And, yet, Spark’s patience is running thin, especially because I had already filled him in on all the details surrounding Robyn and he holds nothing against her. When I spoke to Spark today, he growled, “I know you want to stay with your woman, but we have work to do here, Friar. You’ve also gotta know Clutch is practically climbing up the walls. I’m trying to honor your request to let you be the one to fill him in on what you’ve found. Unless you want to do it over the phone, you need to come home.”

  “I can’t just leave her,” I insisted, my voice firm. “She’s mine.”

  The sigh he let out was heavy and weighted with much more than annoyance—it was like I could hear the weight of the club and his responsibilities in it. “So you’ve said, but until she’s claimed at the table, it’s unofficial and not enough for me to let you stay there longer. You had a mission. You completed it. It’s time to finish the job and come home.” There was a pause while I was trying not to lose my shit on my Prez. “I expect you guys to start back the day after Christmas. How you travel is up to you.”

  Then he hung up on me, ending the conversation and making me feel like I was being pulled in two very important and different directions.

  It feels like time is running out. If those Castillo fuckers don’t give up their search, I won’t be able to leave her. Something has got to give, but I don’t want it to happen at the expense of my woman’s safety.

  “Tuck,” Robyn calls gently to get my attention as her fingers run through my hair.

  When I look up, the expression on her face is filled with concern. When was the last time someone showed so much care for me? I can’t remember. Never?

  With my brothers it’s different. We’re family and we’re loyal, but it’s not the same softness my woman offers me. I wouldn’t want it to be either.

  I learned how to be the man I wanted to be wearing my cut and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I learned how to be that man so I could be right here right now for my woman. I know it to the depths of my soul, but I don’t have a lot of time to convince her.

  I wrap my arm around my woman’s waist and pull her down onto my lap, grinning when she lets out a small shriek of surprise. I nuzzle my face into the crook of her neck, the soft fabric of her onesie snagging on the stubble on my jaw. The sound of her giggle filling up her small apartment makes me feel lighter.

  It makes me feel like I might have a chance to pull this off and get her to come home with me.

  I know it’s where she belongs. She’s scared, and I get why, but I just need a chance, and for her to take a leap. I should have asked Santa for a little Christmas miracle yesterday at breakfast.

  My words are muffled against her skin, “How about we stay in? We can watch Christmas movies here if you want. I don’t give a shit what we do as long as it’s me and you, Temptress.” She pulls back from me slightly and cups my face in her hands, the tips of her fingers rubbing against my stubble, as she looks into my eyes. “I just don’t want to share you,” I whisper.

  She nods slowly. “And you don’t want me exposed more than I have to be since those assholes are spending more time in town,” she surmises.

  I kiss her forehead and take a deep breath of her scent. It’s like home and the holidays, two things I didn’t grow up with, but know instinctively. “You’re so damn smart.” I amend my words, the pout in my voice obvious, “Too damn smart, really.”

  She snorts a laugh and wraps her arms around me. “I get to pick the first movie. And we have to watch all Christmas movies.”

  I kiss up and down the column of her neck. “Are they all going to be sappy?” She giggles and I’m not sure what that means. “I get one veto and no black and white.”

  “Deal.”

  I pull back and narrow my eyes at her because that felt too fucking easy. She winks at me and then hops up out of my lap so fast I’m not able to keep a hold on her. “I got you something,” she shouts over her shoulder and my fucking heart swells in my chest.

  As I rub the spot absently, I smile at the blush on my woman’s face when she walks back in the room. She tosses something my way and then plops down next to me.

  “It’s not much and I didn’t have time to open it since it just arrived today.” I shoot her a look to tell her she’s being ridiculous, and rip open the soft plastic mailer. It’s not heavy and small, but that doesn’t mean I’m any less excited about getting a gift from my woman. “Mine are in there too,” she whispers.

  I pull out two pairs of socks, the snowflake pattern on them matching, but one of them is a deep cranberry and the other is a forest green. I can’t help but smile at my woman as she grabs hers and gets ready to put them on.

  For some reason, my voice is tight as emotion clogs my throat, “You wanted us to match?”

  She looks at me, her eyes wide while her tone tells me she thinks my question is ridiculously silly, “Well, of course. I didn’t think I’d get you in a onesie to match mine, so socks had to be close enough.”

  I bark out a laugh and warmth fills me as I pull my socks on. I’ve never worn Christmas socks in my life, but there’s something so damn cozy and comforting about it. This is the kind of tradition I can get behind.

  “I don’t know,” I tease her, “you could probably bribe me into wearing a onesie with you.”

  My woman’s eyes light up as she grabs the remote for her small television and starts scrolling through some streaming movie options. “I’ll have to keep that in mind,” she whispers.

  I wrap my arm around her shoulders and tuck her into my side, marveling, again, at how perfect she feels. We fit. I never understood what the guys with old ladies were talking about before. Now I do and I’m going to fight like hell to keep her at my side.

  When Robyn presses play, my jaw drops open when I see she’s picked Die Hard. I’m sure she can hear the shock in my voice, “This is your pick?”

  She looks at me and scrunches up her nose, “What? It’s a Christmas movie,” her tone is defensive.

  I bark out a laugh and settle in to watch one of my favorite movies, seeing no reason in the fucking world to argue with my woman. Hell no. This is the perfect pick even if having her body pressed up against mine is distracting as hell.

  The terrorists haven’t even taken over Nakatomi Tower before I lay my woman down on the couch and position myself above her. Her voice is breathy and filled with need as she stares up at me, “What are you doing?”

  “I can’t stand it anymore, Temptress. You’re looking sexy as fuck in your pajamas, and I need to be inside of you. It takes a little maneuvering, but I work her onesie over her curves until she’s exposed to me.

  “We’ll miss the movie,” she whispers, but the heat in her eyes and the way she clings to me tells me she doesn’t really mind.

  “Fuck the movie,” I growl before kissing her hard.

  She opens for me so damn beautifully and when I taste her on my tongue, I lose all sense of time and responsibility. I kiss her until we’re panting, until I have to release her lips and take a breath. My hands roam over her curves, mapping them and memorizing every inch of her.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful, Robyn” I groan against her lips.

  Her hands reach down and push my pajama pants over my hips, freeing my cock and making us both moan when our skin touches. I sink into her quickly, needing the connection between us, needing to remind myself and her.

  We move together, the movie long forgotten. We don’t look away from each other, the magic connecting us growing and tying us tighter together with every thrust, every moan, every breath. It’s something that won’t be undone. Something I’ll protect and defend with everything in me.

  “Please, Tuck,” she moans, her back arching and her hips trying to coax me to move faster, “fuck me. Make me come.”

  I grit out through my teeth, “You’re going to soak my dick with your pussy when you come, aren’t you Temptress?”

  The whimper she gives me in response is all I need. I give her what she wants, what she needs, and she meets each of my strokes, pushing us higher and closer. As my balls draw up, I know I’m not going to be able to hold out for much longer.

  Thankfully she’s right there with me and we find our pleasure together. Just like it should be.

  I hold her in my arms, both of us naked except for our socks, with a Christmas movie playing in the background. I’ll make sure it becomes a Christmas tradition for the rest of our lives.

  CHAPTER 11

  ROBYN

  I tiptoe out of my bedroom after slipping some clothes on, thankful that Tucker and I showered together before we fell into a sated sleep after our movie marathon last night. Okay, it was more of a sex marathon, but I don’t think we need to split hairs here.

  It means I can go about my Christmas morning tradition without waking him up. It’s not like it’ll take me a long time to go and get the cinnamon rolls from the next town over. The bakery is only open for a few hours first thing on Christmas morning, their own tradition that was in place long before I came around and will keep going long after I leave.

  I pause and take in my small apartment which has been the only home I’ve known in such a long time. Am I really thinking about leaving? More than that, have I made my decision?

  The last few days have felt like one long goodbye to Mistletoe Creek, even with the threat of those Castillo assholes hanging around. I’ve gone to my favorite places and made sure to speak to the people I’m closest to, which isn’t saying much.

  When did I make up my mind to go to Seattle without even realizing it?

  I guess it doesn’t matter now considering the only place I want to be is at Tucker’s side and he has a place to belong with the Devil’s Saints MC. My biggest concern is that the rest of the brothers are going to hate me for what I did. I could give them the money back. Well, I could replace it after skimming from some guys who truly are bad.

  My gut twists at the thought, my conscience making me wonder if there’s another way for me to help people in Kyla’s memory. Tucker has assured me that he could use my skills to help people. That would be better than stealing and giving money to organizations fighting a losing battle or helping people after they’ve already been traumatized, right?

  I shake my head and slide into my large SUV. I don’t drive much, since it’s not really a requirement when I don’t normally go far, but I made sure to get a vehicle big enough for me and my stuff because a moving truck was never going to work for me.

  There’s a special glow to the town on Christmas morning with the sky barely peeking over the horizon and hardly a soul in sight. I know the bakery I’m going to will be busy because they always are. That’s why I put in my order for cinnamon rolls two months ago.

  Usually, I feel a sense of peace when I’m driving on the small country roads, but today there’s a sense of sadness and a little foreboding. I guess I am saying goodbye. You would think, with all the moving I’ve done, I would be used to putting places in my rearview mirror, but it’s never gotten easier.

  Getting to the bakery and picking up the cinnamon rolls doesn’t take me long and I’m back on the road and heading toward home. Well, Tucker. He’s given me a sense of home I’ve been missing for the last ten years, and I know, if given a chance, I’ll feel at home wherever he is.

  It’s totally sappy, but I’m okay with it.

  I need to figure out a way to tell him I’m ready to leave Mistletoe Creek, but he hasn’t brought up moving to Seattle in a few days. It would worry me if I couldn’t read how much he cares about me in his eyes. He’s been trying to give me the space and time to decide what I want to do, and it’s made me fall deeper in love with him.

  I never thought I’d be the kind of person to fall in love quickly, but with Tucker it’s felt natural and easy. Not that he would really accept anything less. If the man knew how much it turns me on when he gets all demanding and growly, he’d be insufferable.

  I look in my rearview mirror and notice the same vehicle behind me that was there while I was heading to the bakery. At least, I think it’s the same one. I might be able to be all cloak and dagger online while I’m getting a job done, but I don’t have magical spy powers in the real world.

  I narrow my eyes and try to get a glimpse of the driver, but it’s impossible because they’re a little too far back. Add that in with the way the sun is rising and the slightly darker tint they have, and I don’t have a choice other than to stop trying. My heart starts to race as I focus on the road ahead of me and getting back home.

  “Damn it, Robyn, you should have left the man a note,” I chastise myself under my breath. “He’s going to be pissed.”

  I won’t be able to say shit about him being mad because I realize, with a car following me and no one else on the road, I’ve put myself in a precarious position. Knowing full well about the potential danger. If only I could chalk it up to ignorance, but nope. Just poor choices and not thinking it through.

  Which I don’t think is going to curry me any favor with Tucker. I send up a little hope for a Christmas miracle that he’ll still be asleep in my bed when I get back. The sinking feeling in my gut tells me I won’t be that lucky.

  As I’m crossing a hidden dirt road, a large truck comes speeding out and barreling right toward me. I scream and swerve, narrowly avoiding hitting them. I slam on my brakes, my eyes closing as I try to calm my racing heart. I put it in park because my entire body is shaking as adrenaline courses through my veins.

  Just great! Out in the middle of nowhere and you’re almost t-boned. Merry fucking Christmas.

  I take a breath, preparing myself to wave off some pissed off driver and keep heading back to Tuck when my window shatters and an arm reaches in to unlock my door. I scream as the door swings open, and I’m pulled out onto the road.

  My body feels weak, and my legs give out which causes me to fall to my knees. My palms sting from the asphalt when I use them to catch myself from falling completely to the ground.

  I look up into brown eyes that belong to a man I’ve never seen before glaring at me. He grabs my arm and pulls me to my feet, the grip he has on me so tight that I know it’s going to leave a bruise. I wince and try to pull away from him, but he only holds me tighter as he starts to drag me toward the truck.

  My voice is high and shrill, “Who the fuck are you? What are you doing?” From the way he looks at me, disgust and hate written all over his face, I have a fairly good idea who he is. Well, at least who he works for. Not that I’ll be admitting that to him. “You almost hit me and then you smash in my window and manhandle me?”

  He scoffs and I feel a little sheepish because I should have known a damsel in distress act mixed with queen bitch was not going to do the job here. I really wish my computer skills did make me a super spy, now more than ever.

  The back door of the truck is being held open by another man as one stands near the front of the vehicle, his eyes scanning the area.

  The man holding me captive snarls, “You stole from the wrong fucking people and you’re going to pay for it.” He looks over my body and a scary as fuck smile spreads across his face. “We should get a pretty penny for you.”

  My entire body goes cold, and it has nothing to do with the nip in the December morning air. I start to twist and contort my body, trying to get away from him. I think heavy thoughts. I kick out my legs.

  Nothing fucking works.

  The sound of screeching tires behind me fills me with anxiety. Is someone coming to help me? Are they more men with the guys trying to take me? My stomach twists in knots.

  I should have stayed in bed with Tucker. I bet he’d be making me come right now. But no, here I am about to be stolen and sold because I made a mistake while stealing from dangerous men.

  The roar of a bike coming in fast comes from the direction of Mistletoe Creek, but it’s only one bike. Reinforcements? Could it be Tucker?

  I’m almost afraid to dream.

  “You better let the woman go before our brother gets here and he sees how you’re touching her,” a voice shouts from behind me, a voice I know.

  Crucify.

  I wish I could sink to my knees in relief, but I can’t. Not yet anyway.

  The roar of the motorcycle gets louder and then cuts off right before Tucker bellows, “Robyn.”

  My eyes go to him immediately and the absolute devastation, fear, and murderous intent on his face has my nipples pebbling and relief filling me. Him being here is great, I realize, but that doesn’t make me safe.

  The man who is gripping me pulls a gun from his waistband and points it at someone behind me as the other two men near the truck take aim as well. One of them is pointing their weapon at Tucker and I feel like I’m going to be sick.

  “You better let my woman go. Right fucking now. It’ll be the only chance you have to not end up with your body parts scattered through the woods for the animals to find and devour.”

  I shiver at the warning and promise in Tucker’s voice.

  Everything around me is a blur and it’s like I can’t focus on one thing. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. Maybe it’s a way for my mind to protect me because it feels like everything is happening so fast and so slow at the same time.

  The man holding me sneers, “She’s yours? You’re the man stupid enough to get involved with a thief?”

  “Better than a sex trafficker,” I mumble under my breath and wish I could slap my hand over my mouth.

  What the fuck is wrong with you? Shut up.

  Solid advice. I’m going to try and take it.

  “Don’t worry about my woman,” Tucker snarls.

  Slight movement pulls my eyes toward the man who was guarding the truck and I watch with horror crawling up my throat as his fingers starts to tighten on the trigger. Before he can shoot, three shots ring out at the same time and warmth hits the side of my face.

  The man’s grip loosens and then falls away.

  I hear…something, but I can’t latch onto anything, and I don’t want to look around me. I don’t want to know.

 

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