Page 147 of Bred

I shake my head, but don’t push the issue. He’s always been protective; he won’t even let me walk on the side of the sidewalk that’s closest to the street.

“Well, you won’t have to go far.” I point across the street where you can see my complex through the trees a couple of blocks away.

He looks at it, then around the parking lot. Seeing only his bike there, his brows furrow. “Where’s your car?”

“I usually just walk.”

His frown turns into a scowl. He gives me a highly disapproving look. “You walk home by yourself this late at night?”

“It’s literally two blocks away.”

“So?” He growls, tugging me toward his bike. “It’s not safe, Brinley. You should know better.”

I roll my eyes at his overprotectiveness. “I’m perfectly safe, Lucas. I have pepper spray and a taser in my purse in case I need it, and I never have. It’s not like we live in some crime capital.”

He shakes his head, still disapproving. “I don’t fucking like it. Don’t do that anymore. I won’t risk anything happening to you.”

“You know what?” I tell him. “I’ve been doing a fine job keeping myself alive for years without you. I think I’ll be okay.”

“Yeah, well, that was when I wasn’t here to stop you,” he bites out. “Now I’m out, and that sure as hell won’t be happening on my watch.”

“You’re not my keeper, Lucas. I’m not some naïve highschooler anymore. You don’t get to dictate what I do or how I take care of myself.”

He pulls me to a stop by my elbow, turning me to face him. I gulp when he crowds me, his expression dark and fierce. My mouth feels suddenly insanely dry, so I lick my lips and try not to get pulled into his intensity.

“See, baby, that’s where you’re wrong,” he says darkly, his tone making the hair stand up at the nape of my neck. “You belong to me, Brinley. Always have, always will. I know I wasn’taround for you before, but I’m here now, and I’m here to stay. That means things are going to change. You might have had some liberties regarding your safety and wellbeing, but you don’t now. So, you better get used to it.”

My breath hitches when he bows his head so that his eyes are level with mine. Ensuring that I catch the enormity of what he’s about to say.

“You’re going to be my wife. You’re going to have my baby. And you’re going to let me take care of you.”

“And if I don’t?” I whisper shakily. “What if I want to be able to take care of myself?”

He smiles, but it’s bittersweet. “I know you can take care of yourself, baby. You’ve had to for five years. It’s my turn now.”

He cups my jaw, the action feels both tender and ominous, and strangely thrilling. It’s the same feeling I get when I read my romance books; when you know you shouldn’t like the hero and his dominating ways, but do anyway.

I can tell this means a lot to him, and while we may have to work on the way he’s going about it, for now I can let it go.

“Fine,” I say softly, appeasing him. “I won’t walk to work anymore when I’m closing.”

He shakes his head. “You won’t walk anymore, period.”

I sigh. That seems like overkill, not to mention a waste of gas, but I can tell he’s worried about me and won’t let this go. I have to remind myself that while I’ve been living a normal life, he has been in a place where danger was around every corner. It’s all still fresh for him, that’s probably why he feels the pressing need to keep me from harm.

“Fine,” I say, rolling my eyes. “I’ll drive thetwoblocks to work. Will that make you happy?”

He smiles at my submission. “It’s a start.” He pecks my lips before pulling back, then hands me his helmet. “Put that on your pretty head.”

“I like how you blend your bossiness with a compliment. Very slick,” I say as I take the thing and put it on my head. As I do, I can’t help noticinghe’snot wearing a helmet. “You know, for someone who just lecturedmeabout safety, you don’t seem that concerned with yours.” I cock an expectant eyebrow. “Where’s your helmet, mister? Do I detect a double standard?”

He grins back at me when I climb on and grab onto his waist. “You sure do. Now, hold on tight.”

“Jerk,” I mutter.

His laugh is drowned out by the engine when he kicks it awake and rolls out of the lot.

It takes us less than two minutes to get to my place. Lucas “offers” to pick me up later today and drive me home again after my shift.