“The foster homes you went to—they were okay? Safe?” I hated to ask, but I had to know what my woman had been through.
“Yeah, they were safe. Nobody touched me or hit me. But honestly, ‘not being molested’ is like the minimum standard of care. Kids also need things like security, acceptance, inclusion, and a family who loves them no matter what.”
My heart ached for Lexie. What she’d described was exactly what drew me to this club. We were a found family, coming together by choice and not by blood. Sinner, my president and her fucking father, knew all about those things, and he’d denied them for his little girl. If the club had known, we could have protected her. Looked out for her.
I pulled her into my arms for one last kiss before I left. “I can’t change the past, but I sure as hell can change your future. You’ve got a family now. A whole fucking clubhouse full. Even if your—” I paused, not wanting to call him her father since he’d hardly been that. But also not willing to disrespect my prez enough to echo her sperm donor comment, even if he did deserve it. “Even if you weren’t related to Sinner, you’d still be family here because of our relationship.”
“What relationship?” she asked. There was a curve to her lips, as if she was trying to be playful, but I saw the hope in her eyes. I’d need to go slow, because she’d not been cherished in a long time and was afraid to trust it. But she would.
I pulled her into me and kissed her fiercely. “That relationship.”
“And Michael?”
I shook my head, thinking of the moody teenager. “If he’s important to you, he’s important to me. But I meant what I said. I’m not letting you live with a teenage boy you barely know. I didn’t pick up any bad vibes from him, but that doesn’t mean his horny ass won’t try to hook up with his hot new guardian.”
“Eww!” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t be gross. He’s like my little brother.”
I kept my mouth shut, not willing to waste my limited time arguing about the kid. But I had a sister, and I sure as hell didn’t look at her tits the way Michael stared at Lexie’s.
“You both can move in tomorrow.”
Lexie shook her head. “No way. I am not moving in with you. That is just…” She trailed off, and I noted the panic in her eyes.
“Slow down, baby girl.” I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to look into my eyes so she could see the truth. “My house has four bedrooms. No pressure.”
“Four? That’s an awful lot of rooms for one guy.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Hmm, was she jealous?
“It is, but my parents sold it to me at a deep discount when they downsized into their beach front condo. I figured I would need the room one day in the future. When I met the right woman and filled her up with my babies.” I winked.
“Oh,” she said, a blush creeping into her cheeks. “I guess that was, uh… You say I barely know Michael, but I barely know you. And now that I’m responsible for a teenager, I need to do what’s best for him, too. I haven’t even had a chance to ask him what he thinks about living with you.”
I smiled, knowing she’d given me the opening I’d been waiting for.
“What school district do you live in, Lexie?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask?”
“If we’re thinking about what’s best for Michael, I live in Belmont.”
Her eyes widened as I revealed my trump card. My parents had intentionally chosen their neighborhood so my sister and I would attend the best schools. Not that it did me any good, but I did graduate from Angier Adams High School, which I doubt would have happened anywhere else. And it had helped my sister land a full ride to App State.
She sighed. “Fine, you win. But if we’re moving into a house with a yard, I want a dog.”
I grinned, unable to hide the joy of my woman moving in with me. I kissed her on the forehead. “Dog, cat, emu, whatever you want, baby girl. It’s all yours.”
24
LEXIE
The click of a door lock pulled me from my sleep. I was a light sleeper, having never felt quite safe growing up. I hadn’t lied to Bear earlier. No one had ever sneaked into my room or anything like that. But I’d also never felt the security a person has in a place that’s truly their home. Not even in my own apartment.
I sat up, holding the sheet over my breasts as Bear turned to close and lock the door behind him. Moonlight filtered through the porthole window, which was just enough light that I could admire the way his ass filled out his jeans. I bit my bottom lip and rubbed my thighs together, nervous but also eager for what was to come. After he’d left me earlier, I’d made a decision.
Tonight had thrown me for a loop. I was still trying to wrap my brain around the whole thing. But one thing was for sure. If they had murdered me as a message to the Exiled Reapers, I would have died a virgin. Although, Cyclops seemed like he had something in mind other than murder, and that terrified me aswell. Thank god they made me cook first, giving Bear enough time to save me.
But I didn’t want to think about what might have happened. Not when I’d forgone Bear’s t-shirt drawer and was laying naked in his bed.
He turned and jerked slightly before a grin spread across his face. “Did you wait up for me, pixie?”
