Page 76 of Panther's Magpie
She licks her bottom lip. “You know, it’s kind of crazy. Despite everything that’s been going on lately, I’ve never felt more at home than I have since I got here. This place, the community you’ve built, it all just feels right to me.”
I think about how easily she took to riding on the back of my bike. How quickly she made friends with Rain and the other oldladies. How the brothers already protect her as if she has been here for years instead of months. She’s been the one bright thing in my life since she drove through the gate, and I can’t imagine her ever leaving.
The thought of her pointing her car west fills me with dread. It feels wrong. I can’t imagine walking into the clubhouse and not seeing her.
I don’t want to spend the rest of my life searching for her in the crowd when she could be right next to me. I don’t want to ever regret not taking the chance and telling her that I want her to stay.
“Then maybe this is exactly where you need to be,” I say softly.
Her breath catches. “Maybe. I hope so.”
“Me too, Magpie, me too.”
The temptation to drag her back into the house and throw her onto my bed and pick up where we left off this morning is strong. I don’t want to rush things, though.
For once in my life, I want things to happen at their own pace.
Claiming Maggie is inevitable. It’s only a matter of time, and I can wait. I feel like our love will be epic. She is worth moving slow and doing things right.
Still, I want her close. I want to feel her body next to mine.
Looking over at her, I see that she’s still looking out at the stars, and an idea takes shape in my head. It’s cheesy, but for some reason, I know she will like it. I hope that she will.
Risking it, I stand, pulling her with me.
“What are we doing?” She giggles.
“Come with me and find out,” I tease.
She follows me off the porch, and I lead her into the front yard, where I lie down.
“What are you doing?” she asks again.
“Lay in the grass with me. Stare at the stars.”
She bites her lip but lies down next to me. She places her head over my racing heart. Reaching down, I pull her leg over so it’s draped over mine. Maggie sighs as she relaxes against me.
“This is nice. Thank you.” She kisses my chest before looking back up at the sky.
As I begin to play with her hair, I can’t help but think about how right this feels.
So fucking right.
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
MAGGIE
This night has been perfect. I love lying under the stars and actually being able to see them. It’s the one thing I missed most about Colorado. When I’m looking at the stars, I don’t feel quite so alone anymore.
I’m not alone, though. There is a real person lying next to me. A man that I have come to adore. One that I shouldn’t have these big feelings for, but I do.
That burn from earlier comes back with a vengeance. Turning over, I look up at him with my head on his chest.
“I can feel you staring at me,” he says, a smile on his lips as he looks up at the sky.
“You’re really nice to look at.”
