Page 74 of Devil's Dilemma

“I thought we were going to cuddle?”

“Still can, darlin’. But we’ll do it with the comforter between us. I don’t need any more temptation. Prez has just reminded me of something.” At her questioning look, I continue, “Until we’ve come to some decisions about Skull, you’re still technically his woman, and therefore, off bounds to me.” As she bristles, I stop her speaking by resting my fingers gently over her mouth. “Nothing more than we’ve already agreed. Just given another reason for it.”

“So claiming is for life? Why can’t I unclaim myself? I don’t want anything to do with him.”

“No one would have an argument with that, Mel. Just need to do things properly. Doing it right means we need to put the brakes on until we get answers and everyone’s satisfied. Skull’s not dead, we’re all sure of that. Not saying you have to think yourself his woman while he still breathes, nor that any of my brothers would think less of you for taking up with me. But there’s a right and wrong way of doing things. I’d rather wait if that’s what we need to do. You’re worth it, Mel. Fuckin’ believe that.”

I wonder if she’s going to protest further. I’m already thinking of what else I can say to try to make her understand, while not saying out loud that in the eyes of the club, she’s still Skull’s property, when not for the first time, she surprises me.

“But you’re in here with me?” Her brow creases. “Should I leave?”

“Nah. They’ll all know we aren’t getting up to shit.”

“How?”

“Because they’ll see I’m walking bowlegged from the hard-on I ain’t getting release from, and also, when we do get to fuck, I’m going to make it my mission to make you scream louder than you’ve ever done before.”

“I didn’t, I don’t…”

I cock my eyebrow. “Walls are thin, darlin’.”

Her mouth opens in an O, then, slowly, she starts disappearing under the sheet.

It might have been the ultimate fuck up of a day, but I bellow a laugh, and make that silent promise to her and myself. One day I’m going to make her scream louder than Skull ever did.

Early the next morning I hear three bikes heading out, the roar of their exhaust shattering the peace. Glancing over at my phone I see it’s still early, only five-thirty am. I don’t blame them getting an early start, they’ve got a twelve-hour journey ahead of them, and that’s if they don’t make any stops, which they’ll need to, to top off tanks and stomachs.

Quietly sending them good vibes for keeping the shiny side up, I turn on my side and watch my woman sleeping. No, not mine as yet, but hopefully, soon.

Unused to having company in my bed or sleeping with an unresolved rod of iron in my pants, I’ve had a restless night, but used it to do some thinking. I’ll fly Mel across to Vegas. I wouldn’t ask a woman unused to riding to make a seven-hundred-mile journey without leading up to it, even if she wasn’t pregnant. No, she can travel in relative comfort. Not that flying economy is a luxury, but better than spending hours on the back of my bike.

My woman and child. Christ. How did I get so lucky? Was it only yesterday I awoke, not daring to dream that we’d be making any commitment? That I had any hope of ever moving out of the friendzone. Now all we’ve got to do is get Skull back firmly in the rearview, then we can start living. For ourselves.

If it comes to it, I’ve no worries about leaving the club. Would hate it, but I could survive in the civilian world if I have to. I’ve managed an auto-shop for years, got all the right qualifications. With my army record as well, I shouldn’t have trouble finding employment. I’ll definitely be able to support my old lady.

Of course, I’d prefer to stay in the club. Get Mel her own property vest. Idly, I wonder why Skull hadn’t. He’d had enough time, just hadn’t taken that step. I shift, trying to get comfortable when my mind conjures up a vision of her wearing only a leather cut with my name written on it. Of course, there’s that old rule that I know Demon wouldn’t insist on, that she gets ‘Property of Pyro’ tattooed on her back. I’d like that. I’ll be sneaky about it, get Violet to design something really attractive, have something to show her before I approach it. Thank fuck Skull hadn’t done that, and she has nothing that needs to be covered up.

Her missing cut and tattoo. Signs Skull had never been totally serious? If so, it’s not just her he had fooled, but all of us.

“Good morning.”

I think her face smiling up at me is going to become my new favourite way to wake up.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Surprisingly I did. I think I must have been mentally exhausted. But now he’s pressing on my bladder and I need to go pee.”

I nod. Watching her move off the bed, my eyes follow her to the bathroom.

When she returns, I look up from my phone and tell her, “We’ll fly to Vegas. It’s just under a four-hour flight.”

“Oh, thank God. I wasn’t looking forward to driving it.”

“Thought that. When do you want to leave?”

“I’ve just got to talk to work, make sure they’re okay with me taking time off. Then whenever you think.”

“Tomorrow’s soon enough. Tonight, the brothers will get to the clubhouse and start preparing to go out searching. There won’t be any news today. I’ll text Sparky later, ask him to ask Red to get a room ready for us.”

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