Page 16 of Rough Rider (Bad Boy High)
Okay, that's way more of an extensive answer than I thought I was going to get. A reminder that Niki is a whole lot deeper with his emotions than he lets on.
We remain in silence for a few moments. Both of us are lost in our own thoughts.
“I’m getting kind of sleepy now.” I cover the yawn that’s trying to escape. While I don’t want this special time to end, the exhaustion from everything that happened today is starting to set in.
“Let's head back. You need to get some rest.” Niki takes my hand in his, beginning to lead me back the way we came. I stop in my tracks, causing him to turn toward me. I don’t know what comes over me, but I lift up on my tippy toes and place a kiss on his uninjured cheek. “Thanks for taking me here.”
“Yeah.” The one word comes out gruff. We stand there for a long moment; he doesn’t move. I would almost guess he’s not even breathing. Then his eyes drop to my lips, and I unconsciously lick them. “Come on.” He suddenly starts walking again.
I fight a small laugh. Niki runs hot and cold, but I get it. If he’s feeling the things I am toward him, it’s a lot. Not because I don’t want it, per se. The more people you care about, the biggerand harder the load can be, but maybe there are others that can lighten it or shoulder it with you.
We’re both quiet the whole way back to his place. We pass a few random people, but they quickly turn away from us. It's nice to walk down the street and not have to worry about every person. I think I'm with the person people worry over. I actually see one man cross the street to avoid us.
"Here," Niki says when we go back into his place, dropping down to untie my shoes, or I guess his shoes.
"Thanks." It's a small act, one thing a person does when they care and want to care for you. Niki grunts a response. I toe the shoes off. “I’m gonna hit the bathroom and then try to get some sleep.” Niki gives me a nod, and I make my way to the bathroom.
Once inside, I quickly wash up. I straighten my hair for some crazy reason.You’re going to bed, Andy,I remind myself before I open the door and peek my head out. I don’t see Niki. I guess he already went back to the room he was sleeping in earlier. I can’t help the disappointment that I feel.
I shouldn’t have kissed him. Great. Now my mind is racing again. When I enter the room, I stop when I see Niki sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Hey.” I can’t help the smile that overtakes my face when I see he’s here.
“Hey,” he responds. I can’t get a read on him, but fuck it. I go for it.
“We can share the bed if you want.” His brows lift. “I might sleep better. Being in a strange place and all.”
“Not sure that’s a good idea.” He rubs his hand across the top of his head.
“Good ideas aren't what got us here,” I point out. “And honestly, I’m thankful for that.” He tilts his head, a half-smile pulling at his lips.
“Get in.” He pulls back the blanket. “But you better stay on your side.”
I snort a laugh. “I make no promises.”
Chapter Thirteen
NIKI
She doesn’t need to make any promises because she falls asleep almost as soon as her head hits the pillow. School all day and then a night shift waiting tables wears a body out. I should be tired too, but I can’t sleep. I can’t even close my eyes because there’s an irrational fear that if I do, when I flip them open again, she’ll be gone.
So I keep watch as if the weight of my gaze can keep her anchored to the mattress. I don’t allow myself to touch her, but I look my fill.
Her chocolate-colored hair is spread over the white pillowcase. Her dark eyelashes lie against her cheeks like delicate strands of silk. Her lips purse slightly with each exhale, as if she’s kissing an angel in her sleep.
If I was a heavenly creature, I’d hang around Andy all day. She’s got to be the closest thing to an angel in real life. What would life be like if Andy were mine? Wouldn’t I wake up happy every morning to see her golden-green eyes smiling at me?
A warning bell in the back of my head starts ringing. My life is not one where an innocent can slide in and be safe. There’s a reason Bam said we don’t bring girls back to the apartment. What he meant was that we don’t bring girls into our life. Thereare Riders, adult ones, with long-term relationships, but those are rare. Most of the time, your only entanglement is the one you’re born with. The family that shares your name but that’s only if you’re unlucky. The lucky ones have no ties to hold them back or hold them down. Family means you’re not alone, which to some might seem nice, but for a Rider, it means danger. Family members can be used against you. They’re levers and points of weakness.
I’d do anything for my sister and my mom. That’s how I got into the Riders in the first place. Being a Rider meant protection, and I needed that for Julie. The Rider network helped me find her before anything worse than being locked up in a dog kennel happened to her. The Riders themselves helped me mete out punishment to the scum who had taken her. From that day on, they owned me. I would do anything for them, for the organization, for the boys and men who became my brothers.
My decision helped my family, but there’s danger there too. You can’t traffic in violence and crime without it reaching your doorstep. Then you’ve got to beat it back. I’d make the same decision again, but Mom and Julie were already targets. I can’t drag another innocent into this world.
I let my eyes course over her still, small frame and burn that image into my memory. There will be other nights, lonely, dark ones, and this moment will help me get through the hard times. I roll off the bed and grab my phone, silently padding out of the room.
The phone beeps a second later, and I see a message from Clark.
Got a rush job for you. Double pay
