Page 82 of Pit

“Well, like I already said, you’ll wake up and run a mile, so we won’t even get to the kids stage.” He slides his hand down the front of my top and cups my breast. “But we can keep practising.”

Pit

I watch Tessa move around the kitchen wearing just my T-shirt. She finally places a plate of bacon on the table and is close enough for me to grab her. She giggles as I pull the shirt from her body, leaving her naked. I run kisses across her chest, taking her nipple into my mouth and swirling my tongue over the swollen bud. “Always naked,” I whisper against her skin.

“What happens when we have to go back to reality?” she asks, swatting me away and picking up a piece of bacon. She leans against the worktop, watching me as I pile up my plate with pancakes. “I’ll have to be fully clothed at the clubhouse.”

We’ve spent the last couple days wrapped in a bubble consisting of just the two of us and the dogs. We’ve avoided talking about going back to the club and what happens tomorrow when I’ve arranged to meet Axel to discuss my future, mainly because I can’t stand to see the look of sadness in her eyes when I mention the MC.

“You will,” I agree.

“Unless . . .”

“We can’t stay here,” I say firmly, guessing it’s what she wants. “The club is part of me, Tessa. I can’t walk away.” Just the thought of it makes me sick to my stomach.

“What if I don’t want to be a part of it?” she asks tentatively.

It’s the sentence I’ve been dreading. “That’s what this week was about, right?” I ask casually, trying to sound unaffected by her words. “To see if we could move forward together.”

“I want to move forward with you,” she rushes to say.

“And with me comes the club.” I slide the plate of food away, suddenly losing my appetite.

“It’s just, living there . . .” She trails off. “It’s a lot.”

“They’re my family, Te.” I stand, closing the gap between us and taking her hand. “And they’ll be your family too.”

“What if I don’t want a family? What if I’m happy with just you?”

I smile sadly, cupping her cheek. “We’re kind of a package deal, Te.”

“Would you seriously split up if I chose not to be a part of the damn club?” she demands, shoving my hand from her.

I take a few steps back. I’ve yet to see her really angry or upset, and we’re yet to have our first disagreement. “You haven’t even given them a chance. You might love the club.”

“I doubt it. We’re already arguing and we’re not even back there yet.”

“You’ve forgiven me, right?” I ask. She folds her arms over her chest but gives a nod. “So, you can forgive them too.”

“Maybe if you weren’t part of the club, you wouldn’t do such awful things,” she snaps.

“You’re upset,” I tell her. “It’s understandable after everything. Take a walk and then we can talk.”

She scoffs. “I don’t want a walk.”

“You don’t want to fight either, Tessa. Not with me.”

“Because you might lock me up?” she yells.

And there it is, the blow she’s been holding back. We stare at one another for a few silent moments, and then I leave the room, whistling for the dogs, who come running, following me out the door and into the field.

I haven’t been alone since we arrived, and I realise I don’t miss it like I thought I would. Having her slip her hand in mine as we stroll together makes me happy. Happier than I’ve been inforever. But the club gives me security and stability. I don’t know who I am without them. Or I do, and he wasn’t good either.

I sit in the middle of the field, occasionally throwing a tennis ball and watching all three dogs run after it. Chance has begun to put on weight, and he’s running just as well as the other two now. This break has done him good.

I hear soft footsteps behind me, and then she’s standing before me, still naked but looking a lot less angry. I lean back on my hands and look up at her. “I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I didn’t mean that.”

“You did,” I say, “and it’s okay. You have every right to get upset.” I nod to my lap, and she lowers onto me, wrapping her legs around me and her arms around my neck.

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