“Baby,” he says, voice rough but softer now. “Breathe. Show me your pretty ink.”
I slowly lift the side of my dress, revealing the new ink on my hip bone, a delicate buttercup with soft yellow and white petals. On the petals, in pretty script, are his initials,J T W. I hold my breath, waiting for his reaction.
He goes completely still and the silence stretches. He just stares at the tattoo, one big hand gripping my hip. My heart starts hammering for a completely different reason.Oh god. I went too far.I feel my eyes sting. This was supposed to be romantic, a way to show him how much he means to me, but now it feels like I just branded myself with his name like some desperate girl. What if he thinks I’m moving too fast? What if he doesn’t feel the same way I do? What if this is too serious for him and I just ruined everything?
“I…I’m sorry,” I whisper, voice cracking as I start to pull my dress back down. “It was stupid. I got carried away with the girls and the mimosas and I thought… I shouldn’t have put your initials on me like that. If you don’t like it, or if it’s too much, I can—”
Tiny’s head snaps up. In the next second he’s cupping my face with both hands, forcing me to look at him. “Baby, stop.”
His thumbs wipe away the tears I didn’t even realize were falling. His eyes are dark, intense, and a little wild. “You really did that for me?” he asks, voice rough. “Got my initials on your body… right there where only I get to see it?”
I nod, barely holding it together. “I wanted you to know how I feel. That I’m yours. But if you don’t feel the same—”
“I love you.” The words come out of him fast and raw, like they’ve been waiting to explode out of him forever.
I freeze. Tiny rests his forehead against mine, breathing hard. “I love you, Lucy. Been in love with you for a while now, but I didn’t want to scare you off by saying it too soon. But seeing my initials on you like that… fuck, baby. You just wrecked me in the best way.”
A sob of relief escapes me. “I love you too,” I whisper, the words tumbling out. “So much. I was so scared you didn’t feel the same.”
He kisses me deep, desperate, and full of everything we just said. His hands slide down to grip my waist carefully, mindful of the fresh tattoo. “I love you,” he says again against my lips, like he can’t stop saying it now that it’s out. “My sweet, brave girl. My buttercup. You’re mine. And I’m yours.”
I melt into him, tears still falling but for a completely different reason now. All the fear dissolves into warmth and safety. This was the best decision I’ve ever made.
EIGHTEEN
TINY
I wakeup with Lucy’s head on my chest. Her breathing is slow and even. The room is still dark but I can see the first hints of morning light around the edges of the blinds. I don’t move right away. I just lie there feeling the weight of her against me. Her leg is thrown over mine. One of her hands rests on my stomach. I run my fingers slowly up and down her back. She makes a small sound in her sleep and presses closer.
These mornings have become my favorite part of the day. Knowing she’s here. Knowing she chose to stay the night. Knowing she trusts me enough to let her guard down completely. I kiss the top of her head and she stirs.
“Morning,” she mumbles against my skin.
“Morning, sweetheart.” My voice is rough from sleep. “You sleep okay?”
She nods. “Best sleep I’ve had in weeks.”
We stay like that for a while. No rush to get up. No pressure. Just us. When she finally lifts her head I kiss her properly. Slow at first. Then deeper. She shifts until she’s straddling me. I slidemy hands up her thighs. She’s only wearing one of my shirts. It rides up when she moves.
We take our time. I sit up so I can kiss her neck. She grinds against me and I groan. My hands find her hips. I guide her movements. She’s already wet. I can feel it through my boxers. I pull the shirt over her head and toss it aside. Her hands push my boxers down. We don’t talk much. Just soft sounds and the way our bodies move together.
Afterward we lie tangled up again. She traces patterns on my chest with her finger. I rub her back. These quiet moments feel bigger than anything else in my life right now.
“I have church today,” I tell her. “Club stuff. Shouldn’t be too long.”
She nods. “I’m just home studying.”
“Good, I like knowing you’re here.”
We get up eventually and I make coffee while she showers. When she comes out in leggings and one of my shirts, I pull her in for another kiss before I leave. She smiles against my mouth. “Have a good day,” she says.
“You too. I love you, buttercup.”
She blushes but the look on her face is everything. “I love you too, Tiny.”
I head to the clubhouse. The lot is already filling up. I park my bike and walk inside. The mood in the room feels heavier than usual. Pres is at the head of the table when we all sit down. He doesn’t waste time. “Southside Kings hit another one of our contacts last night,” he says. “Small load but it’s the third time this month. They’re testing us. We need to start doubling up oneverything. No solo runs. No one rides alone. Eyes open at all times.”
I listen while the brothers talk. Wyatt suggests increasing patrols near the border of our territory. Steele wants to reach out to a couple of our allies. I add a few thoughts about the prospects who’ve been reporting cars following them. The meeting runs long.
