What if we cross this line, and we realize things weren’t what we thought they were?
Thankfully, Hayes hasn’t pushed it. He’s a perfect gentleman. I doubt he usually has to wait for a woman to be ready to have sex with him, but if it bothers him, he doesn’t let it show. He’s patient and understanding. Which is even more surprising after he admitted he hasn’t been with anyone else since we met.
He could have been lying, but I don’t think he was. It’s a relief and an added pressure. Because if that’s true, then he felt something too.
What if we mess it all up?
What if we have sex again, and he remembers it differently? What if he gets tired of me when there’s no more chase?
He’s a biker after all. His world is dripping in opportunity and sin. Can anyone be faithful when surrounded by this?
I glance at Tempe. She’s smiling as she types out a text, so it’s probably Steel on the other end. He doesn’t strike me as a man who would mess around on her. I haven’t gotten that impression that any of the guys here would.
Maybe I just need to have a little faith.
Tempe sets her phone down, smirking at me. “I still can’t believe you two ran off and got married.”
“That was all Hayes’s idea. He didn’t tell me where we were going.”
“And yet…” Her gaze falls to the ring on my finger. “You didn’t say no.”
“True.” I bite my lower lip. “He has this way of being very convincing.”
“And very spontaneous.”
“That too.” I smile. “He’s my opposite.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing.” Tempe shrugs. “We need someone who challenges us, or it would be boring. You should have seen Jameson when I met him. Stubborn. No life outside his club. He was so used to putting everyone else first that he forgot he mattered. A lot of the guys arelike that. Their whole lives, it’s drilled into them that the club comes first, but they deserve happiness too. If Soul found that with you, then I’m happy for you both.”
“I heard Steel didn’t take the news about our wedding well.”
She frowns. “He didn’t, but not for the reasons you might think. Jameson and Soul grew up together. They’ve been to hell and back, and lately there’s this wall between them. Jameson isn’t a big fan of weddings, but I think it bothered him that Soul didn’t tell him about it. They run this club together, but he kept something pretty important a secret. All the guys have been struggling with outside pressures lately. But the tensions between Jameson and Soul have stressed him out more than anything external.”
“I didn’t mean to make things worse between them.” My shoulders sink.
“It’s not your fault, and deep down, Jameson knows it. Soul has always been a bit sporadic and reckless—”
“Do you think that Hayes marrying me was reckless?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. At least, not when it comes to you.” Her nose scrunches. “In many ways, yes, Soul is reckless. He’s impossible to pin down. But that’s how I know it’s different with you. Soul doesn’t commit to anything outside the club. Relationships or otherwise. He wouldn’t have proposed if he didn’t want to be married to you. This is different.”
Hearing her say that is a reassurance I didn’t know I needed.
“I just hope the two of you can be happy.” Her smile falters. “How is your uncle going to react when he finds out about the wedding?”
I frown. “He doesn’t react well to anything that he didn’t orchestrate, so… he won’t be happy.”
“That’s too bad for him.” Tempe reaches out, squeezing my hand. “You deserve happiness, Emery.”
“Hayes makes me happy.” It’s terrifying to admit out loud, but I get the impression Tempe won’t judge me.
“You make him happy too.” She smiles. “You and Charlie. She’s such a sweetheart.”
“Now only if she would sleep through the night.” I laugh, and it cuts through the tension in the conversation.
“Tell me about it.” Tempe rolls her eyes. “I always thought babies started sleeping through the night by this age, but Ember is still up at least once—sometimes twice. Thankfully, Jameson is a night owl, so he gets up with her when he’s home.”
“She’s just keeping you on your toes,” I say, and Tempe laughs. “Did Austin sleep better at her age?”
