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Blinking, it’s all I can do to keep from bugging out at sleeping in so late. I don’t remember the last time I slept so late or that deep. I normally only nap throughout the night and when I do, I’m a light sleeper.”
“I’ve never slept like that,” I state and scoot away from him.
“Yeah, Elle, you did,” Cyprus smirks. “Noah and I used to nearly have to drag your ass out of bed most days.”
I flinch at him mentioning Noah and my heart clenches. “I need to get up. I was supposed to start helping with Bride. I mean, that’s what I’m doing here, isn’t it?” I blather, changing the subject.
Cyprus catches me around the waist as I get to my feet and pulls me in front of him to stand between his legs. His hands run up and down my sides. His eyes catching mine. “Baby, you needed to sleep.”
“I didn’t need to sleep, and don’t call me baby. I’m not that or anything else to you,” I snap and shove at his shoulders, though this is pointless because he doesn’t budge. And I can’t step back due to his hands at my sides.
Drat.
Damn him.
It’s bad enough everything else that’s going on. Does he have to be so stinking hot and gorgeous and . . . complete and utterly sexy with those dark, sinful eyes? They seem to darken, and he takes my words as a challenge.
“Oh, Noelle, it seems I’m going to have to help you figure out what’s going on here,” Cyprus states and wraps his arms fully around my waist, locking me to him.
“Figure what out?” I demand and push against him. “And let me go. I need . . .”
“You need to listen to me.” Interrupting me, Cyprus falls back on his back, taking me with him. We roll until he’s hovering over me. His nose nearly brushing mine and our breath mingles. “You were exhausted, Elle. You didn’t budge an inch when my alarm went off. I got up, took care of Bride, got her ready for school, and took her there. I came back, you were still in the same spot. Dead to the world. So, yeah, baby, you needed to sleep. And as for you being anything to me . . . you definitely are. See, I’ve claimed you, and that makes you mine. I’ll also tell you something else I’ve figured out; you’ve been mine for a long fuckin’ time, and what’s happened doesn’t change a damn thing. I intend to make sure you never go back to that lifestyle.”
I swallow past the lump trying to form in my throat and stare up at him while rolling my bottom lip between my teeth. Cyprus’s eyes watch me closely. That gaze of his dropping to my mouth. God knows I’d do anything he asks if he were to kiss me again. But then again, I’d be insane to want him to do that. I’m filth and dirty and . . . and just plain old not good for him. He deserves a woman who is everything he could ever want. Not someone who has been broken down and damaged beyond repair.
Because, believe me, that’s exactly what I am.
Unrepairable.
CHAPTER11
NOELLE
“We’ve got to go out and get the things you need today before Bride gets out of school,” Cyprus announces while placing a plate with toast that has butter and strawberry jam on it. It’s my favorite thing, and rarely have I gotten to eat anything with strawberry jam. Any jam, for that matter. It’s always the basics that I end up getting. A lot of canned items and lunch meat. If and when I get meats, they’re always marked down and getting ready to expire.
“If you just take me home, I have things there.” I lift the toast and take a bite. Involuntarily, my eyes close, and I moan at how good the jam on the toast is.
“Not gonna happen, Noelle,” Cyprus says, the tone of his voice catching my attention with how husky and low it goes.
I open my eyes and find him staring at me lustfully, but I shut down the thought before it could even begin.
Clearing my throat, I ask, “Why?”
“Already told you, baby, and I’m not a fan of repeating myself constantly.” Cyprus straightens and takes a bite of his own breakfast before going on. “Now, eat up so we can get this shit done. I took today off, so I can help get you settled. Tomorrow, I’ve got to get back to the garage. I’ve got a bike I’m restoring for a customer and need to finish it.”
“You restore bikes?” The question comes out before I can stop myself.
“Cars and trucks too.” He nods.
The fact he’s doing what he always said he wanted to do with Noah clenches at my heart and leaves me feeling worse than ever. If not for me, he and Noah would be doing that together. It’s what they said they were going to do. Join the military, then, when they got out, they intended on opening a garage. That’s what they said, and now . . . Cyprus is working at a garage, I’m guessing, owned by the club. I know they have one in town, but I never go to it. My beat-up car isn’t worth fixing.
Finishing my breakfast, I scoot off the stool and carry my plate to the sink. I rinse and set the plate to the side with the coffee mug. Cyprus grabs my wrist and turns me toward him, his hands gripping my waist.
“I know what you’re thinking, baby,” he utters oh so softly that it sends the butterflies in my stomach into overdrive.
Why does he have to be so . . . so everything?
“You don’t know what I’m thinking. It’s not like you’re a mind reader,” I snap.
