Page 27 of Gypsy's Lady
“Just checking on Kelsey,” she spoke softly, giving a tiny wave of one hand. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Vicious loomed behind her, his broad shoulders blocking out more of the hallway light. “Get some rest, mate. All’s good.” The door closed silently, and Gypsy shook his head, confused.
It was only when he shifted tolie on his back and felt the unexpected dip of the mattress behind him that he understood Nary’s words. Everything fell into placeandhe lifted his arm, stretching it out to the side until his palm touched the top of Kelsey’s head. He caressed her hair for a moment, sliding his hand around the curve of her skull and then slipped his arm under her neck. Once in place, he slowly flexed his armand pulled carefullysoshe rolled towards him.
Even asleep, Kelsey came easily, moving until her belly was flush against his side. Her bodyfitagainst him naturally as her head settled into the hollow of his shoulder.Like she was made for me. “Sleep, darlin’. Always safe with me.” His soft-spoken words reiterated the promise he’d given her, the one he restated every day with his actions.
The Hawks were damn good people, and he knew it. As with any MC, they could be boisterous at times, something he’d noted made Kelsey anxious. When there was a big group of members and old ladies, Gypsy had taken to positioning himself so she could slip partially behind him. That let her pick and choose her own time to engage with what must seem an overwhelming maelstrom of sound and movement, especiallyfor someone who’d been living in virtual isolation for so long. At first, she would crowd close to him, but kept from touching him overmuch. Now, the last several times it had happened, he’d felt Kelsey’s fingers latch onto the waistband of his jeans, anchoring herself to him with a tight grip.Keeping me close. Not something he minded at all.
He had been dreading the day coming soon when he’dhave to hop on a jet and fly home, his belly churning with the feeling of not wanting to let this woman go. She’d been damaged and bent, but never broken, still fighting every day to find some semblance of normal. When she grabbed onto him like she did, it felt like she was claiming him, holding on as if he was the only thing in her world that made sense. What she didn’t see yet was how he was holdingon just as tightly.
Kelsey hummed far back in her throat and turned her head, pressing her cheek against his skin, soft puffs of warm air testifying to how sweet her rest was tonight. “Sleep, darlin’.” He smiled into the darkness, letting slumber reclaim him.
***
Gypsy watched Kelsey’s ass move in her leggings as she walked away from him and back to the building. He smiled, thinking again howher body had begun to fill out in the week since the rescue. Only moments ago those newcurveshad been pressedtightlyagainst his front, his arms wrapped around to keep her warm, the proximity intoxicating and arousing.Fuck me, can I do this?
She lifted her handandher fingers wriggled in a tiny wave,andhe nodded, keeping his gaze on her until she was safely inside. He knew Vicious wouldbe out in a minute to see how the chat had gone, leaving the two women alone to analyze Gypsy’s motives.I don’t care how nervous Nary is about letting my woman go; it’s what they both need to moveforwards.
Only moments earlier, Kelsey had agreed to travel back to the US with him. She didn’t know the specifics yet, he’d keep those close to the vest as long as he could, but it was a relief tohave her willing to make the journey.Not that I would’ve left her behind, regardless. It would be far easier this way, though.
His only concerns now were about himself. Kelsey needed space and time to heal from the ordeal she’d been through. He couldn’t expect her to bounce back as if she were fitted with springs on her shoes, and even the strides she’d made so far wereexciting,but so small.Getting on a jet and crossing an ocean with him would be huge. Talking to Mason last night, he’d been forced to dig deeper into his motivation, and Gypsy had accepted his desire for the girl was the biggest factor in this move. He wanted her to trust him, wanted her to like him as much as he liked her already, wanted her to want him.It’ll take time.
Staring up, he watched the faraway stars overheadtwinkle in the dark sky. Here in Caroline Springs, standing on the land of a country he never expected to visit, Gypsy wondered about the quirks of life. How a man like him could stumble through his whole life, struggling to find something not only worth living for, but worth fighting for, and travel halfway around the world before finding it. He questioned himself, wondering if when eventhe stars were unfamiliar, could a man hope to build something strong and true.
A sound behind him drew his attentionandhe glanced back to see Vicious strolling in his direction, fingers shoved into the front pockets of his jeans. “Brother,” came the now-familiar drawl, accented withhumorthat suited the man. As much as Gypsy found himself liking Stoke, Vicious was the one he’d gotten closestto, a friendship cemented by their concern for the women. “Your girl came in smiling, so I’m guessin’ you got the fuckin’ answer you wanted then?”
“I did,” Gypsy agreed,giving a nod. “Had me worried for a minute, thought I’d have to work harder for it, butshe needed to know her coming with was what I wanted. She’s all in.”
“And that’s still what you want, you sure?” Vicious’ mouth twisted,and Gypsy paused, giving him space to say what he wanted. “Even knowin’ the road you’ve got in front of you? You stay here, Nary and the other women can help you get Kelsey back to better. You goandit gets jacked, it’s all on you to get her right again.”
“No, man. You’re wrong there. I’m not alone back in Fort Wayne. What you have here with your brothers, it’sreallyfuckin’ close to what I’vegot. I’m biased, but I’m gonna say my patch brothers and club are…well, they’re exactly what I need. Like Hawks are for you. I know it’s not exactly the same, but my chapter president, Slate, his oldladywas captive of a rival MC for months. It was back before he knew her, but she…Melanie was fucked up for a long time. I knew her before, and she was differentafterward. Anyone would be. Her…whatshe went through…” He shook his head. “Fuck, man. So similar. Slate brought her back to herself, but the core of her was unshaken. I don’t know how our women stand it, you know? So fucking strong.”
Clearing his throat, Vicious nodded. “It’s good you got fuckers like that at your back, man. Glad you got that. Still, you need anything, anything at all, you call. I’ll fuckin’ be there. Don’t givea fuck what it is. You fuckin’ need me, I’ll do for you.” They stood silent for amoment before the door opened and closed behind them. Gypsy turned to see Stoke headed their direction.
“Nary called. Told me some shit about you leaving and stealing Kelsey away.” Feet planted firmly, Stoke stared at him, fists resting on his hips.Jesus, if this was what Vicious faced down every time he triedto be with Nary, I can totally understand how things got complicated between them.
“Kelsey’s coming home with me, yes.” Without thinking, he matched Stoke’s posture, only realizing it when Vicious chuckled as he moved to stand to the side. Gypsy dropped his arms, shaking out his fists. “It’s not gonna be a secret to anyone that since things are mostly settled, my time here is running out. I haveto head home sooner or later, and I’ve already pushed the later as hard as I can.” He shook his head, holding Stoke’s gaze, surprised at how protective the man was for Kelsey. Surprised, but glad, too. “I can’t find it in me to leave her. Talked to Mason and told him as much.”
“And Kelsey’s going because…why?” Stoke’s stare didn’t waver, and if it weren’t for his chest rising and falling witheach even breath, Gypsy could have been convinced he was a statue.
“Truth, brother?” Hewaited fora beat, finally rewarded by a sharp nod from Stoke. “You’ve seen her, how she is with me.” Stoke nodded again. “What you might not see, is that’s how I am with her, too. I need to have her with me. Not a want, brother. This is a soul-deep need. She’s mine. She knows it, even if she can’t processthe knowledge yet.A womanlike her, anything more than what we have now—protector and protected—that’ll have to be something she brings to the table. I won’t do anything to set her back. Fuck, you gotta know that. She comes with me because she’s mine, and it means she’s Rebel, too. They have my backandthey’ll have hers, same way. Mason’s on board, and by tomorrow, I’ll have a good grasp onhow we’re doing it. I get she’s undocumented,”—that was something Nary had shared, how afraid Kelsey was of telling her background, certain her absent family wanted nothing to do with her after what happened, convinced by Baxter no one had wanted her—“and my guys know. We’ll work around it. She gets nervous, and a trip like this will bring her anxiety out in force.I’ll need to get your crew tohelp with some meds that’ll fly through security and help her cope on the trip. See? I’m thinking with my big head, man.”
“My girl loves her. My Nary’s been leaning on Kelsey. You both know that.” It was Gypsy’s turn to nod, and from the corner of hiseye,saw Vicious do the same. “That means you pull her prop out from under her, she might fall.”
Vicious spoke quickly, his tone firm. “No, shefuckin’ won’t. I won’t let her.”
“You can’t say that—” Stoke hardly got started before Vicious moved, shifting closesothey were nearly chest-to-chest.
“I can. I did. You fuckin’ heard me just now.” With emphasis, breath hissing through gritted teeth, he bit off his words. “No. She. Fuckin’. Won’t. I’ll see to it, Stoke. I got her.” A pause, and then more softly, but with even more intensitythan before. “I got her.”
Stoke stared at Vicious, faces a handspan apart. Gypsy watched them, wondering if Dallas could separate them if they went at it. He couldn’t be the one stepping between them if it happened.Not my place. I’m a temporary guest here, no matter how familiar it feels.
Something must have clicked between the men because they both took a step back at the same time, shouldersinching down as the level of tension reduced. Vicious took in a deep breath and withoutwarning, reached out and grabbed Stoke by the back of his neck, bringing their faces close again. Foreheads resting against the other, he all but whispered a repeat of his words, promising so much more. “I got her. I won’t let her fall,brother,because I’ll be by her side. I got her.”
“I know you do, Saxon.”Stoke’s jaw clenched,andGypsy wanted to look away, tried to give these two men privacy, but couldn’t. “She’s my baby girl, son. Do right with her. Fuckin’ finally, do right.”
“I got her.” Vicious’ echo was softer, still vow-filled. “She’s comin’ back to herself. My angel is comin’ back. Shinin’ strong. Ourgirl’llbe fine. I fuckin’ promise you, brother.”
