Page 34 of Quiet Chaos

“I’d rather you not.”

She scoots back in her chair, lowers the spoon to her bowl, and says, “I’m scared. I think about Christoff coming after—”

Resting my forearms on the table, I cut her off and say, “He’ll never hurt you again. You don’t have to be afraid of him anymore.”

Her eyes search mine. I’m sure she’s wondering what I mean. The sweet bourbon wets my lips, and her eyes move down to my mouth. An arrogant one-sided smile pulls upward, her gaze jerking up, and then away from me. She’s uncomfortable. I caught her admiring my lips. I’m curious about what’s on her mind. However, I continue to discuss the club.

“I’d like you to be with me on Thanksgiving.”

She wiggles in her chair. “I’ve been nervous since I got hurt. What if I can’t handle all those people around?”

“I’ll be with you, and we’ll bring your pillows to make you comfortable. Nothing will happen and you’ll be celebrating with my family.”

Sky nods at the table. “Will that girl be there?”

At first, I don’t know who she is talking about until it dawns on me. “Yes, but it’s my club. I’ll order her to stay away from you or she’s out.”

I can see she’s still nervous. My large hand covers hers and her wrist. “Sky. I won’t let anything happen to you. Reed and Patsy will be there, too.”

“If you want me to go, then I will. It’s the least I can do after all you’ve done for me.”

I clean the kitchen while she gets ready for bed. She hasn’t left my room since I brought her down. My original plan was to sleep on the couch or in one of the spare bedrooms. She stomped that out by telling me it’s okay for me to sleep in the bed. I shouldhave argued to sleep elsewhere, but the dick I am, couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Somehow, the pillows disappeared from her side, and our bodies intermingle through the night. Recently, Sky was on her stomach while my body covered most of her. The interesting thing is she didn’t freak out or leave the bed. She snuggled into me and fell back to sleep. Apparently, it didn’t hurt either. For me, the softness of her warm body against mine eases my stress. I’ve never fallen asleep or woken next to a woman, and I can’t think of anyone better than Sky. With my face buried in her hair, I inhale her scent of wildflowers and fresh bed linens, relaxing into sleep. She’s my sanctuary.

17

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalms 100:4

Sky - November 2019

Sun shoots through the blinds. I’m facing Cade, his soft breaths flittering through my hair. Arms and legs hold me close. Even in sleep, he’s breathtaking. I probably shouldn’t have invited him into his own bed, but guilt overrode my beliefs. Besides, Christoff and I shared a bed, too, except Cade is safety to me. I’m not threatened by his stature or when his body comes near mine. In a sense, I’ve accepted the effect he has on me, even though I have no plans to act on them. Not wanting to wake him, I burrow closer to his chest and fall back to sleep.

His alarm goes off. Reaching his right arm over me, he silences it. I sense his gaze, and my body tingles. I also do my best to avoid sinful thoughts about Cade. He falls back onto his pillow, lets out a sigh, hugging me closer. I feel him. The wicked part of him I strain to ignore, especially touching it. I breathe in his leather, espresso, and hint of cinnamon, which warms my soul. He’s all kinds of manly scents, depending on the day.

Cade kisses the top of my head, untangles himself from me, and leaves for the washroom. My eyes open just as I see the shape of his butt and his hardened penis. I snap them shut and start thinking about Thanksgiving at the club instead of Cade’s…thing that matches his massive body.

He leaves the room to let Armstrong out, and for a strange reason, a melancholy overtakes me. After laying there while he works in the kitchen, I finally get up to shower. The water strength isn’t strong enough to hurt my ribs. I walk out in a towel, forgetting my clothes are still in the guest room. Cade is cooking in the kitchen, so I sneak out of the room and head to mine. I choose black leggings and a long gray sweater dress that falls right below my knee with a pair of flats. My hair is full of tangles, so I brush it out, blow-dry to dampness, and let the rest air dry.

Downstairs, Cade is still in his sweats, barefoot, shirtless, and cooking for the Thanksgiving dinner we’re supposed to contribute to the meal. He insisted on making it. My butt finds a step while I watch him. His body is a gift from God. The muscles tighten and loosen with movement. Cade’s hair falls in soft waves around his face, softening his strong features. My eyes venture south and that’s when I pinch myself and say a Hail Mary.

We’re loaded in the truck, which smells of Cade. It’s a delightful, homey scent. He’s wearing his usual jeans, black T-shirt stretched over his ripped body, his vest, which I’ve learned is called a cut, black boots, and a leather jacket. My mind drifts into a future of Cade and I together on the couch. His extraordinary biceps wrap around me as I settle onto his lap.

“You settle onto whose lap?” My head whips in his direction, unaware I said it aloud.

A flare of heat rushes to my face and I turn to look out my window and say, “Um…no ones.”

He gives me a side glance. “You just said you settle onto someone’s lap.”

I shake my head. “Just spacing out. Can’t recall what I was thinking.” With one last glimpse, he drops it. I change thesubject. “I keep forgetting to ask. Why do the club members call you QC?”

He stares out the windshield when he answers. “It means quiet chaos.”

“I understand the quiet, but not the chaos. Do you have a lot of worry that builds inside you?”

Cade says nothing else. Since he didn’t press me for information on my lost in thought comment, I do the same.

Inside the club, brown, orange, and yellow streamers stretch across and around the room. From the doorway, I note an array of foods and dessert dishes, covering several long tables in a back room. Everyone is walking around talking, laughing, and toasting each other while children run through the rooms. There’s a large blowup turkey in the backroom for the children, and autumn color cornucopias adorn the middle of each table. As soon as people detect Cade, they gravitate toward him. He gathers me closer to his side and Armstrong stands on the other. Cade is carrying pillows under his other arm. It appears people heard what happened to me because they keep their distance while welcoming and offering me their assistance. Cade declines.

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