Page 72

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

Jingles

By the time we come back upstairs, after taking a few good jabs at both Alvin and Bert, the women have dinner ready. As I walk toward Belle, I see her laughing with Nylah, Ryleigh, and Rory, and it hits me that she’s going to fit in just fine. I just need her to see that for herself.

Once I make my plate, I find myself seated between Belle and Sleeper, but am more interested in listening than I am talking as he peppers her with questions about what she wants to do, then lets her know their IT guy went into the college computers and made it look like both girls took a semester off so it wouldn’t impact their degree.

“That was nice of him,” Belle murmurs. “Honestly, Sleeper, I don’t even know if I want to use my degree now.”

“And that’s perfectly fine, Belle,” he replies. “But at least you’ll have the paper for any future thing you want to pursue.”

“I can always pay you back what you’ve spent,” she offers.

“It’s not about the money, Belle, because it was given freely without any kind of expectations. I just know how you are about finishing shit you’ve started. Why not see if you can finish up the courses you need online? That way, you don’t have to worry about whether or not you can handle being around a lot of people.”

“He makes a good point,” I tell her, leaning closer since the noise level in the common room is high right now. “Maybe go home, finish up your degree, and see how you’re feeling about things. I don’t mind coming up to see you, Belle.”

She looks at me and I can see gratitude in her gaze. While I know she’ll have to face her demons at some point, she doesn’t have to do it today. In fact, she can wait until she’s back here with me and I’ll stand by her side ready to fight them off if necessary.

She tilts her head thinking it over then settles on what she wants, and tells us, “Then that’s what I’ll do, as soon as Moira is ready to go home.”

“Honey, Moira may not be ready to leave any time soon,” Sleeper gently states. “She’s in a bad way, I thought you figured that out when you went to see her.”

“But I wouldn’t want her here by herself if she came back, does that make sense?” Belle asks. “She doesn’t know anyone here at all.”

“Why don’t we see what Dragon and Wrecker can accomplish,” Brick adds, joining our conversation. “They may get her well enough to be able to go home so she’d be around familiar people and places.”

Belle sighs then finally nods. “Okay, we’ll try it that way.”

Dinner continues with a shit ton of things flying through my head. I wasn’t lying; I have no problem going to her. I'll just have to work it around my work schedule.

“Since we have a Road Captain now, maybe we can participate in one of those toy runs for the kids,” Rainman says.

“I’ll look into it, but who would we do the toy run for?” I ask.

“Maybe reach out to the local foster care people? Or the children’s hospital?” Banshee replies.

“Okay, I’ll start doing some research,” I say, excitement building inside of me. Leaning into Belle, I whisper, “Would love you on the back of my bike while we do it.”

She smiles at me which has my heart rate accelerating; it’s one full of promise, a bit of mystery, and a lot of allure. I’m not some wet behind the ears kid, but except for the few years I went a little bit wild when I first patched in, I’ve been very particular about the women I bedded. We have club girls, which is fine, but I never liked the idea of being compared to my other brothers as far as dick size, ability in bed, or any of that other horseshit the women spew trying to cause shit amongst the club. In fact, I think if not for the single guys who visit us from other chapters, Brick probably would’ve kicked them to the curb.

As it is, they’ve taken over the majority of the cleaning, although they have the prospects for the heavy lifting. Plus, the prospects always man the bar, do the shopping unless Ryleigh convinces Brick she wants to go, and handle the men’s restrooms that are in the hallway. The club girls handle the women’s restrooms, laundry for the brothers who need it, and cleaning certain brothers’ rooms as well. I do my own shit mostly, except for my laundry, since I’m usually too busy.

After dinner, we all help clear the table, and soon, the common room is filled with music from the sound system as the prospects hand out beers, whiskey, and the occasional mixed drink, since Ryleigh doesn’t care for beer all that much.

“Do you want to walk around the property?” I ask Belle, eager for some fresh air.

“I’d like that,” she replies, smiling up at me.

Sleeper raises his brow at me as we walk toward the front door, but outside of that, no one says a word, and soon, we’re walking around the massive property the club owns. “Why are there houses back there?” Belle asks, pointing to the three houses along the back.

“One is Brick’s and Ryleigh’s, which was her childhood home, the smaller cabin is RiffRaff’s, and the last one is Banshee’s and Rory’s house,” I reply. “They all still mostly stay at the clubhouse, but they’ve got their own space if they want it. Brick and Ryleigh usually stay at theirs when Aubree is teething because she’s miserable and they don’t want all of us being kept awake.”

“So, if a brother takes an ol’ lady he can either live at the clubhouse or build a house for them?” she questions.

“Pretty much. The land belongs to the club and Brick knows a few contractors who have the ability to put up a quality house in a short amount of time.”

“What kind of house do you want?” she inquires, glancing over at me.

“I never much thought about it, because I honestly didn’t think an ol’ lady was in my future,” I admit. “But I like how a farmhouse is built. Wide porches, big rooms, plenty of space for a family.”

“Farmhouses are nice,” she murmurs, a small smile on her lips. “Are you really okay coming to see me in Cleveland?”

I smile back at her and state, “Definitely.”

Her eyes meet mine as she asks, “Even though we haven’t done anything together as a couple?”

She’s persistent, I’ll give her that much. “Yeah, Belle. It’ll all happen when it happens. I’m a patient guy, and there’s no fucking way I’m pushing myself on you right after the shit you went through. Not happening.”

“That means you won’t be kissing me any time soon, huh?” she asks, sounding disappointed.

“I’ll kiss you whenever you’re ready, babe, but the rest can wait.”

“Jingles?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m ready,” she whispers.

Turning toward her, I gently draw her into my arms then cup her face in my hands. Leaning down, I capture her lips with mine, unsure of what to expect since I never made it a habit to kiss the club girls, and damn sure didn’t bother with it whenever I hooked up with someone from town.

As incendiary fire flows through my body, I realize we’re probably going to combust by the time we make it to an actual bed. As our lips mold together, she surprises me and swipes her tongue along my lower lip, causing me to open my mouth. Soon, we’re plastered so close together, a sheet of paper wouldn’t fit, as we kiss underneath the stars. When I pull slightly back, I hear her low moan, and hide my smile as I place a soft kiss on her lips.

“Didn’t expect that,” she murmurs, her fingers lightly touching her swollen lips. “But I liked it, a lot.”

“Yeah, me too,” I admit, turning her back toward the clubhouse. “We should probably head back in before your brother comes looking for us.”

Her giggles soon have me chuckling, especially when she says, “He probably threatened you already, if I know him.”

“He did, but I promised I’d never hurt you intentionally,” I tell her, helping her over a fallen log.

We make it back inside with no issues, and I walk her up to her room, then kiss her thoroughly again before I tell her good night. As I move to my own door, I find myself adjusting my dick behind my jeans. I foresee a lot of cold showers in my future.

Whimpers and small cries break through my slumber, and have me jumping from my bed to follow the sound, only to stop at Belle’s door. I realize I’m only in my boxers, so I hurry back to my room to slip on a pair of sweatpants then go back to her room and slip inside.

She’s tossing and turning, tears covering her face in her sleep. Moving to her side, I reach out and touch her while quietly calling her name. “Shhh, Belle, I’m here, babe,” I croon. Once she calms, I pull the recliner next to the bed and take her hand in mine. I don’t want to climb into the bed; well, I do, but I also don’t want to face the business end of Sleeper’s gun either, so until he and I have another conversation, this will have to do.

Despite the fact I’m chilled, I don’t move because every time I try, she starts crying again as though she’s afraid to be left alone. I have no idea what her nightmares entail, but can guess they have to do with what happened when she was a prisoner of those fuckers.