Page 12 of Slash
The question was loaded, and they both knew it. This wasn't really about dishes or decision-making. This was about the fundamental dynamic building between them, the push and pull of dominance and submission that neither was quite ready to acknowledge.
"Only when it matters," Slash said quietly.
Nicole's breath hitched. "And this matters?"
"You matter." The words came out rougher than he'd intended, carrying more weight than was probably wise. "Both of you."
For a moment, the kitchen was silent except for the hum of the refrigerator and Kayleigh's quiet singing as she played with her remaining pancakes.
Then Nicole nodded, something settling in her expression. "Okay."
"Okay, what?"
"Okay, you can boss me around. For now." Her cheeks were pink, but her gaze was steady. "Just... be patient with me? I'm out of practice at letting people take care of me."
Something warm and possessive unfurled in Slash's chest. "I can do patient, little girl. When it counts. Now let’s talk about a couple rules.” He held up a hand, ticking them off. “One: You don’t leave the clubhouse or my sight without permission. Two: You don’t hide things from me. I need open honestcommunication to keep you both safe. If your ex contacts you, if something feels off, you tell me. Immediately. Three: You don’t put yourself in danger trying to prove you’re strong. Because strength isn’t pretending you don’t need help, Nicole. It’s trusting the man standing in front of you to give it.”
“And what if I don’t follow your rules?” she challenged, lifting her chin. “You said we would talk if we disagreed.”
His gaze darkened. His voice dropped, rough with promise. “We will talk if you disagree with me. But, if you disobey me? Then I correct you. On the spot. Over my knee if that’s what it takes. Never in front of Kayleigh, I promise.”
Her cheeks pinkened. He noticed her tightened nipples through her shirt. Interesting. She was definitely demonstrating signs of attraction. “You can’t just?—”
“I can,” he interrupted, moving even closer to her. “And I will. Because I’ll be damned if I let that little girl lose her mother because you were too proud to listen.”
“I should be furious with you.”
“But you aren’t.”
“Not exactly. What you are saying… it sounds like control.”
Slash’s scarred mouth curved, slow and dangerous. “Sweetheart, that’s exactly what it is. But make no mistake, it’s not the type of control your ex had over you. What he gave you was abuse, not control. Real control, the kind I take, is steady, safe, and it frees you from carrying everything alone. You’ll always know the difference, because one breaks you down, and the other builds you up. My kind of control frees you. It’s where you can finally breathe because someone else is holding the weight, keeping you safe, so you don’t have to tread water anymore.” He studied her as she looked at her hands. Finally she lifted her head and met his gaze. He barely heard the words of consent come from her mouth.
“Okay, I guess I can try.”
“I know you haven’t been getting much sleep lately and Kayleigh looks pretty exhausted. Why don’t you two head to your room and watch a movie and maybe take a nap. I have a few things to take care of. I have a feeling you could use some downtime. I had the mini fridge in your room stocked with drinks and there’s snacks on the dresser. The TV is signed into pretty much every streaming service there is. Go, relax. I’ll catch up with you later.”
As Nicole and Kayleigh headed off to their rooms, Slash found himself whistling under his breath as he cleaned up the kitchen. It had been a long time since he'd felt this settled, this right about a decision.
Nicole Hartman was going to be a challenge. She was proud, independent, scarred by her past, just like him. But underneath all that armor was a woman who craved exactly what he was offering: protection, structure, someone strong enough to carry the weight she'd been shouldering alone. He had been slightly annoyed when they sent him to go get her. Now, he was anything but.
This was going to be interesting.
CHAPTER 5
NICOLE
Nicole woke to the sound of voices in the hallway and sunlight streaming through unfamiliar curtains. For a disorienting moment, she couldn't remember where she was, then it all came rushing back. The early morning ride, the clubhouse, Slash's scarred face and commanding presence. Last night she’d met too many people. They’d had a long, rowdy dinner with the club and everyone was there. Tater who was the best cook. She’d met the officers which included Irish, Savage, Blade, Lucky, and Arrow. More importantly, she met their littles. They’d all been open and honest about their relationships and dynamics. While she’d just met them, she felt like she’d known these ladies forever.
After dinner, the men cleared the table and the girls gathered in a sitting area of the clubhouse. She watched as Slash and Blade sat at a table and colored pictures with Kayleigh. The clubhouse had a lot more coloring books, building blocks and stuffed animals than she would have thought a motorcycle club would.
She chatted with Savannah, Emilee, Trinity, Mackenzie and Lily. They told her their love stories and every one of them had fallen fast.
“Do any of you read romance novels?” She’d asked them. They all shook their heads yes. “I think the trope for this is instalove.”
Would that happen for her? Would she be in the instalove club? That was definitely on her mind. Slash had walked her to the room afterwards, Kayleigh in his arms. He’d lingered around for a bit after she’d tucked her daughter in. They’d had small talk. The conversation bounced around like a game of fifty questions. Favorite foods. Favorite color. Biggest pet peeve. A conversation she might have on a first date. As the hour grew late, he’d given her an order. “Time for bed, little girl.”
And she’d obeyed.
