Page 78 of Paladin's Hell

One hand goes around my waist, the other goes to the back of my head. With a gentle touch he slides his fingers into my hair, and angles my face up. His eyes search mine, his flaring. Oh my. Suddenly his lips are on mine. This is no gentle polite kiss, the type we’ve been satisfied with for a long time now. This is a kiss of possession, as though he’s reminding me I’m his.

I let him lead, he’s fully in command. His tongue demands entry, I let him have it. He’s controlling, he’s making parts of me come alive that I thought were dead. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he pulls back. “Not time now, Mo, but I warn you, might take one of those little blue pills tonight.”

“Might be a good idea,” I agree.

“Mo, my Mo.” His eyes gentle as they smile at me, his fingers smooth across the skin of my face, he doesn’t seem to care about the new wrinkles. He’s not wearing his glasses; he won’t be able to see the details. Nor am I mine, I realise, as I stare back at his still handsome face. There’s a reason why you lose your close-up vision in old age.

His forehead comes down to touch mine. “What was that about?” I ask.

“Just reminding you who you belong to, Mo.”

Who else would want me?

“Now,” he pulls back, holding me at arm’s length. “What did you want to talk about?”

I can’t remember. Oh, hang on, yes. “Jay can’t stay in Pal’s room, Hell.”

He looks puzzled. “Then she can sleep somewhere else.”

“Jeannie says there’s nowhere. All the rooms are full.”

“I’ll have a word with Pal.” Hell grins, as if he knows something I don’t. “I think she’ll be safe enough with him.”

“I don’t want to push them together, Hell. She’s too young.”

“Mo, darlin’. They both are. But they’re old enough to know what they want.”

“I don’t like it. There must be something…”

“Nah, Mo. Jayden stays in Pal’s room.”

“Hell, you’re not listening to me. I…”

He taps me on the nose. “Jayden stays in Paladin’s room. No, let me finish, Mo, you haven’t heard what I haven’t yet said. She’ll stay there, but on her own. I’ve got plans for Pal, he’ll be somewhere else instead.”

Resting my cheek against my man’s shoulder, he cradles the back of my head. We stand like that for a moment, sharing a closeness that we haven’t enjoyed for a long time. I realise I’ve only been thinking about myself, and how much I hate being on lockdown. I haven’t given a thought to him and the problems he’s dealing with. Like finding out who the club’s enemies are.

“Are you okay, Hell? Do you know who’s coming after us?”

He draws in a deep breath, then lets out a loud sigh. “No fuckin’ idea. Not yet. But I’m working on it.”

“How can I help?”

“Just be my ol’ lady.”

I haven’t felt that for a very long time. Maybe I should stop focusing on me and think about him instead. I don’t know if I’ll be very successful, but if he’s expecting me to step up, perhaps the least I can do is try.

“Okay.”

One last kiss, and I leave him. Buzzard is waiting outside, I step back to let him enter, and then go into the clubroom again. Approaching the bar, I hear a commotion.

“Well this is plain fuckin’ stupid. I had plans for tonight.” Tulia’s getting riled.

“I wanted to go shopping tomorrow. I need some new clothes,” Sheila’s joining in. “I don’t see why we should have to be available twenty-four seven just because the men can’t go out.”

Before Bella can open her mouth, I’m in front of them, while part of me wonders why they want to go shopping when the lack of clothing seems more their norm, I raise my voice. “Do any of you understand what a lockdown is?”

“We’re not stupid.” Bella’s expression makes me want to slap her face, but I refrain. “The men have obviously fucked up. They need to stay out of sight. Someone’s gunning for them.”

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