Page 42 of Riding Bare

“Does the same apply?” she asks.

It’s my turn to look surprised. Not only does she know she’s not supposed to ask me those kinds of questions, but I haven’t had time to be with anyone else since we started together.

I mean, it’s been less than a week.

I don’t know when I’d have the time to be with a clubwhore, but I know what she’s asking. She’s not asking for the last few days. She’s asking about the future. I should tell her to mind her fucking business and know her place.

I should, but I never would.

Because the rules apply.

“Only you, sweetheart.”

CHAPTER

THIRTY-THREE

CHASSIS

Only you, sweetheart.

My entire body trembles at his words. I don’t know why, but his words, they slam into me, or maybe that’s my heart slamming against my ribs. I’m not sure which way is up right now, and I can’t make out what’s what over the blood rushing in my ears.

A thumping moves throughout my entire body, through my blood, slamming into my ears, as I think about those words. I want to believe him so badly. That there is only me... forever. I know the ways of their world, and I’m likely going to get hurt over and over again by this man.

This beautiful man with eyes that can see right through me.

This man who’s not only taken on me, but this baby, too, when he didn’t have to do either. I mean, sure, my dad asked him, and he did him a favor. But he could have put me up at the clubhouse and pretended I didn’t exist.

But Amos cared for me and protected me when he didn’t have to.

He gave me a home, freedom—a life.

I watch him. He gives me a wink, then shifts his attention back to his food. I watch as he picks up his fork, sinking it down into the casserole I made. I’m not sure if he’s even going to like my cooking.

Holding my breath, I wait for him to try the shredded chicken, pasta, cheesy broccoli dish. I breathe out slowly as I continue to watch him, waiting as he chews. I open my mouth to ask him if he likes it when, thankfully, he puts me out of my misery.

“Amazing,” Amos murmurs. “Didn’t know you could cook.”

Pride fills my chest. I square my shoulders before I pick up my fork and dip it into my own casserole. “There wasn’t a whole lot for me to do as a teenager, well, before I could drive. So I played in the kitchen.”

“And after you could drive?” he asks.

My cheeks heat as I think about all the trouble I got into once I had my license. It wasn’t like I did anything too bad, but I did run around a bit. House parties or field parties with friends. But I shouldn’t have been doing it.

“I was busy being dumb,” I murmur.

Amos snorts. “Sounds about right for the age. I think that phase lasted for about thirty years for me, maybe longer.”

Taking another bite, I think about asking him if all of this is real. Just to get the clarification that I feel I need. Well, maybe it’s not that I need it, but really that I just want it. I want him to clarify that this isn’t just a favor he’s doing for my father. That he doesn’t want anyone else.

That it’s real.

We finish dinner, and as we do, the conversation shifts to my brother, and I ask him where my brother will be living, because I can’t imagine him here in this house. It only has two bedrooms, and the baby’s room is a mess.

“He’ll be living down at the clubhouse in one of the spare rooms. He’ll only be watching you part of the time, when I can’t be here.”

I start to ask him where he’s going to be, but I don’t get the chance because he continues. “I have enough prospects to keep someone on the front porch at all times, but I’d rather have someone I can undoubtedly trust when I’m not home.”