Patriot (Hades Abyss MC 6) - Harley Wylde Page 0,6

face and shook his head.

“Patriot, I didn’t push you away, did I?”

“What are you saying, Little Bit?” he asked.

I felt my cheeks get warmer. “I liked it. I trust you, Patriot. There’s no one else I’d want to kiss me.”

“Ronan. Call me Ronan.” He cupped my cheek. “If anyone should use my name, it’s you. Maybe I’m a sick bastard for feeling this way, but there’s always been something between us, a pull that I couldn’t ignore anymore.”

“Then don’t. You said I’m not broken, so don’t treat me like I am.”

He pressed his lips to my forehead. “You deserve better than me, Little Bit.”

“Why do you call me that?” I asked. “I’m not a child.”

A smile ghosted across his lips. “It’s not because of your age. You’re a tiny little slip of a woman and seemed more like a phantom when I brought you here. Like a wisp.”

“Wisp?” I asked.

“Will-o’-the-wisp. Little specters that roamed bogs and marshes. They appeared like little flickering flames. You reminded me of one. Here yet not, but I could see your fire hadn’t burned out completely.”

I smiled a little. “I can live with that.”

Archimedes, a coon hound mix, barked as he chased the kitten. His nails scratched the floor as he raced by us. Patriot didn’t even bat an eye at the chaos. The animals ran right back out and I heard a crash in the living room. Still he didn’t budge.

“Why did you think I was at the clubhouse earlier?” he asked.

“I thought maybe you went there to hook-up with someone. I know the women there will sleep with anyone, or do anything you ask them to. You haven’t brought anyone home since I came here.” I shrugged. “It seemed logical you would go there to have your needs met.”

He slid his hand back and gripped my hair, tilting my head. “Let’s get one thing straight, Little Bit. I haven’t been with a woman in more than a year.”

I felt my eyes go wide and he smirked at me. That meant… he’d been celibate since I’d come to live here? Even though he’d said he’d felt a pull toward me, I hadn’t realized he’d given up women once I’d come here.

“Over a year?” I asked. I had a hard time believing a guy like him had gone so long without being with a woman.

“First time I went to the clubhouse after you came home with me, I had a club whore on her knees. The second she touched me, it felt wrong. I pushed her away. Haven’t tried to be with anyone since.”

“I was only seventeen,” I said. “I would have never asked you to give up women. What if I’d panicked when you kissed me tonight? What if I could never give you what you want?”

“MaryAnne, I like spending time with you. Did I like kissing you? Hell yeah! And I’d love to do more, but only at your pace and when you’re ready. Even if you’d never been able to give me more than your friendship, I’d have settled for that.”

“You shouldn’t have to,” I said.

He kissed me again, soft and sweet. “I’ll take whatever you can give me, Little Bit. I’m happy when I’m with you. Don’t want anyone else.”

His words made me melt a little and I cuddled closer to him, breathing in his scent. I made him happy? I smiled, realizing that what I’d been wanting was within my reach. The man I’d been falling for liked spending time with me, had kissed me, and wanted more.

Maybe he didn’t see me as a stray he’d brought home, like all his wounded creatures, but I adored him every bit as much as they did.

Chapter Two

Patriot

I couldn’t believe I’d kissed her! Or confessed that I’d wanted her for a while. Yeah, she’d been seventeen when I brought her here, and she’d needed to do a lot of healing, but even then I’d seen the beautiful woman she’d become. I would have never touched her when she was younger. It went against everything I believed in, but I hadn’t lied about enjoying her company.

Whistling from the corner drew my attention. I grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and added them to Hatter’s bowl. The African Grey dove in, cracking open the seeds. “Mmm-mmm. So good.”

I grinned at him. “You can have more later.”

I focused on MaryAnne again. Having her in my arms was as close to heaven as I’d ever get. There was too much blood on my hands for me to