Page 10 of A Christmas Surprise for the Biker

“What!?” she shrieks, sitting up on her ass. “That’s bullshit. You were trying to help, and they locked you up?”

“I broke the law, baby. Doesn’t matter why I did it. Not to them anyway.”

Her shoulders fall. “I’m sorry, babe. That’s bullshit, no matter what you say.” She looks down at her hands clasped in her lap and I can see the wheels turning. “How much time?” she asks, lifting her head to look at me.

“A year,” I admit.

Her eyes go as wide as saucers. “A year? And it never occurred to you to let me know? I thought you ghosted me, Legend.”

I shake my head, regret heavy in my chest. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Brae, but I didn’t think we had anything serious. I didn’t think you’d care.”

She sits up straighter, her eyes flashing with anger. “We had a baby together, Legend. That’s pretty fucking serious.”

When I see that she’s about to bolt, I sit up and reach for her. “I know that now. But back then, we were just fucking. I know how shitty that sounds, but that’s what it was, Brae. We didn’t know each other, not really.”

She pulls away from me, her arms wrapping around herself, and I hate that the truth is hurting her. A year behind bars gave meplenty of time to think about what I wanted when I got out and she’s it. She always was, I was just too fucking selfish to admit it.

“You’re right,” she snaps, her voice cold. “We didn’t know each other. And maybe we still don’t.”

“Knock it off, Brea,” I growl, reaching out and pulling her into my lap. I get that she’s pissed and I deserve it, but I’m not letting her fucking go. Not after spending a year without her—not after realizing how fucking perfect she is. She can be mad, but she’s going to be mad right here, where she belongs.

“Let me go.” She struggles, but I tighten my arms around her, refusing to do any such thing. Huffing and puffing and working up a sweat, she continues to fight me.

“Ain’t letting you go, baby. Get it out of your system. Scream, yell, kick, whatever the fuck you need to do. But, baby… you’re mine and that ain’t fucking changing.”

Her body goes still. “What?”

“You heard me. You’re mine.”

I hear a sniffle a split second before her body begins to shake. Fuck.

“I’m sorry, baby,” I murmur, pressing my lips against her temple. “I’m so fucking sorry, Brae. Please don’t cry. I should have called you, should have told you what was happening. I fucked up.”

Her body goes lax as she continues to cry.

Long minutes later, her body goes even more lax, and her head falls back onto my shoulder, and I can see the tears still wet on her cheeks.

“Please, baby?—”

“I’m sorry too,” she whispers, cutting me off. “I should have tried harder to find you.”

I shake my head, my arms tightening around her more. “No, baby. This isn’t on you. This is on me. I fucked up, and I’m going to make it right. I promise.”

Her eyes close. “You promise?” she whispers.

I nod, my thumb brushing the tears from her cheek. “I promise.”

She opens her eyes and searches my face, looking for the truth in my words. It doesn’t take long for her to see I mean every fucking word. I’m going to fix everything I broke. “Okay,” she whispers.

“Okay?”

“Yes.”

“Thank fuck.” I drop a soft kiss on her lips, sealing my vow. If it takes until I breathe my last breath, I’m going to give my woman and my boy a good fucking life.

A yawn slips past Brae’s lips, and I can see that she’s exhausted. She’s been through so fucking much.

“You need some sleep, baby.”

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