Sweet Revenge (Sinners MC Book 1), page 10
Her lips tipped up at the corners. “What makes you think it’s a boy?”
“What the hell would you do with a girl?” I teased. “Play dress-up? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in anything but jeans and a T-shirt.”
She punched me in the shoulder and smiled. “You’re a jerk. I’ve dressed up, and you know it. Besides, maybe my little girl will like jeans and T-shirts.” She patted her stomach, and I smirked.
“What if she likes the color pink? Or likes unicorns and kittens? Girly shit like that.”
Becs made a face of disgust and laughed before she dropped her eyes from mine and looked down at Maggie who was smiling. “Seriously, Maggie, why do you put up with him?”
Maggie blushed just like we both knew she would. I’d never in my life knew someone who was so shy, but I was starting to see her personality coming through, and I was only encouraging it. “He’s nice to me.”
Her words were quiet but packed full of shit I didn’t want to think about. Like how Snake treated her…fuck, like every douche had treated her before she moved here. I squeezed her hand and thought I’d try teasing her some tonight too. “That answer’s okay for now, baby, but next time, your answer should be because he’s so fucking hot.”
She smiled wide and giggled, her face turning crimson. I never thought she’d say more, so it surprised the shit out of me when she spoke again. “I like pink and kittens. Guess I’m girly.”
It took me a minute to understand why she was saying that until I remembered what I’d just said to Becs.
Becs spoke before I could. “I like cats too.” She elbowed me in the side. “Gunner’s teasing me because Bear’s allergic to cats, and we could never have them growing up.” An evil smile played around her lips. “Maybe I’ll get one now and move in with Bear to pay him back for the Race shit.”
Maggie reached out and squeezed her hand, but did it while smiling. Becs tilted her head to the side. “Did you ever have a cat?”
Maggie shook her head. “No.”
Again, I thought that was all she’d say because she hadn’t been sharing much with any of us about her past, but again, she shocked the hell out of me when she continued speaking.
“We moved around a lot and didn’t always have a place of our own, so we couldn’t have any pets.”
I nodded, and Becs smiled. “And now you don’t have to move around anymore.”
“Becs, we should talk, so we can both meet with Race tomorrow and figure out your schedule,” Bear interrupted.
She rolled her eyes. “I thought we were partying tonight.”
Bear crossed his arms over his chest and gestured to the room. “They are. We are putting together a new plan for you.”
I tugged on Maggie’s hand when Becs put her hands on her hips and shot her chin in the air. I knew that stance. They were about to go head-to-head, and I wasn’t sticking around for it. Maggie walked with me willingly, and I led her out behind the building where it was quiet. I always liked this time of day, right after the sun had set and the darkness of night was starting to take over. It was after eight, early for the boys to start partying, but Bear wanted them here to give them information before Luke showed up.
“Why are we out here?” Maggie’s quiet voice pierced the silence.
I dropped her hand and turned my body so we were facing each other. “I like being alone with you.”
Her light blue eyes widened. “Why?”
I reached out and ran my fingers along the silky strands of blond hair hanging over her shoulder. “You make me feel calm.”
“Why aren’t you calm?”
She had no idea. She wasn’t being coy or playing around. She actually had no idea how much I felt for her and how pissed off I was that we had to hide her from that bastard. That I knew he was out there as a threat, and I couldn’t find the prick, and therefore, I couldn’t really keep her safe.
I made a split-second decision that had the potential to backfire and be the biggest regret of my life, but I had to do it. I was moving as slow as I could, but I needed to be up front with her. She had to know what I was feeling, whether it sent her running in the other direction or not. I tucked her hair behind her ear and took a step closer, letting my palm rest against the side of her neck and only allowing a whisper of room between our bodies.
“Maggie, this situation with Snake…fuck, the idea of you and Snake together makes me crazy.” Her eyes widened once again. “I hate that he knew you before I did. I hate that he hurt you, and I couldn’t get you out of there. And I hate that I still cannot promise you safety.” I took another step closer until our bodies brushed. “You’ve been here for a while, Maggie. Nine months before Luke’s wedding and now almost two months since, and I’ve tried to stay away from you, tried to give you time, but I’m failing. I know that.” My eyes moved from her eyes down to her mouth when she licked her lips. “You make me feel both weak and strong, and it makes no sense. None of this does. But I know I need to see you every fucking day, or I feel like something’s missing.” I leaned down, and she tilted her head back to look up at me. “Does that scare you?”
She swallowed hard, her tell when she’d been nervous, and I waited. I didn’t have to wait too long.
“No,” she responded quietly. “I don’t ever remember not feeling scared around a man, but I don’t with you. Not anymore.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. “You never will, Maggie. I promise you that.”
She nodded, and a small smile graced her perfect lips. “Thank you for keeping me safe.”
My jaw hardened when a vision of her lying in the hospital bed flashed through my mind. “I haven’t always, but I will do everything in my power to make sure that bastard never touches you again.”
“You’ve done more to keep me safe than anyone else has since my mom died,” she admitted quietly.
“She was a great mom.” I concluded by the sadness in her eyes.
Maggie smiled sadly. “She did her best.”
“You miss her?”
Her eyes filled with unshed tears. “Every day.”
I laid my forehead against hers. She made me want to be a better man just being around her sweetness. How could someone who lived a life like hers stay sweet? I grew up hard, so I understood sacrifice and hate better than anyone. There was nothing nice or innocent about my childhood, and it made me angry every time I thought about my father or the way my mother suffered and was eventually killed.
Killed while trying to save me.
I’d never been able to let go of the anger, never able to just enjoy the here and now, never able to feel pride in what Bear and I had accomplished, not only with the club but with our business. Until the first time I laid eyes on her. The first time I heard her sweet voice. The first time I felt her soft skin.
She was a balm to my battered soul.
I pulled my head back again to stare into her eyes and knew I was pushing my luck. I should just leave her alone. Tonight was hard for her, but she did it for Becs, showing me just how much steel and loyalty lay beneath her soft surface.
“Can I kiss you, baby?”
She’d never been asked before, that was easy to guess by her surprise. That pissed me off even more, but I held it down, not wanting to scare her. I gave her time, not wanting to push her into something she wasn’t ready for, but my stomach was in knots waiting.
She nodded, but I shook my head. “I need the words, Maggie.”
She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. “Yes, Gunner, you can kiss me.”
I grinned and watched her eyes flick down to my mouth. Fuck, that was sexy. Knowing she wanted my lips on hers as badly as I did made my cock start to harden, but I ignored it. Neither of us was prepared for what that would mean because I had a feeling once I had her, I was never fucking letting her go.
I leaned in slowly, giving her the chance to stop me. And I would stop. I didn’t have to ask to know Snake had hurt her and took what he wanted, when he wanted.
I would never be that man.
My lips dropped to lay against hers softly, and I grinned when she sighed. I brushed mine over hers slowly, letting her get used to being this close to me. When she laid her hands on my chest and leaned in a little closer, I knew she was as ready as I was to deepen the kiss. I opened my mouth and ran my tongue along the seam of her lips, feeling like I just won a fucking championship when she moaned softly and opened her mouth.
I deepened the kiss, ever so slowly, giving her time to back away when she needed to. I didn’t ever remember taking this much time to kiss a woman or just feel her body up against mine. Sex for me was like my life—fast and hard—so this was a new experience for me. As much as I wanted to go faster, I also wanted to savor her.
Her tongue lazily slid against mine, and this time, I groaned. Fuck, she tasted good. I reached up and wrapped my hand in her hair, feeling the softness and enveloped by the sweet scent of strawberries and vanilla. I pressed my body and my lips a little closer and deepened the kiss even more, trying like hell to ignore my hard cock throbbing against the front of my jeans. I knew she had to feel it against her belly as close as we were, but there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it, and honestly, the pressure against it felt too damn good for me to care.
She ran her hands up my chest and wrapped them around my neck, diving them into the back of my hair. My other hand ran up and down her back, itching to dive under her shirt, to get skin to skin, but that had to be her decision.
I would fucking kill myself before I ever became the next Snake in her life.
When my body was starting to get too invested in this hot as hell kiss, I shifted back and kissed her slower. As much as I didn’t want to, I was going to need to put some space between us for her sake and my own. She seemed to understand and let her hands fall from my shoulders back to my chest before she pulled her lips from mine.
I rested my forehead against hers but kept my hands where they’d been, not wanting to put any more distance between us. We stayed that way while we both got our breathing under control, another first for me and I was betting the same for her. Just being close, no expectations, no demands, just being together.
“Thank you.” she whispered quietly, and I squeezed her tighter to me.
“For what?”
“For asking me.”
“It’s your body, baby. You’re in charge.” I pulled back and looked down into her eyes. “I’m just the lucky bastard you said yes to.”
She smiled softly and leaned her head against my chest. A warmth rushed through me with her in my arms, and I swear I felt my world clicking into place.
I had a lot to do before I could offer her more, but I would. I’d find Snake and take him out of her mind completely. I’d help my brothers make this club safe again. And then, if she’d agree to have me, I’d take her home.
To a real home.
One we’d build together.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
GUNNER
Hand in hand, we walked back into the bar, the music louder than it had been and the boys a little rowdier. We were going to have to be on full alert, so these parties would cease for a while. I noticed some of the other girls had shown up, some attached to members, some not, and the ones who weren’t were already making themselves available to the guys who were interested. It was how club life had always worked and something Bear and I agreed not to change when we sat down for the first time and talked about his vision for the club. A party with just the guys could get rowdy. A party with the women would definitely get rowdy and wasn’t something Maggie was ready to experience.
I felt her stumble a little and squeeze my hand before she stopped completely. “What’s wrong?”
I scanned the crowd until my eyes landed on Luke sitting at the bar with his brother Cam and his father, Jack, both talking to Bear.
I moved around to stand in front of her and lifted her chin with my finger until I could see her eyes. “You don’t have to see them if you don’t want to.”
Her eyes flicked to where they sat, and she rolled her lips together. “He makes me nervous.”
I knew I needed to ask her, but the question burned like fire in my belly just thinking about her possible answer. “Maggie, do you have feelings for Luke?”
She swallowed hard. “I’m not sure.”
I nodded, and she continued. “I think I did or do. I don’t really know. Lisa thinks I had feelings for him because he was something I’d never had.” I looked down and dropped my hands so I could put them on my hips. I’d deal with her feelings for him. He was the man who had tried to rescue her before I even knew the hell she was living through. I felt her small hands land on my chest and glanced up when she stepped closer. She rolled her lips between her teeth, and I waited, knowing from watching her over the time that she needed to dig deep for her courage when there was something important she needed to say.
She let out a short breath before she finally spoke. “He was nice to me. He was the only person who had been nice to me in a long time. I thought that was what having feelings for someone meant. That they were nice to you.” She lifted one hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I didn’t have much to go on.”
I lifted my hands and laid them on her biceps. “Maggie…”
She shook her head. “But you’re nice to me. And you’re my friend.”
I nodded, both hating and loving that she considered me a friend. “I am your friend.”
“And you’re teaching me to drive. And you gave me the information so I can get my GED when I’m ready. You check on me all the time and even watched a movie with me.”
At that moment, I realized just how inexperienced she was. She’d never had typical experiences with friends or boyfriends, and I could see her trying to sort everyone into categories but having no idea how to do that yet. “I want you to have anything you want, baby.”
Her eyes flicked around the room before landing on mine once again, and she frowned. “I don’t feel the same way about you that I do him.”
It was like a fist to the gut to hear, but it was what I’d always suspected. Her feelings for him were obvious. Fuck, she risked her life to sneak out and watch him get married.
“I’m sorry I don’t understand my feelings for you, Gunner. I just know I want to be around you, and you make me feel safe. You make me feel important, and you act like what I say matters.”
“It does matter.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “And because of you, I’m actually starting to believe that.”
“Gunner.” I pulled my eyes from Maggie when I heard Bear call out my name. I guess he finally spotted us. I jerked my chin in his direction, understanding he wanted me to go over to the bar.
“I need to meet with the guys, Maggie.” I laid my palm against her cheek. “Do you want to come with me or find Becs?”
She glanced quickly in the direction of the bar. “I’ll come with you.”
I reached down and grabbed her hand, pulling her along beside me when what I really wanted to do was put her on the back of my bike and get the hell out of here. We made our way to the bar and then behind it to stand next to Bear.
Both Luke and Cam smiled at Maggie, but Luke was the first to speak. “Hey, Maggie.”
She smiled softly. “Hi, Luke.”
“How are you?” He pointed his finger at both Bear and me. “These guys treating you alright?” He grinned. “Because if they’re not, they’ll answer to me.”
Maggie giggled beside me, and it pissed me off, but I kept my mouth shut. I knew he was only trying to get her to relax around him. He felt the tension radiating off her when he was near, and for a guy like Luke, who has spent his career helping women and children, that had to be frustrating.
I understood it, but I still didn’t fucking like it.
My eyes scanned the men and landed on Jack who was watching me closely. “Hi, Jack. What brings you out our way?”
Jack sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, but his gaze remained on me. “I’ve been to a lot of places in my life, but I’ve never been to the clubhouse in a motorcycle club, so I figured this was my chance.”
“What do you think?” Bear asked.
Jack’s eyes slid from mine to Bear’s. “I like what you boys are doing out here, and I like what you’re doing in the community. I just hope once all of this is put behind you, that you can continue.”
Jack was not one to mince words. If he had something to say, he said it, and he meant it. An approval from Jack meant more to both Bear and me than it probably should’ve, considering we’d only known the man for about a year. Yet somehow, he’d made himself a father to a lot of lost souls, ours included.
“You can bank on it.” Bear promised.
Jack slapped his hand on the bar top. “Good to hear.” His eyes moved to where Maggie stood quietly, and they softened. “Maggie, darlin’, it’s so good to finally meet you.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t respond. Luke shifted forward and spoke. “Maggie, this is my dad, Jack.”
She smiled softly. “Nice to meet you.”
Luke stood from his stool when Bear jerked his chin toward the back of the bar. He slapped his hand across Jack’s shoulder. “You coming, Dad? We need to go over a few things in the office.”
Jack leaned forward and rested his elbows on the bar top. “Nah, I think I’ll stay here and keep Maggie company.”
My eyes flicked down to Maggie, and I leaned in close. “That okay with you?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
I wasn’t so sure but decided these were her decisions to make. I needed to go hear what the fuck Cam and Luke had to say, and I knew Jack would make sure Maggie was taken care of. “Okay.” I leaned in even closer and skimmed my lips over her temple. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She smiled up at me but didn’t say anything. She was overwhelmed, I could see it and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Becs headed in the direction of both Maggie and Jack. That would definitely help Maggie feel more comfortable. I gave her hand a squeeze and moved around the bar, following Bear back to the office with Cam and Luke right behind me.
