Page 28 of No Mercy

“Beautiful, isn’t he?”

I let out a small scream and turned in my chair to see Rock opening the screen door to my left. I hadn’t even realized there was another way onto the porch until then.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” He closed the door and walked my way.

“How long were you there?” My heart was still pounding.

“Long enough to wait until he was done eating, I didn’t want to frighten him off.” He sat down next to me.

“Does he come around often?”

“Most nights. Sometimes the does come around, too. They all know about the apple tree.”

I couldn’t believe that we were sitting there making small talk about deer. I wanted to ask him about the club but was afraid of the answer. I looked him over as much as I could, using the light that was filtering out from the inside. Was his hair a little more mussed than usual?

“Sam sleeping?”

I nodded. “Yeah. It’s been a busy few days for him. It will be nice to get him back into school tomorrow and in a normal routine.”

“You did a good job, babe.” I just stared at him, blinking. “You did a good job raising him,” he explained. “He’s a good kid.”

“He is.” I smiled, Rock’s unexpected compliment making me feel warm inside. I suddenly felt guilty, knowing that I’d had Sam all to myself during those years. The last few days had shown me that Rock embraced fatherhood enthusiastically and without hesitation.

He released a deep breath. “I’ve done some thinking−”

“You did some thinking at the club?”

“Among other things,” he admitted. I hated that I knew what those other things were. “I wanted to claim you−”

“For the wrong reason.” Because of Sam, not because he wanted me.

“Will you stop fucking interrupting me?” he snapped. “I’m trying to do what’s right here,” he grumbled. “If claiming a woman because we have a child together isn’t the right reason, I don’t know what is. But you’re not on board with that. I get it. So if you’re serious about getting your own place I’ll help you out with that.”

I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t expected any of this. Had someone at the club talked him into giving me up? Because that’s what this amounted to in my mind, that he wasn’t going to fight for me. For us. But then I reminded myself that Rock wasn’t the kind of person to let someone talk him into anything. He was too alpha for that. Maybe there was a special woman at the club, someone he wanted over me. Then why had he fucked me in Cedar Key?

Because he could.

Because I’d made it too easy for him.

Because, like some men, he thought with his cock.

I finished my wine, staring out at the woods. I’d done this. How could I undo it? Throw myself at him? Maybe it was for the best after all, especially if there was someone else. Suddenly I had to know, and just managed to stop from making a fool of myself by asking. I hated the tears that were filling my eyes. Hopefully he wouldn’t notice them.

I took a deep breath. “Okay.” What else was there to say?

“I’ll begin looking tomorrow after we get Sam settled in school.”

“You don’t have to go.”

“I want to go. Just so we’re clear, I intend on being part of his life. Once you’re in your own place we’ll set up how it’s going to be. And I’m not just talking about visitation, babe. He’ll spend part of the week with me.”

“But−”

“No fucking buts, Allie. That’s how it’s going to be. I have a lot of time to make up with Sam. We can work it out when the time comes.”

I nodded, deciding that he was right. At least he wanted Sam enough to fight for him. “Okay.”

Rock snorted. “You don’t sound too happy.”

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