Page 37 of Blue

“For an old timer like me, it is.”

“You’re not old.” Rogue smeared butter on his toast.

Sully gruffed. “Then I’m just tired.” He wrapped his palms around his coffee mug. “The Hellers have changed. Can’t tell you how many times I fought with your mom about you being at the MC with me,” he said to Jazzy. “I’ve got a lot of regrets.”

A soft smile curled her lips. “I should’ve been a boy.”

Rogue grunted, and Jazzy rolled her eyes.

“Just listen. I ain’t saying things didn’t work out the way they were supposed to. My princess is wearing the patch. We’re not killing Crawlers or running drugs.” He grabbed my hand, squeezed, then let me go. “It ain’tyour fault that you got hooked on our shit.” Then he pointed at me. “It’s all on you if you don’t stay clean. I know you need a place to stay. You can stay with me.”

I leapt out of my chair and wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you,” I said into his shoulder, then returned to my chair.

“No one’s going to rush you,” he continued. “But the Hellers are safe now. Just like my princess, we all know the MC is where you belong.”

Blue’s hand rested on my thigh beneath the table. I cast a quick glance at him, smiled, and shoved a forkful of egg into my mouth.

Sully took a sip of coffee and glanced at Rogue. “You and Blade got the club running the way we always wanted. Dozer’s keeping the peace. Romeo has the books profitable. My time is up. I’m retiring from the board. I’m telling you now,” he said. “I’ll come by the clubhouse tonight and talk to Blade and the others. I wanted to give you a few days to figure out who you want to replace me.”

“Seriously?” Rogue asked.

“Yep.” He smiled. “Fuck, I feel better getting that off my chest.” He grabbed another piece of toast off the stack and turned to me. “We need to get you some wheels. You can’t stay locked up all the time.”

“Dad,” Jazzy interrupted. “You need to slow down.” Her gaze shifted to me. “No wheels. Not yet. If you want to go somewhere, one of us will take you.”

Blue stood to refill his coffee. “If she needs to go somewhere, I’ll take her.”

My gaze shifted to Sully, and he winked.

After breakfast, Rogue went up to the apartment with Jazzy. Blue and I stayed in the kitchen and did the dishes while Sully grabbed a shower.

“Are you okay with me staying here?” I stood next to Blue. He rinsed the dishes, and I loaded the dishwasher.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “But you know that means it’s time for me to go.”

I paused with the plate in my hand. “I don’t want to be here without you.”

He took the plate from me and placed it in the dishwasher. He led me back to the table, turned two chairs to face each other, then sat.

“You have two choices, but I only have one option. I’m going to rent a room at the MC. You could stay with me. I want you with me, but you should stay here and stay clean. I’m not dragging you back to the MC.”

“It’s okay.” I reached for his hand.

“No, it’s not.” He stood and paced across the kitchen. “I know we’ve both got some fucked up baggage. You’re getting better, but I gotta be honest with you. I’m never going to unpack my shit.” He growled, raked his fingers through his hair, then stared hard into my eyes. “I want you. Fuck, Kiss.” He tapped two fingers to his temple as if he held a gun. “I’m fucked up in here. You shouldn’t wantme.”

“Why? Are you going to be bad for me? Because we both know I become addicted to things that are bad for me. I’m always going to be an addict. Maybe you’re afraid you’ll become my new fixation.” I took a step closer to him. “You told me not to run from you.” I tipped my face to his. “Don’t run from us.”

“I’m not running. I’m warning you.”

“Haven’t you figured me out yet?” I stood in front of him and clasped my hands behind my back. “I want you, even fucked up.”

He crashed his lips onto mine. My heart raced as he kissed me hard and filthy. Kissed me until the line blurred between where his mouth ended and mine began. He cradled my skull as his tongue glided against mine. I adjusted my hands, gripping my forearms behind my back. My nails clawed my skin, but I didn’t touch him. I gave myself, submitting to what he needed.

Heat slipped beneath my skin with the rough burn of his fingers along my neck. I felt him in the extremities of my body. I didn’t deny wanting more. I wanted all of him. Any way I could have him.

***

After Rogue and Blue rode off, I joined Jazzy in her apartment. The girl had mad skills at freaking everything. Since Rogue and Blue had been busy getting Willow’s house ready for the baby, the bathroom still hadn’t been repaired. She’d gone down to the garage and returned with a small piece of drywall, spackle, and a putty knife.

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