It wasn’t until Sasha and Trish left the room later that afternoon – with luggage – that I began to understand what was happening. Grim stood next to me, so pissed that he didn’t utter a word as a cab pulled up in front of the Crossroads.
Trish finally approached Grim, tears in her eyes that she tried hard not to spill. “I have to go, Grim.”
He nodded as his fists clenched at his sides.
“I can’t do this. I’m not . . .” she faltered, placing a hand on his arm. “This life isn’t for me.”
He managed to clear his throat enough to speak. “I understand, Trish. I wish you well.”
“You too.”
He didn’t ask where she was going, and she didn’t say as she leaned in and hugged him around the waist before picking up her suitcase and walking toward the door. Sasha hesitated as our eyes met.
Please don’t leave me, I thought.
The desperate, unspoken words lodged painfully in my throat.
I knew without a doubt that I had fallen for the sexy, opinionated brunette gazing up at me with uncertainty in her deep green eyes. Sasha was the one thing in this world worth fighting for. She was person. My one. The other half of my whole. My entire world had been rocked since the moment we met. I’d do anything to keep her in my life. Anything to say that she was mine.
Sasha was my light in the darkness.
My temptation.
The thumping beats of my cold, dead black heart.
The gift I didn’t know that I needed.
The reason a grumpy, fucked up biker like me deserved a second chance at love.
Unable to speak, I lifted my hand in her direction and she didn’t blink, didn’t hesitate, didn’t pause a single second as she placed her palm in my own. We stood there, two people desperate and yearning for a connection as I tugged her closer until she was in my arms.
A soft sigh fell from her lips as I held her tighter.
“Don’t go,” I finally whispered, tilting her chin up. “Stay. Be my Christmas wish.”
It was fuckin’ cheesy but I meant every word.
“Your wish?” she asked, her plump lips curling up in a sexy grin.
“My holiday gift then,” I teased. “So I can unwrap you slowly and savor every single inch of your skin before I show you how much I need you.”
“Let me say goodbye to Trish first.”
Reluctant, I released her, watching as she walked through the doors of the Crossroads and my heart nearly skipped a beat.
“I’m happy for you.” Grim slapped me on the back and I realized I had forgotten he was there. “Don’t take a single moment for granted, brother. A woman like that is a rare find.”
“I know,” I acknowledged. “I won’t.”
My prez was hurting. I didn’t know the words to make it better. “I’m sorry, Grim.”
“Don’t be,” he replied with a tight smile. “Maybe someday I’ll find what you have and then it will all be worth it.”
He walked away before I could answer.
“I hope so,” I whispered, watching the prez of the Royal Bastards MC shoulder more burden with every passing day and the toll was starting to show. “I truly do.”
Chapter 16 – Bodie