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I let go of her one arm and held up my hand. I lifted my pinkie finger. “You have to pinkie promise, Blythe. This is serious.” I said it to ease the tension in her. She blinked, and then her sweet, sexy smile spread across her lips.

Her hand came up, and her finger wrapped around mine. Even such a minor touch sent bolts of desire through my body straight to my cock. I had to concentrate not to get a boner. These scrub pants wouldn’t hide a thing.

“I pinkie promise,” she said softly.

“I pinkie swear, too,” I added.

I let go but wrapped that same arm around her waist. I swore I felt her shiver. Maybe she did want me like I desired her. God, please, don’t let me be wrong. I guided her to sit. She knew what I wanted, so she sat. I sat next to her.

“I owe you an apology first. I got upset and stormed out today. I shouldn’t have done that. We were trying to clear up things, and I let my emotions get the better of me. I’m sorry, Blythe.”

“I didn’t mean to irritate you the way I did.

I thought you’d be relieved to have me gone and your house back to normal.

Deon is leaving, so I can get on with my life.

It was never my intention to stay here forever.

What you and the club have done for me is a gift.

I can never repay it. I’d like to understand why you got so mad at me.

I’d hate to leave with us not being friends. ”

Everything she said made sense, but an undertone made me think Blythe either didn’t mean those words or there was more she wanted to say and wouldn’t. I had to hear the hidden words.

“You don’t owe us anything. I know Agony told you that more than once.

As for you leaving and us remaining friends, we’ll address that later.

Thinking I would be happy to see you go, and having this house to myself is far from the truth.

It’s laughable. I know that Deon hurt you terribly with the way he lied and trapped you into a life you didn’t want.

And that he forced you to leave him. I need to ask you one of those uncomfortable questions. ”

I watched her swallow before she nodded and said, “Go ahead.”

“Do you still have feelings for him? Do you love him?”

Her eyes widened, and she gasped. I dreaded her answer. Even after what was done to her, some women would still have feelings for their abuser. I thought for a moment she wouldn’t say anything, but she did.

“Do I have feelings for him? Yes, I do.” She paused, and I stiffened.

“I detest the man. The thought of him makes me sick. I was stupid, Bones. I let him make me think I loved him when it was a lie. The man I thought I loved was a mirage. He doesn’t exist. The real Deon is a man I can neither respect nor like, let alone love.

No, I don’t care for or love him.” Her reply was forceful.

Immense relief hit me, but I was far from through the things I wanted, no, what I needed to say to her.

“I’m happy to hear that. I know you’re worried that he’ll find out that you’re still pregnant and try to claim the kids. I won’t let that happen. My club won’t. Once he leaves the area, we’ll let you get back to a regular schedule. But you must know you will always have someone watching over you.”

“That’s too much to ask, Bones. The club has others who need them. What about the old ladies and the kids? What if they need help? I think if their men are drafted to always follow me, they’ll hate it and me. There won’t be a need to do it once Deon leaves.”

“Lovely, he might leave, but there’s no guarantee he’ll stay away.

He could ask people he’s close to here to keep an eye on you, at least for a while.

If they tell him you’re pregnant, he’ll come back.

You were right when you said he was possessive and vindictive.

But what he doesn’t know is that I can be the same. ”

She stiffened and edged away from me. I grasped her hand to hold her. “Not in the obsessive, creepy chain you-in-the-house kind of way. It’s all about protecting and making you happy. If you aren’t content, I won’t be. The happier and safer you are, the more I’ll be.”

“Bones, you’re not making sense.”

I knew I wasn’t, but I was having difficulty concentrating because I was this close to her, smelling her unique scent with her soft hands in mine.

“Blythe, another tricky question. Could you ever trust a man enough to let him into your life to claim you? Or has what Deon done scarred you too badly?” I slipped in my next question.

“Claim me? What does that mean?”

“To make you his everything. The way Agony made Eliana his, or Knight made Natalya. All the couples in this club.”

“I would hope I can. I don’t want to spend my life alone. I did that for so many years growing up. I want to be someone’s special person, just as they would be mine. I love how Agony and the others act. Even when they disagree, they still love each other. They’re partners.”

“Damn right, they are. What would you tell someone to do if they came across the person they’re sure they can’t live without? They dream of or think of them night and day. The person brings them laughter, friendship, and much more, not just sex?”

“I’d tell them to declare themselves and stop wasting time. You never know if you have another day or not. Cherish it,” she immediately answered.

“I know a lot has hit you in a short period. You’ve got to deal with starting over and raising two babies alone.

You’ve got to find a home for all three of you.

And go back to work. Add to it the stress of wondering if he’ll come back.

However, despite all that, would you take a chance if that special someone was in front of you right now? ”

She inhaled and then held her breath. I was staring intensely into her eyes. I saw her pupils dilate, and then she gasped.

Before I could say anything, she asked, “Bones, what are you saying? No more games, tell me,” Blythe demanded.

“From the moment I saw you, I’ve been unable to forget you.

You have so much courage and are fearless, no matter what you think.

You’ve worked hard all your life. You love and understand people.

Look at how easily you’ve become a part of the Pagan family.

I think about you day and night. My dreams are filled with thoughts of you.

I was upset and left because you were crushing my dream, Blythe. I was angry.”

“How? What dream?” she whispered. Her hand was clutching mine so hard. Her knuckles were white.

I rubbed them as I inched closer. “The dream where you’re mine.

That I’m the man lucky enough to claim you for his old lady.

The man who will be with you through this pregnancy and greet these two babies when they’re born.

The man who desires you more every second that passes.

I know it’s quick, and you’re leery after asshole Deon, but I will never hurt you, Blythe.

I want us to strive for what my fellow married brothers have.

That’s why I was upset. I saw I was losing you and couldn’t deal with it. ”

I let what I said sink in. I didn’t say more. She sat there as if she were frozen. It was hard not to push her, but I knew I might lose my chance if I did. I’d thought hard all afternoon and evening about this. Those hours of riding had given me clarity.

It was the longest five minutes of my life. When she cleared her throat, I held my breath.

“To clarify, you’re saying that you have romantic feelings toward me, and you want us to explore those to see if there could be something there. It might end up being like Agony, and what he and Eliana have, it might be sex or turn into nothing?”

“No, not just sex. No matter what, never only that. And it only turns into nothing if you decide you don’t want me.”

“What if you decide you don’t want me?” she asked.

“That’s not possible. And before you ask me how I know that, I can’t explain it, but I know. Do you have romantic feelings for me, or am I merely a friend?” I boldly asked. Continuing and confessing more was useless if she only saw me as her friend.

Blythe stared at me. I saw her stunned look transform into wonder, and then warmth. A cute smile appeared. “Bones, I have been working so hard, afraid I’d mess up and give it away. Agony said something today that told me he’d guessed or I hadn’t hidden it well enough.”

When she paused, I had to ask, “Hidden what?”

“How I feel about you. Despite everything that has recently happened to me—the terrible mess I’ve made of my life, and how I was deceived—I’m very attracted to you. You make me think and wish for things I shouldn’t.” Her confession was sincere, though she said it softly.

“Is that attraction only sexual, or do you think it can be more?”

“It’s sexual but more. I’ve never felt this, not even with, well, you know. But it’s crazy, Bones.”

“Why is it crazy?”

“We met for the first time three weeks ago! We don’t know that much about each other.

I was in a toxic relationship and shouldn’t be starting another one.

And let’s not forget, I’m pregnant, Bones.

I’m going to have two babies. That fact alone should be enough to have you running for the hills, screaming the whole way.

I’m a huge package deal with issues. Why would you ever consider wanting anything with me?

I don’t need to tell you how good-looking you are.

You have a mirror. I refuse to believe you don’t have women like that, Mariann, throwing themselves at you all the time.

You can have anyone. Why bother with a boring mom-to-be with baby daddy issues? ”

Her words about herself upset me, but I held back and addressed her thoughts calmly.

“Yes, we’ve only known each other for three weeks and have more to learn about each other, but we’ve done a lot of talking.

You and I know more about each other than you think.

The toxic relationship was a mistake you made.

We all make them. I did. I haven’t forgotten you’re pregnant, and being with you means your babies will be part of us.

I’m not afraid of that. Yes, I have had my share of women, and even if some throw themselves at me, as you said, it doesn’t mean I accept them.

If I can have anyone I want, then I want you.

And you’re far from boring, though you have baby daddy issues that I will love resolving. ”

“Bones, are you sure? Have you thought this through?”

“I spent hours doing it today after I left. Yes, I’ve thought it through.

Let’s get to the important question. Will you have a committed relationship with me?

One that is monogamous and geared toward you becoming claimed as my old lady.

I will be your twins’ father. If you prefer, they never need to know otherwise.

I swear I can love them as much as our natural-born children if you want more. ”

When I finished, tears ran down her face. I couldn’t stop myself. I pulled her into my arms. “Shh, there’s no reason to cry. What did I say?” I rocked her.

“You didn’t upset me. All those things you said were beautiful. I can’t believe them. To have someone say that to me is incredible and doesn’t feel real. I’m waiting to wake up from the dream and find this never happened,” she sobbed.

“No, it’s not a dream. But I get what you mean.

I feel the same with you saying you’re attracted to me.

Does this mean you’ll stay and make this work between us?

I’m not trying to push, but tell me if you have even a sliver of doubt, and we won’t go down this path.

Because for me, if we start it, we’ll stay the course and go all the way.

If you have any doubts that this is what you want, we’ll drop it.

” It almost killed me to say that, but I wouldn’t repeat past mistakes.

“As impossible as it seems, I don’t have doubts.

The thought of leaving here and only seeing you occasionally, and us being only friends, hurt.

I told Agony I was leaving as soon as possible because I knew I’d blurt out my feelings if I stayed much longer with you.

I didn’t think you saw me as anything other than a friend or a necessary nuisance.

I would’ve been mortified if you knew I had feelings for you. ”

“There’s no need to be mortified. I feel the same.”

“So, where does that leave us? What do we do from here?” she asked.

As much as I wanted to kiss her breathlessly and begin the process of getting her comfortable enough with me to have sex, I knew there were a couple of things I had to do first. I eased her back so we could see each other’s faces.

“I need to tell you a couple of things about me. One I don’t ever talk about. The other is rarely mentioned. We’ll do the last one first.”