Page 50 of Rex

I follow him to his bedroom and take the t-shirt he hands me. Frowning, I look up at him, eyes questioning the shirt.

“Unless you brought something super sexy and lacy, I’d rather see you sleep in one of my shirts,” Rex answers with a small grin.

I agree, so I take it with me and my overnight bag to his bathroom. I wash, brush my teeth, and change into his shirt. Exiting the bathroom, I find the condo dark except for a lamp near the bed. Rex, bare-chested, is in bed with the covers pulledjust high enough to cover his hips. Looking up from his phone, his eyes turn intense.

I slide into bed on the other side and push my body over until I make contact with Rex’s. I lay my head against his shoulder and drop my hand to his abs. Rex drops a light kiss on the top of my head but continues scrolling through texts on his phone.

“On a scale of one to ten, how freaked out are you?” he asks into the silent room.

“Fifteen.”

“You’re safe here, Aria.”

“I know, but I kind of feel like the safety of my home was violated. I know that’s ridiculous, but it’s my first home that’s all mine, and I love it. After Drew died—you know what I mean—I decided to live at home with my mom. She’d lost my dad to prison, and her son was dead. I couldn’t leave her in that big house all by herself. After moving here, I finally got to be an adult and have my own place and not live in my childhood home. I’ll get over this feeling, but for now, it sucks,” I answer.

“I get it, and it’s not ridiculous to feel that way. You have the right to be upset and angry about it. We’ll make it so you feel safe there again. I promise,” Rex states.

Changing the subject, I ask, “Did you get any calls or texts that were important while I was distracting you?”

Rex chuckles, then says, “No. Everything was just the usual crap. Let me read you a few of the brilliant texts I get each day.”

“Hey Rex, can you tell me how to make a PDF file?”

“Hey Rex, my phone just did an update, and I don’t know if it was important stuff or not. Can you look at it tomorrow?”

“Hi Rex. Craig hijacked my phone again and changed my passcode. Can you fix it tomorrow if I drop it off? Love you and thanks!”

“Rex, brother, I fucked up the work schedule thing you sent, and I have no idea when I work next. Let me know!”

“Hey Rex. You wouldn’t have to change Mom’s passcode all the time if you’d talk her into getting me a phone. Just trying to make your life easier!”

“Brother Rex! I am not working another shift with Horse until you explain to him that I’m the fucking boss when we’re on a job! Have the talk with him or keep your balls protected because I still have that fucking taser!”

I laugh at the look on Rex’s face when he reads the last text out loud.

“I blame Gunner for most of the angst in my life since starting the security company,” he mutters. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say the big guy has it out for me.”

“I heard things about a taser and your boy parts,” I admit and then laugh at the look aimed in my direction.

“Manly parts when you’re speaking about mine, thank you. Lady bits when speaking about Axel’s. Not that I want you speaking about Axel’s anything,” Rex states firmly.

“Got it,” I say. “They rely on you a lot, don’t they?”

“Yeah, they do.”

I smile when I realize he’s not complaining about that. He’s needed, and he’s a valued member. He belongs, and he knows it. I like that he’s got his place in this world figured out and is comfortable with it.

“I like that you have so many good people in your life,” I state suddenly.

“They’re in your life now too.”

“Yeah, but sometimes it still seems odd to me. Because of my dad’s involvement in the criminal world, we spent a lot of time isolated from other people. I know that was our parents’ way of protecting us kids, and it did make us super close growing up. They kept our circle small so sometimes it can be a little overwhelming to have so many in that circle now. Not that I don’t like it. I do, and I really like the club members and their families. I’m just not used to so many personalities and figuring out how to navigate the club’s way of doing things, I guess. I know Drew fits in like he was born to it, but he’s always been the outgoing one of us kids.”

“Is there something about the club that worries you?”

“No, not really. It’s just taking some time to learn and try to understand things that seem foreign to me. Like you needing to talk to Drew before you’re allowed to go on a date with me. I don’t get that way of doing things. I don’t understand how it’s acceptable to consider each other close as brothers and yet Drew can insist on getting in the ring with you if you break that rule. It seems kind of archaic.”

“Looking at it from the outside, I can understand what you’re saying. The club has rules, and we’ve all agreed to follow them or deal with the consequences. Non-members don’t usually getfull explanations because they’re not required to follow them. They may seem confusing to others, but I’m fine with them. They maintain order and reduce conflicts for the most part. We are going to be dating and spending time together, so I’ll be talking with Chubs and doing that soon. Are you okay with that?” Rex asks.

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