“Did I hurt you?” Concern burned in his eyes.
She shook her head. “I was more than ready.”
“I’m relieved,” he admitted. “I’ve never deflowered a woman before.”
She grinned and wrapped her fingers around his thick, muscled biceps where his Dark Falcons tattoo rode along the tanned skin.
“You can take it back, you know.”
She blinked in confusion at his words. “Take back what?”
“What you said about loving me. You’re young—got caught up in the moment. I won’t lock you to me if you want to walk away now.”
Staring at him in shock, she could only open and close her mouth on words she couldn’t seem to form. “Patriot. I meant every word,” she finally managed.
As soon as she spoke, she watched the relief pass over his rugged features. He closed his eyes first and then dropped his forehead against hers, breathing deep and even as if he’d just taken his first breath of life.
“I’m so damn glad, baby.”
“Didn’t I tell you that I saved myself for someone special? Do you think I’d say you’re not special enough and thanks for the ride?”
A hint of a smile passed over his face. “I promise I’m not usually so simpleminded.”
“No, you’re just stubborn at seeing that people actually want to be with you.”
He grew silent a long moment. Finally, he said, “I was wrong about Hunter’s motivations.”
She knew he’d thrash himself for this sooner or later.
“I let him go from my crew on good terms. I figured he must not harbor resentments. All the time he was looking to screw me over.”
Running a hand down his chest, she tried to think of something to ease the sting of that betrayal, but nothing came to mind. “He was pretty convincing. Everyone in the club was fooled—not only you.”
“You saw right through him.”
She raised her head and studied his eyes. “I should have brought up my misgivings sooner. This might have been avoided.”
“No, it was too late for that. He’d already followed the crew and stolen from the job sites.”
She felt him growing more relaxed as minutes sped by. She thought he might drift off, when his voice rumbled up.
“Hold onto me again.” He flipped her over him and tucked her into every hard plane of his body. She nestled into him, a perfect fit when he rested his jaw on her head. She listened to his heart thumps slow and then recognized his deep, rhythmic breathing as exhaustion claimed him and he drifted to sleep.
The pull of desire from being plastered to his chiseled body would have to wait—her man needed his rest.
She grinned against his warm, bulky chest.
“Dix, can we talk?” Patriot was getting a little sick of hearing himself say that.
Luckily, his prez didn’t shoot him the glare he expected. He stood from the table he shared with a few other Dark Falcons and waved for him to follow him to the meeting room.
They faced each other the same as the first time, what seemed like only short days ago, when he first informed him about the thefts.
Patriot eyed him. “I’ve been thinkin’ about the good of the club.”
“If you’re about to say you’re leaving because of what happened, I refuse to accept your resignation,” Dixon cut over him.
He stared at him for several seconds. “I’m glad to hear that. It feels good to know I’m still wanted after all the shit I brought down on the MC. That’s why I wanted to talk about the way we’ve been accepting members.”
Cocking his head, Dixon waited.
“We started in your garage with a handful of friends. Since then, the Dark Falcons’ ranks have grown so much.”
“It sounds as if you’re questioning that now.”
“I am.” Patriot braced his legs wider. “The problem with other clubs is they stab each other in the backs until nobody’s left standing. They’re supposed to be brothers, but there’s no one loyal left to count on.”
Dixon gave a stiff nod. “That’s true. I’ve seen it myself in other chapters we ride with.”
“We can’t have that. I think it’s time to really examine the members we have in the Dark Falcons. We can’t trust these prospects coming to us asking to join.”
“Sounds reasonable to me. And the only way to keep this clubhouse filled with something good.”
Patriot felt himself relax. “I’m glad you see things the same way I do.”
“Been thinkin’ on it more with all the shit that went down. We could use some new rules when it comes to members.”
“Honeys too. That one named Rochelle needs to go. She causes too much trouble around here. She’s a fire just waiting to start. All she needs is a reason.”
“You’re right on that count too. She goes now. We don’t need women like that hanging around. If the guys want pussy, they can find it themselves instead of having it waiting around for them to take it.” Dixon scuffed his knuckles over his jaw. “We’ll call the guys in to a meeting.”
“Better do it before Diesel goes outta town for his sister’s wedding.”
“We’ll do it tonight.”
Patriot held out a hand, and Dixon grasped it. “Thanks for everything, man.”
“Dude, you know I got your back. That shit won’t change.”
With a warmth in his chest, Patriot stepped out of the room again, to see Aarica standing there. The minute the door opened, her gaze tracked to him. He dragged in a deep breath when their gazes locked.
The sway of her hips seemed amplified to him when she walked up to him. Might be his imagination, but he knew he’d put that swing in them. And she claimed to love him.
A knot of possessiveness yanked tight in his core as he drew her against his chest. Over her head, he caught Rochelle’s glare, and then she stomped out. Dixon followed the woman, and Patriot knew he was cleaning house and telling her never to step foot on Dark Falcons property again.
Cupping Aarica’s jaw, he tipped her face to his. “What have you been doing all day?”
“Mowing Mr. Kelley’s yard.”
His brow shot up. “No fucking way. You’re all done with that.”
Her jaw dropped. “But I need the work, and I can’t let him down. You’re just afraid I’ll have spectators while mowing, but you’ll be happy to know that today there was no sign of that car or those guys.”
Withholding a growl of irritation, he had to stop and ask himself why he felt that way about her. She’d given herself to him and he’d challenge another man to try to lay hands on her now. But more than that, he hated the thought of her working so much to pay the bills. He had no idea what she paid for that tiny apartment, but whatever it was, he knew it wasn’t worth the money.
I have to let her do things her way. But the minute I get a sign, I’m moving her in.
“Good. Then I don’t have to worry about your safety when you’re mowing Mr. Kelley’s grass.”
She slid her arms around his neck and went onto tiptoe to brush her lips over his. “No, you don’t. I was wondering if we could talk.”
He blinked at her. “Of course. Here?”