Chapter 7
Gage
Sitting there while the fire crackled after I had played my guitar a few times, Collins had crawled up on my lap.
“Can I tell you a secret?” Collins asked me with her head on my chest. She was worn slap out.
“You can tell me anything, Buttercup.” I should’ve looked around to make sure no one was listening, but I hadn’t. However, that decision didn’t bite me in the ass. No, that decision ended up with my brothers immediately giving Conleigh respect.
“Mommy offered to shave her hair off too, so I wouldn’t be alone.”
I swallowed down the lump in my throat as I watched Conleigh laughing at something Mackenzie had said. “Is that right?”
Tiredly she murmured, “Yep.”
Pride swelled in my chest for all that made up Conleigh. “Sounds like you’ve got a great mommy.”
“The best.” And then, with that whisper, I heard a soft snore come from her mouth.
And that… Well, that single moment in time had me wanting to do something that I haven’t even contemplated doing.
I couldn’t think of a better way to show her that having a shaved head was only a thing.
“You making her yours?” Zeke asked quietly so as to not disturb Collins.
Looking over at him, I noticed that they all had heard what Collins had just said. “Yeah. I am.”
“Good. Cause if not, I’d steal her and that little girl away from you.” But it wasn’t Zeke’s words that got to me. No, it was Savage’s nod in agreement. That fucker needs to sort his shit out and go after the woman that he really wants.
And if he doesn’t? Then I knew he would live to regret that one decision for the rest of his life.
Shaking my head, I noticed Conleigh had yawned. Knowing it was time to get them home, I stood with Collins in my arms and walked over to Conleigh.
I didn’t have to say a word when she looked up at me, grabbed her bag, and waved her goodbyes.
And that night when I tried to head back over to my house after I helped put Collins to bed, I was pulled to Conleigh’s bedroom. I will admit that I followed her there willingly.
The words that came out of her mouth. “Stay the night with me?”
I wanted to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked her as I looked down at her where I stood at the side of her bed.
“Yes. I’m sure. But just to sleep. I’m not ready for anything more than that right now. If you’re okay with that.”
Bringing my hand up, I caressed her cheek with my knuckles. “I get you in my arms, in whatever way? I’m okay with anything. You want to wait a year. Okay. Ten years, well, I got my hand. So, we will go at your pace. But be warned Conleigh, the moment you curl up next to me, there will be no one else.”
I let the words I told her filter through her mind, giving her time to process what I had said.
“And… that goes for you, too? There will be no one else?” She asked while biting on that plump bottom lip of hers.
I simply nodded. Ever since I laid eyes on her, I knew I wouldn’t want anyone else.
I may sound like a sappy teenager, but that’s how I am. And I’ll not apologize for it.
And let me tell you, the smile she shot my way and the pink tinge in her cheeks as she scurried out of the bedroom and to her bathroom? Fucking worth having blue balls. Fucking worth it.
But when she came out of the bathroom in a simple tee and sleep shorts, it took everything in me to not get rock fucking hard.