Page 61 of Indecent Lies

“And for that they’re no longer your friends?”

“Yeah.”

“Was it for the right reasons? Or were you being spiteful.”

Leaning against the counter, she could read every regretful emotion on his face which gave her the answer already.

“Mal wanted to bring down every MC, just to fuck with me. I fed him information on other clubs just so he’d leavemyclub alone. It was my fucked up logic, the only thing I felt I could do. I did this knowing I was keeping it from the boys, knowing that at any moment Mal could get them into trouble. The club…the patched brothers who sit around the table, don’t keep secrets, none that could hurt the club. I kept those secrets.”

“That giant dickhead,” she burst out. “I knew your brother was a piece of work, but that’s awful. He should want you to be happy.”

“Yeah, well. Right reasons or not, babe. I fucked up by not taking it to my boys right away.”

“Then earn their trust back. It’s never too late, you’re still alive so it’s not too late, Tait.”

She thought she was getting through to him when he let go of an inhale. He sort of let his head hang low.

But then she said. “You’re a good man, Tait.”

And his whole demeanor changed.

From the tightening of his spine, to the grasp of his hand as he discarded the knife before turning around on her and piercing Poppy with a stare hard enough to put fear and lust in equal measure through her entire body.

The next thing she knew, he’d moved swiftly and hauled her up into his strong arms, taking long strides through the loft, he fell on the couch, him on top of her.

Poppy was hardly able to catch a breath, what with Tait shocking the bejesus out of her like that. She didn’t know she was clinging to his shirt front as his deep-set eyes searched her face.

Funny that she’d never been in this position before with any guy.

They’d never been moved to carry her across a room and climb on top of her.

Nor did they look at her in the intense way Tait was gazing down at her.

Like he could just slurp her up and leave nothing behind.

It was so baffling now to Poppy that she’d been through three engagements and never felt this tummy fizzling with excitement and longing.

Inching her fingers up to his neck, she felt the bristles on the side of his jaw and he lay there, letting her explore him.

“What did you do for Christmas, Tait?”

“What?”

“Christmas, you know the holiday that just went by? Trees, Santa Claus and eggnog. What did you do for it?”

“Nothing. I worked on a farm, grabbed dinner and drank some.”

Oh, her heart.

Right there she decided, no matter what happened, she would not let him spend another Christmas alone working and drinking.

Her hands reached up to cup both his cheeks.

His breath sucked in when she moved a thumb against the soft part of his lips.

“What do you need from me, Poppy?”

Oh, wow. He was going to make her use her big girl words and ask, wasn’t he?

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