Page 38 of Kaz (Salvation Kings MC: New Freedom Chapter #2)

Miles

MINUTES FELT like hours, and he’d been pacing the living room since Kaz and the others drove off. He didn’t dare look at the clock. He was pretty sure he’d freak himself out even more if he did. Instead, he sat down on the couch, his foot tapping out a frantic rhythm.

He dropped his head into his hands, mumbling to himself.

Knowing Kaz was out there, in danger, tore at his heart, and knowing Emma was with him didn’t help.

But was not knowing worse? Yeah, he thought so.

Even if his anxiety was high as all hell right now, he much preferred knowing that something was going on, despite not being able to do a thing about it.

He hated being told after the fact more than he hated being in this state of constant anxiety.

“Don’t you look horrible.”

He snapped his head up to find Maddox in the kitchen doorway, an amused smile on his face.

He watched Maddox with narrowed eyes. He’d noticed the man wasn’t one to sit still over the weeks he’d helped with the renovations, which probably didn’t mix well with his wounded leg.

Kaz had told him what happened to Maddox yesterday. That his sister had patched him up.

“Hasn’t my sister told you to stay off it?”

Maddox grumbled under his breath, then hobbled over to the couch and sat down next to Miles.

He didn’t look like someone who’d just been shot.

There was color in his cheeks and a smile on his face.

If it wasn’t for the limping and bandage, one might never have suspected there was a bullet hole in his leg.

“Eh. I’ve had worse,” Maddox said, his lips pulling into a much too cheery smile.

Miles felt his brows lower. “Do I want to know?”

Maddox leaned back, putting one arm on the back of the couch while he placed his feet on the coffee table with a grunt.

“Probably not.”

“Didn’t think so,” Miles muttered.

They sat in silence for a moment, and Miles was about to get sucked back into his dark thoughts when Maddox shifted, his gaze finding Miles’s.

“They’ll be alright.”

He blinked at Maddox. Twice.

“You got shot last time.”

“Eh.” Maddox shrugged. “That was on me.”

“You’re not making it better,” Miles muttered.

“Aren’t I?”

He could hear the amusement clearly in Maddox’s voice and belatedly had to admit that, yes, he had made his anxiety and fear lessen just a bit by distracting him.

“How did you end up an outlaw biker?”

Maddox raised his brows at Miles.

He shrugged. If the man wanted to distract him, he might as well get some information out of him. They hadn’t talked much over the weeks he’d been here. All he really knew was that Maddox was close with Talon.

“Had a shitty childhood, joined the Navy to get away from it all, got back after two deployments and had trouble fitting into society,” Maddox said, a haunted look flashing through his eyes for a second before it was hidden behind a smile.

“Found some people I could rely on and made a home for me and my sister. Talon and I met at boot camp and got deployed together. That man’s saved my ass more times than I can count.

Being here with him and everyone else? It feels like the kind of family we had over there. ”

The mention of Maddox’s sister had him digging his nails into his palms. It wasn’t really his place to say anything, but he hoped whatever happened between her and Wilder wouldn’t affect their relationship because he got the feeling Maddox needed the stability the club provided him.

“I’m glad you found a family here,” Miles said.

Maddix grinned. “Me, too. Speaking of―”

A rumble from outside had him on his feet and running for the door before Maddox could finish his sentence. He threw the door open just in time to see the first bike pull up. He’d know that motorcycle and rider anywhere.

Kaz dismounted and barely got his helmet off before Miles jumped into his arms. Kaz grunted at the impact but caught him easily, hands grabbing him under his ass as he met Miles’s mouth with the same eagerness, lips and tongues clashing in a desperate kiss.

He’d never been happier to see Kaz, to touch and hold him. He’d never been happier to know that Kaz was alright. Being in Kaz’s arms settled his raging pulse, even if it also sparked a different reason for his rapid heartbeat.

He pulled back just far enough to rest his forehead against Kaz’s, their panting breaths mingling.

“Everyone’s alright,” Kaz whispered, somehow knowing he needed that reassurance.

He knew Kaz would never let anything happen to Emma, but he couldn’t always be there to protect her. Neither could he. All he could do was trust that she could protect herself. Trust that the others would watch her back. It wasn’t an easy task, but he was sure it’d get easier with time.

Kaz put him back on his feet, and he took a second to just look at the man. That stubble-covered chin and cheeks, the black hair curling in the soft breeze, the gray eyes looking like the sky before a thunderstorm. The man had never been sexier.

“What am I? Chopped liver?”

Miles pulled back with a gasp, relief coursing through him as he took in the twinkle in Kian’s eyes. He reluctantly released Kaz to wrap his arms around Kian. He squeezed his eyes closed, trying not to think of what could have happened to the man.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” he whispered.

Kian chuckled, patting Miles’s back.

“I’m glad you’re back.”

“So am I,” Miles said as he pulled away, grinning up at Kian.

Kian wrapped an arm around Miles’s shoulders, tugging him toward the clubhouse. He let go a second later, raising his hands with a goofy grin as he backed away.

Miles turned with a frown, heat rising to his cheeks when he saw the way Kaz was staring Kian down. Kaz met Miles’s gaze, and that look turned into something soft, that look he knew was only for him.

Kaz reached for him, and he let the man circle his waist to tug him against his side.

“Possessive asshole,” he muttered under his breath.

Kaz grinned at him. “You love it.”

He did. He so fucking did.

They walked into the clubhouse, the others following, and he quickly found Emma’s gaze, shaking his head when she winked at him. She was definitely okay.

They’d nearly made it to the stairs when Wilder stopped Kaz with a hand on his shoulder.

“We should expect retaliation,” Wilder said quietly.

Kaz’s jaw clenched tight as he gave a sharp nod.

He grabbed Miles’s hand and tugged him toward the stairs.

He followed, his heart still beating wildly.

Kaz remained silent as he led them up the stairs and down the hall to their room.

He wasn’t sure if the clench in his chest was relief or not. Probably not.

Kaz opened the door and let Miles step into the room before he followed, closing the door with a quiet snick.

Miles had his arms wrapped around Kaz the next second, his face buried in the man’s chest. He drew in a deep breath, his frenzied heart starting to settle when Kaz’s scent hit him.

There was sweat and something tangy, like metal or gunpowder mixed in with Kaz’s scent, and it only made him hold on tighter.

He wasn’t sure how long they stood there, just that it was a while before he noticed Kaz was brushing his fingers through his hair, his other hand firmly pressed against the small of his back.

He pulled back just enough to meet Kaz’s gaze.

“Maybe you should… maybe you shouldn’t be staying here,” Kaz said, his voice raw and rough, the look in his eyes conflicted.

“What do you mean?” he asked, stepping back and letting his hands fall from Kaz’s body.

Kaz licked his lips, gaze moving around for a moment before settling on Miles’s face.

“I wouldn’t survive if something happened to you. Especially if I caused it.”

“No.”

Kaz’s brows jumped. “No?”

Miles shook his head, his voice stern as he repeated, “No.”

Hands snaked around his waist, pulling him against Kaz’s body. Kaz’s lips spread into that smirk he’d hated once. Now? It made his heart jump excitedly.

“I trust you. You have to trust me, too.”

“It’s not you I don’t trust,” Kaz muttered.

“You don’t think Dante will keep his word?”

Kaz shrugged. “Maybe he will, but the gang sure as hell won’t stay away. Wilder’s right. They’ll retaliate.”

Miles pressed his lips together, running through scenarios of what that might look like.

“Then I’ll be by your side when they do, and we’ll give them hell.”

Kaz’s brows hit his hairline, but he didn’t argue. He just pressed a soft kiss to Miles’s lips and said, “I look forward to seeing that.”

“You do know I can protect myself, right? You clearly haven’t seen me with a sledgehammer.”

A low, hearty laugh rumbled out of Kaz, his silver eyes shining brightly.

“Talk dirty to me,” Kaz drawled.

Miles sighed dramatically, even though he not so secretly loved it. He loved this stubborn, possessive asshole.

“Come with me,” Kaz said.

He let Kaz grab his hand and lead him downstairs, something unfurling in his stomach when he realized where Kaz was taking him.

They crossed the parking lot to enter the garage door.

He followed Kaz up the stairs, blinking rapidly when the bright light turned on.

The sky was dark through the window, casting shadows across the room and Kaz as he walked them to the nearest desk.

“Last time didn’t go so well,” Kaz started, releasing Miles’s hand to reach into the box on the desk.

Looking at that cut had a lump forming in his throat.

“What do you say?” Kaz asked. “You wanna be mine?”

There were tears in his eyes as he nodded.

“Always.”

He held out his arms to let Kaz place the leather cut on him. Feeling the weight on his shoulders had a sob rising to his throat. It felt so right. Everything in this moment felt right. Like he’d waited his whole life for it.