Page 109 of Carson

“I protected my soul,” I whisper.

“You protected your soul,” he agrees. “And that’s what’s important. Your body is just skin and bones.”

He looks me dead in the eyes. “When you make love to Carson, and you will, forget about the physical. You open your soul to him. Get lost in his fucking eyes, talk to him, feel his energy, not his skin. Lose yourself in a fucking universe that only the two of you get to create. Your father won’t find you there … I promise.”

I close my eyes, and when I open them again, he’s gone.

I pull myself up from the ground, wiping my eyes.

Carver was the least likely person here to get through to me.

I think I just met a side of him no one ever gets to see.

When I get back to the warehouse, Carson is looking for me. “Hey,” he says, studying me. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” I say, offering him a bright smile. “Are you guys all loaded up and ready to go?”

“Yeah, but I can stay back if you need me to. Jackson won’t mind.”

I wave him off. “No, seriously, I’m fine. I promised your mom that I’d run supper down to your dad later, so I’ll be busy.”

Carson watches his club brothers head toward their bikes. “I forgot Mom and Kelsie were taking the kids to Disneyland.” He rubs his hand over his forehead. “Aw, I don’t know, Luna. I think I should stay.”

Cole walks by and gives me a sad look.

I focus on Carson. “You’re going. Besides, I want to get all my stuff moved into your room.”

He smiles. “Okay. But you leave the heavy lifting to me.”

“I don’t own anything that requires heavy lifting.”

“Smart,” Carver says, overhearing us. He wraps his arm around Carson. “Come on, give her a kiss. We’ve got to go.”

Carson shrugs out from under him. “Jesus Christ, man, some space?”

Carver winks at me, but Jackson walks by and draws his attention away from us. “Prez, wait up, I want to talk to you about something.”

Carver officially patched over. That’s part of what this “mission” is. They’re really just going out to ride and relax as a club. I’m hoping Cole and Carson will break down and talk without me in the picture.

Charlotte told me it was easy to get Jackson on board.

“All you have to do is point them in the right direction. Most men will run with it,” she had said. “But it’s important you let them think it was all their idea.”

Who knows, maybe Charlotte will run this club someday.

I head back to the cabin after saying goodbye, and I get right to work moving my stuff out of Vinny.

“It’s been a ride,” I tell my van, running my hand along the side of it.

It doesn’t take long to get most everything moved inside. All of my clothes are now hanging next to Carson’s. All I have left are a few boxes of sentimental items.

I’m sure we’ll use the van. I still plan to travel, but it feels good to move my stuff into a solid home.

I’m already getting excited about decorating for Christmas.

I haven’t had a real Christmas since Mom was alive.

My fingers drag over my clothes one last time before I close the closet door.