“Until we sort this shit out, you don’t go anywhere alone,” he says, looking at each of us. “And, Bailey, since we don’t like the idea of you being alone in your house with Cara, someone will be staying with you.”
“What?” I ask, eyes widening. “That’s not necessary. Who?”
He grins wolfishly. “Me.”
Shit.
* * *
“You’re not moving in with me,” I say for what must be the tenth time.
“Yes, I am,” he says patiently, as he packs his bag. I’m standing in his room in the clubhouse, trying to talk him out of it, but he’s not backing down. He opens his cupboard and some black rope falls onto the floor. I pick it up and shove it back into his cupboard. He gives me an odd look I don’t have time to decipher because I’m already thinking of ways I can get out of having him live with me.
“Surely you have other things you need to do,” I continue. “Women to seduce. Fights to get into . . .”
“Shut up, Bailey,” he growls, slamming his cupboard door closed. “I’m staying with you until everything is clear, and that’s final. Imagine if something happened to you while Cara was with you—do you think I’m willing to have that shit on my conscience?”
I bite my tongue and concede, because he’s right. My own stubbornness shouldn’t get in the way of my daughter’s safety. “Fine.”
He zips his bag and glances up. “Don’t need your approval because it’s happening either way, but good to know you’re thinking straight.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Call me what you want, but I’m not letting anything happen to you or your kid,” he says, our gazes connecting and holding.
“Okay,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around myself. To be honest, I don’t know how I’m handling this whole thing so well. Being put in danger, for just being friends with people associated with the MC isn’t something I expected. I don’t know how I can be friends with everyone without putting Cara in danger too. I love them, but the payoff is too high—I just can’t gamble with my child’s safety. If it was just me, it would be a different story, but it isn’t. But at this point, I don’t know what to do besides trust Rake to keep us safe.
He nods. “Let’s get going then.”
I follow behind him and say good-bye to everyone. We walk outside and I’m surprised when he gets into a black four-wheel drive instead of on his bike.
“No bike?”
“I don’t want to make it obvious I’ll be there,” he explains. “Plus, I can’t exactly take you and Cara on my bike.”
He’s planning on driving us around?
Just how long is this going to go on for?
With questions running through my head, I put on my seat belt in silence and look out the window. Rake puts on the radio and flips the channel, the music filling the strained silence.
After about ten minutes, I turn to him, letting my eyes roam over his handsome profile. I wonder if he likes it when women gently pull on that lip ring with their teeth, or swipe their tongues over it. I wonder just how many women those firm, sensual lips have tasted. I wonder how many he’s given his heart to, and how many have given theirs to his. Even though none of this matters, I can’t help but be curious.
“You going to stare at me the whole ride?” he asks in a husky tone that has me shifting on my seat.
“If I want to,” I reply haughtily.
“I’ll make sure to return the favor when we get inside, then,” he says, sounding amused.
I look back out the window.
Rake
I’m hard.
I’ve been hard ever since she picked up the rope, rope that I’d love to use on her. I’d tie her arms behind her back and fuck her from behind while pulling her hair. Then I’d tie her arms above her head while I took her slow and deep.
I shift in my seat.
What an inconvenience this woman is turning out to be. It’s like craving something that I know is bad for me, wanting it so fuckin’ badly but having to consider the consequences of giving in.
The price is too high though; I’d rather keep my sanity, my peace of mind, and my heart intact.
“I like this song,” she murmurs, turning it louder.
“What is it?” I find myself asking. When I’m with her I find myself forgetting