Page 23 of Her Grumpy Biker
“Is that what sent you running?” he asks. Diego rests his eyes on me, and I’m confused when I see hope shining in his gaze.
I nod. Diego slowly reaches out and wraps his fingers around my wrist, guiding my hand up to his bare chest. He places my palm over his heart the same way I did this morning in bed.
“I belong to you, too. Every beat of my heart is yours. I don’t want to control you, Camden. I want to give you the life you deserve.”
“But…” I blink away the last of my tears, not sure how to respond.
“It’s an old biker tradition to ‘claim’ our women, but it doesn’t mean we view women as property. When I say you’re mine, it means you’re the only one I want to be with. It meansyou have the club's protection. But most importantly, it means I’d give my life for you, Camden. You’re mine to love, to cherish, to take care of, and to support. I love your beautiful soul, and I don’t want to crush it. I’ve only ever wanted to watch you grow into the woman you were always meant to be.”
“Diego…” I can’t even finish my thought; I just need to be closer to him. I lean forward, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and hiding my face in the side of his neck. “I’m sorry I doubted you.” I hardly get the words out before I break down into a sobbing mess yet again.
“I’ve got you,” he whispers. “I should have explained everything before taking you to The Black Crown. I wasn’t thinking, I was just excited about having you in my life, and I wanted to show everyone how proud I am of you.”
God, his answer makes me cry harder. “I’m sorry,” I say again. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“Don’t apologize, Camden. You have such a tender heart, and I love that about you. But you never have to say sorry to me.”
“I do if I hurt you,” I tell him. Diego peels me off of his chest just enough to rest his forehead on mine.
“Hearing your accusation felt like a punch to the gut. I understand where your head was at, though. I get it, and I realize my announcement at the club must have sounded shocking and disgusting after the way you grew up.”
“You forgive me?” I whisper.
“Always,” he’s quick to answer. “Do you forgive me?”
“Always.”
“Good.” Diego kisses my temple and leans back slightly. “Promise you’ll talk to me when you have doubts?”
“Yes.”
“And you’ll let me know if I do something to upset you? I’m not perfect, but fuck, I’m trying to be a better man.”
“You’re so good to me, Diego,” I whisper. “I promise we’ll talk about everything from now on.”
“That’s all I ask, beautiful. Now, can I get you back home so I can clean you up and spend the rest of the day with the woman I love?”
My jaw drops at his words. “You love me?” I half-whisper, half-squeak.
Diego grins and kisses the tip of my nose. His gaze turns softer, almost reverent. “I love everything about you, Camden. You’re this mix of brave, sweet, bad-ass, and comforting. You feel like home. I’ve never had a home before, but I know I belong wherever you are.”
“I love you, too,” I tell him. His eyes sparkle in a way I’ve never seen before. “I know my actions today don’t back that up, but truthfully, my heart has been yours since that day in the bookstore. Every moment since then has only made me love you more.”
“Thank you for loving me,” he whispers. “I know how much it costs you to put your trust in me. Are you ready to go home, love?”
I nod and let Diego lift me up in his arms. He carries me back to The Black Crown, where at least a dozen bikers are standing outside. My face burns with shame when I realize they are all waiting for us to return after the scene I made.
“They’re just concerned about you,” Diego says. “No one is judging you.”
Once again, Diego knows me well enough to calm my fears before I even voice them. He thinks he needs to try harder to be a better man, but he’s already the best man I know. I want everyone else to know it, too.
I motion for Diego to set me down when we’re a dozen or so feet away from the small crowd gathered around the bikes outfront. I take my man’s hand in mine and march up to the men, who look shocked and even a bit wary.
“I have an announcement to make,” I tell everyone. Looking over my shoulder, I see Diego’s eyes widen and his brow furrow in confusion. I smile and wink at him, like he did at me earlier. “Deadeye is my old man, and he belongs to me.”
Rock and Savior grin and clap while others cheer and whistle. Diego tugs me into his chest and covers my lips with his. He consumes me with his kiss, breathing me in and filling my mouth with steady strokes of his tongue.
We get lost in each other, tasting, feeling, and soaking up this moment. I’m vaguely aware of Diego lifting me back up into his arms and carrying me toward his bike. He gives me one last kiss, then leans down and brushes his lips against the shell of my ear.
