Page 14 of Lack of In-between
She leaned a little closer, brow furrowed as she hissed, “I wanted you to. I wanted to. Why is he so fixated on the diner?”
“You realize he’s one of the shitstains that threatened Jenn?” She nodded. “You know he was trying to be a Freak?” She nodded again, the lines in her forehead smoothing out. “I suspect he focused on the diner because that’s where he lost his chance to be a member. That’s all. He’s fixated on me because I’m the one who gave him a beatout when we cut him and his buddy. Problem is he didn’t take the lesson offered. He’s turned it into some kind of sick vendetta instead.”
“Beatout?” Her chin moved to the side when she said the word, tentatively, softly, like she was trying the idea out in her head.
“Man disrespected the patch he was being offered a chance to earn. He did that in a way that took away that chance. As a club, we don’t take things like that lightly.” He studied her face for any glimpse into what she was thinking, but her expression was carefully neutral, which gave away more than she probably wanted. “There’s no in-between there. No room for discussion. Man is either in, or he’s out. He was out. My job was to drop a warning he couldn’t mistake that not only was he out, but even out he needed to respect the patch and keep his distance. He’s proven himself lacking in the ability to comprehend a simple message. A poor student.”
“So it’s a way to police yourselves?” Wolf shrugged, his gaze attentively on her expression, glad to see it thoughtful instead of horrified. “I think I can understand that. All groups have the same controls; some are less brutal but also less effective.” She lay on his chest, cheek nestled between his pecs. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“I’m glad you’re okay, too.” He let it sit for a few minutes, her breathing slowing but the movement of her hand on his chest signaling the lack of true rest. “You want to move in?”
“I’m your home?” She answered him question for question, and he grinned.
“I want you here or there. Anywhere, Rose. If you didn’t want to leave your place, I’d be there in a heartbeat.” He reached for her chin, tipping her face up to study her expression. “I just want you, full stop.”
“Same.” The smile she gave him was blinding, and he offered up a silent prayer of thanks that she’d listened to him and processed the information in a way that allowed him to still have this in his arms.
“I’ll call the brothers. We’ll move you tomorrow.”
Her head jerked back and she frowned again, this time in confusion. “It doesn’t have to be tomorrow.”
“Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me right now?” He flipped her to her back, rolling and stretching out over her, giving a twist of his hips so he fell between her legs. “I’m not givin’ you a goddamned chance in hell to back out of this deal, woman.” A simple lip press turned into a soft kiss, which morphed naturally into one that was deep, wet, and long, the slow glide of tongues swelling into panting heat. “Wanna love on you, Rose.”
“I’m yours.”
Her simple declaration touched something deep inside him, and he closed his eyes as the almost painful resonance flowed through him.She loves me. Still marveling at that miracle, he kissed her again, only pulling back when her lips were swollen, cheeks and chin red from his beard, and her eyes filled with stars.
Eight
Rose
He leaned over her, staring into her eyes, an intense expression on his face she couldn’t place. He’d been different since they’d gotten home after the events at the diner.Home, she thought, and knew a tiny smile broke through when the corners of Paul’s eyes crinkled, and he asked with a rumble of laughter, “What was that?”
“I just realized you’re my home, too. I don’t care where we are either, as long as I’m with you.”
He snorted softly. “Brownnoser. You’re just sayin’ that ’cause you’re sweet on me.”
His eyes crinkled more when she gave him a broad smile, and she loved the fact that her joy was reflected in his own. “Guilty as charged, sir.”
Paul dipped his mouth to hers in a slow, wet kiss that gave as much as it took, the sweet feeling of his lips giving her tingles through her body. He cradled her head in his hands, fingers threaded through her hair when he pulled back, staring at her with a quirked eyebrow she already knew meant trouble.
“Hey.”
“Hey back atcha.” Rose turned her head and pressed a kiss against his palm.
“I’ve been wondering something.”
“Only way to find out is to ask.” She kept her face angled away, unease building in her gut. Something told her she didn’t want to be looking at him when he asked whatever this was.
“You were a cop in the military.” She shrugged and kissed his hand again, closing her eyes. “A specialized cop, with a fuckton of training the local yokels can’t even dream about. Highly trained, you’re clearly good at your job. What are you doin’ pretending to be a waitress?”
She opened her eyes on a slow blink and stared at him, trying to find a way to stall answering, or maybe derail the conversation entirely. This wasn’t something she’d shared often, or easily, and yet, here they were.
“Rose, what’s goin’ on in that head of yours?” He brushed his nose against hers, the movement hypnotic, soothing. “Tell me, honey.”
“I was good.” Her lids dipped closed, mouth getting ahead of whatever her brain had planned. “Good enough we were a requested semi-permanent attachment to my Marines.” She huffed out a breath, not finding any humor in the possessive statement. “Those boys were everything to me. I may have worn a different uniform, but we were family.”
“I know how that is. The kind of connection forged by fire.” His big palm cupped her cheek, warm, a connection she didn’t realize she’d needed.
