Page 9

"And then that car..." I continued, my voice dropping. "If Novo hadn't been there..."

Daisy's hand covered mine, warm and reassuring. "But he was there. That's what matters."

"To Bear." Maria raised her glass. "For saving our newest family member."

"To Bear," the others echoed, and I found myself joining the toast, warmth spreading through my chest that had nothing to do with the alcohol.

"One more round," Kat declared, waving to the bartender.

"I don't think I should," I protested weakly, already feeling the room tilt pleasantly around me. "I'm not much of a drinker."

"Nonsense," Maria laughed, pushing another pink concoction toward me. "We're celebrating."

I took the drink, unable to resist their infectious enthusiasm. The sweet liquid went down easily, and I found myself relaxing further into my chair, a pleasant buzz humming through my veins.

"So," Ellie leaned forward conspiratorially, "how is he?"

"How is who?" I asked, blinking slowly.

"Bear," she clarified with a wicked grin. "In bed."

My face flushed hot. "Oh. I mean, well—"

"Leave him alone, El," Daisy chided, though her eyes twinkled with amusement. "They just got married yesterday."

"So?" Ellie shrugged. "When Tex and I got together, we didn't leave the bedroom for three days."

"TMI, lady," Kat groaned, covering her ears dramatically.

I giggled again, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep inside me. The room spun slightly as I turned my head, and I realized suddenly just how drunk I was.

"I should probably slow down," I mumbled, setting my glass down carefully.

"Probably," a deep voice agreed from behind me. "And you need some food."

I turned—too quickly, the room spinning—to see Novo standing there, arms crossed over his broad chest, an amused expression on his face.

"Novo," I said, my voice coming out louder than intended. "We were just talking about you."

His eyebrow arched. "Were you now?"

"All good things," Daisy assured him with a wink.

"They've been interrogating me," I said, trying to stand and nearly toppling over. Novo moved quickly, his hand steadying my elbow. The warmth of his touch seemed to radiate up my arm.

"I can see that," he replied, his voice tinged with amusement. "Having fun?"

"So much fun," I nodded emphatically, which was a mistake as the room tilted alarmingly. "Your friends are nice. Except Sophie. She's not nice at all."

Novo's expression darkened. "Sophie?"

"Don't worry," Daisy interjected smoothly. "I handled it. She won't be bothering Matty again."

Novo's jaw tightened, but he nodded his thanks to Daisy. "I think it's time to get you upstairs," he said to me, his hand still firm on my elbow.

"But we're celebrating," I protested, gesturing wildly toward the drinks. "I'm part of the family now. They said so."

Something softened in Novo's expression. "Yes, you are. But I think you've celebrated enough for one night."

The women laughed, and Kat raised her glass. "Don't worry, Bear. We'll celebrate with him plenty more times."

"Looking forward to it," I said earnestly, then hiccupped.

Novo sighed, but I could see the corner of his mouth twitching. "Come on, lightweight. Time for food and bed."

Before I could respond, he bent down and scooped me up into his arms. The sudden movement made my head spin, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck to steady myself.

"I can walk," I protested weakly, even as I leaned my head against his shoulder.

"Sure you can," he agreed, his chest rumbling against my side as he spoke. "But this is faster."

The women's laughter and wolf-whistles followed us as Novo carried me through the main room. I buried my face against his neck, suddenly embarrassed by the attention. He smelled good—like leather and soap and something distinctly all man.

"Did you bring Patches?" I mumbled against his skin. "He doesn't like being on his own."

"On his way," Novo assured me, and I sighed.

"They're right, you are like a big teddy bear."

"Uh huh," Novo replied, his voice gentler than I expected.

We reached his room, and he managed to open the door without putting me down. Once inside, he set me carefully on the edge of the bed. The room swayed slightly, and I gripped the edge of the mattress to steady myself.

"Water," Novo said, pressing a cold bottle into my hands. "Drink all of it."

I obeyed, grateful for the cool liquid sliding down my throat. When I finished, Novo took the empty bottle and handed me another.

"All of it," he repeated firmly.

"Bossy," I muttered, but took the second bottle.

As I drank, I watched him move around the room, setting out what looked like sweatpants and a t-shirt on the bed beside me.

I heard a knock at the door and Bear opened it to see a young man standing with a tray of food.

They smelled like burgers, but I was full of water.

"Thanks, Risk."

"Sophie said you weren't gay," I blurted out suddenly when the door closed, then clapped a hand over my mouth. "Sorry, I didn't mean to—"

Novo went still, his back to me. "What exactly did Sophie say?"

I swallowed hard, wishing I'd kept my mouth shut. The alcohol had loosened my tongue too much. "She said you two hook up. That you're not... that this is just an arrangement for you." I gestured vaguely between us. "Which it is, I know that. And you just have to be a Daddy not do anything else."

Novo turned slowly, his expression unreadable. "Sophie's been trying to get into my bed for years. I've never been interested."

"Oh." Relief washed through me, though I wasn't sure why it mattered. Our marriage was a contract, nothing more. "That's good. I mean the contract doesn't specify fidelity, but it does require discretion, and she seemed... not discreet."

"Sophie is many things. Discreet isn't one of them." Novo sat beside me on the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. "For the record, I'm bisexual. But even if I wasn't, I wouldn't be interested in Sophie."

"It doesn't matter," I whispered, my voice cracking.

"I know what this is. What we are." The room swam before my eyes, and suddenly the emotions I'd been holding back all day—the terror of nearly being killed, the humiliation of being fired, the confusion of Sophie's claims, the unexpected kindness of the club women—crashed over me like a tidal wave.

A sob tore from my throat, followed by another, and then I was crying uncontrollably, my whole body shaking with the force of it. I pressed my hands to my face, mortified but unable to stop.

"Matty..." Novo's voice sounded alarmed, but distant through the roaring in my ears.

"I'm sorry," I gasped between sobs. "I'm so sorry. I don't—I don't know why I'm—" But the words dissolved into more tears.

"Hey, hey," Novo's voice gentled as his large hand came to rest on my back. "It's okay. You've had one hell of a day."

"Someone tried to kill me," I choked out, the reality of it hitting me all over again. "My own godfather wants me dead. I lost my job. I have no home. I dragged you into this mess. And I'm so drunk and I never get drunk because I can't afford it and—"

"Breathe," Novo instructed, his hand making slow, steady circles on my back. "Just breathe for me."

I tried, but the sobs kept coming, months—years—of fear and loneliness pouring out of me in an unstoppable flood. "I'm so tired," I admitted, the words barely intelligible through my tears. "I'm so tired of nobody ever liking me."

Without warning, Novo's arms encircled me, pulling me against his chest. One large hand cradled the back of my head while the other continued its soothing motion on my back. "I've got you," he murmured, his deep voice rumbling through his chest against my ear. "You're safe now."

Something about those simple words, about the solid warmth of him, broke me completely. I clung to him, sobbing into his shirt, all pretense of dignity abandoned. I couldn't remember the last time someone had held me like this—like I mattered, like my pain was worth comforting.

"That's it," Novo encouraged softly. "Let it out. I've got you."

I don't know how long we sat like that, me crying in his arms while he held me steady. Eventually, the sobs subsided into hiccups and shaky breaths. Exhaustion swept over me like a heavy blanket, my eyelids suddenly too heavy to keep open.

"Sorry," I mumbled against his now-damp shirt. "Ruined your shirt."

"It'll dry," Novo said simply. He tried getting me to take a small bite of the burger but I turned my face away.

Then he was lifting me and taking me to the bathroom, and I was too out of it to even register how he did everything for me, wiped me, washed my hands, brushed my teeth.

Then we were back in bed and he pulled me close so I could use his shoulder for a pillow.

"Just like a proper Daddy," I murmured and promptly fell fast asleep.