Page 14 of Rogue’s Vow

I hold her close, still absorbing all that I’ve learned tonight about Angel, who crashed into my club and changed my life. I cradle her head, feeling the tears on my chest. “Angel, that was the most precious gift anyone has ever given me. It makes me a happy, happy man. Why would I not want you now?”

She sniffs and tilts her head to look up at me while I wipe her tears. “I hate to see you upset.” Angel shakes her head. “No, these are happy tears. I love that you didn’t know and still want me even after. It’s validating that there really still are a few good men in the world today.”

I kiss the top of her forehead and fold my arms around her tighter, just wrapping myself in the moment and her happiness. She’s given me this extraordinary gift and I want to give her one in return. I vow to send out messages far and wide to all the other Royal Bastard chapters across the states to be on the lookout for her sister using the little wallet-sized picture that Angel keeps on her nightstand. And if ever find her fucking stepdad, I honestly don’t know what I’ll do but it’s not going to be good.

“Rogue?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Thank you for protecting me, for keeping me safe even though your men don’t care for me much.”

“You’re welcome. It’s not that they don’t like you, it’s that you’re an unknown and that is something we all try to avoid for the safety of the crew. They’ll come around.”

She glances up at me with wide eyes. “You plan on keeping me here, after everything?

“I’m sure as fuck not giving you back.”

15

ANGEL

Rogue’s side of the bed is empty when I wake up but the Arizona sun peeking in tells me it’s not that early. I glance around to find a clock or something but there’s nothing like that around. Rogue’s bathroom is manly, all dark green and brown. A little stark, no rugs or anything of the kind but super clean.

I jump in the shower and let the pelting water run over me, massaging my scalp with the spray before using his shampoo to wash my hair. I inhale deeply It’s not an overtly manly smell, but it’s not full of perfume either. It will do in a pinch. Far better than taking the walk of shame smelling like him to my room to shower. But there’s a part of me that doesn’t want to wash anything that he gave me away.

Besides, there’s something about being in Rogue’s personal space that makes me feel comfortable, maybe even safer. I inhale his body wash and smile, putting a generous amount in my hands to rub onto my skin. Now this is going to make me smell like Rogue all day long and as I rub it in, I don’t necessarily feel like that’s a bad thing although I may get a look or two from his grumpy crew.

The smell of bacon cooking wafts upward as I take the stairs to the main club area. Four men are sitting around the large square table and two are helping Rogue in the kitchen behind the bar. He looks up, his eyes meeting mine, as though sensing me from afar.

His eyes travel the length of me, sending tiny shivers of desire right down my spine. I walk toward him, trying to avoid looking at the men at the table but a glass thudding on the table catches my attention. I glance their way and am shocked as every single one of them gives me a nod.

I swallow through the emotion and return their friendliness with a small smile. I’m not sure what that was all about but I’ll take a greeting like that compared to the glares I’ve received since I arrived any day of the week.

“Morning,” I say to Rogue as I walk behind the bar. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

He shakes his head. “No, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum have the rest of it covered, don’t you boys?”

“Yes, Prez,” they answer in unison, making him grin before turning to me. “Orange juice? Freshly squeezed from the oranges picked in the grove out back,” he says.

“Sounds amazing. I’ll have that and some coffee too. I’m absolutely parched.”

He nods. “Working around all the dust and drywall yesterday. The masks help but it still gets in your system.”

I take the glass of chilled orange juice he hands me and take a long sip. “This is delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever had freshly squeezed juice like this, just the store brands.” I take another long drink. It’s thick, the pulp hasn’t been removed but it’s the best juice I’ve ever had. “You should bottle this.”

He laughs. “We got lucky with this piece of property. Right on the edge of town, behind all the business, but adjacent to the agricultural area behind us. Best of both worlds if you ask me.”

“Do you like coffee?” I ask, rinsing my empty glass in the sink before taking a coffee cup from the strainer sitting on the counter. “Do you mind if I have a cup?”

He grins. “I like coffee, black. You can have anything you want in here but don’t use that cup. It’s my VP’s. He’ll have a total breakdown if someone puts their lips on his cup.” He opens the cupboard and hands me a stark white cup. “Use this for now.”

I glance over at the table and can’t for the life of me picture any of them having a fit over a mug, but I’ll take his word for it because I’m not in any hurry to get on their bad side again. The recruits plate our breakfast and take it to the table. “Let’s eat, the guys are coming to start on the outside of the club tonight.”

I follow him to the table and sit next to him, trying not to look down the line of men, but Rogue isn’t going to let the silence ride. “All right everyone. Let’s get the formal introductions out of the way. “Everyone knows Angel. This is Hayze, VP, Drifter, Sgt at Arms, Baldz is our Road Captain and Sears is our cleaner. The rest of the guys are still sleeping or taking a turn on patrol.

And you’ve met Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum,” he says.

“Nice to meet you, everyone. I’m so very sorry about the damage to your club. I know that doesn’t hardly make up for what happened, but I’ll do my best to help fix it in any way that I can.”