ER?”

She shook her head against me. “I don’t know why you don’t believe me, but I don’t like blood. Plus, as much as I like excitement, I don’t know if I can sustain that for the shifts required for that kind of role. I need a nap every time I get into some craziness with you all. But just because I don’t want to do it, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be amazing.”

“That you would. You can do anything you set your mind on.” She proved that time and again.

“Like bagging my biker daddy?”

Leaning, I tickled her sides until she squealed.

“Jackal! I’m going to poke your stitches if you don’t stop!”

Pinning her arms, she was still giggling as I stared down at her. When she stopped squirming and opened her eyes, her smile slowly faded.

Those deep brown eyes fluttered, searching my face. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re real special, Lil Bird. You know that, right?”

Her smile grew again. “You only like me because you popped my cherry,” she said with a mischievous grin.

Shaking my head, I said, “You told me that wasn’t something worth making a big deal about, so I don’t. I meanyou, Shivana. I worry everyday that I should have fought harder to push you away. Made you leave. But then when I think about you notbeing here, my chest squeezes so tight, I can’t take a good breath.”

“Jackal, I….” Her smile faded again, but her eyes didn’t falter from mine.

“You don’t have to say anything. But I need you to know I can’t handle anything happening to you. So I’m gonna piss you off, but I don’t care, if it means you’re safe. Whether you like it or not, you’re mine.”

“You have me pinned, while naked, so I am not sure what to say.”

I let go of her arms and sat up. She did so as well, pulling the sheet up to her chest. Her wild waves curled around her face.

“You’re making this hard,” she said.

My brows pinched. “It’s quite simple, really.”

She bit her lip, then said, “I mean you’re making it hard to pretend this is a fling, Jackal.”

My hand went to her cheek, cupping it as she leaned into my palm. “So stop pretending. I haven’t been. Have I not been clear with you?” My thumb brushed over the softness of her face. “Why are you fighting so hard?”

“I know it’s hard for you to understand, but I wanted to be down here to not just be someone’s wife, or woman, or Old Lady…whatever,” she said as she waved her free hand wildly. “I’vealwaysdone what someone else wanted me to do. What was expected of me. And there was a plan for me laid out by other people, but I didn’t want that. This was going to be my chance to find myself, to make my own path. Not just to follow in my father’s footsteps or get married and make babies.”

“So, do that. Just do it with me.”

She released a heavy sigh. “How? You ‘claimed’ me like I’m property and won’t let me leave. I want my dream job. My own house.”

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