Page 13 of Dark Biker Protector

"It’s just to keep you warm until you get back to the apartment," he reminded me, seeming to read my mind. "It’s not like you have to sign up to the Dogs to wear it."

"Okay," I replied, finally, and he reached out and draped the jacket around my shoulders – it was heavy, supple, and smelled of him. The scent of it wafted around me as it settled on to me, and I slipped my arms through the sleeves.

"I’ve never really been much of a leather jacket girl," I admitted. "But I think I can see the appeal of this one..."

He chuckled.

"I’ll need it back eventually," he warned me.

"No way," I teased him. "This is mine now. I’ve been turned to the way of leather jackets, you’re not getting this one back."

"Guess I’ll have to sign you up to the Dogs, then," he replied. His voice had taken on a playful tone, far removed from the way he had spoken to those guys before. I liked knowing that I could draw this out in him, this softness – I didn’t want him to feel as though he had to stress about anything when he was with me, I just wanted him to be able to relax.

We made our way back to my apartment, and, when I opened the door, Cinnamon darted to my ankles and started weaving around them.

"Hey, hey!" I protested, laughing. "You’re going to make me fall, you little asshole."

"He’s just pleased to see you," Chuck remarked, and I shook my head.

"He’s pleased to see you," I corrected him. "You’re the one who gives him way too many treats, remember?"

"Oh, right," he replied with a grin, crouching down to greet Cinnamon, who dashed over to rub his face against Chuck’s hand. I couldn’t help but smile, looking down at the two of them together like that.

I went to make us each a coffee, calling through to Chuck as I brewed the pot.

"So, how is Star getting on?" I asked him. I knew she was a full-fledged member of the Dogs now, and I had to admit, I was curious about what that looked like – she had come from such a fancy family, it was hard to believe that she could have just packed that all in to come and stay with them instead.

"She’s still getting used to all of it," he called back. "Going to be a while before she gets her old life totally out of her system. But Jaxon is helping with that."

"Oh, right, of course," I replied, as I brought his coffee through to him. I burst out laughing when I saw Cinnamon climbing up on to his shoulder.

"He’s never done that to me," I pretended to grumble, as I handed him the cup. Our fingers touched for a brief moment as he took it from me, and I felt my toes curl in my shoes. I realized I was still wearing his jacket, and I quickly shrugged it off – the last thing I wanted was to let myself get too comfortable in his clothes. There was something a little too intimate about that...

More intimate than having him spend every evening in my house? Yeah, maybe.

"Here, have your damn jacket back," I joked, as I handed it to him. "Since it was so important to you."

He took it from me, resting it over his arm – Cinnamon instantly began to pad against the leather, digging his claws into it happily.

"Oh, my God, Cinnamon, stop!” I exclaimed, trying to unhook his claws from the fabric before he tore it to pieces.

"It’s okay," Chuck laughed. "It’s seen a hell of a lot worse than a few cat scratches."

"He has a scratching post," I complained. "I don’t know why the hell he can’t just use that..."

"Because he’s a cat," he pointed out. "And he’ll do whatever the hell he wants."

"I thought you said you weren’t a cat person," I replied, and he shrugged.

"I wasn’t," he remarked, as though it should have been obvious. I grinned.

"Cinnamon changing your mind?"

"Something like that," he agreed, and I watched the two

of them as I lifted the coffee to my lips. Seeing the two of them together like that, it had made me forget all about the pastries sitting on the counter.

All I could think about was the biker boss, playing with my cat on the living room floor – while the scent of his jacket still clung to my skin.

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