Page 62 of What Lies Within

My focus is here.

I glance at the woman nestled against Digger's side and exhale slowly. Her gaze is downcast, perhaps on their hands or the floor. Wherever she looks, it ain't straight ahead or up. It ain't proud.

I don’t like that. Not one fucking bit.

"Doesn't matter." I set the phone aside and then slip off the seat to kneel. "They can take care of themselves." Rae's gaze lifts as I walk on my knees across the floor to her seat, stopping when I can set my hands on her thighs and coax them apart to fit myself between.

She swallows, the slightest frown tugging her brow down.

“I know what you’re thinkin’.” I push closer. Enough until my hands rest on her waist, nestled against her fuller hips.Fuckin’ love how that feels.“Quit it.”

“What?” she whispers, voice hoarse.

“The shame.”

Digger leans back, releasing her hand to slide his arm along the back of her seat.

“The negative bullshit you’ve got circlin’ around up in there.”

Her lips curl the slightest bit. I hit it true. Fucking knew I would.

“Can’t speak for my brother, but I know myself that there’s only one thing I need you doin’ while you’re here with us, Rae.”

She meets my gaze, lashes thick with the residual wetness of her tears.

“Same thing I expect of anyone who wears our patch.”

Her throat bobs, brow pinching again.

"Need you to learn to accept yourself as you are. Right now." She tries to shy, ducking her chin. Not having any of that shit. I tuck my forefinger beneath her jaw and coax her to look at me again. “You can’t expect to get anywhere different if you’re always looking behind you.”

Her swallow is audible between us. “Where do I go, though?”

“Wherever leads you somewhere happy, baby girl.”

“And that ain’t always the path of least resistance,” Digger adds. “The greatest rewards require the greatest sacrifice.”

Her head rolls back, resting against Digger’s arm. “I don’t know if I have it in me. At least, not this week.”

“You’re in that bad patch, huh?” I squeeze her hip, urging her to look at us again. “The one you just told us about?”

“Yeah.” She forces a small smile. “Surprise. I’m out of action in a few days.”

“Out of action?” Fuck my dense brother.

“She means she’ll be on her rag,” I deadpan. “Fuck, Digger.”

“What?” He huffs a laugh. “Fuck me for not realizing, right, considering that shit’s never meant anything to me.”

Did not need that visual right now.I draw a deep breath and straighten my spine, dragging Rae closer to me as I do. "You okay if I make you feel good right now?" I need this—her permission. The last thing I want is to force my desires onto her when she's sitting at her most vulnerable.

A slight nod—barely perceptible. But it's not the movement that I need to understand her will, not when she arches her back, pushing her center hard against my lower stomach.Fuck.Girl makes me fucking eighteen all over again with the way my dick takes note.

"It's okay," I utter, dropping my forehead to hers. "It's okay to give yourself pleasure when the fuckin' world falls apart, Rae. You don't have to punish yourself to justify others' pain."

Her hand finds my face, and her exhale is hot on my lips. "You need to stop being in my head."

“Why?” I say with a hint of humor. “I like it there.”

---