Page 86 of Trigger's Forever

“I know,” I mutter. “Thank you for catching me.”

“I’m glad I was right here.”

It’s then that I become painfully aware that Trigger has a death grip on my very wet, very naked, body. It doesn't escape me either that there was not one ounce of fear about being naked around him. I thought for sure that, with everything that happened, I would never feel comfortable naked around a man again. But this is Trigger. I cantrusthim.

When he’s sure I’m good on my feet, he quickly lets go of me and shoves his hands in his jean pockets. “I’ll be downstairs. Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks briskly.

“I’m good, just startled. I’ll get dressed and come down.”

I shake off the sudden feeling of rejection when Trigger books it out of the bathroom. I’m not sure why that feeling came over me, as there was nothing to reject. Maybe it was the abrupt way that he shoved my body away from his? I mean, I was naked in his arms. And wet! It’s not like I wanted him to do something about it, but it may have been nice for him to act somewhat interested when my naked body touched his.

Once I’ve dressed in a baggy shirt and short yoga shorts that disappear underneath the long shirt, I head downstairs. I find Trigger sprawled across the couch, leaving me only one choice of where to sit. I plop down next to him, pulling the blanket off the back of the couch to cover my lap.

“Harry Potter or Game of Thrones?” he asks.

“Hmm.” I think about those options very carefully. “Which one do you want?”

“I never finished GOT but –,”

“What!” I screech, interrupting him. “Put it on. We now have a standing date every single night until we finish the entire series.”

Trigger chuckles, starting the first episode. He leans his body into mine, taking some of the blanket. I notice before he covers himself with some of my blanket that he has changed into basketball shorts and no longer has his boots on.

Towards the end of the second episode, I can feel my eyelids getting heavier. Trigger notices and rearranges our position so that he is lying behind me with his arm wrapped around my middle. He fixes the blanket over us both and uses his free hand to play with my hair.

Next thing I know, I’m waking up in my bed to the strong urge to pee. I scurry into the bathroom and take care of business before making my way back to my bed. I frown at the occupied side of my bed.

Trigger is sprawled across with his bare chest on display. I try to remember how I got into bed but draw a blank. I’m too tired to think any harder about the possibilities, so instead I climb back in. I start off facing the other direction, but as soon as my weight settles on the bed, Trigger pulls my body into his so I’m nestled in his chest.

“Go back to sleep, baby,” his deep, sleepy voice croaks through his throat.

I snuggle farther into him and succumb to the exhaustion.

That night, smothered in Trigger’s embrace, I dream of two faceless little boys splashing in my big tub as Trigger and I laugh at them while trying our hardest to get them squeaky clean.

20

TRIGGER

Moving in

“The Ace’s have been a little too quiet since all of this shit started happening, and I for one am starting to get a little fucking suspicious,” Tiny grumbles from his seat to my left.

We’re sitting in church at the clubhouse, trying to get to the bottom of what the fuck is going on. Two days ago, Maria came out of the grocery store and found her tires slashed. And, in a surprise twist that shocked no one, all of the grocery stores cameras just so happened to be down at the time.

If anything else serious happens, Ghost is threatening lock down.

“I’ll try to set up a meeting with Power to see if I can find anything out,” Razor says. Unfortunately, Dragon’s Ace MC was able to scoop up Power, one of Razor’s military buddies before we could. From what I hear, he doesn’t involve himself too much in the illegal activities of the club, but I don’t trust the Aces as far as I can throw them. For all we know, he’s going to tell Razor whatever the fuck we wanna hear.

“Don’t get caught, brother,” Ghost says, looking at Razor.

Razor nods, turning his attention back to Tiny.

“I was able to get footage of an all black van with no plates leaving the grocery store about fifteen minutes before Maria called Tank,” Tiny says, turning his laptop screen so we can all see it. “I lost it after it turned down the alley behind the old gym.

“Fuck,” Ghost curses. “It’s getting to the point that I don’t want any of the women alone.”

Bones sucks in air between his teeth. “We won’t get any work done if that’s the case.”

---