The men filling up the space in my apartment, space I definitely don’t have to spare, chuckle as Tucker kisses my temple. This doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Shouldn’t they be mad at me too?

  My confusion and a little bit of fear must show on my face because Brimstone’s face softens. He’s a little more weathered than the other three men, definitely the oldest of the group, and has a gnarly scar near his eyebrow. Even with the understanding I see in his eyes, I brace myself.

  His voice is surprisingly gentle, “Friar filled us in on why you stole from the club and what you did with the money.” He shrugs like my actions are no big deal, which has my eyebrows pulling together. “I guess you kind of saved us a little work since most of that money would have gone to the cause anyway.”

  “I’m not really sure what I say to that,” I admit quietly.

  Tucker gives my waist a squeeze, the strength of him grounding me and giving me a sense of reassurance I’m not sure I’ve earned. “You don’t have to say anything, Robyn. We understand why you did what you did. You didn’t have all the facts. I’m kind of glad you stole from us.”

  My body jolts with his words and I almost screech, “What?”

  All four men chuckle, and they look at me like I’m an adorable little kitten. It’s both endearing and annoying. “If you didn’t steal from us, it might have been actual bad guys tracking you down,” Tucker explains. He shares a look with his brothers and amends his words, “Not that we’re always totally on the up and up. We do bad things to bad people.”

  I nod slowly, my brain trying to process since I still haven’t had the coffee that I need to have this conversation or be around this many people. I pull away from him and start to head toward the kitchen, mumbling, “I’m pretty sure I need my big mug of coffee this morning. You’re not the only people I was skimming from, anyway,” I add absently.

  I just get the button pushed on the coffee maker when I’m spun around by my shoulders and look up into Tucker’s intense blue eyes. His voice is gruff, “What do you mean we weren’t the only people you were skimming from?”

  I blink up at him, surprised by the way he’s focused on me right now. I can tell he’s serious, but my body is reacting to him in a way that is not at all appropriate when I notice his club brothers have squeezed into my kitchenette as well. Their eyes are just as focused and filled with various amounts of worry.

  “I mean just what I said,” I speak slowly.

  Tucker scrubs his hand down his face and bites out, “Fuck.”

  “Babe,” Crucify gets my attention and Tucker glares at him, maybe because of his pet name for me, but I’m not sure because I still haven’t had any coffee yet, “who else?”

  I fiddle with my fingers and glance at the men surrounding me. I’m not afraid of them, surprisingly enough, and the realization has me relaxing. “I change it up pretty often. There are a lot of bad people out there with way too much money. It buys them access to resources and keeps them safe from the consequences of ruining so many lives. I’ve skimmed from other clubs, a few street gangs here and there, and low-level cartels.”

  Brimstone’s head falls back on his shoulders, and he mutters, “It’s going to take a Christmas miracle to keep your woman safe, Friar.” When his head falls forward again, he’s looking at Tucker. “What are the odds that if we were able to find her then someone else will too?”

  My body goes rigid, and I let out a huff of indignation. “I’m damn good at what I do,” I remind him. I wave a hand in Tucker’s direction, “How long was he chasing his tail for?”

  “That’s the point, Temptress.” Tucker’s hands smooth over my shoulders and my traitorous body relaxes. Damn it. “I didn’t have shit until you fucked up and didn’t hide your trail as thoroughly as you normally do.”

  My heart sinks and I start to nibble on my lip. It must have been the night I was lost in my memories of Kyla. I’m usually very careful, but that night is a big blur. Even now I’m not entirely sure what I did and didn’t do. I don’t normally let the past into the present when I’m working, but I was powerless that night.

  Tucker pulls me into his chest as my breathing picks up and it feels like I’m right on the edge of panic. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you and it’s not just me at your back anymore,” he soothes me.

  “You have the entire Devil’s Saints at your back,” Chains speaks for the first time, and I turn my head against Tucker’s chest enough to peek at him. He smiles at me, encouraging me, begging me to give them just a little trust. “I was patched in not long ago after being a prospect. I can tell you my brothers are loyal even beyond death and we protect our own because we’re family.”

  “But I stole from you,” I wince as I remind him. “I’m not part of your family.”

  Chains smirks and waves a hand in Tucker’s direction. “You’re his woman. He might not have done it in church yet, but he’s let us know that he’s claiming you. That makes you family.”

  Since my brain is going a million miles a minute, the only thing I’m able to latch onto and verbalize is, “Church?”

  “It’s what we call our club meetings,” Tucker’s voice rumbles against the side of my face. He drops his face into the crook of my neck and whispers, “He’s right though. You’re mine.”

  In the light of day, with his brothers surrounding me and my crimes pulled out to be examined, I’m finding it more difficult to believe him. My heart wants to, desperately. I haven’t belonged anywhere or with anyone for such a long time and I’m tired of running. It’s exhausting.

  Mistletoe Creek is the closest I’ve come to settling in a place where I thought it would be safe and I could find acceptance, but I still kept myself a little apart from everyone. I don’t say anything as I give Tucker a squeeze before turning around and making my coffee.

  I don’t know if he can read what I need or if he’s annoyed at me, but Tucker gives me some space. I listen to the guys chat, joke, and give each other shit as I sip my coffee and try to make sense of how much has changed in such a short amount of time.

  A lot of my questions won’t be answered with anything other than time to see how it all plays out, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t swirling around in my head. Can I trust these men? Is Tucker sincere when he says I’m his? Do I want to be?

  Okay, that last question is easy to answer. Of course I want to be his. He’s gorgeous and his touch makes me feel alive in a way I’ve never experienced before. I’ve spent so long looking over my shoulder, but Tucker makes me feel safe, even if I’m not sure I can trust it.

  By the time Tucker pulls me out of my apartment, asking me to show him around town, I feel a little bit better. I’m not any closer to knowing what is going to happen, but there’s a tendril of excitement about finding out. The guys all go their separate ways, giving me chin lifts as they do.

  Except for Crucify who kisses the back of my hand again which makes Tucker push him away from me. When I laugh at their ridiculousness, Tucker crowds against my body, buries his fingers in my hair and kisses me until I forget everything but him. By the time we come up for air, Crucify is long gone and I need more coffee.

  As we step into Mistletoe Café, I almost groan because Fern, Fawn, and Merry are there holding court at a table. It’s not that I don’t want to see them, but with my big, bulky shadow attached to my hip, I know they’re going to ask questions. The way their eyes light up when they see me and then look at Tucker, tells me just how right I am.

  I make my way over to them, Tucker staying in step with me, until we’re standing at the edge of their table. I can see the appreciation in their eyes as they look over the man hovering just a little bit behind me. This is going to be embarrassing.

  In the attempt to head them off, I chirp, “Hi, ladies.” I quickly introduce the troublesome trio to Tucker and him to them because of those damn manners acting up again. They practically swoon when he wraps his arm around my waist possessively. I try and deflect by taking the focus off me, “Wasn’t the lantern festival beautiful last night?”

  “It was,” Merry agrees absently, her eyes still on Tucker.

  There’s a mischievous glint in Fern’s eyes before she asks, “Does this mean we don’t need to figure out who to set you up with, dear?”

  “You’ll be setting my woman up with someone over my dead body,” Tucker growls.

  All three women, who really do view themselves as fairy godmothers whether they’ve earned it or not, now really do swoon, complete with hands over their hearts and dreamy sighs. I’m pretty sure Fawn’s eyes become heart shaped.

  I would roll my eyes if it wasn’t endearing as hell. I’m going to miss this place when I leave.

  Wait. Am I leaving? Is that what I want?

  I watch out of the corner of my eye as Tucker chats with the women, charming them easily, and realize how much I want to give into everything he’s offering. I just don’t know if I should.

  I guess time will tell.

  CHAPTER 8

  FRIAR

  It’s been a few days since I woke up with my woman in my arms for the first time and had to slip out of her bed to tell my brothers I found the hacker and there had been a major change in plans. I still fully intend to take Robyn back to Seattle with me, but not because the club is owed some answers.

  I have all the answers I need and I’m claiming her as mine.

  That’s all there is to it.

  I’ve spent the last few days with Robyn, exploring the town and getting to know her. I knew she was mine the moment I saw her, but everything I learn about her only makes me fall harder. I get why Bronco and Penance follow their women around like lost puppies now.

  I just want to soak up every second with her. I want to understand her and be able to anticipate her needs and her emotions. It’s not something I ever expected to be feeling, but I’m not going to fight against it.

  Why would I? Building a life with Robyn is inevitable and it’s a life I’m looking forward to with every fiber of my being.

  Not only is she beautiful and witty, but she’s smart and sexy. She has so much to offer and the only doubt I have is if I’m good enough for her. The thing is, I’m selfish enough to not give a fuck because I’ll work at being worthy of her time, attention, and love every day for the rest of my life.

  When we talked about her past, she shared her pain with me, and I could feel it like a physical thing. I opened up to her in ways I haven’t in years. Because I know she’ll never use my past or the pain of that experience against me. She didn’t look at me with pity in her eyes, only compassion.

  It was a relief because pity is not something I want her to ever feel for me. The look of pride on her face as I told her about what I do for the club, going more in depth about the trafficking we help to take down, made me feel proud of myself.

  I’m sure no one thought I would grow into the man I am today when I was a foster kid who was angry at the world. But here I am.

  I lean away from Robyn’s small two-person table after eating the dinner we cooked together and feel content. We kept bumping into each other and barely scooting past each other while we were working. With anyone else it would have been annoying. Not with her. I kept finding ways to touch her and be close to her even though it was hard not to be that close in the small space.

  I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun cooking with someone.

  At the clubhouse, most of the brothers are more than willing to cook for themselves or let the angels and old ladies have at the kitchen when they feel like it. Cooking with Robyn while chatting and laughing was something I’ve never experienced before.

  I could picture our future together, one with family dinners and memories made around the dinner table, so clearly. It’s not the first time since I got to the bottom of who she is and why she stole from the club that I could see the future with Robyn like it was just a matter of time before it became a reality. It’s one of the reasons I’ve started to look for houses in Seattle for us.

  I won’t choose one without her, but there’s also no way in hell I’ll be asking my woman to live at the clubhouse with me indefinitely.

  I kind of envy the compound the New Orleans chapter has because they have enough room to build houses there, where it’s safe, and be close to the club while also having space. We don’t have the same kind of setup in Seattle, which never bothered me before.

  “Dinner was delicious, Temptress,” I praise her and watch my woman’s cheeks pink slightly.

  “I’m glad,” she whispers and stands up to clean up, but I grab her wrist, scoot my chair back, and pull her down into my lap. She lets out the cutest fucking yelp of surprise when I do.

  “What are you doing?” She nibbles on her bottom lip as she looks at me. “I need to clean up.”

  I shake my head slowly before kissing her lips softly, hoping she can feel just how far she’s burrowed into my heart and soul in a matter of days. I’m not sure how I’m going to convince her, really convince her, to go back to Seattle with me, but I know there’s no other option but to make it happen. I won’t be able to live without her.

  I press my forehead against hers. “I want you to know something really important, Robyn.” She swallows hard and nods slightly. “If you really don’t want to leave then I’ll move here.”

  She jerks back, her eyes wide and a little wild. “You can’t be serious. Everything you love is in Seattle. Your club. Your family.”

  I shrug and bury my fingers in the hair at the nape of her neck. My voice is earnest, “None of that matters without you. Nothing is more important than you.”

  Her mouth opens and closes a few times, but when no words come out, she simply presses her lips against mine and I feel it. She feels the same way I do, but she’s scared. I can understand why, and I can wait. It might kill me, but if she needs my patience then she has it.

  I’ll always give her what she needs.

  When her tongue swipes along my bottom lip, my control snaps and I delve my tongue into her mouth to play with hers. She whimpers into my mouth as her body melts against mine, giving herself over to me. It’s the sweetest gift she could give me and I’m going to make sure she knows just how much I cherish it.

  I stand suddenly, our mouths still fused together. When she pulls back, her chest is heaving as she looks up at me with confusion in her eyes. “What are you doing?”

  I make my way into her room, pushing the door open with my shoulder while winking at her. “I’m going to have my dessert.”

  “Holy shit,” she breathes out as I lay her down on the bed.

  After we spent the day in Mistletoe Creek, she put on a cute pair of sleep shorts and an oversized tank top that has been driving me to distraction by giving me glimpses of her skin. Fuck, I could barely keep my hands off her while she cooked and as we were eating.

  My cock has been hard and ready to be inside of her for far too long. This isn’t going to be about me though, I remind myself and my cock as I strip off my shirt, sink to my knees, and pull her shorts and panties down her legs. I eat up the sight of every inch of her laid out in front of me.

  “Fucking love your curves, Temptress,” I growl, tugging on her hips until she’s perched on the edge of the bed. Her legs fall open, giving me a perfect view of her pretty pussy. “A goddess,” I breathe, and she shudders as my words wash over her skin.

  I start by kissing and nipping up the inside of her thigh, the stubble on my jaw rubbing against her skin and making it pink. The sight of my mark on her makes me want to roar and bury myself inside of her, but I hold myself in check.

  When I almost get to her pussy lips, I switch to her other knee and make the trip up her body again. Her fingers twist in the bedding next to her hips as she arches her back and tries to get me where she wants me. I chuckle under my breath and look up to find her watching me, her dark brown eyes glazed over with lust and need.

  “Please,” she keens, her voice husky with need.

  “Can’t deny you anything, Temptress,” I admit before I swipe my tongue between her pussy lips and groan at how fucking good she tastes.

  Having her on my tongue makes it impossible to go slow. I dive between her thighs and devour her, lapping and collecting all her arousal. She squirms underneath me and I grip her hips to hold her in place. I grunt against her entrance as I use my tongue to fuck her, making her even wetter for me.

  “Fuck,” I growl, “never gonna get enough of you.”

  When I move toward her clit and circle it with my tongue, her hips jolt in my hands and I can’t help but smile. Her hands dive into my hair to hold me in place, and I suck her clit into my mouth.

  “Oh fuck,” the word becomes a long, low moan, “Tucker. Just like that. I’m so close.”

  I toy with her clit, rolling it against my tongue as I suck. The tension in her body grows and coils, wrapping around me and making me feel feral. I know she’s close. I can feel it almost like I can feel my own orgasm.

  I hope it’s always like this.

  When I nip at her clit, her back arches and her fingers tighten in my hair. It’s right on the edge of painful, but I don’t give a flying fuck. She could rip clumps of hair from my head, it would be worth it to watch her come as beautifully as she is right now.

  Her body is shaking as her limbs start to relax and my movements are jerky as I pull from her grip and stand up to finish getting undressed. Her eyes stay closed until I’m pushing my jeans down off my hips and over my thighs. I kick them behind me and wrap my arms underneath my woman to move her into the middle of the bed.

  It’s not a big bed and I can’t wait until I can get her back home because I’ll have more room to play with my woman and my mattress is like a cloud. Still, her bed could be all lumps and springs sticking out and it wouldn’t matter. I’ve gotten the best sleep of my life since she’s been in my arms.

  Hell, I had my brothers bring my bag to me the first morning I had them come to my woman’s place because there was no way I was going to be far from her. Just no fucking way.

 

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