Page 127 of 23 Hours

I can’t believe this is real.

CHAPTERFORTY-ONE

GUNZ

Where do you take your woman to romance her? If you asked the brothers, they’d say the bedroom. Those fuckers are no help. Not even Big. And there’s no way I’d ask the Sacred Sisters for help in these matters. They’re as goo-goo for romance as the next female, and I’m not here to fulfill their fantasies. I’m here to create memories for one woman and one woman alone.

Kit.

The one who has my balls aching nonstop.

The one who smiles, and nothing else matters in the world but her lookin’ at me like I’m the center of her universe. Alert the press, I’m turning into a fuckin’ sap.

To put the nail in the sappy coffin, I brought her to a park on the outskirts of town. A place few frequent. A place we’ll be safe.

Hand in hers, a drawstring pack strung over my shoulder, I escort a quiet Kit through the wooded area. We step over fallen limbs and through overgrown brush until the tree cover breaks into a place I’ve visited once before. The clearing. Only it isn’t clear. Surrounded by a centuries-old forest is a meadow of wildflowers in full bloom. Bees buzz, birds swoop overhead, as butterflies dance flower to flower, living their best, temporary lives. It’s a place most women would love. Especially the one who’s spent so much time tending our club garden and planting flowers around our house in her free time.

Her stunned gasp says it all.

Her squeeze of my hand fills my heart with so much fuckin’ pride.

I did good.

My woman loves flowers. Her arms are tatted in them. This place is flowers on steroids.

Leaving my hold, Kit wanders into the awaiting meadow. Colorful blooms brush against her calves as she bends and sweeps the tops of her hands over their vibrant caps. Wading further into the growth, she dances around like a child. Equally excited sounds fill the air with joy as a smile the size of the earth fills her face, crinkling the edges of her honeyed eyes. Her short hair shines in the sun, highlighting the beautiful grays and whites she’s yet to dye another wild color.

To capture the moment, I snap pictures of her with my phone to look back on later. As she explores, I set up shop. Opening the bag, I pull out a thin picnic blanket large enough for two to lie on. Not wanting to ruin the oasis, I find the least flower-populated area I can find and spread it out. A frozen water bottle, sunscreen, a bag of fresh fruit, my gun, and a few other odds and ends remain in the sack as I remove my shitkickers and knife to stretch out on the blanket and await my frolicking future wife.

Face red from exertion, little beads of sweat on her brow, Kit flounces over to our spot and flops down beside me, breathing heavy. I rest on my elbows, legs out, as she curls onto her side, propping her head on her arm.

“This is beautiful,” she pants.

“It’s a local secret few know about. Your tattoos reminded me of it.”

“Thank you for this. For everything.”

Lips pressed together, I nod once, not wanting the praise for somethin’ I’m supposed to do. “That’s what one does for their old lady.”

“Like the new gardening tools and gloves that randomly showed up on our porch.” Brows bouncing in fun, she all but calls me out for something I haven’t admitted to doing.

“Yep. Like those.” Ya can’t blame me. She needed them. Kit would rather dig hard, clumpy dirt with her bare hands than ask for anything. The last thing I want is her getting blisters because she was helping around the compound without proper tools. You take care of the females under your protection. If my grandbaby needs diapers, she gets diapers. If Bink needs a night off, she gets a night off. If Janie needs a new car seat for Dom, she gets a new car seat. If my woman needs gardening shit to garden shit, then I’m gonna make it happen. It’s not hard showing up for those you give a damn about. It’s as natural as breathing.

Kit rolls onto her back and stares up at the blue, marshmallow-clouded sky. “If you keep this up, you’re gonna end up with your dick… living permanently in my mouth. Once you finally let me suck it, that is.” She sighs as if that’ll never happen.

“Love.” I groan, throwing my head back in agony. “That sounds like… fuckin’ perfection. But I don’t do this shit to get anythin’ in return. That’s not how this works.”

“I know. Which is why I wanna do it.”

“We will… get there.”When I know it won’t trigger you. I’ve read books. I’ve done my research. Givin’ my woman pleasure is one thing. Taking it in return is another.Baby steps.

“Today. We will get there today,” she announces, shocking the hell outta me.

“Love… It’ll—”

“Go in my mouth today, Erik,” she finishes in my stead.

I drag a hand down my face. “Christ.”

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