Page 48 of Mace

“Cages? Is that biker talk for a car?” He would think that a car is like a cage.

“I like my bike. You’ll only catch me in a cage for club business or if it’s raining heavily outside. But if that’s the case, then I just won’t go anywhere until I can get my bike out.”

“I guess I will have to keep all of that in mind. What about when it gets cold?”

“Leather and layers, babe.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled out of his arms. “You are insane. You will not be catching my butt on your bike from December to mid-February.” And that was even pushing it. November and even March had its cold days.

“Come on, babe. That just gives you even more reason to wrap your arms around me and get close.”

I stood and held my hand out to him. “I will just have to take your word for that. I’m just thankful it is May and not December right now.” He put his hand in mine, and I pulled him off the ground, though I don’t think I did much to help him up. I wasn’t kidding when I said Mace was a wall of muscle.

The man was solid.

He gathered me in his arms and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “You’ll get used to it, babe. Besides, I’ll take most of the wind and cold. You can hide behind me and steal my pockets.”

“That does sound a little appealing,” I sighed. And it was also appealing since it wouldn’t be cold for a month. Mace was expecting me to be around for a while.

“Now stop keeping me awake, woman. Don’t you know we have to be up early?”

“What?” I gasped.

Mace scooped me up in his arms and tossed me on the bed. “Been trying to sleep for hours, but you keep distracting me with your sweet kisses, sexy legs, and promises of winter rides on the bike.”

“I think you might have that all backward, Mace.” I leaned up on my elbows and shimmied up to get my head on the pillow. “You’re the distraction, and I’m just trying to sleep.”

He flipped off the light and pulled back the quilt. “You may be right, but I’m pretty sure you enjoyed the last few hours.”

It was half past ten, and he was not wrong about me enjoying myself. “If we fall asleep right now, we can get seven and a half hours of sleep.”

‘Babe,” Mace drawled. “Are you seriously counting the hours of sleep we are going to get?” he laughed.

“Well, yeah,” I scoffed. “I do it every night.” Didn’t everyone else?

He gathered me to his side, and I rested my head on his chest.

“Isn’t it crazy to stop and think about how we got here?” I asked. “I mean, last week, I was sleeping alone, and my bowling partner was Dorothy.”

“I hope you don’t bowl with Dorothy like you did with me tonight. Pretty sure we did more kissing than knocking down pins.”

“Stop,” I yawned. “You know what I meant. I didn’t do much before you got here.”

“Just get tattooed from hip to toe,” he chuckled.

“It helped heal me,” I whispered.

Mace squeezed me tight. “I’m glad you made it through, babe.”

Me, too.

If I hadn’t, I never would have had Mace back in my life.

The past fifteen years had been tough, but I would do them all over again if I could have Mace.

*

Chapter Fifteen

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