Page 80 of Existential
She nods, her shoulders more firm now that she’s coming on board with what I have to do. “I see your point.”
“We’ll do it properly; in Church when we’re back in Fort Worth.”
“Church?” She frowns, tipping her head to the side.
Not from this life, remember? “Our meetings,” I explain. “It’s referred to as church in most MCs. The meeting room is called the chapel.”
“Oh, yeah. I remember Beth saying that the week I was there.”
I nod. “They just don’t call it that here because they had a religious guy years ago who took offence to a room where wars are planned being likened to where he went to pray.”
She smirks. “Figures.”
“What you say then, fairy? You with me?”
Her hand rests against my cheek, and I lean into her touch, holding eye contact with this petite enigma.
“Yeah, I’m with you.”
“Good.” I lean in and take her mouth, pushing a little harder than before and sweeping her tongue with mine.
She sighs into the kiss, giving me life as I suck her breath into my lungs, relishing that little part of her inside of me. With my eyes closed, I lift my hand and blindly feel out her shoulder, drifting my touch across her collarbone to rest at the base of her throat. Her kiss stalls, and then continues with more urgency and she pushes off the wall and into me.
I hold her against my body, promising so much in that gesture: safety, security, and most of all, surety. If there’s one thing in life I want her to be able to depend on, to know will always be there for her, it’s me.
I’ve lived that philosophy in my leadership of the Fort Worth boys, given them my undivided loyalty and devotion. But this … it’s my most important charge yet. Nothing can compare to somebody trusting you with everything they’ve got. Nothing. And I’m yet to have that with a woman outside of my sisters.
Family is great. But life partners are where the rewards are at. I’ve seen it. I want it.
I’ve found it.
Fuck the fact I’ve only known her for a short time—she’s already proved herself ten times over. I want her there beside me, every step I have left before my time is up. Every single step.
“If we don’t stop ourselves now,” she says with a blush as I let her come up for air, “then your pals in there will get more than they bargained for.”
I nod, stepping back and adjusting the obvious reaction in my jeans. I’m not fazed by the idea of somebody seeing what we’re doing—been there, sailed that ship—it’s the thought of somebody seeing her so intimately that sets my skin on fire.
“Guess we better take this to bed then.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her, and she rewards me with the sweetest laughter.
I’ve never heard her laugh until now. Chuckle, yeah. Give a little grunt of amusement, plenty. But her laugh? Now that’s something that shouldn’t be taken for granted.
“Show me the way, then. Before I change my mind.”
“Uh-uh.” I wave my index finger at her. “There ain’t no take backs, so you better hang on and enjoy the ride, sweetheart.”
Pretty sure I’m going to.