Beautiful.
Stunning.
Amazingly mine.
He let out a ragged breath. Without a care to the stickiness, he leaned down and led me into a passionate kiss before breaking it with a final peck. “Didn’t know it could be like that,” he said softly and slipped off the bed, walking over to the bathroom.
“Like what?” I called, lifting to my elbows to watch him.
He didn’t answer until he was back out of the bathroom with a damp washcloth. His smile caused my stomach to tingle. “Didn’t know comin’ like that with a guy could be damn good.”
I glared. “I’m glad you didn’t know.” Not knowing meant he hadn’t shared this with someone else.
Josh chuckled. My eyes widened when he sat on the edge of the bed and cleaned up my stomach. There went my organ in my chest again.
“Means I liked it, Taro.”
“I know,” I said, watching his hand.
He flicked my forehead. “Cocky.”
I blinked. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound like that. I’m….” Dear God, my cheeks heated even before Josh dropped the cloth to the floor and ran the back of his fingers over my cheek. I turned my head away, unable to take the sweetness. I wasn’t used to it. “Anyway, can we get some sleep?”
Josh snorted. “Sure. Want me to leave you to it?”
“No,” I said too quickly.
Josh grinned. “Thought so.” When he lifted the blanket, I scooted over, giving him enough room. He took it and more. He pressed up close to me and twisted me so he could become the bigger spoon.
“How was your day?” he asked.
My body went haywire—in my chest, my blood, my stomach. Not to be outdone, my emotions also flickered to a higher heat.
How was he perfect?
How could he act as if this was normal, especially for him, when it should be way out of his comfort zone?
I couldn’t understand him.
“Taro?”
“Oh, um, long and boring.”
“I heard Jiro was causin’ shit. Was gonna head over to help, but before I could, I was told you had it sorted.”
I nodded, biting my bottom lip. Josh would have come to help me because he wanted to. He wasn’t expected to. I didn’t pay him. He just wanted to. “He’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“Yeah, I’m understandin’ that.” Josh kissed my shoulder. “Mimi knows I was in here last night and saw me come in here tonight. You cool with that?”
Dear God, this man would kill me.
“Are you?”
“Yeah, Taro.”
“Then I am.”
“Good.”
Wanting to hear his voice more, wanting to know him, I asked, “Where did the name Ruin come from?”
Josh snorted. “The prez gave it to me when I was fully patched in as a member. This was after I ruined my first ride and cried about it.”
Smiling, I told him, “That’s cute.”
He nipped at my shoulder. “It ain’t cute; it’s manly. Only a real man would cry over their baby gettin’ ruined.”
I hummed under my breath and got another nip to the shoulder. I gripped his arm around my upper waist and asked, “Do you have any siblings?”
“I do, two sisters. One’s a couple of years older than me, the other younger. Had a shit dad until I was in my early teens. Lucky he died and then Stoke came along.”
“Stoke?”
“A brother from Hawks. Older. My dead dad had been a part of Hawks, but we never got involved with the MC until he died. They came in, took care of some family shit for us, and then Mum and Stoke hit it off. Thank fuck.”
“You sound proud of him.”
“Proud to call him a brother and also a dad. He’s a good guy. The best.”
“I’m glad you have that. Does your sister have someone?”
“Yeah, another brother. He was a dick to start with but got his act together when Nary went through…. Fuck, she was kidnapped, abused, and messed up. Vicious made sure to be by her side after it and has never left.”
Nausea twisted in my gut. “I’m sorry your sister went through that.”
“Me too. She’s good now though.”
Unsure what to say, I nodded. Josh’s life hadn’t been what I thought it would have. I knew I wasn’t the only one to walk through hell when it came to their own father but hearing it from someone I cared for was harder than I expected it to be.
Like I had with my father, my uncles, and all the elders who had put the women through something vile, I wanted whoever had hurt Josh’s sister to pay.
“Hey,” Josh whispered against my shoulder with another kiss. “What are you thinkin’?”
“Is he dead? If not, I will help kill him.”
Josh stilled at my back. His arm tightened around me as he dragged his nose from my neck into my hair. “He’s gone. We made him pay. That’s what Hawks does. Protect our own in any way we can. Even if it comes to killin’.”
Pride swelled inside of me. “When everything is in order in the family, it is how I will run this family.”
“Speakin’ of runnin’ the family, you should get some sleep before you’re wrecked for tomorrow.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“Babe, I’m always right, just remember that.”
My heart stumbled. “I don’t think I will, pet.”
He chuckled at my back, and it felt like my body was floating. I had never experienced this before and wanted to keep the content bubble Josh provided, but fear gripped my stomach—if I did lose this happiness, what would that mean?
Chapter Fourteen
Ruin
A few nights later, a knock sounded on Taro’s door. He was still sound asleep, so I climbed out of bed to answer it. Ryo stood with a grim expression. “It’s time,” he said.
“Fuck,” I muttered. “I’ll wake him, and we’ll get Mimi.”
Ryo nodded and moved across the hall to lean and wait. I closed the door, turmoil fluttering inside me. I hated this for Taro and Mimi. Hated their dad was a motherfucker, but most of all that he was about to die and they would feel it.
I strode back to the bed, unsure just how much time their dad had. Crouching beside him, I gently shook his shoulder. “Taro?”
He groaned. “Later, tired.”
I couldn’t believe I was smiling at a time like this, but fuck, he was cute. “Babe, come on, it’s your dad.”
His eyes flew open. He sat bolt upright and flicked the sheet away. I moved aside when he climbed out. We both dressed quietly. I slipped my phone into my back pocket but also bent to take out my gun. I wouldn’t go unprotected in a vulnerable situation. Taro may have his guards, but I’d be sure to have his and Mimi’s back. Worry had me dipping my brows when Taro started for the door without me.
I reached out, taking his arm. “Hey.”
“I have to get to Mimi and Mother.”
I tugged him into a hug. “I know. We will. Here for you, Taro.”
He nodded against my chest, taking a deep breath. I dropped my hold and together we made our way out of the room to Mimi’s. I knocked before opening the door. Mimi sat up quickly, rubbing her eyes.