Harriett is sitting up in bed holding Ivy, who’s sound asleep. I smile. She’s just the cutest little baby. “Hey, you look a lot better.”
“I feel it,” she whispers.
Ghost shifts in the corner, and I jump in fright. “Jesus, Ghost, what are you doing there?”
“Keeping Harriett company.”
“You shouldn’t be hiding in corners, it’s weird,” says Meli.
Ghost smiles. “It’s all in the name, sweet pea. I’ll let you girls catch up. Call if you need anything,” he says to Harriett, giving her a parting wink.
“He seems very keen,” says Meli, taking a seat.
“He’s been so nice to me,” says Harriett.
“I bet he has,” mutters Meli, quipping a brow.
“Can you give it a rest?” I tell Harriett, “She’s anti-men right now. I think she’s spent too much time with Rosey.”
“If you ask me, she’s got the right idea. Kill the bastards, and we’re all free,” states Meli.
I laugh, and Harriett suppresses a smile. “Shit, next you’ll be burning your bra in the backyard.”
Meli puts her hands on her hips again. “Well, they take what they want and then brush you off without an explanation. They don’t give a crap that you’re left with shit to deal with.”
“Meli, we’re supposed to cheer Harriett up. What’s gotten into you?”
“Am I right, H?” asks Meli. “You must want to see your ex dead after everything.”
Harriett stares down at baby Ivy. “I just want him to leave me alone.”
“Some men don’t listen, though, do they? I’m sure with all the money he has, he’ll fight you every step of the way.”
“Fuck, Meli,” I snap angrily, and she blinks innocently. “Shut the hell up, will yah? And, actually, he was served the restraining order and the divorce papers and took the news very well.”
“Like Rylee’s ex did?”
“Rylee’s ex?” repeats Harriett.
“Ignore her,” I mutter. “He was a head case, Meli, you can’t use him as an example.”
“What happened with Rylee’s ex?” asks Harriett again, sounding more alarmed.
“He raided this place, got her on her own, and scared the crap out of her. He wanted her to know he could still get to her!”
“Meli!” I yell, and the baby begins to cry. Ghost bursts in, looking concerned. “It’s not the same—he was a cop!”
“What’s going on?” Ghost barks.
“Meli was talking too much,” I mutter.
He stares at Harriett’s face. “What did she say?”
“It’s fine,” Harriett mutters.
“It’s not fine. I can see in your face it isn’t. Meli, get out.”
“What? I didn’t do anything. I was just saying—”
“Get out now, or I’ll remove you!” he orders, and she huffs before stomping out with Ghost following after her.
I smile awkwardly at Harriett. “Sorry about her. Look, every case is different, and I’m not saying Nick is going to take this lying down cos I don’t know him, but I do know he won’t get in here. Ghost doesn’t leave your side, and the club is much better on security since the whole Rylee thing. But, like I said, he was a cop, and they have powers to gain entry. All you have to do is concentrate on Ivy. We’ll do the rest.”
I’m lying on my bed when the door opens and Grim comes in. He locks it and begins to strip out of his clothes until he’s down to his boxers. I laugh as he slides over me and pulls me to lay against him. “I need to feel you against me,” he whispers in my ear.
“Tough day?”
“Mum is screwing. She’s a mess. I made the mistake of going in the room today, and she’s sweating and agitated. She practically clawed my back to get out of there.” He turns slightly, giving me a glimpse of his scratched back.
I wrap my arms around his neck. “Poor you. What did Doc say?”
“The usual, it takes time, she’ll get there, blah blah blah.”
I smile, running my fingers up and down his back. “He’s right, though. These first few weeks will be the toughest.”
He kisses me. “As long as I have you here, it’ll be fine.”
His hands roam my body, unfastening my clothing as he goes. I let him strip me down to my underwear and close my eyes as he gets lost in me.
CHAPTER TEN
GRIM
A week passes and I can’t get enough of Hadley. I want to spend every waking moment beside her or inside of her. Either one will do. She’s easing everything that’s fucked in my life right now. I always thought Hadley would be a prude in the bedroom, yet she’s anything but, and as I stare up at her amazing body while she rides me, I’m filled with an overwhelming desire to officially make her mine. It’s too soon, I know it is, but it doesn’t stop me wanting it . . . wanting her.
She comes apart, interlocking our fingers as she moves faster to chase the feeling. When she collapses over my chest, I grip her around the waist and thrust up into her, needing my own release. “Do you think we’ll ever get tired of this?” she whispers.
I throw my arm over my eyes, trying to catch my breath. “I fucking hope not.”
“It’s been a whole week of sneaking around. We’re doing good.”
“About that . . . I think we should tell everyone. I was gonna break it to the brothers in church tonight.”
She places kisses along my chest. “Whatever you want.”
I still her. “What do you want, Hads?”
“For us to stay in our little bubble forever?”
I smile. “You know that can’t happen. We just need to get it out there and get the negative comments out the way. Everyone will get used to us.”
“Even Meli and Rosey?”
“They hate all men. It wouldn’t matter who you were with, they’d have something bad to say. Ignore them both.”
I playfully slap her bare arse as I get out of bed. “I’ll bring you breakfast in bed seeing as it’s the weekend,” I offer, and she stretches out, trying to entice me to re-join her. Instead, I kiss her. “Wait here.”
Downstairs, everyone is busy talking as I load a plate with enough for two people. I’m almost out of the kitchen when Meli blocks my path. “We need to talk,” she says firmly.
“Not now, Meli, I got something to do.”
“Something or someone?”
I roll my eyes impatiently. “What do you care?”
“This is important, Grim, and trust me, I’d rather not be in a room talking with you, but it’s something you need to know.”
I groan impatiently and march towards Mav’s office. Once inside, I place the plate down. “Spit it out.”
“I’m pregnant.”
The world stops turning, everything around me sounds muffled, and I think I stop breathing for a few seconds as I process her words. “No,” I mutter, shaking my head. “No, you can’t be.”
“I know it’s not what you want to hear, but I am, so let’s save all the dramatics because I don’t have the patience for it.”