Page 19 of Her Savior Biker
“Why?”
“Because I don’t even have a condom,” I admit. She blinks in surprise. “Because I’m not prepared for this, and you deserve better than getting fucked on a kitchen counter like some quick hookup.”
Mental note: buy a whole box of condoms.
“And because,” I continue, forcing myself to be honest, “if I make you mine like that, if I claim you completely—Shannon, I might be just as possessive as Mason. How the hell am I supposed to let you go after that?”
She goes very still. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you won’t be casual. You won’t be temporary. If we cross that line, you’re mine. Period. And I don’t know if that’s fair to you.”
She studies my face, processing the implications of being with a man who doesn’t know how to let go of what’s his.
“What if I don’t want fair?” she asks quietly. “What if I want to be claimed? What if I want to belong to someone who won’t let me go?”
The words are a sucker punch. “Shannon—”
“I’ve been alone for three years. Carrying all the weight by myself. Do you know what it would feel like to have someone else be strong for me? To have someone who wouldn’t let me run when things get hard?”
I cup her face. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
“Then show me,” she whispers. “Teach me what it means to be yours.”
Everything in me wants to say yes. Wants to carry her to the bedroom and show her exactly what it means to belong to me. But the last rational part of my brain won’t shut up.
“Not tonight,” I say, though it nearly kills me. “Tonight, we think. We make sure.”
She nods slowly, disappointment in her eyes. “How much time?”
“However long it takes.”
“And if I’m sure right now?”
“Then you’ll still be sure tomorrow.” I press my forehead to hers. “I’m not going anywhere, Shannon. Neither are you. We’ve got time to do this right.”
She smiles then, small and sad but real. “Just don’t make me wait too long. I’m not patient when I know what I want.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
She starts toward the bedroom, then stops. “Reyes?”
“Yeah?”
“Next time, you'd better have protection. Because I’m not planning to be patient forever.”
Then she’s gone, leaving me alone with an ache that won’t quit.
I sink against the counter, head in my hands. Tank’s words echo—would you risk all that for a woman who’s not even yours?
But sitting here in the dark, my body still burning for her, I know the truth.
She’s already mine.
Now I have to figure out how to keep her without losing everything else.
Shannon
Aiden’sexcitedchatterfloatingdown the hallway wakes me. His voice pitched high with delight.
