“Are you okay?” I question her, needing to know she’s okay after being with me.
“Yeah. A little sore, but I’m good. Thank you, Killer,” she informs me.
“We need to talk about the note you got earlier,” I state, sitting up against the headboard and pulling her into my arms.
“I’m sure Rich has already talked to you about it. It was in with the rest of the mail when I got it this afternoon. It just says someone is coming for me and I won’t be able to hide. Or something like that,” she says, her body beginning to tremble as I listen to her voice getting quieter the more she speaks.
“I think we should head to the clubhouse for now. Until we get new information about what’s goin’ on and who’s after you. Our home is safe, but I’d feel better bein’ around everyone there. Especially when I’m at work or have to leave on club business,” I let her know, hoping she doesn’t put up a fight.
“Okay,” she says, sitting up in bed and letting the sheet fall completely away from her body.
As I stand in our bedroom, Gwen gets out of bed and begins grabbing clothes to put on for the day. It’s the first time she’s gotten dressed in front of me and I’m not going to make her feel she has to hide when I’m in the room. My goal is to get my Sparrow as comfortable around me as she can be. That includes dressing in front of one another and any other intimate activity I can think of.
Every day since she’s been in Benton Falls Gwen finds a little more confidence in herself. After waking up just now, it’s as if that final piece of self-doubt and lingering words from her abusers has been shattered. I gave that to her. I’m the one who makes her feel as if she’s the most beautiful woman in the world because that’s how I see her.
Gwen’s comfortable in her own skin right now. I’ve seen her scars and know her past. Not many other people know that much about her. My girl is so strong and has been keeping that shit to herself. She doesn’t want anyone to know the horror she’s been through in her short life already because no one’s ever been there for her before. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that much out about her. Gwen doesn’t even trust in Kim enough to share her burden. I call it a burden because she’s referred to it that way more than once while we’ve been talking.
While she’s in the shower, I make sure everything is off in the house and all the windows and doors are locked. Rich helps me go through the house as we wait on Gwen. Walking back in the bedroom, I see her sitting on the bed brushing her long hair out. I pick the bags up from the floor and make my way in the bathroom to grab what we need from there. I’m not going to let her go without because of a bunch of asswipes coming after her.
“I’m ready when you are,” she lets me know once I’m done grabbing everything.
“Alright. I’ll put the bags in your car. Rich will follow behind you and I’ll be in the lead. I don’t want anyone gettin’ close to you,” I state, letting her walk out ahead of me.
My gaze immediately goes to her ass. I’m a guy and love Gwen’s ass. She’s caught me more than once looking at her body and I’m not going to apologize for it. I hear her giggling and tear my eyes from her to see she’s caught me once again staring at her.
“Not even sorry about it,” I say as she laughs louder.
“Wouldn’t expect you too.”
It takes us minutes to get to the clubhouse. The lot is full of bikes and the ol’ ladies’ vehicles. I park in my normal spot while Gwen pulls up where the rest of the women always park. The bikes are always lined up on the left of the door while our women park on the right. We don’t want them to have to walk across the lot to go somewhere.
Walking in the common room of the clubhouse, Gwen stops as she takes in everyone sitting around. The ol’ ladies are sitting at their normal table in the back corner away from everyone. Slim and a Prospect are playing pool. Everyone else is sitting around with a beer in their hand, talking or simply sitting around.
I take our bags to our room here while Gwen makes her way over to the rest of the women. Thankfully, none of the house bunnies are around. They can be vicious bitches and I don’t want them around to take this day away from Gwen. My goal is to give her as many good days and memories as possible. If someone gets in my way or tries to take anything from her, they’ll have to deal with me. I have no problem putting a man to ground for fucking with what’s mine. If it’s a woman fucking with her, the other ol’ ladies will deal with them. Or we’ll simply call in Summer.
Setting the bags on the bed for now, I grab the box out of the top of the closet. For the first time in my life, I’m actually nervous. Yes, I’m springing this on her and I hope she doesn’t turn me down. It will crush me, and I’ll shut down the way I’ve been in the past. No one has gotten more from me than enough of my time to fuck them and kick their ass out of my room. I don’t do emotions or let anyone in. I’ve still not even let Gwen in all the way. That might be the only reason she turns me down. We always talk about her and that’s it.
Once my rag is on her back, I’ll start opening up to her. Gwen will have my story. She’ll see sides of me I don’t ever want her to personally witness, but if we’re gonna be together then she needs to know it all. Should I do all this before claiming her? Yeah. Am I going to wait that long? Nope. Today is the first step in making Gwen mine for the world to see. Then I’ll work on putting a ring on her finger and planting my babies in her belly.
I’ve wasted enough time in here. Grabbing the box, I make my way to the common room. Gwen is sitting with the ol’ ladies. As soon as Slim sees me, he whistles to get everyone’s attention. The room is deadly silent; everyone looks around until their glances land on me.
“Gwen, come up here please?” I ask her as she sets down her bottle of water and makes her way to me.
For a minute, I simply stared down at her and take in my fill. This could be the last time we’re this close. Though my gut tells me she’s going to accept and we’ll both get what we want out of this.
“Sparrow, I’ve fucked up so much when it comes to you. You’ve given me another chance and I promise I’ll do everythin’ in my power to make sure I don’t mess up again. Though, I think everyone here knows that’s goin’ to be a hard task to accomplish. I love you and want to protect you, love you, and make sure the world knows you’re mine. I’m offerin’ this to you and hope you accept,” I tell her, handing over the box.
Gwen takes it from my hands, a bright smile beaming up at me as she tilts her head up for a kiss. After softly kissing her lips so I don’t get carried away, she turns her attention to the box still in her hands. Placing it on the table, she removes the lid showing tissue paper. Pulling it back, Gwen reveals her rag stating Property of Killer on the back. A loud squealing noise erupts from her and she lifts the rag from the box as if it’s the most precious gift she’s ever received. Stepping up to her, I help her slide her arms in the holes before pulling it up on her back.
Once the rag is in place, Gwen turns around and jumps into my arms. Her body is wrapped around mine as the catcalls and clapping fade away. She’s the only one who can make the background noise and the demons haunting me fade into nothing. I see her and become completely attuned to her body and what she needs from me. Even when she wanted me, I knew it. She had to make the first move though. I wasn’t going to try to persuade her into having sex with me before she was ready. That’s not who I am.