Page 66 of When It Reins
I am attached to the man, that is for sure. I don’t know exactly what I am going to do with that, but I know it to be true.
“I missed you.” I blurt the words before I can fully think them through, and I feel him lean back, tilting his head down to smile at me. “Sorry, I don’t want you to think?—”
“I missed you too, Little Starling.” He places a finger underneath my jaw and tilts my head up to give him better access. I close my eyes as his lips descend on my own, and I feelmy heart leaping with joy again in my chest at the touch and feeling and love I have for this man.
Everything around me ceases to exist. Every person, every sound, every responsibility. I want to just stay wrapped up in his arms forever.
Alas, sounds do eventually creep in, and I sigh when the music starts becoming louder with the sound checks that are going on. I glance around, seeing Rosemary bark orders at the MC members who are here to help, and I smile.
“I don’t think you’ll have any trouble keeping them in line with her around, or any of us, for that matter.” I laugh when one of the men flinches as Rosemary points something out.
“She’s a force,” Mitch says, but his eyes are still on me.
“Definitely, but she’s helped so much with this event. I don’t know what I would do without her.”
For a moment, Mitch doesn’t reply. His eyes just stay attached to my face, and I fight off the blush that’s dying to come out. “What is it?”
He smirks, shaking his head back and forth and pulling my body a little closer. “Nothing. Just can’t believe you put all of this together for people you don’t even know.”
Okay, the blush is now inevitable. I dismiss his comment with a wave of my hand and scoff. “Anyone would do it. What these people have gone through is wrong.”
“Anyone wouldn’t do it, Starling.” Mitch squeezes me again, and for a moment, he just stands there staring at me. Something in his gaze makes me think he wants to say something, but then he sighs and says, “We better get to work.”
I laugh and nod, wanting to steer us away from the praise he is serving me. “You’re right, unless you want to be on the receiving end of Rosemary’s glares.”
He shivers and moves quickly to help his brothers.
The music is loud, and the crowd is practically bouncing on the dance floor to the music. Couples are swing-dancing, and singles are line dancing. The drinks are flowing heavily, and the line is out the door.
The concert is going better than I could have imagined, and Bottle Grounds is the busiest it’s ever been.
“June!” Annmarie calls from down the bar, and I wipe my forehead with the back of my wrist. The heat level in this place is skyrocketing, and no amount of AC can keep up.
I hustle down to the end, and she taps the keg underneath her. I nod and grab the empty, knowing full well this is going to take a minute.
I head to the back storage room and set the empty down before I grab the dolly. I start to move the heavy keg onto the dolly when a shadow falls across the doorway. I glance up, startled, and smile when I see who it is.
“You scared me.” I stand straight, stretching my back as Mitch smirks and comes to finish the job for me. He is no stranger to lifting kegs around here, and at the moment, when I am pretty sure I am more sweat than human, I am grateful for the help.
He stands and turns to me. In the small space, my back is already pushed against the shelves that are lined with inventory, but he steps closer still, until his body is encompassing mine.
Mitch doesn’t speak, and I let out a little chuckle as my eyes shift from one of his to the other. His eyes are soft and sweet as he looks at me. He reaches up, and his rough, calloused hand cups my jaw, tilting it up. His other hand interlocks our fingers, and he raises our hands back above my head.
I hold on to the wrist of the hand holding my jaw and feel my breath tick up. My body is vibrating with anticipation, and I don’t have to wait long until his lips finally connect with my own. The soft way he kisses me is not what I expect.
It is like he is kissing me for the first time. Every movement, every stroke, is meticulous and planned. Nothing about it is sloppy.
He tilts his head as his hips meet mine, and my body instinctively wants to climb his. But I can’t move. I home in on the way he feels against me, the way his lips are telling me more than I ever hoped to hear from Mitch.
The kiss slows, and the sounds from outside the door start to filter back in. My eyes are still closed when I feel his lips kiss each one, and I let out a little gasp at the sweet move.
“Starling.” His voice is a rough whisper, and finally I flutter my eyes open, our hands still desperately clinging to each other.
When I meet his eyes, they’re serious but sure, and he roughly whispers the words that I’ve been wanting to hear but fully not expecting. “I love you, Little Starling.”
I startle and let out a little laugh, squeezing his hands tighter. “I was going to say it first.”
He grins, leaning closer until our foreheads rest on each other’s. “When?”
