Page 60 of Guarding Glenda

“Leigh, I can put away groceries.”

“Okay.”

“And I can get a job.”

I stopped pulling things from the bag I had and stopped her from going for more. Grabbing her hips, I put her on the counter so she couldn’t move. “Glenda. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I told you. I’m not looking to be bossed around.”

Pressing myself between her thighs, I looked up at her. “Okay. Is this about money?”

“No. I get a check from the military and have very few bills.”

“Talk to me, then. Explain it.”

“Well for one, you can’t just sit here with me all day forever. You have to go back to work and I’m sure Hammer is not okay with you missing so much club stuff all this time.”

“True. But what’s wrong with me wanting to take care of you? I’ve wanted you for so long, Glenda. Is it crazy for me to want to give you a soft life?”

“You’re a Royal Bastard. You can’t promise a soft life for me.”

I cupped her cheeks. “I will make it as soft as I possibly can. I just want you to be happy.”

“Well, being around the girls does make me happy. And I like having something to do.”

Sighing, I said, “Okay. You can hang at the clubhouse and do whatever then. Okay? But something was buggin’ you before that came up.”

Her eyes went down, but I moved her face up. Her eyes still stayed low.

“Look at me. You can tell me anything. I can’t help if I don’t know what’s wrong.”

She bit her lip, then said, “I know all the things you said. But how do I… what if you… I don’t know if….”

“If what?”

“Will you…” Her face was beet red. “Do you think it’s okay to have other girls?”

“I don’t want any other girls.”

“Right now. But maybe on a run, or if I’m sick, or–”

I let go of her face and ran my hand down my own. “I really fucking hate Reggie.”

Her brows pinched. “What?”

“He really did a number on you.”

She shrugged, her palms up. “It wasn’t just him. Nearly all the guys do it.”

I couldn’t argue that. “Look, I didn’t wait around for you all this time and do all this to have you a few times then switch up. I’ve been waiting for you to be mine. All mine. Only mine.” I stepped closer. “You said you wanted to be mine and just mine. And you wanted me all to yourself. And I promised. You remember?’

“Yeah, but–”

I leaned in closer, one hand on her hip, the other on her neck. “My heart is yours, always, Glenda. I loved you even when you hated me. Nothing is gonna change that.”

Her eyes were glassy. “How can you be sure?”

“Because I am. And I know you can’t understand because you’ve had nothing but bad shit until now. But I’ll prove it to you every day. You’ll see. But I need you to promise me you’re mine.”