Page 60 of Double the Dilemma

Razor sat down too, pulling Karissa onto his lap. She turned her head to glare at him, but he leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “Your team might have forgiven you, baby, but you and I still need to talk. So unless you want me to put you over the table and spank your ass here and now, you’ll stay right there and not move.”

Karissa froze, then gave him a heated look. His cock twitched at it. It seemed that his woman wasn’t opposed to that idea, but that was something he would have to explore another time.

It wasn’t an easy thought to ignore, because Karissa parked her ass right over his cock, and every so often would wiggle around, enticing him further.

He forced himself to pay attention to what Savage was saying. “I’ve instructed the Prospects to deal with Sena’s body. We’ve got enough acreage around here we don’t have to worry about anyone finding her. And it’s not like we have to worry about people wondering where she is,” he added. He looked at Simba. “You and your club are more than welcome to stay as long as you like. Now that Karissa’s problem is done, I’ll extend the invitation that if you need us for anything, we’ll be a call away.”

Simba nodded his thanks. “Same goes. We’ll probably head out in a couple of days. Get ourselves sorted and tie up some loose ends here before we head out.” He looked at Karissa. “You know that means if you don’t want to stay here, you can come back with us.”

Razor stiffened when Karissa nodded and said, “Thanks.” What the fuck? He didn’t say anything, but there was no way after all of that she was going to be leaving him. He was going to tell her that as soon as they were alone.

“Next order of business is figuring out what kind of operation Fuzz has been running in our town,” Savage continued. “But we’ll save that for another meeting.”

“He means because we little women are around,” Glitch stage-whispered.

Savage ignored her. “For now, it’s been a long-ass day, and I for one am ready to call it a night. Though, I think that we should celebrate tomorrow night and have ourselves a party to unwind, don’t you think?” A cheer and chorus of agreements went up. “That settles it. We’ll party tomorrow night.” He stood, and that was Razor’s cue.

Without a word, he stood, lifting Karissa in his arms, and headed out the door. She struggled and demanded he put her down. “We have some shit to sort out,” he told her tightly as he headed for the basement steps. “Gym is closed,” he called over his shoulder. He wanted space and privacy for this.

He ignored the laughter behind him. He and Karissa were going to figure this out, and he was going to lay all his cards on the table. And when he finally convinced her to stay with him, he was going to spank her ass red.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

KARISSA

She didn’t say a word as he carried her down into the gym, slamming the door behind him, setting her on her feet, and then turning to lock it. She eyed him for a moment when he turned to face her, eyes dark and determined. His entire body was strung tight, and she had a feeling it wasn’t just because of the hard-on he was sporting. So instead of making a comment about it, she stepped back and asked, “Is the gym our new place to fight? We seem to be coming in here a lot.”

He silently stalked forward until he backed her into in the center of the large squares of workout mats. She looked up at him and waited as he watched her. “Are you going to leave?” he asked finally, his tone low and emotionless.

She started at his question. “Leave?” she repeated, unsure of what he was getting at. As in him? Or the club in general?

He gave a curt nod. “Are you going to leave with Simba and the rest when they go in a couple of days?”

She realized what he was asking. “You think I want to go with them?” she asked, annoyance pricking at her. Was the man seriously that obtuse? Or did he really have a problem working that brain of his like Glitch said? Before he could say another word, she gritted out, “I don’t know whether to kick you in the balls or punch you in the face for asking me that.”

He glared at her. “Well, do you really blame me for wondering? I mean, your MO is to always be on the move, isn’t it? You’ve fought me every step of the damn way, and now you have your out. You can go back with your team, your family, and have the independence you love so much. Wouldn’t have to deal with the macho bullshit that goes on around here, where you’re treated like the other women and kept out of club business.”

“Are you trying to convince me to stay or go?” she asked drily.

His face darkened with his anger. “I shouldn’t have to convince you of anything,” he growled. “You should want to stay here with me because you love me. Or, at least, I think that’s what you said before you stepped out that damn window and put yourself in fucking danger. Maybe it was just a heat of the moment thing because you thought you were going to die. I don’t fucking know.”

“Of course I fucking meant it,” she screamed at him, her anger bubbling up. And her hurt, if she was being honest with herself. How could he doubt her on this? “Do you think I go around telling people I love them like that?”

“How the fuck should I know?” he yelled back. “Instead of trusting me, you put yourself in harm’s way, again. You were ready to let her kill you, and all I could do was watch you. The big bad former mercenary that can handle anything. I get it, okay? You don’t need me. You don’t need anyone. How the hell am I supposed to trust that one day you won’t just up and decide to leave me and head back with your team, huh? Or throw yourself in front of a goddamn gun again?”

“Because I love you, you asshole,” she snarled at him. “Because I want to stay with you. I don’t run at the first sign of trouble. I run when I think people I care about are going to get hurt. That is exactly why I went out there in the first place. Sena shot at Esme, Wren, and Win. She killed a poor defenseless woman in town because she kind of looked like me. I did not need another death, or near death, on my conscience. I didn’t need her coming after you. I do this shit because I love these people, and I love you. You think I spout out my feelings like that in front of a bunch of people? I’m not the sentimental type, so it should mean something more that I did. But instead of taking it as a good thing, you’re accusing me of wanting to leave, and practically pushing me away. Have you finally realized that I’m not worth the trouble? Is that it? You thought you could love me, but now you’re realizing that you don’t, and you want me to go? Well, if that’s what you want, that’s just fine. I’ll leave and you’ll never have to worry about me again. When I come to visit Esme, I’ll make sure you’re not here.” The pain in her chest burned hotter and sharper with each word she spoke. “If you’re done with me, I won’t fight you, Razor.” Then she stepped around him and headed for the door.

Her chest was tight, and she blinked back the tears that threatened. She wasn’t sad, she told herself. She was angry.

Before she could reach the door, she let out a grunt of surprise when Razor’s arm wrapped around her waist and he whipped her around, backing her up against it. She glared up at him, holding herself stiff. She wasn’t going to be intimidated by him. He didn’t want her, and that was that. She was a big girl, and she could accept that.

“God, you’re a pain in my ass,” he rasped, caging her in with his arms on either side of her head. He leaned down so his face was only inches from hers. His eyes were dark and glittering with so many emotions, she couldn’t read them all. “Karissa Valentine, I love you,” he told her simply. “Even when you’re pissing me off and doing my head in with all your weird-ass backwards logic. Since you obviously had your brain knocked loose in that fight with Sena, let me lay it out for you.

“I want you here with me, at my side, fighting and bitching at me every chance you get. I want to be the person you rely on. Someone to take some of the weight. I want you to let me carry it. I want the rough and strong side of you, and I want the softer side only I get to see. I want you in my bed every night for the rest of our lives. I want to build a life with you. I want a house of our own here on the grounds. I want you wearing my patch. I want you on the back of my bike. I want a family when you’re ready for that. If you’re not, that’s okay too, it’ll just be us, and we’ll have wild and crazy sex all over the place whenever we feel like it.

“I’m pissed you put yourself in danger, and I’m terrified you’re going to realize that being with me in this much quieter life is going to be too boring for you. I’m scared shitless that one day you’re going to regret staying with me, and head off to be with your team. Though, if that happens, be prepared for me to follow you and annoy the hell out of you until you finally give in and come back to me where you belong. Because I love you, Rissa. I love you more than I say, and I will burn anything and everyone to the ground to keep you in my life.”

She stared up at him, heart pounding, and some of the tightness loosening. “I don’t want to go back with my team,” she told him quietly. “I want to stay here with you. But I don’t know how we’re going to manage now that I don’t have a threat after me. I’m going to have to find a new job, and I’m going to struggle not being involved in things with the club. Stepping back and being a kept little woman isn’t in my nature. You’re worried about me leaving, but what happens when I piss you off to the point that you just can’t be with me?”

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