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I just hope nothing bad happens before I can say the words out loud.
CHAPTER 10
FRIAR
I look up from where I’m lounging back on the couch and freeze as I watch Robyn walk into the room in a fucking onesie that is covered in a print depicting elves wrapping Rudolf up in Christmas lights as Santa laughs in the background. I have never, not once in my life, thought a onesie was sexy. I was wrong.
The material looks soft as it clings to my woman’s curves making me a little jealous of the fucking onesie in question. My cock goes rock hard at the sight in front of me and the loose flannel pajama pants I have on do nothing to hide the fucking thing.
I reach down and adjust it just as Robyn looks up and her brown eyes sparkle with amusement. She does a slow twirl up on her tiptoes like she’s wearing the most expensive lingerie money can buy. Honestly, she might as well be considering this onesie is doing things for me that I never expected.
She arches an eyebrow and sasses, “See something you like?”
“I’m not going to lie to you, Temptress.” My eyes roam over her body and I clench my hands together to stop myself from reaching for her when she saunters closer. “On paper, this look should not be sexy, but I’m rock-fucking-hard right now.”
She smiles softly at me, her eyes filled with affection and amusement as she shakes her head. “Come on. Let’s head out. The movie marathon and PJ night wait for no one.”
I growl when I think of anyone else getting to see my woman the way she’s dressed right now. All her curves are on full display. I have no doubt that any man who looks at her will be thinking about grabbing her hips and sinking into her the same way I am right now.
Then there’s the fact that the Castillo assholes have been spending more time in Mistletoe Creek. It doesn’t seem like they’ve gotten closer to figuring out Robyn is the hacker, but the more she’s exposed out there, the higher the chance.
The idea of her being in danger makes my vision hazy with red and my heart thump against the inside of my rib cage. I can’t lose her now that I found her. I just fucking can’t.
I’ve lost enough in this life, and it’s taught me to hold on to the things and people who matter the most and fight for them. I know Robyn cares about me, fuck, I think she might love me, but she’s still scared. She’s so close to accepting me completely and her getting hurt or taken from me would ruin everything we’ve been building.
I’m not going to be able to stay much longer and Christmas is tomorrow. The thought of leaving without her has dread filling me, even though there isn’t a doubt in my mind that I would be racing back to her. If she refuses to move to Seattle, I’d be coming back with her to stay. If she’s just not ready to leave yet, then I’d be coming back to coax her into making the leap.
Either way there’s no way I’d be able to leave her for long. But I can’t do that if there are other people looking for her.
And, yet, Spark’s patience is running thin, especially because I had already filled him in on all the details surrounding Robyn and he holds nothing against her. When I spoke to Spark today, he growled, “I know you want to stay with your woman, but we have work to do here, Friar. You’ve also gotta know Clutch is practically climbing up the walls. I’m trying to honor your request to let you be the one to fill him in on what you’ve found. Unless you want to do it over the phone, you need to come home.”
“I can’t just leave her,” I insisted, my voice firm. “She’s mine.”
The sigh he let out was heavy and weighted with much more than annoyance—it was like I could hear the weight of the club and his responsibilities in it. “So you’ve said, but until she’s claimed at the table, it’s unofficial and not enough for me to let you stay there longer. You had a mission. You completed it. It’s time to finish the job and come home.” There was a pause while I was trying not to lose my shit on my Prez. “I expect you guys to start back the day after Christmas. How you travel is up to you.”
Then he hung up on me, ending the conversation and making me feel like I was being pulled in two very important and different directions.
It feels like time is running out. If those Castillo fuckers don’t give up their search, I won’t be able to leave her. Something has got to give, but I don’t want it to happen at the expense of my woman’s safety.
“Tuck,” Robyn calls gently to get my attention as her fingers run through my hair.
When I look up, the expression on her face is filled with concern. When was the last time someone showed so much care for me? I can’t remember. Never?
With my brothers it’s different. We’re family and we’re loyal, but it’s not the same softness my woman offers me. I wouldn’t want it to be either.
I learned how to be the man I wanted to be wearing my cut and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I learned how to be that man so I could be right here right now for my woman. I know it to the depths of my soul, but I don’t have a lot of time to convince her.
I wrap my arm around my woman’s waist and pull her down onto my lap, grinning when she lets out a small shriek of surprise. I nuzzle my face into the crook of her neck, the soft fabric of her onesie snagging on the stubble on my jaw. The sound of her giggle filling up her small apartment makes me feel lighter.
It makes me feel like I might have a chance to pull this off and get her to come home with me.
I know it’s where she belongs. She’s scared, and I get why, but I just need a chance, and for her to take a leap. I should have asked Santa for a little Christmas miracle yesterday at breakfast.
My words are muffled against her skin, “How about we stay in? We can watch Christmas movies here if you want. I don’t give a shit what we do as long as it’s me and you, Temptress.” She pulls back from me slightly and cups my face in her hands, the tips of her fingers rubbing against my stubble, as she looks into my eyes. “I just don’t want to share you,” I whisper.
She nods slowly. “And you don’t want me exposed more than I have to be since those assholes are spending more time in town,” she surmises.
I kiss her forehead and take a deep breath of her scent. It’s like home and the holidays, two things I didn’t grow up with, but know instinctively. “You’re so damn smart.” I amend my words, the pout in my voice obvious, “Too damn smart, really.”
