Tears sprang to my eyes when Johnston stepped into the clubhouse with me cradled in his arms. The club girls had strung up balloons and party streamers with a big “Welcome Home, Aaliyah” banner dangling from the ceiling. The guys were swarmed around us, greeting me with half hugs the best they could, all of them beyond happy to see me back home.
Home. Because I guessed this was my home now. This was my family now.
I was pretty sure I was about to cry. I was feeling overly emotional.
“Guys, give her some breathing room,” Johnston ordered, stepping back from them a bit. I was cradled against his chest, and so far, it didn’t seem like he had any plans of letting me go. “She’s still tired and needs her rest.”
They parted for their president like the red sea, and he strode through them with ease, heading over to the couch, which had been replaced since the last time I’d been here. The old worn, brown pleather couch had been traded out for a U-shaped gray cloth couch with a matching massive ottoman in the center.
“Redecorated?” I asked him, looking around me, taking note that some of the tables had been replaced and the flat screen TV mounted on the wall was bigger.
He shrugged once he had me settled on the comfortable cushions. I sighed in contentment, closing my eyes for a moment. God, this couch was comfortable. “Had to. Feds destroyed this place.” He brushed his fingers over my cheek. “You good?”
I opened my eyes again and nodded. “I’m fine.” My stomach rumbled, making me flush. “Any food?”
He snorted. “When isn’t there food around here, Red?”
He walked away from me, and Law took a seat beside me, lounging back, kicking his boots up on the ottoman. “I love this fucking couch,” he muttered.
I snorted, but before I could open my mouth to say anything, Johnston whistled, dragging our attention over to him. I frowned in confusion. He arched a brow at Law. “The fuck do you think you’re doing?”
I glanced over at Law, only to see him grinning. “Chatting up a pretty woman,” he retorted, but there was a teasing note in his voice. I didn’t think Johnston found his teasing very funny though, because he looked a bit murderous, which had warmth spreading through my veins.
Johnston narrowed his eyes at Law, and that was enough to make Lawson slide away a bit, putting some space between us. I bit back a giggle. Without a word, Johnston turned back to what he was doing, which was grabbing a bowl of something steaming from one of the club girls and a spoon. He walked over to me and wedged himself between me and Lawson. Law grunted and moved over more.
“Can’t leave you alone for two goddamn seconds,” Johnston muttered, spooning up some of the stew in the bowl and blowing on it. “Open for me, Red.”
My cheeks heated, my lip softly parting. Johnston’s eyes darkened in response to what was no doubt a lust-stricken look in my eyes. He hadn’t done more than kiss me inweeks, and despite my confusion over what we were and what my future looked like from here on out, I wanted him.
“Later, baby,” he rumbled. My nipples pebbled, my core tingling. “Let me feed you.”
I obediently opened my mouth, my eyes never leaving his as he fed me a bite of the stew. I hummed, letting my eyes fall shut, chewing the delicious beef and rice. “Fuck, it feels good to eat something homemade,” I murmured once I was done chewing.
Johnston fed me another bite. “I’ll never let you get put in the hospital again,” he swore.
Opening my eyes again, I arched my brows at him. “You can’t prevent everything, Johnston.”
He fed me yet another bite. “I’ll damn well die trying then.”
Johnston’s calloused hands ran over my skin as he undressed me. I shivered, my breath hitching in my throat. My body was tightly coiled, desperate for him to touch me, fuck me—something. We’d been forced to go way too long without each other, and now I was deprived.
Way too goddamn deprived.
He pressed his lips to mine, coaxing mine apart, though it didn’t take much. I moaned into his mouth when he deepened the kiss, his hands grasping my ribcage, a low growl sounding from the depths of his chest.
“Let me get you undressed,” he rasped, nipping at my bottom lip. I whimpered. “I’ll take care of you, Red. I promise. Just need you undressed first.”
I nodded, trusting his word. He hadn’t given me a reason not to yet.’
Might be stupid of me to trust him, but I wasn’t always known for my smart decisions.
I mean, I did sleep with a married man, which got me shot.
Once I was naked, he quickly stripped out of his own clothes before carrying me into the shower and beneath the spray of hot water. Once he sat on the built-in seat in the corner, he turned me so my back was facing him, his hands gentle despite the need that had clearly been burning in his eyes.
He was wrecking me just from how carefully he was taking care of me.
I trembled when he spread my legs, hooking my knees over his rough, hairy thighs. Then, he collared my throat, holding me in place against his chest as his other hand slid between my thighs, finding my clit.