Page 14 of Her Grumpy Biker
“Morning, beautiful,” I say as I close the distance between us.
Camden tilts her head up to look at me, and my arms circle around her waist, drawing her closer. She rests her hands on my shoulders and pulls herself up on her tiptoes to give me a sweet kiss on my cheek. As cute as it is, I need more.
“Not enough,” I grunt before slanting my mouth over hers. Camden smiles and then gasps when I slip my tongue between her soft lips.
I lick the roof of her mouth, loving the way it makes her breath hitch and her nails dig into my shoulders. My hands slide across her back, one cupping her ass while the other tangles in her hair. I tilt her head to give me a better angle, and she rubs herself against me as we devour each other.
Camden breaks our kiss to gulp down air, but I can’t seem to stop touching her. I drag my lips up her neck, pausing to nip her pounding pulse point before kissing her there.
“Good morning to you, too,” she says breathlessly. I grin and pull myself away from her, though it’s harder than it should be.
“Breakfast is served,” I tell her, motioning toward the table with a sad selection of half-empty cereal boxes. “It’s not much, but I’ll go grocery shopping today. I haven’t had a lot of experience cooking, but I can learn.” I end my rambling thoughts by rubbing the back of my neck and looking away from Camden.
“Oh, wow!” she exclaims. I furrow my brow in confusion and peer over at her. Camden is already sitting at the table, her green eyes wide with wonder. She grabs a berry-flavored cereal andfills her bowl, followed by milk. “This is amazing. We weren’t allowed to have sugary stuff like this,” she explains.
I pull out the chair next to her and sit. How can she make me feel so comfortable and accepted with just a look and a few sweet words?
“Also, you don’t have to cook for me,” Camden continues. “I’ve had plenty of training in the domestic arts, as my teacher would say.” She smiles, but I hate the thought of my woman being confined to the kitchen.
“You’re free of obligations and outdated gender roles,” I tell her firmly. “You get to live however you want, and I’ll be here to support you, whatever that looks like. I’ll cook every meal and do the dishes, too. I don’t give a fuck, I just want you here.”
Her emerald gaze never leaves mine. Just like yesterday, I didn’t know I had all of these thoughts and feelings until they just spilled out in front of Camden.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve all of this; to deserve you.” She slips her hand in mine, and I squeeze it.
It kills me that she’s still struggling to see her worth. She’s free from the people who held her captive her entire life, but that doesn’t mean she’s forgotten the lies they’ve told her over the years.
“Sweetheart,” I murmur. “You don’t have to earn my lo–uh, my respect,” I quickly correct myself. I almost told her I love her, which I’m realizing I do very much. But it might be too much, too soon for her. I can’t scare her off with my intensity. “You don’t have to earn your right to exist,” I go on. “As for me? Camden, you give me everything just by breathing.”
She gasps as tears spring to her eyes. As much as I hate seeing her cry, I know these tears aren’t out of sadness. She’s never had anyone care for her like this. Hell, I’ve never cared for anyone like this. I didn't think I was capable of such tenderness until Camden came along.
“Now, let’s get some breakfast, yeah?” I give her hand a final squeeze and attempt a grin and a wink, however rusty both might be for me. I’m getting better, I hope. “I kept the Prez and my brothers off my back for the night, but they want to talk with you as soon as we’re done here.”
Camden’s shoulders drop, and she stares down at her lap. She nods as shame washes over her. “Yeah. Of course.”
“Hey,” I whisper, smoothing my fingers over the bare skin of her forearm. “You’re not in trouble. I’ll be there the whole time, I promise. We just need to know who you talked to so we can stop them from causing more harm to this town and everyone in it.”
“You’re right,” she says quietly. “I know you’re right. It’s just… I don’t do well with male authority figures for reasons I’m sure you understand. What if I say the wrong thing?”
“No one has authority over you here, Camden. You are your own person. But I understand walking into a biker bar with motherfuckers just as big and scary as I am would be intimidating for anyone.”
“You’re notthatscary,” she counters. I’m relieved to see a smirk curling up the corners of her lips.
“Is that right?” I growl.
Camden nods and then giggles when I grab her hand and lift it to my lips. I press a kiss over her knuckles, loving the way it makes her blush.
We finish up our breakfast, and Camden throws on a pair of my sweatpants. She seems eager to get back on my bike, and god knows, I can’t wait to feel her pressed against me while winding through town.
As much as I love having Camden wear my clothes, she deserves to wear her own clothes to this meeting. She’s been controlled for far too long, and the last thing I want to do is take away another choice from her.
I pull up to her apartment, grimacing at the worn-down building. The siding is dirty and cracked, the railings are rusted, and the doors look like I could huff and puff and blow them right down. Camden will never spend another night here. I hate that she’s already been here for nearly a month. That will have to be a conversatio for a different time, however.
“I’ll be right back. I just need to change and grab a few toiletries. Oh, um, I mean, if you want me to stay over again, that is. I didn’t want to assume–”
“Yes,” I answer a bit too forcefully. “You’ll be staying with me for however long you can stand my company.” I was attempting a joke, but the realization hits me square in the chest. I’m trying to be a better man for her, but it might not be enough.
Camden dismounts the bike and stands next to me. She rests her hand over one of mine, still gripping the handlebar. “You told me this morning that I give you everything just by breathing,” she whispers. “Would you believe me if I said I felt the same about you?”
