Page 23 of Prince of Darkness

“I’ll make you a deal. I’ll keep my shirt on if you keep yours on.”

“Deal.” She settles in on my lap.

“I want to get this club shit out of the way. It’s better you know where we stand so you don’t get ideas in your head like thinking I wouldn’t fight to keep you.”

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.” With how she handles her phone, I’m guessing she didn’t see the text I’d sent yesterday telling her I was giving her the night or she wouldn’t have thought that at all. Either way, we need to lay it all out there.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. I should have been up front with you about my life and the way things are.”

“Oh gosh. This doesn’t sound good.” She pushes on my chest, trying to get off my lap.

“Not letting you go. Not till we’re done talking.” Who am I kidding? I’m never letting her go.

16

OLIVIA

This has taken a turn. A scary one at that. But Jason is right. My emotions are all over the place not knowing where we fully stand. I want to be clear about what we are so I’m not questioning myself all the time. Not only about where we stand but what we want and need from this relationship as well.

Jason runs a freaking motorcycle club. That is a lifestyle that’s so different from what I had in mind for my life. But I also only have an idea of how an MC’s club works from television and books. One thing that was often in common was men cheating. That’s something I’ll never be okay with. Jason has to know that about me. I mean, I’m a freaking virgin.

“Honestly I’m a bit scared of the whole MC thing. All the parties and naked girls. I don’t want that to be something I’m always thinking about.” I’ve been pushing it off to the back of my mind. It wasn’t hard when Jason kept me locked away from the rest of the world. That could only last for so long.

“I think you know where I stand with us. I threw it out there last night.”

“You’d been drinking.” Him talking about babies and us living together has ruled my thoughts since it came out of his mouth. When I woke up this morning, I wondered if I’d dreamt it.

“I might have been feeling more than good last night, but I meant what I said.”

“I want those things too,” I admit. “I’m just not sure what that looks like with you living in a motorcycle clubhouse.”

“I didn’t have a reason not to. My work is here.”

“I kind of forget you’re loaded.” A bark of laughter comes from him.

“Then you know I can get us a house easily enough.”

“It’s not about that.”

“I know. It’s about the lifestyle. One that needs to change.” I shake my head.

“I don’t want you to have to change.” People are who they are.

“I want it to change. I don’t want all that. I never have. This was all dropped in my lap. I’ve been managing it, but it’s not what I want. Hell, I wasn’t sure what it was I wanted until you walked through the door and knocked me on my ass.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to be your man. One you love and adore. One that you have faith in to always do the right thing. It’s my job to prove to you that you are and always will be the woman for me. It’ll only be you in my bed and at my side.”

“Jason.” His hand comes up to cup my face.

“I’ve fucked up in my past, and I’ve seen the hurt a man can do to a woman. I’d die before I’d ever put you through that. I’ve kept you sheltered away from the club because I want you to see that. Words are words. People can say anything. I want to show you.”

“I love you,” I blurt out. My eyes sting with tears. “I’ve been so scared to admit that to even myself, but it’s the truth. My mother walked away so easily from me. I think I was scared you could do the same.”

“Never.” He stands with me in his arms. “I’ve been trying to lock you down from the moment I found you.”

“You did lock me in your office.”

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