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"Jesus Christ," Callum says and then barks laughter.
Somehow, I end up in Cormac's arms, my back to his chest.
"I'm going to let you get away with that one because I deserved it," he growls in my ear. "But next time you go for my balls, you better be ready for the consequences, Mischief."
"W-what consequences?" I ask, struggling to slip free of his grip. Except he's freaking He-Man, and there's no shaking him off. Good grief. What did his parents feed him? Trying to move him is like trying to move a brick wall. Only he doesn't feel like any wall I've ever felt. He's burning hot and curiously…safe.
God, I miss feeling safe. I miss Isla. I miss my bed and my life.
A surge of loneliness wells up from the pit of my stomach, sending tears into my eyes. I battle them back, refusing to cry.
"The one where you're seeing them up close and personal while I'm fucking my kid into you." His teeth close around the shell of my ear, delivering a stinging bite I feel all the way to my core. "Unless you're ready for that, I suggest you keep that sexy little attitude of yours leashed, little girl."
"I'm not a little girl," I growl.
"Believe me; I'm very fucking aware. My goddamn cock wouldn't be hard enough to pound steel if you were." His hot breath pelts my skin, his chest rumbling against my back. "But you're taunting a fucking lion here. The more you fight me, the more I want to settle your little ass down."
"That's because you're a crazy person."
"No, that's because we both know you're only fighting this hard because you're scared out of your mind and too damn stubborn to admit it. And I'm trying real fucking hard not to think about why you're so goddamn scared," he growls. "Because you need me here, not hopping a flight to Tennessee to handle the motherfuckers who hurt you. So I'm going to need you to take it down a notch so I can do my job without losing my mind. Otherwise, we're going to have bigger problems, and I'm thinking you've already got enough of those, baby."
"I am not scared," I whisper, my voice shaking.
"Yeah, you are. And that breaks my fucking heart." His arms tighten around me like he's hugging me. "You're safe now, Bella. So long as you're with me, you'll always be safe." His lips brush the shell of my ear. "Put it down for a little while, Mischief. I've got you now."
"Then stop saying I belong to you. You don't even know me."
"Oh, Mischief." He chuckles, the sound full of wicked intent as it ghosts along the side of my face, heating me to the nth degree. "I know you. I've been looking for you my entire life. I just didn't know it until I set eyes on you."
I'm not entirely sure what he means by that, but I'm not entirely sure he's wrong about it, either. For the first time in my life, something inside feels settled in a way it never has before, as if I've found something that's always been missing. A piece of me that I need. The feeling is terrifying. I don't want to need this man. I don't even want to like him.
I have plans for my life that don't include falling for a bossy giant. My future is in Tennessee, not in Texas. And yet…and yet this man makes it all too easy to see my path forward taking a different route. That's dangerous.He'sdangerous.
I know what love can do to people. Look what it did to Marion. She destroyed herself, my dad, and my family for it. That won't ever be me. I'll never give anyone the power to turn me into what she became. And I think that weakness is in my blood. I've never even told Isla that, but it's true. My biggest fear is that I'm just like our bio-mom.
"Can we please just go already?" I sigh, keeping my gaze firmly on the ground to hide the tears blurring my field of vision. I want to burrow into Cormac's strength and let him keep it all afloat for a little while, but I can't do that. As soon as it's safe, I'm returning to my life. And he's staying here. It's better for him that way.
"Yeah," he says after a slight hesitation. "We can go, Mischief."
Chapter Three
Cormac
Ineedtohirea priest. Shit. Do they even perform weddings if you aren't Catholic? I don't know, but it doesn't matter. I'll find someone willing to marry me and my girl. As soon as I convince her that she wants to marry me, anyway. The way I see it, I may need a week to talk her into it first. She's prickly.
Poor baby has been through hell. She's got the courage of a lion; I'll give her that. But I see the fear deep in those gorgeous baby blues. She's scared out of her mind and trying like hell not to show it. I don't think she wants me to know just how afraid she really is. My girl is strong and independent. She's a fierce little warrior.
I find that sexy as hell. I'm not made for a soft woman. I doubt one could handle me even if she tried. I've always had a little hellfire in my soul. Because of my job, I can be a bossy motherfucker. It comes with the territory. When you're responsible for keeping people alive, you gotta know your shit. I handle my business and know when to take things seriously. But if life isn't fun, what's the fucking point of living it? I drive my MC brothers up the fucking wall most of the time. They think I've got ADHD or some shit, but that's not it.
The truth is, I've just never felt settled. There's always been this vital piece of me missing. Thisthingthat felt urgent, like I needed it now. It took me a long goddamn time to realize it wasn't a thing. It was a person. My soulmate. I've been missing her my entire life.
I'm not missing her now. I've finally found her. She's tucked up on the back of my bike, her arms wrapped tightly around my waist with her thighs cinched around me. I can feel the heat of her pussy against me. Feel her heart pounding against my back.
Bella Sterling is my missing piece.
And I'm mad as hell that someone tried to hurt her. That she watched someone die.
She's allowed to be as prickly as she wants. I won't ever hold it against her, not after what she's been through.
