Page 67 of Bound by Wreckage
“But…” she starts with worry lines creasing her delicateface. Placing my finger on her lips she stops, but her eyes narrow a bit showing me that backbone once again.
“No more buts. Buck’s still out there, and it’s not safe. I’ll keep you that way. And I…” My words don’t come out, and her hand comes to my arm comforting me. “I missed you.”
A small smile greets me. “I missed you too.” She wastes no time wrapping herself around me tightonce again.
Whatever this is, this feeling inside of me, I don’t want to let it go. Having her next to me brings on this sense of completeness. It’s strange, but I’m holding on to it. At least as long as she’ll let me. While everything inside me is screaming to just take her and make her mine, no fucking way am I going to be Buck. She has choices and after I take care of that prick, she’llbe free.
Ten minutes later we’re sitting in a small Podunk greasy spoon. Carsyn is shaking, and I pull her close and wrap my arm around her, giving her support. The last time she was around a big group of men, it didn’t end well for her. I get her shyness, but it’s my job to make her comfortable.
“Nice ink,” Cooper says to Carsyn. At first, she stiffens, then ever so slowly her shouldersbegin to relax. Leave it to my brother to break the ice. Love that man.
“Have you seen the butterflies?” I ask, loving those damn things. This time there will be nothing that will harm her, ever. No need to get another if she chooses.
“I kinda have a thing for them,” Carsyn says quietly.
“Let’s see,” Deke adds in, becoming part of the conversation. I knew my brothers wouldwelcome her with open arms, but here, this—they aren’t going full bore with her. Instead going gentle and calm.
Carsyn pushes back slightly in her chair and holds her leg out showing off the now ten butterflies.
“You got another one?” I ask and she smiles, knocking me on my ass.
“Yeah.”
“Red and black… nice,” Jacks tosses in, and I take a closer look. Hell, all theguys get up from their chairs to look, but stay far enough away that she doesn’t tense.
Red and black. Butterfly after we met. Could that be a butterfly for me? My insides warm. I reach over and pull her to me, kissing the top of her head.
She may not tell me now, but she will tell me. It’s one thing I have to know.
And fuck me, I want to be right on this one.
