Page 19 of Chaplain

"You're playing with fire." I groan as her finger follows the line up to the sensitive flesh behind my ear.

"I grew up mostly on my own. Shitty parent situation. I was used for food stamps, tax returns, and the occasional trip to thegrandparents to ask for money. I wasn't even an afterthought when I didn't serve a purpose.

"In my early teens, I learned how to hot wire cars. Some guys in the neighborhood had a parts business, and I became one of their suppliers. Would have kept doing it until I landed in jail if I hadn't decided to switch to bikes and picked the wrong one night.

"I was lucky Eden. I got my ass kicked that night, sure enough. But later, the president fed me. The ol'ladies made me a room, found me clothes, made me finish school. I worked in their chop shop, taking apart legal cars and doing the grunt work for the club. They didn't make things easy, but I also never felt like an afterthought."

I hate the shimmer of tears coating Eden's eyes. I've dealt with my past, and it's made me who I am. I have no shame in that.

"So you joined them," Eden asks, her voice tinged with emotion.

I shake my head. "No. I hated them for caring about me. It was easier when I didn't have to worry about disappointing someone."

Eden drops a hand on my shoulder. "But look at you now."

Every muscle in my body tenses. "Eden. There are things you don't know. Things that make this harder than it has to be. Being with me comes with its own set of baggage."

I know I should come clean with what that means. Eden deserves to know I'm the reason the Iron Demons set their sights on our club in the first place. I'm the fuck up who started a fight I couldn't finish alone. But I can't make the words come out. She makes me want to forget there was ever a time I disappointed my brothers.

"We all have our demons, Diesel."

I can't help the sarcastic laugh that rips its way up my throat. "Mine are deserved."

"Then so are mine." She slides off the counter and stands close. "Look at me. On the surface, I'm an ethical hacker, helping corporate America protect their millions, but I learned my trade from an uncle who's responsible for millions in cyber theft while my father rots in prison for the same." She steps into my arms, and I have no choice but to wrap them around her. "We're not so different, you and I, doing the best with what life gave us."

I can't argue with that. As Eden lowers her mouth to mine, I take it eagerly, pressing my lips hard into hers.

The intensity of our conversation electrifies every inch of space between us, igniting a surge of energy that radiates throughout our bodies. It's as if we're two opposing forces finally coming together, creating an unstoppable energy that crackles and sparks around us.

As I pull her in closer, the world falls away. The taste of her lingers on my tongue, sweet and intoxicating. My arms wrap around her, pulling her closer as she melts into me. Every touch feels electric, igniting a fire between us that refuses to be quenched. My mind fills with thoughts of carrying her to her bedroom and showing her just how deeply intertwined our souls are, but a buzz in my back pocket shatters the fantasy.

I try to ignore the intrusion, but Eden doesn't.

Eventually, she sighs regretfully. "As much as I want you to stay, they probably need you back there."

She's right. "It's Ronnie. He's calling a meeting."

Eden's face drops. I take her chin between my fingers and lift it back to meet mine. "As soon as it's over, I'm coming right back here. I'll pick up takeout on the way."

That gets a smile from her, and she leans in to give me one more soft kiss.

With her taste still on my lips, I force myself out the door. But my thoughts remain wrapped up in her, already counting the minutes until I see Eden again.

11

Eden

Morning sunlight shines through my blinds, stirring me from dreams filled with the heated memories of yesterday in Diesel's arms. I stretch leisurely beneath the sheets, skin tingling everywhere Diesel left his mark.

Despite the lingering soreness between my thighs, I can't stop smiling. Being with Diesel has exceeded even my wildest fantasies. The tenderness underlying his rough exterior, the way he looks at me like I'm the only woman in the world as he drives into me. The roughness of his voice when he grunts before growling out my name and releasing deep in my core.

Beyond the incredible sex, it's the unexpected affection afterward that has me curling back up in my covers and breathing in his scent, still clinging to my pillow.

Lounging casually on my couch, trading stories. Watching his hands expertly chop ingredients for omelets in my kitchen. Allowing me a glimpse into who he is under his colors and stone exterior.

I've never trusted or wanted to open myself up so fully to another person. And he seems to feel the same.

My heart flutters, thinking about when I'll get to see him again. The memory of his searing kisses and large hands stroking me so knowingly leaves my skin flushed with heat even now. I've become an addict for him after only one hit. I'm such a sucker.

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