Page 7 of Jack

I give her a quick smile as my cheeks rush with heat again. I move past Jack, but not before he slides his fingers across my wrist and down my palm.

I feel every second of his touch, and it makes hope bloom in my chest that maybe I could take that leap, but something is holding me back.

The stark white card with gold embossed wedding rings on it pops into my head.

Knowing my mother, she will start hounding me when I don’t RSVP to the invite; I mean, who would? Why on God’s earth would I want to watch the man I was supposed to marry, stand up in front of my family and marry my cousin, who he was apparently sticking his dick into for months before I caught them.

What I also hate is that my family, sans my father and grandmother, and obviously Uncle Huxley, think that I am being childish for not supporting their marriage. It is like I am supposed to completely forgive them for doing what they did behind my back.

If they think this of me, Lord knows what else my family members are doing behind their spouses’ backs.

I step back, taking my sudden unsettling thoughts to the back of the room, allowing everyone to bask in the joyous moment of Archer joining our family.

My heart feels happy seeing the family and the club celebrating a new life, a new member. I push down the aching feeling of dread that sits heavy on my stomach thinking about what I am about to be forced to endure with my family.

Smiling and keeping up with conversation, I ignore the dipped brow look I get from Jack from time to time. He can sense something is wrong, but he doesn’t come to me to ask, and for that I am grateful.

One day, maybe, I will be able to speak to him without making a fool out of myself.

CHAPTER THREE

JACK

I park my truck and switch off the engine before climbing out. I have just dropped Dom off at school, so I have the day to myself to have a look at my bike. She is making a thunking noise now and then. Plus, she needs a good cleaning.

Dom was bouncing with excitement going to school this morning. He was looking forward to telling his class about the baby arriving, and that this one was a boy.

Archer is the image of Royal and me, which is weird to say, but we went through it with Dom. He is a mini-me.

The club is rallying around the new parents, making sure that they have everything they need. Extra meals that can be heated up, any baby supplies because you know Tree never bought enough for when the time came. Tree was a baby buying machine.

When we were in the room a few days ago, watching my brother and his wife be completely in love with their newborn son, I had a strange sensation run down my spine. I know Royal felt it too because he looked me dead in the eyes for a second,then he gave his Ol’ Lady his attention, but the connection was there.

When I looked to Lilith, she was backing away from the group celebrating; she looked sad, spooked even, and I have no fucking clue why.

The soft smile she gave me was not enough to satisfy me that she was okay, so I intend to find out what made her sad. I do not like knowing she has been upset by anyone.

I spoke with my mom last night after Dom had gone to bed here at the club. Told her how I felt watching every one of my brothers starting their lives, and knowing how Dom deserves a good woman, a mother figure.

She agreed and told me that it was on me for not seeking anyone out, to see if I could find my ‘Dibs.’ At the baby shower, I called ‘Dibs’ on Lilith even though no fucker knew it was me. Well, Royal did, and so did Calder, but fuck me, the Phoenix charter brothers are man whores and they will never get near Lilith again.

Fucking Target.

My mom is right, I never actively looked for someone to settle down with; I have gone months with no sex, and it really didn’t bother me, unlike my brothers, before they found their Ol’ Ladies.

Seeing Lilith has had me waking up every fucking morning with a hard-on, my cock screaming to be buried deep inside of her. I jerk off to thoughts of her.

What she would taste like. What she would sound or feel like when she comes on my cock.

My dick thickens in my jeans but, shit, this is not the time or place. The guys see me here bulging in my pants and they would never let me live it down, especially since they know that I have not gotten laid in over three months.

Reaching for one of the tools to try and remove a part on my bike, I add pressure, but the fucker won’t move. Adding more effort the tool slips, slicing across my hand, making me bellow out in pain.

“FUCK!” I shake my hand, pushing to my feet.

“Jack?” the sweet voice of Lilith floats into the garage.

She sees me, blood dripping from my hand, and her eyes widen in shock, her lips part as she rushes to me.

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