Page 38 of Fire

“You don’t have to decide tonight. Just think about it. That’s all. I’m here in bed with you. I’m telling you I love you and I want to be in your life. If you can look in your heart and say you have zero feelings for me, I’ll leave you alone. It would probably destroy me, but I’d still do it. I really need you to think hard on it, though. Because I wasn’t lying to you, Grace. I truly believe you are where I belong. I think we’re perfect for one another.”

“Ford …” I breathe, trying not to cry. How can he say this to me? Surely, he should be able to tell that he deserves much better than me.

“Just think about it, Grace. Please?”

“Okay …”

The joy that blooms over his face can’t be mistaken. As I see it, another part of the wall I surround myself with crumbles. This time when Ford kisses me, I open for him immediately. His tongue tangles and dances with mine. His hand slides against the column of my neck while his thumb brushes back and forth on my cheek. I whimper under the force of his lips, my body moving against his as desire begins to take over, but he pulls back, breaking our connection. He gently kisses my forehead. “I’m not going to rush any of this. I want to savor it. We’ll go as fast or as slow as you want to go. There will be no pressure from me. You’ve had a hell of a few days. You’re safe and in my arms. I want you to get some rest tonight, okay?”

“Okay,” I murmur, thoroughly confused. “Wait, what about Asher?”

“Stop worrying. Lyla loves kids. He’ll be fine for a couple of hours. Now, let’s sleep gorgeous.”

“Okay,” I repeat, because I do feel exhausted.

I snuggle down into him, closing my eyes. After about twenty minutes, I notice that Ford’s breathing has evened out. I think about getting up and going to Asher’s room to sleep. The only problem is I don’t really want to leave. I let my lips caress Ford’s chest, smiling at the taste of his skin on the tip of my tongue. This man has done so much for me and my son. I’ve never known anyone like him.

“Thank you for what you’ve done for me and Asher. You deserve so much more than me. I can’t do that to you, but it’s hard because I think I already love you.” I let out a sigh and snuggle closer to him, letting myself relax and sleep claim me.

27

FORD

I sigh as I look down at Grace. In sleep, she’s even more beautiful and I wouldn’t have thought that was possible. I was awake half of the night trying to figure out how to crack this hard exterior that Grace has around her. I heard every word she said. She loves me. Hearing her say it was good. I knew the emotion was in there. I could feel it between us. Still, I know the problem and it’s a big one. I need to somehow prove to her she can trust that love. That’s no small feat, considering everyone in her life has let her down. I’m not sure how to even tackle it. What I’m considering doing might blow up in my face, but I honestly don’t have many choices. Asher is on my side and since I don’t want to be away from him as much as his mother, I’ll enlist him to help me, too. It’s underhanded—not how I like to do things. I’m not letting Grace and Asher slip through my fingers, though. I can’t.

I smile as I watch her eyes flutter before she finally opens them. I grin as she stares at me. “Ford?” she whispers.

“Who else would you wake up in bed with?” I purr, leaning down to place a gentle kiss on her lips. She tenses for a minute, but then I feel her tongue slide against my lips. I open for her, but don’t press it—wanting to see what she does next. When hertongue tentatively slides into my mouth, gently stroking against my own, I feel like I won the damn lottery. I let her control the kiss. I fight to not turn it into something more passionate, knowing my Grace isn’t ready for that. I just let her experiment and play. Sadly, all too soon she stops, then looks up at me with the prettiest pink blush on her cheeks that I can see, despite the bruising still evident on her face. “I should kill him again,” I mutter without thinking.

“You killed Benny?” she asks, fear laced in her words.

“Grace, I told you. I couldn’t allow him to be a constant threat to you and Asher. I’m going to be dealing with the Korslovas next. You and Asher are mine to protect, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

Grace shakes her head back and forth, tears falling from her eyes. “You never once said you killed him. Oh my God, Ford. You’re going to lose your freedom over this! Are you insane? You’ve ruined your life, and for what?”

“Grace, sweetheart, stop it,” I demand quietly, gently putting a hand on each side of her face. “I’m not going to get in trouble. Everything is fine.”

“It’s not! You killed someone. They arrest people for that. Oh God, I don’t even know if this state is a capital punishment supporter. You have to leave, Ford. You must get out of here. There are countries that don’t have extradition to the US. You could?—”

I laugh. I can’t help it. I press my lips against hers to keep her from talking. “Grace, you dated Vector. I don’t know the story, but I do know that. His club is a lot like mine. You can’t tell me you don’t understand the lifestyle.”

Her forehead crinkles. “Andrew always kept me separate from that. The only member of his club I ever met was Roman. He said he didn’t want that world touching me. He wanted to protect me. I thought it was because he loved me, but inhindsight, I think he just never saw me as part of his life—long term, anyway. It would have been nice to have known that before I gave him my virginity, but by the time he disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was way too late.”

I digest this information and frown. “He disappeared?”

She shrugs. “I guess the term is ghosted. He tried to explain. He got hurt in action while in the military and just cut me out. Said his head was messed up and whatever. Apologies don’t really mean much. It happened, and I’d just rather forget it ever happened. I guess that’s why I didn’t really want to be around them when we were here before. Why did you put everyone in the hotel here? This place must be expensive.”

I laugh. I can’t help it. She goes from worrying I’m going to get the death penalty to me spending too much on a hotel room. I sit up, leaning my back against the quilted backboard, then gently pull Grace across my lap and hold her. She goes willingly and I let that soothe me. “I need you to listen to me, sweetheart. I have enough money not to worry about living in this damn hotel. The club has money. We’re sound financially. That’s something you’ll never have to worry about as my wife.”

“Wife? Ford?—”

“If you don’t want marriage, I’m still claiming you as my old lady with the club. I love you and I heard you last night. You love me. I’m not letting you go. It’s just not going to happen. You need to accept that.”

“I live in North Carolina. Are you going to just be happy in a long-distance relationship?” she asks, sounding annoyed.

“Nope. You’re coming back to Virginia with me.”

“And if I refuse?”

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