Since we walked down to the ice cream shop, I stand and hold out my hand to her. “Let’s walk back since they’re wanting to close,” I say.
“Works for me, I’m sure Uncle Mack is wondering where I’m at,” she replies.
“Naw, I shot him a text and let him know we were heading back before we left the restaurant. Once you pull out of the parking lot, I'll send him another one to let him know you’re on your way home,” I reply.
I can tell she’s nervous as we get to her Jeep. “ShellBell?” I call out, causing her to turn toward me.
“Yeah?” she asks as she looks up at me, a weird look in her eyes.
“Remember what I told you? Nothing’s gonna happen that you don’t want to happen, sweetheart.”
“I know, I know. I’m just… nervous is all,” she replies.
“Why are you nervous? I’m not planning to fuck you on the hood of your beloved Jeep. Well, at least not tonight and definitely not in plain sight of any cameras,” I tease.
“James was my first… my first everything, Abyss. I didn’t really date in high school, not because I didn’t want to, but I was so focused on both my schooling, but also the sports I played, that I just didn’t have time. And it’s been years since he was alive, what if… what if I’ve forgotten how to kiss someone?” she asks.
I gently pull her into my arms, wrapping them around her then take one hand and tilt her head up so she’s looking up at me. “It’s okay if you’re nervous, babe. And just gonna put it out there, I appreciate the open honesty as well.”
She smiles; it’s a bit shaky, but I can work with her nerves. I can’t do anything if she decides she wants nothing to do with meso that we can become an us. “Okay, good, because I don’t know how else to be.”
“Gonna kiss you now, Shelly,” I proclaim.
“Okay.”
As I lower my head, my thoughts are consumed by her scent. She wears something light and floral; it’s not overpowering at all yet still envelops me as I pull her closer. When our lips finally touch, I have to bite back my groan.
It’s like coming home.
The electricity I felt at our first touch explodes around us and if I wasn’t such a realist, I would imagine that sparks and fireworks were flying all around us as she leans into our embrace when I deepen the kiss.
Long moments pass as we explore each other’s mouth, the small mewls she’s unknowingly making sending my body into overdrive. So much so, I have to focus on not getting hard, something I’ve been able to do for a helluva long time. But with Shelly, it’s a lost cause.
When we’re both breathless, I pull back enough until our foreheads are leaning against one another and whisper, “This starts us, Shelly. No matter how long it takes, you’re going to be mine in all ways. Do you understand?”
“Yeah.”
Her voice is breathy and I can see the sparkle in her eyes as well as the flush on her cheeks. I lean in and give her another quick kiss then say, “Let’s get you into your Jeep before I rethink my earlier statement.”
She presses the fob and her door unlocks, and as I open it to help her inside, I’m enraptured by her giggles as she slides onto the driver’s seat. “I had a great time tonight, Abyss. Thank you.”
“I did as well. I’ll see you tomorrow and we’ll see what our schedules look like so we can plan another date. How does that sound?” I ask.
“I’d like that. You’ll let Uncle Mack know I’m on my way home, right?”
“Yeah, sweetheart, I’ll do that. Good night. Text me when you get home, alright?”
She rolls her eyes at my bossy attitude, but I hold firm. She’s getting involved with the Kings, and our chapter may be mostly legal, but we still have enemies out there and that means she's under our protection.
“Okay, fine, I will.”
Once her door is closed and she starts her Jeep, I hit the roof then step back so she can pull off. As her taillights fade, I grab my phone and send Mack a text letting him know she’s on her way home.
“Take it the date went okay,” BamBam says when I walk into the clubhouse whistling.
“Fine, why?” I ask as I make my way to the bar for a beer.
“Because in all the years I’ve known you, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you whistle. Hell, most of the time, you walk around with a scowl on your fucking face. If your woman has performed amiracle such as this so soon, then maybe I need to check into what it takes to declare someone a saint. Because there are times when some of the brothers think you hate them.”
