Page 95 of Mace

“Right. Good. So, please come back to the table, order something to eat—something substantial, not the cheapest fuckin’ thing on the menu—and let me treat my fuckin’ woman like she deserves to be treated.”

My throat feels suddenly tight. “I’m your woman?”

His brows come together. “Did you not listen to anything I just said?”

“I listened. I just… I’m scared this is moving fast and you’re going to wake up and realise what a disaster I am. I’m… I’m scared of falling for you and you leaving me behind.”

He smiles, which doesn’t thrill me, considering I just bared my soul to him. “Finally, some fuckin’ truth from you.” He brushes his fingers over my cheek before kissing me, and any doubts I might have had disappear the moment his lips touch mine.

I melt into his arms, and when he finally pulls back, he kisses my forehead. It’s such a sweet gesture, and yet heat blazes through me. “Baby, you are the most adorable, beautiful, smart woman I have ever encountered, and someone like me doesn’t deserve all that sunshine you bring. But I’m a bad person, which means I ain’t gonna step aside to let someone else have you, someone more deserving. I want you, disasters and all, but your shit ain’t even that much of a problem, darlin’. I’ve dealt with far fuckin’ worse over the years.”

I grip the front of his leather vest, holding him tight, scared all of this is going to slip away. “I know it might ruin your reputation as this hardened biker, but you’re a good man, Mace, and that’s why I’m so scared.”

“You don’t have anything to be scared of. I’m all in this.”

The knot in my chest loosens, letting my heart pump fully. “So am I.”

“Good. Let’s eat, and then later, I’ll eat you.”

My pussy throbs. “Mace!”

“What?” His hand slides down between us to cup me between my legs. The fabric of my pants is annoyingly in the way of the delicious friction he creates as he presses against that sensitive spot. “This cunt is mine, Maylie Fernsby.”

“You have a dirty mouth,” I say around a smile.

“Yeah, but you like it.”

I roll my eyes at him, even though I do, and he takes my hand, leading me back to the table. I ignore the smirks from my siblings as I pick up the menu and scan the pages. Mace slides in next to me, his hand resting on my thigh, and for the first time in a really long time, I feel like everything is going to be okay.

TWENTY-THREE

MAYLIE

My happy glowdoesn’t last long.

When we walk back into the clubhouse, there are several naked women walking around. One of the guys has a girl pressed back against the couch, doing things to her that I didn’t know were possible.

I cover Toby’s eyes quickly, pulling us back out the room and ignoring my brother’s protests.

Mace curses under his breath.

“Does that happen often?” I ask as the door swings shut.

“Shit. I’m sorry.”

I squeeze his hand, letting him know it’s okay. I don’t expect him to change his life for me, but as much as I’d love to live in the bubble we’re creating, I can’t allow my brother to spend his days watching members of Mace’s club fucking like rabbits. Toby’s at an impressionable age, and I’ve done everything I can to protect him from things like this.

“It’s only boobs,” Toby protests, moving towards the door. Ivy grabs the back of his sweater, pulling him back.

“Which you’re far too young to see,” my sister says, and for once, it feels nice to be on the same side as her.

Toby rolls his eyes. “You guys never let me have any fun.”

Mace rubs the back of his neck with the hand not locked in mine. “This place ain’t exactly kid friendly.”

“It’s okay,” I say. “It’s not like I expect your club to adapt to what I need. We can head home. Link isn’t a threat anymore, so there’s no reason for us to stay here anyway. Besides, Toby has school tomorrow, Ivy has college, and I have work tonight. We need to get back into our routine.”

For a moment, I’m sure he’s going to deny my request, but then he nods and leads us down the corridor to the rooms we stayed in last night.

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