Page 9 of Protected By Saint

“Why what?”

“Why do you care? Is it because you are called Saint? Wait…” Those pretty green eyes widen with surprise. “Are you some kind of a vigilante? Do you go around saving people? Is that what you do?”

I can already hear Knox’s bark of laughter in my head at the thought of me running around saving anyone. I didn’t get my name because of how good of a person I am. All of the men in my family have nicknames with religious origins. My older cousin runs our sister MC, the Steel Order, and his name is Priest. Anyone who knows me well has said that I have the patience of a saint, and not for reasons someone like Jade would want to know. Unlike my brothers who are impatient and impulsive when it comes to getting results, I can be quite persistent putting someone through hours of hell until I am satisfied with the answers they give me. I get results; it doesn’t matter how long it takes, which is why most people would rather deal with the impulsive Knox than me even though he’s a good deal more unhinged than I am.

“I’m not a vigilante,” I say, walking past her, and she follows as I take the stairs.

“You’re right, you don’t even look anything like a vigilante,” she says before quickly adding, “So, why did you save me?”

I shake my head at her question. It’s obvious to me that she’s not going to let this go, but at least she’s not crying anymore, so I take that as a win. I walk to the first door off the stairs and wait until she’s next to me before pointing to it. “You can stay here for the night,” I say, pushing open the door for her. Jade steps in front of me and peeks into the room, worrying her bottom lip, and I sense her hesitation to enter the room fully.

“W-what about you? Where… I mean, where are you going to sleep?”

“Down the hall, the last door to the left is my room,” I tell her, leaning against the wall and nodding for her to enter. “You can lock the door from the inside if you're afraid I’ll try to come in while you’re asleep.”

“Y-yeah, I’ll lock it,” she whispers, dragging her feet as she hesitantly steps into the room. I thought we’d moved past this point, but it’s clear I haven’t done enough to assure her.

“You are not a prisoner here, Jade,” I tell her, seeking to assuage her fears. “You can choose to stay or leave at any moment.”

She nods, but her steps are hesitant, and she’s almost completely inside before she turns around and grabs my arm, her nails digging into my skin. “I…I can’t sleep here,” she confesses shakily, her grip tightening on my arm. “Buck locked me in a room like that one you met me in. I was alone for hours, with nothing to do but imagine what might happen to me. My pleas to leave were met with threats, and…I don’t fully trust you; heaven knows I can’t bring myself to trust anyone right now after what happened, but I don’t want to be alone either.” She sniffs. “What if someone from the club comes looking for me? So far, you’re the only person who has shown me any kindness. I can’t stand the thought of being alone.”

I watch as tears gather in her eyes once more and realize that this girl is fast becoming my kryptonite. I want to take care of her, appease whatever the fuck is bothering her. Does she need me to go back to the club and bring her the head of whoever caused her this much pain? Because I will! I’ll fucking go back there, bring them to their knees, and make them beg for her forgiveness!

“Hey—” I start, but she cuts in.

“I keep thinking that they’ll come for me. They have my ID and my phone. They know everything about me, and I am terrified that they’ll somehow track me down, and I’ll be locked in that small room once again with no way to leave.”

“Jade—”

“Let me stay with you, please,” she pleads, blinking away tears, and I am helpless to do anything but reach up and wipe them away with my thumb. “I’ll sleep on the floor, or I don’t even have to sleep. I just can’t bear the thought of being alone. Not tonight at least.”

Fuck!

“Okay, alright,” I say, my voice thick with rage, but I discipline myself into hiding just how much fury is burning inside of me. “You can stay with me for the night,” I add, brushing hair from her face, and she leans into the warmth of my touch, nuzzling my hand; I don’t think she even realizes what she’s even doing.

Fuck, I have to remind myself that her actions are innocent and I shouldn’t look too much into the things she does.

She’s scared and afraid to be alone.

Jade has had quite a traumatic night, and what she needs is rest and not some hulking biker lusting over her in such a vulnerable state. But try telling that to my dick, which seems to notice when she pushes up against me and wraps her arms around my waist in an embrace.

“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice muffled as she buries her face in my chest.

Fuck!

Control yourself!

I’m not some pubescent teen experiencing his first touch from a girl. At thirty-five, I am way beyond that and this shouldn’t affect me as much as it does. Christ, my need for her is at a fever pitch, and I bet it would be easy to nudge her into the room, drown myself in her scent, and kiss every inch of her perfect body. Considering the looks I’ve caught her giving me, it would be nothing to seduce her into wanting me just as desperately.

A jewel.

That’s what the auctioneer called her, and Jade is very much one. A jewel that is fast melting at my resolve. And now she’s going to spend the night in my room—with me. Fuck, I need to get a hold of myself. The last thing I want is to scare her after everything she’s been through.

“You must be tired. Let me show you to my room,” I say, reaching behind her and pulling the door to the guest room closed for no other reason than to have something to do with my hands so I don’t her embrace and pull her tightly against me.

“Okay.” She nods, breaking the embrace. I miss the feel of her body pressed against mine, but I force myself to step away before I cross a line and scare her with the need bubbling inside of me.

There is no hesitation this time when she steps into my bedroom, and it’s hard, nearly impossible to ignore the king bed in the center of the room, but I try. “The bathroom is through that door. You can take a shower if you want. I’ll loan you a t-shirt for you to change into. Tomorrow morning I can send someone to your address to get some of your things—”

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