“Gerry needed help with the grill, he’s been out back with her,” Sniper chimes in.
“Find somewhere to be a Sniper.” I snap. “Anywhere but my clubhouse.”
He visibly swallows and nods as he slides off the stool and hurries out the door. Like the little bitch he is.
“Where is Dom?” Dani asks.
“He’s upstairs with some chick.” I reach over and pull Tanner from her arms.
“Ewwwww, I don’t want to talk about my brother,” she says as she sways to the side and scrunches up her nose.
Dani rolls her eyes. “For fucks sake, he’s been back all of thirty seconds and can’t keep it in his pants.”
I lift Tanner up and cradle her in my arms. “I got her, you go check on Mom and tell me if that fucker Sniper comes back tonight.”
“Okay, I’m sorry Maverick. I didn’t know anyone would try to take advantage of her.” She gives Tanner's arm a squeeze.
I head up the stairs as Tanner’s arms wrap around my neck. She buries her face in my shirt and I can’t help but lean in and smell her hair. It smells like strawberries. She nuzzles her nose to my chest as I swing open her door, then I kick back, slamming it shut with my foot. Lowering her from my arms, I lay her gently on the bed.
“You need to sleep it off, Vix,” I whisper.
I try to pull the comforter over her, but she stops me, and scrambles from the bed.
“Okay, but I cannotttttt sleep in pants,” she whines.
She starts to unbutton her jeans as she stumbles on her feet. She slides them down her tan legs and I freeze. I watch her kick them off and she turns to get back into the bed, revealing her ass cheeks that are covered by absolutely nothing. I groan as my dick stands at attention and I reach down, adjusting myself. This is not the time.
She pulls the covers up over her bottom half and I finally trust myself to move. I step towards the bed and lean down on my knee, to be eye level with her.
“Is this your first time drinking?” I ask as I brush a piece of hair out of her eyes.
“I only had tea, I already told you.” She closes her eyes and sighs.
I look over her face. She has long black lashes, high cheekbones and pink lips I actually ache for. She opens her eyes, and her small hand reaches up to touch the side of my face.
“You’re really pretty Maverick,” she whispers.
I chuckle. “I’ve been called a lot of things, pretty is a first.”
Her fingers trace my jaw, then my lips. Lowering her hand she places her palm over my heart. “I think you're pretty in here too. You just don’t let people see it.” She closes her eyes again. “You’re commanding and infuriating, but…. you wouldn’t be if you didn’t care.”
I reach up and wrap my hand around hers. My brows wrinkle. No one has ever spoken to me like that before. I bring her hand up to my lips and place a kiss on her knuckles. Her breathing started to slow, and I glanced up and saw her sound asleep.
“I do care, Vix. More than you know,” I say quietly as I lean down and kiss her forehead.
I stand from the bed and leave the room, quietly closing the door behind me. What have I got myself into?