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Tattooed skin played over muscles as he moved. His ink was intricate, with pictures of bikes and machines mixed with barbed wire and tribal etchings. Each piece told a story, and I found myself drawn to the sight of him with a renewed sense of desire.
As Rocket peeled off his wet clothes and reached for a dry pair of jeans, I couldn’t help but notice the torn and frayed seams that spoke of long use. Probably his favorite pair, if I had to guess. It was clear that he had been through a lot, both physically and emotionally, and yet he still stood before me with an unshakable sense of strength.
“You know, I’ve always been drawn to the rough-and-tumble kind of guy.” I reached out and placed a hand on his chest, bringing his attention back to me. “That you?”
“Nope. But I’m deadly. Deadly trumps rough and tumble any day.” He grinned at me and the last of the fear and grief I’d been feeling melted away. And yeah. I could admit, at least to myself, that I’d been afraid Rocket would die. I’d actually felt a sharp sense of grief I hadn’t fully acknowledged until the moment I’d lost my shit.
He brushed a thumb gently over my bruised cheek. It didn’t hurt that badly, but I liked that it seemed to bother him. Maybe he felt something for me too. “This hurt?”
I shrugged. “A little. Not too bad.”
A satisfied grunt told me I’d said the right thing. “Good. You didn’t lie. From this moment forward, we don’t lie to each other, Lemon. Not about anything. If you’re hurting -- physically or emotionally -- I need to know. You’ve thrown down the gauntlet by telling me you’re gonna be my old lady so you can fix my club. Now I’m picking it up. You will help me. But the only way we accomplish everything we need to is if we’re honest with each other. No matter how hard it is. There are no secrets between us.”
Did I imagine he winced at that last? Time to push him a little.
“Really. So you’ll tell me everything?”
“If that’s what you need, then yes. Just be careful what you ask because I will tell you. If you can’t handle what I tell you, you don’t ask.”
“How about if you warn me before you answer if it’s something too bad?”
Rocket nodded slowly. “I think that’s the best way to approach it.”
“Good.” I crossed my arms over my chest to hold the towel in place better. There was a knock at the door across the room. I didn’t even know whose room I was in.
“That’ll be either Bullet or someone bringing you some clothes.” He gave me a stern look. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Rocket exited the bathroom, and naturally I followed him. He must have missed that I was on his six because he marched to the door and yanked it open.
“Someone ask for a fuckin’ house call?” A big, burly man with a cranky expression pushed past Rocket but stopped short when he saw me wrapped in only a wet towel. “Wow. So the rumor’s true. You got yourself a woman.”
Rocket sighed heavily and turned to me. “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the bathroom?”
I shrugged. “Not sure. Might have messed up my hearing listening to all Falcon’s bitchin’ and moanin’ over his bike.”
Bullet raised an eyebrow, but didn’t comment. Instead, he tossed me a bag of frozen peas. “Hold that to your face for a while. It’ll help with the swellin’ and kinda numb the pain. You hurt anywhere else?”
I wanted to tell him no, but one look at Rocket’s uncompromising features and I sighed. “My ribs kinda hurt. A little. Not much.” Bullet reached for my towel, but I backed up a step. “Touch it, you die. I’m fine.” I meant it too. No way I was letting that man see me naked. Doctor or not.
“How about you put on some clothes, then let him look.” Rocket tossed me two garments and jerked his head back to the bathroom. “Which is why I wanted you to stay put.” He shook his head slightly. “Gonna have to work on you following instructions.”
“Might want to work on world peace too while you’re at it,” I shot over my shoulder. “Or maybe capturing a unicorn. Either would be easier tasks.”
“Don’t I fuckin’ know it.” Rocket muttered his response like he was all put out and shit, but I heard the humor in his voice. He liked my sass. He just didn’t want to admit it.
Chapter Eight
Rocket
“That’un’s gonna be a handful.” Bullet didn’t look up as he examined my shoulder from both sides. “Looks like the bullet tore straight through. I’d like to get an X-ray to make sure there ain’t fragments. Don’t want it gettin’ infected.” He tossed me a bottle of pills. “Antibiotics. One pill twice a day until they’re gone.” He took out some peroxide and was cleaning the wound when Lemon exited the bathroom. Dressed in my big shirt and a pair of gym shorts.
Sexy. As. Fuck.
She must have seen my satisfied smirk because she scowled at me. “These your idea of clothes? They’re a mile too big.”
“Yep. But they’re comfortable. And, more importantly, they’re mine.”
“Oh. Well, OK then.” She flopped down in a chair and watched intently while Bullet worked on my shoulder.
