“We already talked about this, Seychelle. You’re at my side. The moment you feel someone is ill, you tell me, and I get you out of there. I’ve told the band members, and they know to get you out of there. The club will surround you any time we’re out in a crowd. I’ve thought about how to handle it.”
“I thought we established that we had a partnership, Savage. That means we talk things out. You can’t just decree something, and I do it.”
“We set the rules down first thing, baby. I told you there were certain things I needed from you, and you agreed to that. But, just because you seem to think this is important, I’ll tell you why you need to come with me. You’re a runner, Seychelle. You hide from life. You know you do. You stay in your little house, locked up safe, until you can’t stand it anymore, and then you go out looking for something wild and crazy to do that could get you in real trouble. You had a genuine stalker in Joseph Arnold. Just because that wasn’t bad enough, you’ve got Brandon Campbell fixated on you. I have no idea who else might have you on their radar, but you just go through life, making an appearance, doing something crazy and then hiding yourself away again.”
Color swept up her neck into her face. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Babe. Really? You’re impulsive. A fighter at all the wrong times. You’d take on anyone if they were hurting someone else, but I’m not certain you’d fight that hard to protect yourself. You can’t stop yourself when someone is really ill from trying to heal them. Angel, you’re a fuckin’ mess without me.”
That little intriguing dimple that sometimes made an appearance showed for a few seconds and then was gone. Her lashes had veiled her vivid blue eyes, and then she was looking directly at him. There was stark, raw love staring at him. His heart clenched hard in his chest. So damn hard he thought it was possible he was having a heart attack. Could someone love a woman that much?
“Those are not legitimate reasons for me to go on a run with you when I’m terrified I’ll do something wrong and you’ll be the one to get hurt because of it, Savage.” She reached for his hand. Her fingers were actually trembling. “I hate making mistakes. I know this isn’t just about fun. I know something big is up.”
“Those fucking sisters of mine. I should kick their asses for scaring you.”
“It isn’t their fault. The entire club thing scares me. I have to get used to our life first before I take on club life. It’s all so overwhelming.”
Savage closed his fingers around hers, his thumb sliding over the back of her hand in soothing caresses to reassure her. “Seychelle, I want you to seriously hear me on this. I am Torpedo Ink. I am the club. You have to trust me to take care of you, baby. I know this scares you, but I swear to you, you just look to me and I’ll let you know what to do. The others will too, but it’s really me you have to trust.”
He brought her hand to his mouth and nibbled on the ends of her fingers and then bit down slowly, watching her eyes go wide. Her lips parted, but she didn’t protest. Her breath came out in a long rush, and she squirmed a little on her chair. He sucked her fingers into the warmth of his mouth to ease the sting.
“You’re so used to being alone all the time, Seychelle, but you have a family now. If we had the time, we could get married, and you’d have a little more confidence.”
She burst out laughing, that dimple of hers making an appearance, just like he knew it would. “Are you crazy? I’m already so overwhelmed, and you’re already so damn bossy, the last thing I need is to be your wife. I’m rethinking that part of our arrangement.”
Steele and Breezy arrived, Breezy taking the chair nearest the wall, Steele sitting across from her. He smiled at Seychelle. “Sorry we’re late. We got the boy down, no problem, but Breezy changed three times before we got out of the house. She seems to have a difficult time making up her mind what she wants to wear when we’re going out.”
“Why don’t you just choose for her?” Savage asked.
“Yeah, baby, why don’t I do that?” Steele nudged his wife.
Breezy giggled. Actually giggled. “There were extenuating circumstances. Every time I put something on, Steele seems to need to take it off, sometimes quite aggressively.”
“See,” Seychelle said, pointing one finger she managed to get out of Savage’s grip at him. “There you go with your why don’t you choose for her? advice. You would choose for me if I decided I didn’t like something at the last minute and annoyed you by changing.”