Page 27 of Deviant

“I…I…I don’t even know what to say.” Squeezing my eyes shut, I shook my head. “Until she decided to warn me about dating you, she’d never even said a single word to me. I don’t understand why.”

“Sometimes people do fucked-up shit for reasons we’ll never understand.” He brushed his lips against mine again before giving me a hug. “But you don’t have to worry about her causing trouble for you. Or anyone else. Not with me at your back. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I hadn’t been around that long, but I knew that his club was into some things that weren’t exactly on the up-and-up. His being able to hack my phone to add his contact information had been the first hint, and his secrecy over stuff he called “club business” was another. But even knowing he crossed some lines that might be illegal, I still trusted him.

I knew he had my best interests at heart, so I kind of already had an idea of the answer when I asked, “Did you have something to do with her quitting?”

“Damn straight,” he confirmed with a grin.

“Really?” I squealed, my eyes widening.

“No way in hell was I going to let you spend forty hours a week with a woman who has it out for you.” His eyes gleamed with determination. “Or even have to run into her around town. Old Bridge is Iron Rogues territory. Your enemies are my enemies, which means she doesn’t belong here anymore.”

“Holy crap!” My breath caught in my chest at his words. “She didn’t just quit? She moved, too?”

He nodded. “Yup.”

“Whoa.” It was hard to wrap my head around the lengths he’d gone to for me.

“A strong message needed to be sent—nobody messes with an Iron Rogues old lady,” he growled.

“But I’m not officially your old lady.” Although we’d only been together for a short time, I would be thrilled if Grady gave me his property patch. “Not until you give me a vest with your name on the back.”

“You mean like this one?” he asked, opening his saddlebag to pull out a piece of leather about half the size of the one he wore. Flipping it over, he showed me where it said “Property of Deviant.”

“Oh my gosh.” My fingers trembled as I reached out to trace the patch that announced to anyone who saw it that I belonged to Grady.

“Sheila dropped it off a couple of days ago, but Fox held onto it until the shit with the vandal wouldn’t taint it. I grabbed it from him on my way here,” he explained, sliding my arm through one of the holes before doing the same with the other side and settling the vest on my back.

“So I’m your old lady now?” I asked with a sniffle, my eyes filling with happy tears.

“Damn straight,” he murmured against my lips before claiming them in another kiss. “Knew that’s exactly what you were gonna be when we met, even before I fell all the way in love with you.”

“You love me?” I gasped before pressing my palm over my mouth as tears streamed down my cheeks.

“You got my patch on your back”—he placed his palm over my belly—“and are hopefully already carrying my baby. Wouldn’t have done either of those things if I didn’t love you.”

My heart filled with joy as I smiled at him through my tears. “I love you, too.”

“You better because I’m never gonna let you go, gorgeous. You were always meant to be mine, and you’re finally right where you belong—with me.”

“Remind me to do something special for Cara’s birthday.” I wiped the tears from my cheeks as I gave him a watery smile. “If she wasn’t in my class, who knows how much time would’ve been wasted before we met?”

“Just tell her she can be our flower girl when we get married.” He stroked his thumb over my bare ring finger. “Because someday soon, you’re gonna have my ring right here.”

I couldn’t wait for his proposal…if he bothered to ask instead of just sliding an engagement ring onto my hand and telling me we were getting married. Either way, I was looking forward to walking down the aisle to him.

EPILOGUE

DEVIANT

Iloved seeing the diamond sparkling on Alice’s finger. It would have happened sooner, but the jeweler had taken a month to finish the custom ring. I’d picked it up yesterday, so I’d taken her for a ride today. When we stopped to take a break in a scenic area, I slipped the ring on her finger. She laughed when I refused to propose and said yes anyway.

Now, we were back at the clubhouse, and more than anything, I wanted to kiss my fiancée.

She crushed her lips to mine, leaning closer to me so I could feel every bit of her heated body pressed against mine.

Fuck, all I had to do was think of her, and my cock strained against my jeans, wanting more. But kissing her…damn, I was surprised my dick hadn’t punched a hole through the fabric.

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