Page 104 of The Mistake

She had really thrived since leaving the MC. I rarely saw and heard from Rage. I knew he called and asked about me, but my life was not part of that world anymore. Cassie told me he finally earned the respect of the club, and no one questioned his decision to join with Ivan and the Volkov Bratva.

I didn’t understand why there were so many men against it. Ivan Volkov was a good man.Well, maybe a good man was a bit of a stretch. No one got to be in that kind of power for being all butterflies and rainbows. No, Ivan was deadly, but I had never seen him in action, so to me, he was still like a teddy bear.

Anyway, I tried not to listen to too much gossip when it came to the MC. Ive rarely talked to me about work. He asked me about my day, and he filtered his. I’d seen the bruised knuckles he had, as well as on his body and face, so I knew stuff still went down. I was his home though. I was the person he went to at the end of the day.

So, I never brought up work. I never demanded he tellme what he’d been up to. I was home.

I gave Ive what I always wanted as well. A place to call home, and to be loved.

“Do you think he’ll like it?” I asked, looking toward Rose. She opened her eyes, but didn’t even bother lifting her head. This made me laugh. “You’re so lazy. I walked for miles today as well.”

I wasn’t tired, though.

Nope, I was excited, I wanted Ive to be home. Our first anniversary. This morning he had to leave early, and that was fine. I’d still been in bed. I was often a light sleeper, but just recently, I’d been relaxed enough to sleep through every single bump and movement. I knew it was because of Ive. He made me feel safe and protected.

I heard the door opening and closing, and I rushed toward the main door, and sure enough, therewas Ive, stepping through, carrying a bouquet of roses.

“I didn’t forget,” he said.

Rolling my eyes, I rush toward him and throw my arms around his neck. “I know you didn’t forget. Wasn’t this the day a year ago that ruined your life?”

“Yes, totally ruined it.”

He wrapped his arms around me, still holding the roses.

“I’m such a bad woman,” I said.

“Yep, you are, because there was a time when I’d come home and not be accosted by a woman.”

I gasped and made to pull out of his arms, but he wouldn’t letme go.

“And I didn’t have to deal with all the kisses.”

This time, he kissed me.

“AndI can smell dinner is ready?”

“It is.”

“Please tell me you’ve not left it to Rose?” he asked.

One of the days Michael had cooked for us, I’d come to greet Ive, only tofind that Rose had a penchant for steak and potatoes and she ate the whole thing. Ive hadn’t been too impressed but I had a feeling that was because he fed her while we were at the table.

“No, everything is covered.” But I had my doubts. If a dog wantedsomething, she had her ways of getting into it.

Ive chuckled as I tried to pull him to the dining room, but Rose was still curled up in her bed. The food was safe.I was relieved as I didn’t have anything else to cook for us. I’d planned everything perfectly and with the food still there, I wanted to run over and kiss and hug Rose. She was becoming such a good girl. But, I didn’t.

Taking Ive’s hand, I led him to thetable and made him sit down. I knew he allowed me to do this. I didn’t force him to do anything he didn’t want to do.

Before I sat down, I lifted the silver domes off our plates, revealing our food, which was still warm. The scent of herbs and garlic filled my senses, and I smiled.

“This looks delicious,” he said.

I take a seat, and pick upmy knife and fork. He asked about my day, and we enjoyed our meal, just talking. Michael had prepared us some chocolate mousse, so I went to the kitchen fridge and grabbed them.

Ive didn’t wait at the table. He came to the kitchen and wrapped his arms around me. His face pressed against my neck, and I couldn’t contain the moan as he flicked his tongue across the pulse. I closed my eyes as pleasure flooded me.

He took the dessert from my hands and placed it on the kitchen counter. He spun me around and teased the strap of my dress.

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