Page 17 of Coal
CHAPTER 4
THEA
It was late, but I was wide awake. I’d not been able to switch my brain off. My thoughts were whirling in circles around and around in my head. Shea made a snuffling noise in the bed next to me. Lifting my head from my pillow to check on her, I smile when I see she’s in her favourite position on her front, knees pulled up under her, bum in the air, sleeping like only the young and innocent can. Unfortunately, her mam wasn’t able to do the same.
Today had been full-on, and somehow, I’d found myself married and leaving the only home I’d ever known. I didn’t have to marry Coal. I’d been surprised to find out that was his actual name, but Aiden had whispered to me that it would be a good idea if I did when he’d hugged me. There would be massive fallout from today, and I was a hot commodity with my skills. It was only because people were shit scared of my father that had kept me relatively safe on the family property. With him no longer in charge andAiden with only a handful of men he trusted, it was best that I had other protection. He was also sending Maeve and Kara away to stay with family abroad to ensure that they were safe. We’d be split up for the first time in years, and it was hurting my heart.
That Coal and his brothers seemed to be good men had made the choice a little easier. They were funny and had a closeness that I’d only ever had with my siblings. Hopefully, the rest of the family would be the same. When he’d held me when I lost my shit in the car park, I’d been surprised; I can’t think of another time in my life that I’d ever been comforted like that. Not even Brian had ever just held me and offered me a shoulder to lean on.
Coal and I may not be a love match, but I vow he’ll never regret taking me and Shea on. I was nothing if not loyal to those who treated me with respect, and so far he’d done that in spades. Shea let out another snuffling snore, and I gave up the idea of sleep. Throwing back the covers, I sit on the edge of the bed, curling my bare toes into the thick carpet. I’d had to borrow a shirt from Coal to sleep in, and luckily, I’d had a spare pair of leggings in Shea’s nappy bag, so I’d be covered when I went downstairs to see ifthey had any tea in the kitchen. Standing up, I tuck more pillows around Shea to stop her from rolling off the bed and quietly open the door to the bedroom we’d been given. I wasn’t sure where Coal was sleeping but assumed he’d bunked in with one of his brothers.
Leaving the bedroom door cracked open so that I can hear Shea if she cries, I tiptoe past all the closed bedroom doors and downstairs towards where the kitchen is. There’s a light on above the stove, giving me enough light to find the kettle and switch it on without putting on the main light. I find a mug and a box of tea with teabags—better than nothing, especially as I’d only be having the one cup, anyway. I’m standing, my head bowed, not paying attention to my surroundings because I feel safe when an arm snakes around my waist. I go with my first instinct, and my self-defence training comes back; I slam my foot down and elbow back, connecting with whoever has hold of me. Whoever it is lets out a loud grunt, and I’m about to turn and knee him when I recognise Coal’s voice as he groans out, “Fuck, baby, don’t kill me on our first night as husband and wife.”
Heart pounding, I whisper-yell, “Oh feck, Coal. I’m so sorry! What were you thinking, grabbingme like that in the dark?” I’m horrified that I’d hit Coal. I reach out and start patting him down to see where I’d hit him.
Coal chuckles and grabs my hands, flattening my palms to his chest. “Thea, it’s okay. I’m okay. I’m sorry I frightened you, but it’s good to know you know some self-defence. As to what I was thinking,” he shrugs sheepishly before continuing, “I obviously wasn’t. You looked like you needed a hug, that’s all.”
He’s not much taller than me, so I only have to tilt my head back a little to look into his eyes. When I do, I ease into him when I see he’s not angry. “You’re not mad then?”
“Fuck no,” he frowns at me. “I’m happy that you come out fighting. I’m sorry I gave you a fright, though.”
“That’s okay. I’m not used to anyone wanting to hug me in the middle of the night,” I laugh softly, wrapping my arms around his torso and resting my head against his shoulder. His arms envelop me, and I sigh as his warmth soaks into me; then I realise he isn’t wearing a shirt. And Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the man is built. I mean, in the back of my mind, I’d known that he was built, but until this moment, I hadn’t realised just how built he is. For the first time in years,I feel a stirring of interest. Since Brian’s murder, I’d been so busy surviving and making sure that Shea was safe and happy that I’d not given much thought to that part of my life.
I’m pulled out of my lustful thoughts by Coal, saying softly, “That’s sad, baby. Everyone needs a hug now and then. You come find me the next time you need one. I’ll be happy to give you all the hugs you need.”
This man; I feel surprisingly comfortable with him, despite only meeting today. Lifting my head from his shoulder so I can see his face, I tell him, “You’re very different to what I expected a president of a motorcycle club to be.”
Coal’s teeth flash in the dim light in the kitchen as he tucks a curl of my hair behind my ear. “Only for you, Shea, my family, and my brothers. Never our enemies. They get the asshole.”
The kettle clicks off, but I make no move to leave the comfort of his arms. He gives me a last little squeeze before letting me go and stepping back, pushing me towards the lounge, saying, “Go sit down. I’ll bring you your tea. I watched how you made it earlier.”
Surprised, I glance at him, but he’s already focused on pouring water into the mug. Takinghim at his word that he knows how to make my tea; I’d drink it anyway, even if it was awful, because when I go into the lounge, I immediately realise that this is where he’d been sleeping by the rumpled covers on the couch. It makes me feel bad. Coal’s a big guy, and the couch is too small for him to be comfortable. We have a long drive tomorrow, and I’m not happy knowing that he’ll be tired and riding his bike or sled, as this lot seems to call them.
Taking a seat, I pull my legs up under my shirt and rest my head back against the back of the couch, closing my eyes for a minute. The couch cushions move, jolting me when Coal sits down next to me and says, “Here, babe.”
Turning my head, I open my eyes to see him holding out a mug to me, steam rising from the top. “Thank you,” I say, reaching for the mug and relaxing my legs back onto the floor as I bring the mug to my lips, taking a small sip, not wanting to burn my mouth. My eyes shoot open in surprise. He’s made it perfectly. Exactly how I like my tea.
Coal chuckles at my astonishment. Turning towards him, I’m surprised to see him drinking tea. I didn’t think that Americans drank tea, or at least not like the tea we drank, but thenagain, I knew little about them, as Coal and his brothers were the first ones I’d ever met.
“My mom is English,” he explains. “We grew up drinking tea as well as coffee. I like both, but at night tea is just better.”
“Makes sense,” I reply, going back to sipping my tea. We’re quiet, but it’s not uncomfortable. I’m enjoying having him next to me. He’s easy company to be in, and as the warmth from his body seeps into mine, I find myself leaning more and more against him. His hand closest to me seems to naturally cup my thigh. It’s peaceful, and as the warmth of the tea fills my belly, warming me from the inside out, and with Coal’s warmth next to me, I find my eyes drifting closed.
I startle when my empty mug is removed from my lax fingers. “Go to bed, Thea, you’re exhausted.”
Yawning, I cover my mouth with my hand. He’s right; I am tired. “I’ll go, but only if you come with me. You can’t sleep on here. It’s too small.”
“And you have a little one in bed with you,” he reminds me.
“And she still will be,” I inform him. “It’s an enormous bed. You can have the other side.Shea and I are used to sleeping on a single bed together; a plus-size bed like the one upstairs leaves a lot of room.”
“Are you sure?” Coal asks.
When another yawn leaves me, I stand, grabbing his hand and pulling him up with me. “I’m sure,” I assure him, letting go of his hand and walking towards the stairs. Behind me, I can hear him gathering up his pillow and blankets.
When I get upstairs, I slip into bed next to Shea. I was right; there’s plenty of room next to Shea. I’d left the light on in the en-suite bathroom and pulled the door slightly shut so that I could see if she woke in an unfamiliar room. Coal crept to the other side of the bed, gently placing his pillow down before slowly lying down, being careful not to jolt the bed. I snicker as I watch him trying not to wake Shea. “Don’t worry,” I tell him, “she sleeps through anything. Including a bomb going off.” I hesitate, then say, “Literally.”
He lifts his head to look at me with wide eyes. “Seriously?”
