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I’d barely finished speaking when Taz grabbed my hand and towed me toward the front door. Chuckling as I nearly had to jog to keep up with my man, my heart already felt lighter.
Someone was keen to get me alone.
It gave me hope that we were going to get through this, although I wasn’t looking forward to the talking part of the evening. We’d both fucked up, but I’d been the one to create the rift to begin with.
* * *
TAZ
When Flick had asked to take the long way home, I happily obliged her. I never turned down a chance to ride with her wrapped around me on my bike. And I wasn’t looking forward to the “we have to talk” part of our night. Couldn’t we just fuck it out? Much simpler.
With a sigh, I pulled into our driveway and waited for Flick to dismount before I did the same and followed her inside. Flick kept going till she was in the kitchen.
“You want a beer or something stronger?”
I shook my head. “We both need clear heads, kitten. Water is fine.”
She probably didn’t realize I noticed how many times she’d slipped into the clubhouse during the day. I was going to be keeping a close eye on my woman for the next couple months to make sure she hadn’t developed a drinking problem. Not that it wasn’t totally understandable that she’d reached for the crutch of alcohol to cope with the last couple weeks. Hell, everyone knew I’d used it for years before meeting Flick. Sex, booze and tattoos had been my coping mechanisms. Not anymore. Well, I’d sex up my old lady any chance I got, and I’d drink a few beers or whiskeys with the brothers. Hadn’t gotten any new ink in a while, though.
Flick handing me a cold glass pulled me from my introspection. Keeping my gaze on her, I made fast work of downing the water before I took her glass and set them both on the sink.
“I know we gotta talk, babe. But I’ve fucking missed you. Can we talk in bed with me holding you?”
She barked out a laugh, shaking her head as she saw through my ploy easily. “No, we can’t fuck this out, Taz.” She rubbed a palm over the back of her neck. “We need to talk. Really talk. Get everything out in the open. Then you can shave off that beard and we’ll go to bed.”
That made me smirk her way as I stroked the short whiskers that’d grown in. “What? You don’t like my new look?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “If you really want to keep it, you can. I’ll get used to it, I suppose.”
Before she could guess what I was going to do, I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her in against me. Then I lowered my face so I could rub the offending hair over her neck until she was giggling and pushing me away.
“That’s why it needs to go! Way too ticklish! Taz, stop!”
After giving her ear a nip, I pulled back and stared into her eyes, both of us growing serious.
“I’m sorry I stayed away, Flick.” Pausing, I struggled to put how I was feeling into words. “I didn’t know how to process everything, so I hid away like a fucking coward, and I’m so damn sorry.”
She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “If I hadn’t kept what I knew about Gordon from you, you wouldn’t have needed to process anything.” She paused to sniff, blinking back her tears. “I honestly was just trying to protect you but ended up nearly destroying everything.”
She started sobbing, and I brought her in against me, wrapping my arms around her shaking body as my heart shattered. When she slipped her hands under my cut, snuggling in against me, I buried my face into her hair, ignoring my own tears that leaked down my cheeks as we continued to hold onto each other.
Every one of her sobs was a fresh slice to my soul, but I stayed strong against the storm that was trying to swallow us whole. Rubbing my palms over her back and pressing kisses to her head, I struggled to keep my own emotions bottled up. Eventually, her sobs lessened and after rubbing her face in against my shirt with a shuddering breath, she pulled back and looked up at me with red-rimmed eyes.
“I love you, Felicity. All of you. The hellcat that’ll do anything needed to protect those she loves, the curious kitten who wants to explore everything life can gift, and the mama bear that loves deeply and with everything you have. I’m sorry I tried to box up the hellcat part of you. I let fear control me, and in the end, it was me that nearly cost me my family. Forgive me?”
She shook her head as more tears flowed, but before I could panic, she cupped my cheeks in her palms and guided me toward her. I went willingly, and sparks flew over my skin the moment our lips touched. The kiss was slow and deep, a reconnection of souls that I needed more than I needed to breathe.
When she pulled back, I opened my eyes to stare into her gaze, taking in how fucking beautiful my woman was.
“Of course, I forgive you. I love you with all my heart and soul, Donovan. That includes the alpha male warrior side of you, and I guess I tried to box that part of you away too. I should have come to you the second I got off the phone with Greg. If there’s ever a next time, I promise that’s what I’ll do. I’ll never risk us like this ever again. Can you move past what I’ve done? Forgive me?”
Warmth filled my heart. “Yes. We move forward, Flick. Never back.” Pausing to press a kiss to her forehead, I smirked at her. “Can we take this to the bedroom now?”
Her laugh was a little watery, but she was wearing a big grin.
“Sure, Taz. Take me to bed and give me everything I’ve been missing.”
“Now, that’s something I’m sure I can deliver on. Especially after my two-week dry spell. I have energy to burn, baby!”
Scooping her up in my arms, she laughed and wrapped her arms around my neck as I rushed toward the stairs. Neither of us would be getting much sleep tonight. I had a new mission, and this one was going to be my pleasure to complete.
