leaned across it. “I love you.”
I rolled my eyes and turned my back on him. Mostly, because if I continued to stare into his beautiful eyes, I’d fold and kneel before him, begging for his dick. Hearing the creak of his leather, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“Stop it,” I growled, keeping my eyes closed.
I let out a squeak when his face was suddenly pressed against my crotch, my eyes flying open as I almost dropped my wine glass. I set it down and slid my hand into his hair. “What are you doing?”
He was on his knees, grinning up at me as he reached for my zipper.
“I’m not talking to you,” I reminded him.
“This doesn’t require talking,” he pointed out.
“Jasper, this isn’t solving anything.”
“Talk or fuck, baby. Your choice.”
“Neither.”
He sighed, standing, and settling his hands on the island, pinning me in. “Do you understand, at all, where I’m coming from?”
“Excuse me for not wanting you to be beaten into a vegetative state.”
“So, you have no faith in my ability to hold my own?”
“Have you met my dad?” I retorted. “He’s got four inches and thirty pounds of muscle on you. Not to mention Stoney.”
“And you think your dad’s gonna let it go so far that I end up a vegetable?” he challenged. “He wants me in his club, not in a body bag. Did your brother end up a vegetable? I’ve got twenty pounds and two inches on him.”
I wrinkled my nose. “They took it easy on Ori.”
“But you think they’re gonna beat me so bad I’ll shit in a bag?”
I bit my lip.
“Letti, answer the question.”
“No, I don’t think I will.”
He kissed my nose. “You feel better now?”
“No.”
“Liar,” he said with a grin.
“Seriously, Jasper. No one I’ve dated has ever ran the gauntlet. I’m Daddy’s little girl. Not to mention, Orion’s baby sister. This is not good.”
He slid a lock of my hair over my ear. “Your dad’s good.”
“He said that? Specifically.”
“Yeah. Dads love me.”
“Lots of experience with dads, huh?”
He ignored that question as he grinned. “We talked things out. It’s all good. But, if you try to intervene, it might not be.”
I rolled my eyes. “You didn’t have to be such a dick about it.”
“I’ll concede that I could have been a little gentler in my approach, but sometimes, baby, you’re headstrong and stubborn, and you don’t listen to me.”
“What?”
He chuckled, leaning down to kiss me gently. “I love you. You have to trust me that I’ve got this. You have to trust your dad that he’s got this.”
“I don’t want your pretty face bruised. You have such lovely teeth as well. No losing them.”
“Baby, the purpose of the gauntlet isn’t to lose teeth or to beat anyone down.”
“Then why do it?” I snapped.
“Because it proves you’ve got what it takes to be part of the brotherhood. It’s not only to show you’re tough, but to see your future brothers face-to-face as you’re taking the blows. They need to look in your eyes to see what you’re really made of.”
I huffed. “Why can’t you macho assholes find some other way of bonding?”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, take a pottery class or, maybe, dance lessons.”
He laughed. “I’ll be sure to bring it up as my first point of order as an official patch at church. Until then, you’re just going to have to let me get hit in my pretty, macho, stupid face.”
I stroked his beard. “It’s not stupid.”
“Thank you. Now kiss me while I still have all my teeth.”
Before he could connect with my lips, I gripped his chin. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’m sure. I’ve got a high pain threshold, baby, and Needles will be there for medical treatment.” He kissed my neck. “And you’ll be waiting for me at home, like the perfect old lady, icepacks and pussy at the ready.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
He chuckled.
“No, really. Don’t hold your breath. You might pass out. Remember to breathe.”
“You know I’ve been in a fight or two before, right?”
“What? No! When?”
“You want them listed chronologically or alphabetically?”
“Oh my god. Neither,” I growled. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I’ll be careful.” He grinned, kissing me. “You wanna fuck before we head to the club?”
“Yes, of course, I want to fuck before we head to the club.”
“Good answer.”
We made our way up to my room where he reminded me exactly what he could do with a full set of teeth.
* * *
“You know, now that we’re official, you’re gonna need to let me