Page 79 of Collect the Pieces

She’s slow, tentative to embrace me. What the fuck did that girl say to her? “Tell me what happened.”

She exhales a long, slow breath and slides her arms around me, cuddling up tight.That’s better.

“Nothing. Just implied a bunch of gross stuff about you. I don’t really want to dissect the conversation.” She tips her head back. “Just promise me whatever you had with any of those girls is in the past.”

“Uh, I told you. There hasn’t been anyonebutyou since we got together. I wouldn’t lie about that, Margot.”

She nods slowly. “That’s what Shelby said too.”

Thank you, songbird.

Doesn’t matter if she trusts Shelby’s word more than mine. All that matters is that she believes it. That she believes inme. Inus.

“She won’t bother you again,” I promise. “Neither of them will.”

She snorts and pulls away. “Why? You’ll have them banned? Shelby said crooked-hair girl shouldn’t have been here at all.”

“Yeah. That’s exactly what I mean. I’ll find out who brought her and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“I don’t want to be responsible for that.” The corners of her mouth curl up. “Let her stay. She can spread the word to the other bunnies—you’remine.Period.”

Holy fuck.

A slow heat rolls through me, settling deep in my bones. I’ve had women fight over spending time with me, eager to please me, desperate to keep my attention. But this?

This is different.

Margot isn’t trying to impress me to secure a place at the clubhouse. She isn’t looking for bragging rights or validation. She doesn’t want to use me, then hop into bed with one of my brothers. Hell, she’s not even angling for a property patch. Nope. None of that. She sees me—all of me—and wants me to be hers.

And damn if that doesn’t feel better than anything else ever has.

Who knew I’d ever like the sound of a woman claiming me this much?

“I’m yours,” I promise her. “Every bit of me.”

“Good.” I still detect a hint of petulance in her tone. Those two girls did some damage tonight. Maybe staying here isn’t the best idea. Everything always seems less complicated when we’re at her place.

But it doesn’t work that way. I love my club and they’re my family. Besides, Margot fit in perfectly tonight. “Everyone loved your story,” I say. “Well, everyone who matters.”

In my arms her body shakes. Shit, did I make her cry?

But no, she pulls back and she’s laughing. “When Shelby warned me that Ravage likes to tell stories around the bonfire, I justknewif I had a chance, I wanted to tellthatone.”

“Was it true?”

Her gaze slides to our bedroom door. Instead of answering my question, she asks, “Which one is Ravage’s room?”

“Uh, why?”

“Can I show you something?”

A prickling of awareness travels over the back of my neck. It can’t be.

“I’m afraid to ask.”

She grins even wider and tiptoes to the corner where she left her backpack. She unzips one of the front pockets. After a second or two of rummaging through the dark depths, she pulls out a black velvet satchel with a triumphant smile.

My stomach clenches.She’s fucking kidding, right?“That’s not…”

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