Page 11 of Rider

Rider trails his fingertips up and down my spine with one hand while the other cups the back of my head, keeping me close. We stay wrapped up in each other for long moments, Rider rocking me back and forth while whispering that I’m safe.

Eventually, my beastly biker peels me off his chest. A wave of vulnerability washes over me, leaving me cold and raw. I feel exposed without Rider touching me in some way. Then he cups my cheek, tilting my face up to meet his.

“Sutton,” he starts, his voice hardly above a whisper. It’s like he knows I can’t handle anything louder right now. “I appreciate all of your hard work today. This place looks incredible, and I can’t believe you fixed up the garden beds for me.”

I nod, giving him a tentative smile. “I can do more,” I murmur, loving his praise. I didn’t realize how starved for attention, for human contact I’ve been, until Rider showed up and gave me both.

“I want you to be safe and happy here, Sutton. You don’t have to prove yourself or earn your keep. You give me everything by being here when I get home. You have no idea how much I love seeing you as soon as I walk in from a long day with the Savage Saints.”

“Me?” I squeak, tears clogging my throat. I can’t believe what he’s telling me, but his brown eyes shine with sincerity.

“Yes. You, princess.” I shake my head no, but Rider nods his head yes until I grin at him. “Come here. Let’s talk.”

My stomach sinks, but I follow Rider to the living room. He sits on the couch, and I move to sit next to him, only to be redirected by Rider’s hands on my hips. He guides me to sit on his lap, and despite all my insecurities about my weight, I fall against him and curl up on his chest.

Rider adjusts me so my legs are off to one side and holds me close, nuzzling into the side of my neck. I breathe in everything about this moment, wanting to stay here forever.

“Who made you feel unworthy of being loved?” he murmurs against my skin. I can feel his whispered words echo throughout my body.

I shrug at first, but Rider grunts and gives me a stern look before pressing the sweetest, softest kiss to my forehead.

“I guess… I’ve always felt like a burden. My parents didn’t plan on me and didn’t want me after I was born.”

“I want you,” Rider growls as he tightens his hold on me.

Despite the emotion choking me at my childhood memory, I smile at my growly possessive biker. I want him, too. More than anything. I just hope he wants me in the same way.

“I was always in the way,” I continue in a hushed tone. “As soon as I could contribute to the family, I started doing chores to try and make my parents… I don’t know. Love me? It sounds so dumb now.”

“Sutton,” Rider whispers. “It’s not dumb. You didn’t have an example of what a family is supposed to be. You were trying your best to survive.”

I nod as the first tear falls. I’ve never felt so completely seen. “I was trying my best to survive,” I repeat, letting that truth sink into the marrow of my bones.

“But you don’t need to try so hard anymore,” Rider continues. “You’re safe here, with me. You can be whoever you want, do whatever makes you happy. I’ll be here to support you no matter what.”

“How can you possibly mean that?” I ask, blinking away a few tears.

Rider wipes my cheeks, catching my tears on the pads of his thumbs. He cups my face, framing it in his hands as he looks into my eyes. “Remember the first day we met?”

I nod, thinking over how surprised I was that someone as sexy and ripped as Rider would want to introduce himself to me.

“I was a nervous wreck.”

“What?” I gasp, furrowing my brow. “Why?”

“Why?” he echoes. “Because you’re the most gorgeous, precious woman I’ve ever seen. Because I’m not always great with communicating, but I couldn’tnottalk to you, even if I knew it was going to end in disaster.” I blink at him a few times, seeing him in a new light. “I’ve been at the clubhouse every damn day since, hoping to get a glimpse of your teal eyes and silky black hair. I’ve lived off your smiles for weeks, but I never imagined I’d be lucky enough to hold you, let alone take care of you.”

“Lucky enough… to take care of… me,” I repeat, the words not making sense.

“Yes,” he confirms. “And one day, that won’t be shocking to hear. One day, you’ll trust that all I want is your happiness.”

“Rider, I don’t even know what to say,” I breathe, leaning forward to rest my forehead on his.

Rider slides his hands from my cheeks down to my neck, resting his hands lightly there. “You could start by telling me why I found you sleeping in your car.”

I nod, knowing I can’t put this conversation off any longer.

CHAPTERSIX

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