Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
He led me out to his motorcycle, butterflies swirling in my belly. I held him even tighter than usual as he drove us to the Iron Rogues clubhouse, my thoughts darting between what Britney had said and how serious he’d seemed when he was talking about keeping his promises to me. I was confused and knew I should probably talk to him about it, but now wasn’t the right time. Maybe I’d bring it up after dinner when we had the privacy that his house provided us.
Dahlia was the only one sitting at the bar when we walked into the clubhouse, so Grady left me with her while he went to talk to her husband. I took her up on her offer of a soft drink, staring at the bubbles until she nudged me with her elbow. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Deviant has been gone for fifteen minutes, and you’ve barely said a word,” she pointed out.
I heaved a deep sigh. “Sorry.”
“You can be as quiet as you want, but judging by the look in your eyes and the downward curve of your lips, you seem sad about something. I know we haven’t had the chance to get to know each other that well yet, but I’d like to help if I can,” she offered.
For the first time ever, my nervous habit of blurting stuff out actually helped me because I didn’t have the chance to second-guess sharing my concerns with Dahlia before I said, “I love riding on the back of Grady’s bike, but one of my coworkers mentioned there’s been a long line of women before me, so I can’t help but wonder if I’m making more of it than I should.”
“Your coworker is talking out of her ass,” Dahlia declared with a laugh. “First of all, you’re the only woman besides his mom and sister-in-law allowed to use Deviant’s first name. So you’re definitely not making more of what’s happening between you and him than you should. If anything, you’re probably underestimating Deviant.”
My heart filled with hope. “Really?”
She nodded. “The only thing more sacred than their bike to an Iron Rogue is the woman who belongs to them. Deviant wouldn’t have put you on the back of his unless he was planning to keep you.”
I was in a much better mood when Grady came to find me again only seconds later. “Ready to head to dinner?”
“How about you take me to your place instead?” I suggested. “We can order in some food…after.”
9
ALICE
Taking me up on my suggestion, Grady drove straight to his house and practically dragged me inside and up to his bedroom. His lips were on mine as we crossed the room toward the bed, and I loved every minute of it. Even more so now that I understood the importance of being on the back of his bike.
As soon as my legs hit the mattress, I fell back, pulling Grady down with me. I never thought when I first met this tough biker that he’d fall for a mousy little preschool teacher like me. Yet here I was, underneath him, feeling every bit of his muscle beneath his jeans and leather vest as he kissed me.
I couldn’t help but wonder how much of what was happening between us was real.
“Why do I get the feeling that you’re up in your head, gorgeous? What’re you thinking about?” Grady asked, his lips sliding down my cheek and to my neck, the stubble of his beard grazing my skin.
“Just you,” I murmured.
He sat up slowly, his eyes darkening as he looked down at me.
“No, you’re definitely thinking about something. Maybe me, but something else too.”
I let out a sigh, looking at the ceiling. “It’s just…”
He gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze again. “Eyes, Alice. Eyes.”
I didn’t want to mess things up by asking for too much from Grady too quickly. We hadn’t been together that long, and I had no experience to help me know when to push for more. But I also didn’t want to lie to him. “I just wonder, all this stuff about me being yours. Us. All of that.”
“What about it?” he practically growled.
“Is it real?” I managed to squeak.
“Of course it’s real. You’re mine, aren’t you? Mine to kiss…” His words trailed as he ran his mouth down the side of my neck.
“Mine to touch,” he said, pushing up my shirt and running his fingers down the sides of my waist, leaving goose bumps everywhere he touched.
“Mine to fuck until your belly is rounded with my baby inside you,” he murmured, sliding down until he was at my stomach, kissing gently right below my belly button.
I gasped.
I had always wanted kids. And when I thought about having them with Grady? Maybe little boys with my red hair and his green eyes. It was even better than any future I could have dreamed.