Rafe—
When I come out of Church, I find the girls at the bar.
I take one look at Tori, then shift my eyes to Melissa. “You got her drunk?”
“We only had a couple,” Melissa answers, grinning, her eyes glassy.
Billy walks up, and I give him a look.
He surmises the situation and lifts a brow at the prospect. “How many did they have?”
“Five.”
I reach across the bar and grab Cody’s shirt in my fist. “You kept serving them, prospect?”
Cody holds his palms in the air. “You said to give her whatever she wanted.”
I shove him back. Fuck , I did say that.
“It’s pouring,” Melissa says, grabbing Billy’s chest. “Are we spending the night here, baby?”
He strokes her face. “Sure. Come on. Let’s go to my room before you pass out.”
TJ stands in front of Gigi’s barstool. She doesn’t look as drunk.
“Since your mom is babysitting, can we stay, too?” Gigi asks.
TJ grins. “Sure. Don’t want you falling off the bike.”
Red Dog opens the front door and looks out. “It’s just a drizzle now, pussies.”
The older crowd heads out. Cole, Crash, Green, Shane, Jake, even my father, Wolf.
Cole stops at Tori’s stool, then looks at me. “She okay to ride?”
“I don’t think so.”
He digs into his pocket and pulls out a key. “Use my room. The girls keep it clean. I’m goin’ home to my ol’ lady.”
“Thanks. Be safe.”
He slaps my shoulder, then walks out the door.
“Come on, Tori. Can you walk?”
“Sure. I’m okay.” But she wobbles as she stands.
I wrap an arm around her, tug her against my side, grab her jacket off the barstool, then lead her up the stairs to the second level. Cole’s room is the last one at the end, and I key the door.
Halfway up the exposed brick wall behind the bed is a section of multi-paned windows. Rain runs in rivulets down the glass, making the light from the floodlights outside shimmer and dance across the floor.
“There’s a bathroom through that door if you need,” I tell her, flicking on a bedside lamp.
Her eyes go around the room, then settle on the bed, and I sense her sudden nervousness.
I lift my palms. “No strings, Tori. We’re just gonna sleep. I swear.”
She nods but doesn’t look any more relieved.
“I can find another room if you’d feel better.”
“No.” Her answer is short and quick. “I… ah, don’t want to be alone.”
“I get that. Especially after what happened tonight.”
“Do you think the house will be okay? I mean, the window on the back door was broken in, and the rain…”
“The kitchen floor might get wet, but we’ll clean it up in the morning. I’ll get it all taken care of before your aunt comes home.”
“My aunt,” she says and drops to sit on the bed to check her phone.
“Oh, I’ve got a missed call and a voice message.
Shit.” She pulls it up and listens to it, then puts her phone on the nightstand.
“She was just checking on me with the storm. She assumed when I didn’t answer that I was already sleeping. ”
“Well, good. Then you don’t need to be concerned that she’s worried.”
“I guess.”
I tilt my head. “You okay?”
She nods. “The girls… well, Melissa especially, she said… she thought we were a couple. She thinks you like me.”
“I do like you, Tori.”
“I mean, you know, like really like me?”
I grin and walk to her, taking her chin and tilting her face up to mine. “And if I did?”
She searches my eyes and licks her lips. “Do you?”
In answer, I dip my head and touch my mouth to hers, just a gentle brush of our lips. No pressure, no expectation of anything more.
She kisses me back, and I feel her hand gently cup my neck.
I break the kiss and gaze into her eyes.
She’s not so drunk she can’t give consent, but she has been drinking, and I won’t go there now, even though I want nothing more than to guide her down on the bed and settle my body on top of her soft curves.
“Maybe I do like you like that, Tori. Would that be so bad?”
“No, but my father…” she trails off and drops her head.
I straighten, but don’t move away. Instead, I cup the side of her face and stroke my thumb over her cheekbone and ear, staring at the top of her head.
“I know. We come from two different worlds. You and me… I guess it doesn’t make sense.
Doesn’t mean I don’t want you, girl. Doesn’t mean I don’t love talking to you.
Doesn’t mean I don’t love the scent of your hair or the way you cling to me on the bike. ”
By the end, she’s lifted her head and is staring into my eyes.
I drop my hand, withdrawing a couple of steps. I don’t want to make her feel pressured. I pull off my cut and hang it on the back of a chair, then shrug out of the button-down flannel I have on over my t-shirt and hold it out to her. “You can sleep in this if you want.”
She stands and takes it, then heads to the bathroom.
While she’s in there, I dig through the drawers and find a pair of sweatpants, kicking my boots off and switching into them. I lay on the bed, stack my hands under my head, and switch off the light. The shadows of the rain dripping down the glass patterns the room in hazy blues and grays.
The bathroom door opens, and Tori is standing there in my flannel shirt and no pants. It hangs to her bare thighs, and she looks sexy as hell.
I smile and settle on a word I don’t think will scare her. “Cute.”
She returns my smile and hesitantly moves to the other side of the bed.
Lifting the covers, I show her I’m clothed. “You’re safe,” I tease. She climbs in, and I open my arm. “C’mere.”
She cuddles against me, and when her head rests on my chest, it's heaven. Her arm comes across my waist, and I stroke her back.
“I’m sorry I drank too much,” she whispers.
I kiss the top of her head. “Did you have fun?”
“Yes. I really like Melissa. She’s sweet. All the girls are.”
“They are. Did they take you into their fold?”
“Well, they invited me to brunch next Sunday, and Melissa and I exchanged numbers, so…”
I huff a laugh. “Sounds like you’re in the fold.”
“Am I?”
“Um hmm. Don’t worry. It’s a good place to be.”
“I could use some friends. I barely know anyone here.”
“Well, now you have a girl squad all your own.”
She giggles. “I’m in a girl squad. I like that.”
I rub her back and soon realize she’s drifted off to sleep. I love the way she’s cuddled against me, like she feels completely safe with me. That’s the way I want her to feel.
Her curves pressed against my body are a perfect fit. It’s like she’s meant to be here. It feels right. It feels different from with any other woman I’ve ever held like this.
I stroke her hair and stare at the ceiling, knowing this might be all I ever have of this girl. This night, these few hours in this bed together, holding her…
I already know it’ll never be enough.