Page 25 of Clear Your Mind

“Can I ask you something, love?”

His voice is even sexier in the half-asleep state he’s in. I nod against his chest, knowing he can feel it.

“How…I mean,areyou connected to the Bullfeathers?” My heart flutters when I realize he’s metering himself just a little for my feelings.

“Only radiantly. I know a bunch of them live in my complex. They park in my spot and catcall a little, but I haven’t really had any hard-core trouble with them. A few months back, one claimed he was in charge of maintenance and asked if I needed anything fixed. I politely declined, but I’m pretty sure they’re doing something shady in one of the outbuildings in the back of the property. But if I learned any lasting lessons from Jeff, it’s to keep my nose out of club business.”

“Why don’t you come stay here?”

I sit up so fast I get dizzy.

“What?”

Buddy comes up on his elbow, no longer sleepy, and trails a rough finger gently down my breast, lingering on my nipple. I bat his hand away.

“Stop trying to distract me. Did you literally ask me to move in with you after knowing me for less than an entire weekend? What happened to our no-strings casual arrangement?”

The man has zero shame.

Leaning forward, he sucks a nipple into his mouth, nips it, then releases it with a pop.

“First, distracting you is fun. Second, why not? We have killer chemistry and can explore that at length.” He leans over and licks my nipple. “Third, if the clubhouse is a problem, we can rent a place close by. But if you’re not ready for that yet, at least stay until we can look into what they’re doing at your complex so you have a safe place. Staying with me also gives me time to convince you that I can be your safe place.” He kisses me quickly, then pads to the bathroom. From the bathroom, over the sound of him peeing, he states, “The no-strings casual thing is never gonna work for us, love. I think I knew it from the start, and after tonight, I suspect you know that too.”

I wait as he flushes and washes his hands. I sneak into the bathroom as he exits. Now it’s my turn to talk from another room. Why is this easier than face to face? “

“First, your room is fine. In fact, it’s bigger than my whole apartment. Second, I’ll stay here on a temporary basis, but if you start that cavemanmineshit, I’m out no matter the situation at my complex.” My heart doesn’t feel temporary with this man, but I can’t just dive in headfirst.

I hear a deep chuckle float in over the sound of the sink. “No deal, love. I read some of your books today. You love that shit, so who am I to deny you?”

My eyes roll so hard that I swear a jackpot might shoot out of my ass. I climb into bed and play little spoon. When he grinds his growing erection into my ass, I complain.

“No more of that, I have to open up shop bright and early.”

“Writers have shops?”

“No, well, maybe some do, but not me. My writing barely pays for itself. I have my own spiritual shop.”

His laughter rumbles up my back. “Of course you do, love.”

Buddy falls asleep holding my tit, and he does feel like my safe place already.

6

BUDDY

It feels so right watching Krystal drive off, knowing she’ll be coming back to me.

The last thing I want is a woman.

Thelastlast thing I want is a woman with a negative history with an MC.

And thelastlastlast thing I want is someone who believes in me.

But I have all three in Krystal and I’m not mad about it.

Asking her to move in was a last-minute sexual euphoric-induced idea. Usually those suck in the light of day once the bliss has dulled, but I find that’s not the case today.

Krystal makes me want to be all the things Morningstar expected of me.

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