“I might go lay down,” I whisper to Violet. I’m exhausted, but I really don’t want to watch everyone open presents when I haven’t gotten anything for anyone. I don’t expect anyone to get me anything, but this feels like a family event, and as the minutes go on, I just feel like someone crashing their party with a slice in my stomach.
She grabs onto my arm. “You can’t leave yet, we have presents to open.”
We?
She can read my face, a smile lifting her lips. “You didn’t really think there wouldn’t be anything under the tree for you, did you? You’re part of the family now.”
But… how?
I only came here last night. How the hell would they get gifts on such short notice? Stores aren’t opened today, and I came here after they were closed. There’s no way.
“Lynx has connections.” She pulls me to the tree, sitting us down toward the back as the little girl and her mom start passing out presents.
I feel like crying when one present lands in front of me, but when ten are stacked around me, I feel like full out sobbing.
I’ve never… I’ve never even had one gift. Santa never came. Any other gift I’ve received has been second hand and tossed at me like a bag of garbage. The wrapping is perfection, the paper expensive, and the bow expertly tied.
A tear falls down my cheek. This is too much.
People give me space, and thankfully they don’t put on a production with unwrapping. Everyone unwraps at the same time, and I silently peel at the tape on the first one, feeling like this isn’t real. It can’t be.
“If you take any more time, Lilah will come over and open them for you,” Violet whispers in my ear.
I laugh-cry, ripping the paper excitedly, then becoming sad that I did. I should’ve kept it. My first ever present wrap.
How fucking pathetic is that.
Pulling out a box, I wipe my eyes as the Harley logo stares back at me.
I lift the lid slowly, a brand-new leather jacket coming into view. My fingers brush over the thick, smooth leather, so rich and expensive that I barely want to touch it.
“Do you like it?” The heavy voice comes over my shoulder. I glance behind me, seeing Lynx standing there all tall and powerful, his face inquisitive as he watches me.
“It’s too much. I don’t need any of this stuff.” I want to push it away, but I don’t want to be rude. It’s just… a lot.
He lifts his brows, not the least bit surprised by my answer. “You live here now. You need a fucking Harley coat to live at the clubhouse. Nothin’ to it.”
Violet pushes the rest of the stack toward me. “Open these.”
I take my time, opening each one with care and savoring every moment. I never want this to end.
I get more clothes, a cell phone, a plush blanket, a pair of combat boots, a winter coat, and a bunch of other stuff that should mean nothing but means the absolute world to me. I can barely see through my tears as Haley picks up the wrapping paper around me.
“Can I talk to you a moment?” Lynx surprises me, asking from over my shoulder.
I nod, leaving my stack of presents on the floor as I head to the other room.
The room we had our first connection. With the table with all the scratches and gouges. He flicks on the lights, then shuts the door and turns to me. “Tell me how you’re really feeling.”
I shrug, curling my hands into the sleeves of my new sweatshirt. “A little overwhelmed, to be honest. How’d you get all this stuff?”
He shrugs. “I have my ways.”
We’re silent for a moment, staring at each other in the dark room. A part of me wants to rush into his arms, kiss him and tell him how much this all means to me. The other part can sense the wall he has raised and knows that would be an absolute mistake.
“Thank you… for saving me. How did you know?”
“I had the gut feeling I always get when shit is about to go wrong. This one was stronger than I’ve ever felt. I knew… I fucking knew you were in trouble.”
A tear leaks from my eye, and he steps forward, brushing it with his thumb. “Don’t cry. Please don’t cry.”
I choked sob leaves me, and I whimper when my stomach starts to hurt. He pulls at my arms, holding me up so he can look at me. “Fuckin’ stop, Iris. I can’t see you hurting. Last night was enough.”
“My mom.” I look up at him through a blurry gaze. “She doesn’t love me.”
He shakes his head, irritation and hate burning in his irises. “I should’ve killed her.”
My chest bubbles with pain. “I don’t want her to die.”
His fingers clench around my biceps. “She’ll spend the rest of her life in misery, then. She doesn’t deserve you.”
The pain runs so deep. I miss my mom, already. I want her to love me. I want her to care for me. But she doesn’t, and she never has.
“I needed to talk to you about something.” The tone in his voice makes me step back, and I rub at my eyes.
“What?”
He steps back too, running his fingers through his messy hair. It’s combed today, a little more put together than usual, but his fingers make it instantly wild, a mess of blondish, brown hair. “Now that you’re staying here… I can’t have… we can’t…” He looks up at me, resolution in his eyes. “What happened yesterday can never happen again.”
My nose burns, and I bite at my tongue. “Why?”
“I’m Violet’s foster father, in a sense. I take care of her. I watch over her. Shit is going to be the same for you, Iris. I have to take care of you, and that means we have to stop.”
I blink back my tears, the pain in my heart so much worse than the pain in my stomach. I don’t want it to end. I don’t want us to end.
But from the look in his eyes, he won’t have it any other way.
“Good.” He lifts his hand, cupping my jaw and brushing his thumb along my cheek. “Welcome home, Iris.” I tilt my head into his hand, wanting the affection so badly. But it’s gone too quick, and my cheek is left cold as he walks away from me, leaving the room.
Welcome home.
* * *
Lynx and Iris’ story isn’t finished yet. Their full story, Reckless Pride, will release in 2022. Follow me for updates!
Books by A.R. Breck
Grove High Series
Reapers and Roses
Thorn in the Dark
* * *
The Grove Series
The Mute and the Menace
Lost in the Silence
* * *
The Seven MC Series
Chaotic Wrath
Reckless Envy
* * *
Standalones
BLISS
Where the Mountains Meet the Sea
About the Author
A.R. Breck lives in Minnesota with her husband, two children and two dogs. She enjoys reading, writing and sharing her stories with the world. When she isn’t working, A.R. Breck loves to watch horror movies, road trip around the country, and read forbidden romance novels.
Sugar Daddy Santa Claus