“That’s the problem, baby. If I had to choose, I’d choose you over anything. Even my club.”
Her breath caught. For a man like Lord, that was even more powerful than saying he loved her. The room sounded quieter than a morgue.
“Then don’t push me away.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his jawline, one kiss after the other. “Promise me.”
“I promise,” he said just before his lips came down over hers. Lord kissed her thoroughly, making time stand still. He began to lift her shirt up, only breaking their kiss long enough to pull the shirt over her head.
“I need you, Lord.” She tilted her head to the side as he trailed kisses down her neck.
“Whisky saved you today, but I’m your man, Ally. Don’t forget that. This body belongs to me.”
She wet her lips. “Make sure I don’t forget.”
Chapter Nine
Lord stared out across the compound. His woman sat on the small patch of grass toward the back, reading a book. With all of his business, she’d been complaining of being bored. Rather than allow her to hate her life here, he’d made one of his boys go to the local bookstore and buy as many titles as they could get their hands on. Now as he watched, she had a small pile of books beside her.
She looked so fucking cute.
Running a hand down his face, he hated this. Hated the indecision. He’d gone back to the hotel with the sole intention of getting rid of her.
What had he done instead? Kept her. With a traitor close.
He didn’t know why he needed to keep her. Sure, her pussy had never been touched by another man, and her devotion to him was highly addictive, but keeping her made him look weak.
The one thing he hated more than anything was to look weak. In his world, he’d already cost himself so much.
“Is everything okay?” Brick asked.
“Yes. Any word?”
“So far The Skull Nation is lying low. No sign of them.”
Lord shook his head. “That’s not good. When they’re lying low, that means they’re planning something.”
“What do you think it is?”
“Either a full-on assault so long as they can get the numbers, or something else.” Again, he looked outside at his woman. She was too sweet for him. The biggest mistake he’d made was thinking they stood a chance.
“They try to attack here, we’ve got it covered,” Brick said.
“I’m not going to wait around for them to attack,” Lord said. “We’ve got too many businesses demanding our attention. They could just wait us out.” The Skull Nation were not good people. If they got ahold of Ally, that would be it. They would make her wish he’d killed her to spare her the pain of what they would do. Just thinking about what they could do to her filled him with a rage he knew all too well. Only this came from a feeling deep within, attached to a little part for Ally alone.
“Do you want me to grab the boys for a meeting?” Brick asked.
“Tonight. We plan.” He turned toward Brick. “I’ve got to handle something first.”
He left his office, making his way outside to where Ally read. Since he’d looked at her from his office, she’d move to lay spread out across the grass. Her legs were crossed at the ankles as she lifted the book up in the air. She flicked over a page at the same time as tucking some of her hair behind her ear.
“Good book?”
She turned toward him with a smile.
That look in her eyes, it was what he wanted every single day.
She turned the book over and got to her feet, rushing toward him. He captured her in his arms as she threw herself at him. Such youth and sweet innocence. He was addicted to her love. And he didn’t deserve any of it.
“I haven’t seen you all morning.” She kissed his cheek. “Are you free now?”
“I’m free as I’ll ever be.” He held her hand and together, they sat on the ground. Lord moved her so she sat between his spread thighs. He held his palms up and she pressed hers down on his. Her hands were so much smaller than his.
He pressed his face against her neck, breathing her in, wanting to consume all of her.
This world was not meant for the likes of Ally. She was too good for them.
“I could stay here all day.”
Letting go of her hands, he wrapped his arms around her waist. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. The sun is out. Do you think we should set up the grill? The guys could use some happiness. They’re all frowning. The girls don’t look happy either.”
Lord glanced over her shoulder and he saw a couple of the guys were drinking coffee, talking, but the tension in their bodies was clear for him to read. They were ready for an attack, as was he. He just controlled himself better.
“You see them, don’t you?”
“I see it all. It’s not like I’m someone important, so they don’t hide it from me. I get it. They’re scared about something or someone. I’m not sure what it is yet, but I’ll find out.” She tilted her head back to look at him. “You’re like that sometimes as well.”
“I am?” he asked.
“Yes. I saw you this morning as we woke up. The first thing you did was go to the window and look out. You’re waiting for something.”
He pressed a kiss to her neck. “We’re not scared, Ally. Don’t mistake that emotion. We’re used to people wanting what we’ve got. That doesn’t make us scared. It makes us ready.” He pulled back and ran a hand through his hair. “I want to take you to a safe place.”
This had her turning in his arms. “What?”
“You heard. This compound, it’s going to become a war zone.”
“And? I thought you said it always was.”
He couldn’t stand to see the pain in her eyes. Ally was so different to the women he was used to. Her sweetness fucking killed him. He had to do something to protect it though. “This is different. The Skull Nation are not the same as other enemies. They have numbers.”
“That you can beat. You’ve told me they’re nothing.”
He cupped her face and forced her to look at him. “The Skull Nation are nothing to me unless I’ve got someone who is important to me. They know my weakness and I can’t have that, Ally. They cannot know what you mean to me.” He ran his thumb across her bottom lip. “I can’t bear to lose you.”
Tears swam in her eyes, but rather than let them affect him, he ignored them. “You said I’m safest by your side. Now, you’re going to send me away?”
“Yes. I’ve got a safe house. It’s not too far from here. It’s a ranch. I know the handler. He’s a good man. Strong. He was a brother until he left the club to help his wife and kids. Ranching life called to him.”
She shook her head. “Look what happened last time. They found me at the hotel. I don’t want to leave you.”
“It won’t be permanent. Just until I’ve got everything together.” He pulled her close and kissed her hard on the mouth. His cock hardened but for now, he had to keep his mind in check. All it would take was one touch, to watch or feel her come around his cock, and he’d give in.