Page 19 of My 3 Naughty Valentines

He squeezes my hand in response, a silent promise of support. His strength is both a comfort and a reminder of the formidable world I've stepped into.

As the evening shadows stretch across the compound, the clubhouse remains subdued, a stark contrast to its usual boisterous atmosphere. I find myself wandering aimlessly, lost in thought, until I stumble upon Liam in a quiet corner, his gaze fixed on a distant point, lost in his own thoughts.

"Hey," I approach hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper. His deep blue eyes, usually so full of intellectual fire, now reflect a somber light.

"Emma," Liam acknowledges, his tone soft, yet heavy with unspoken emotion. "How are you holding up?"

I shrug, feeling the weight of the day. "I don't even know how to answer that anymore."

Liam nods, understanding. "It's a lot to process. Jake, the club, everything that's happened..."

His voice trails off, but I sense the concern behind his words. Liam, the thinker, the strategist, seems almost vulnerable in this moment. It's a side of him I have not seen before, and it draws me closer.

"I just feel so lost," I confess, my guard slipping. "I feel like I'm in over my head."

Liam moves closer, his presence calming yet commanding. "It's okay to feel that way. This world, it's intense, complicated. But you're not alone in this."

His reassurance is comforting, and I find myself leaning into the safety of his words. Liam's intellect, usually so intimidating, now serves as a beacon in the chaos that surrounds us. His analytical mind sees the patterns and undercurrents I'm struggling to understand.

We talk for hours, delving into the intricacies of club politics, the hidden layers beneath the surface. Liam's insights offer a clarity that helps to steady my spinning world.

"Thank you, Liam," I say as we finally part ways, feeling a newfound respect and closeness to him. "For helping me see things more clearly."

He smiles, a genuine, warm smile that reaches his eyes. "Anytime, Emma. We're all here for each other."

As I head back to my room, I reflect on the unexpected depths of my relationships with Jake, Dex, and now Liam. Each of them has shown me a different facet of life within the Angel Riders MC – passion, playfulness, and intellect. And as I lie in bed, I realize that my heart is entwined with theirs in ways I never could have imagined.

* * *

The tensionin the clubhouse after Jake's shooting is palpable, but there's another kind of tension building within me – one that revolves around Dex. With each passing moment, I feel more drawn to him. I go looking for Dex and find him outside, leaning against the clubhouse wall, lost in thought. The night air is cool, but his mere presence seems to fill the space with warmth. "Dex?" I start, my voice tinged with a mix of uncertainty and resolve. "Can we talk?"

He turns to me, his eyes reflecting a myriad of emotions. "Of course, Emma. What's on your mind?"

It's now or never. "Back when you said you had something to tell me... about the club. I need to know what it is, Dex. My boss is pressuring me to wrap up the story, but I feel like I'm missing something important."

Dex’s expression turns serious. He hesitates, then lets out a long breath. "Emma, there's a lot about this club that you don't know, things that we... I can’t just expose. But it's not just about the story anymore, is it?"

There's a vulnerability in his voice I haven't heard before. It's disarming, and draws me in further. "No, it's not just about the story. It's about you, about us," I admit, my heart racing with the confession.

Dex steps closer, closing the gap between us. "Emma, I don’t want you to leave. These past few days, having you here, getting to know you... It’s changed things for me. I don’t want to hide things from you, but I need to protect you, and the club."

His words send a wave of emotion through me. The conflict between my professional duties and my personal feelings for Dex creating a whirlwind inside me. "Dex, I..."

Before I can continue, he gently cups my face, his touch sending shivers down my spine. "Emma, I'm falling for you. Hard. I know this is complicated, but I can't ignore what I feel."

In that moment, everything else fades away. The story, the pressures from my job, the chaos surrounding the club – all of it pales in comparison to what I feel for Dex. I lean into him, our lips meeting in a kiss.

The kiss deepens, fueled by the pent-up emotions and the uncertainty of our situation.

I can feel the tension building between us as we stand outside the clubhouse, the cool night air wrapping around us.

We slip inside the clubhouse, our hands intertwined. The dimly lit room is empty. We find ourselves alone and head to my bedroom.

Dex pulls me close, his hands roaming over my body. I can feel the heat radiating off him, and I can't resist the urge to touch him.

I run my hands over his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath his shirt. He groans, his hands sliding down to my ass, pulling me closer.

"I want you, Emma," he whispers, his breath hot against my neck.

---