Damn, she was giving me hope. “When?”
“Yes, when. I’ve wanted to be close like this for months, Drew. Since our first dance. Probably before that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” My chest ached, thinking of all the time we wasted.
“I didn’t think you’d want a damaged woman.”
“Bullshit. I want you more than my next breath.” I smashed my lips to hers. I wasn’t sure what had come over me. After keeping my distance, never believing I could have her, I needed to be close to Ava. I needed my lips sealed to hers and her body in my arms.
She kissed me back as frantically as I kissed her. “You’ll stay here then?”
“Yes. You okay with it?” Not that she had a choice in the matter. If she said no, I’d camp out on her front porch.
“Mhmm. Where will you sleep? The loveseat is too small for you.”
I stopped. “Where do you want me to sleep?”
She gazed at me through her long lashes, her cheeks turning pink. “With me. But I don’t know if I’m ready for…”
“We don’t have to. You can trust me, Ava. I’ll never hurt you.”
“I do trust you.”
“I’ll always follow your lead, baby. You’re safe with me.”
“How did I get so lucky?”
“Baby, I’m the lucky one.”
My body hummed like my Harley’s motor after the make-out session I had not long ago with Ava. My mind was blown. To go from keeping two feet’s worth of distance between us to touching and kissing, to her inviting me into her bed tonight… It blew my freaking mind.
I couldn’t wait to return to her—hated leaving Ryder and Maddox guarding her when it should’ve been me. Damn Silvia for not letting me bring them to the compound.
My nerves were on edge. Not about Ava, though I was a little worried my fucking cock would take on a mind of his own tonight. I’d have to keep myself in check, and I was sure it wouldn’t be easy. What had me on edge was the rage building inside me. Absolute desire flowed through my veins to rip the motherfucking Vipers into pieces. Ava could’ve been injured or worse when they had shot up the gym.
Judging by the way Boxer worked his stress balls in his hands, he was also about to lose his goddamned mind.
Storm hit the gavel on the table. “I’m starting church. Tonight’s shit with the Vipers is fucking insanity. They will pay.”
“Damn straight they will,” Boxer growled. “Snow and my son were in the building. I want blood.” He pulled out his switchblade from the pocket inside his cut and spun it on the table. “I’m ready to slice and dice.”
“I’m with Box. I won’t sit back and let those fuckers get away with this kind of offense.” I stared Prez in the eyes. “Ava was there.”
Grunts echoed in the room.
Every council member was present. We looked ready for war.
“We didn’t cause any damage in their territory. This shit is over the fucking top.” Storm rocked in his chair, holding a beer bottle in his hand. “This ain’t okay with me.”
“It’s like they’d been planning to come into our territory and cause trouble.” Raul poured whiskey into his glass.
Storm’s jaw twitched. “They have an agenda. They’re not just being a bunch of dickheads.”
“Unless they’re connected to that fucker Richard,” Lynx hissed. “We should’ve taken him out.”
Storm sighed. “We’ve been through this, brother. You were out on bail. You shouldn’t have even been out of the county, much less in Vegas. I couldn’t take any backlash on the club.”
“Then how do we know that dick isn’t connected to the Vipers?” Lynx threw back a shot of tequila. The only time I ever saw him so fired up was when it had to do with his woman’s or kid’s safety—any woman’s or kid’s safety, really. “What if this is about Jaynee and Sadie?” A murderous glint sparked in his eyes. “If I see him, I’ll kill him on the spot. He better not tempt me.”