Page 21 of Striker's Yield

“No,” I whisper, not wanting to talk about it, but I don’t bother lying and saying I am.

“Did you know you talk in your sleep?”

This I didn’t know. No one ever has been in a bed with me long enough, let alone able to hear me.

“You were screaming, Autumn,” he says, not waiting for me to answer. I guess my silence was answer enough. “You have a lot of nightmares?”

“Yes.” Again, I don’t lie. “Every night.”

“That’s why you go home late and leave so early for work,” he says more to himself than to me.

“How do you know when I get home and leave?” I blurt out without thinking, though it’s kind of creepy he knows this. “Have you been spying on me?”

“Haven’t been spying on you, Mama, not exactly,” he answers.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I roll over, my body front to front with his.

“Means the building’s owned by someone close to the club. They know you’re in with the ol’ ladies, that Athena works for you, it was brought to our attention.”

I stiffen as he explains this. “It was brought to your attention?” I don’t like the sound of that.

“Yeah,” He tightens his arms around me, keeping me from pulling away as I want to. “You’re associated with the club through the women, which means you have club protection. After what happened with you being kidnapped, there’s no way the club wasn’t gonna have eyes on you.”

“Is that why I’m here right now?” The question is out before I can stop it from passing my lips. “Is that the sudden reason for you being so interested in me when I know I’m not your type?”

“Mama, you don’t know what my type is,” Striker says. He rolls me to my back, his body coming over mine, caging me in beneath him.

“Then what exactly is it you’re playing at? You’ve never noticed me before, and suddenly, you think it’s your right to not only touch me but to kiss me.”

“You think I didn’t notice you?” He growls, dipping his face down until we’re nose to nose. “Woman, I saw you at Horse and Kenny’s vow renewal wedding ceremony. Didn’t know your name, but I saw you. Seen you other times too. Just ‘cause I didn’t do anything doesn’t mean I didn’t see something I like. Each time I saw you, I thought you were pretty, knew you had to be sweet. Also saw that you were shy. Any man who goes for a woman like you can’t be a man who isn’t looking for something. You’re a woman who deserves more than a fuck and thump.”

“Fuck and thump?”

“Yeah, a fuck and thump, where you fuck ‘em and kick ‘em from your bed,” he explains. His nose brushes mine, and he brings a hand up to cup the side of my face. “You ain’t a fuck and thump, Mama. I couldn’t treat you like that.”

“Then why the sudden interest?” I ask. I inwardly wince at how weak my tone comes across.

“Because I knew it was time to stop fuckin’ around when you called me a jerkface while talking to my sister, taking her to your office for an interview. I saw that backbone I knew you had to have in you. Then I learned around the security footage, sat on it for a week before deciding not to fuck around anymore and make you mine.”

Whoa. That’s . . . That’s . . . I don’t know what to think of this bit of information. It’s huge news. Massive, gigantic, and it scares the daylights out of me.

“Now, do you want to get a bit more shut-eye, or are we going to have that talk you got out of last night when you passed out on me?”

“I didn’t just pass out on you,” I state in defense of my falling asleep on him. “I was comfy and exhausted. I didn’t sleep well the night before.” I didn’t sleep at all, and for months, I haven’t slept for long periods of time.

“Then go back to sleep, Mama. We’ll get some more rest, then when we get up, you and I’ll talk while I make breakfast for you.”

“I have to go to the café,” I say.

“No, you don’t. It’s Sunday, and I know you don’t open until noon and only for lunch traffic for the churchgoers. I also know Athena’s goin’ in to help your cook, Chris, I believe you two called him. I heard her telling you to take a day off. It’s something you need to do. So, you’re doing it.”

Damn it all to hell. I didn’t think he’d heard that conversation. I didn’t want him to.

However, if I’m honest with myself, I do like where I’m at. Maybe I could even get a bit more sleep. Or I can try to prolong not having to have any conversation with Striker. He’s already freaking me out enough as it is.

Yeah, sleeping more would be good.

CHAPTER 10

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