Page 15 of Sam (Crow MC 2nd Generation #2)

“Duh,” she says, slapping me with a pillow. “I’m a girl! Also, with my family, how can you think I’m not. I hope if I’m ever lucky enough to find the one meant for me that he treats me the way my uncles treat my aunts, or the way my dad still looks at my mum like she hung the moon.”

I’m silent as I look at her. Her cheeks are flushed, as if she’s embarrassed. Cupping her chin, I turn her face towards me. “You should want all that, beautiful. You deserve someone that treats you like the precious jewel you are. Don’t settle for less.”

Her gaze holds mine for a long time, and I wish I knew what she was thinking, but she lowers her gaze, then lifts her eyes back to mine. “I won’t,” she assures me, then surprises me with her next words, “You shouldn’t either.”

Warmth floods through me, and I smile, “I won’t,” I repeat her words back to her.

Breaking our stare, I settle back on the couch, pulling the blanket from the back.

I throw it over her legs because I know if she’s anything like my sisters, she’ll want to be covered while watching a movie.

I know I’m right when she immediately fixes it and settles deeper into the couch.

“Ready?” I ask.

“Yep,” she responds, reaching into the bowl of popcorn as the movie starts.

We’re not an hour into the movie when I feel her getting heavier as she leans against me.

Turning my head, I see she’s fallen asleep.

Knowing that she’s not been getting much sleep, I decide to leave her.

Moving the mostly empty bowl of popcorn from between us, I put it on the table and lift my arm to wrap it around her shoulders.

Immediately, she snuggles in, head on my chest, arm over my waist, and knee resting on my hip.

Instantly, my cock is hard, and I mutter to myself, ‘Fuck! I didn’t think this through.

’ With a sigh, I ignore my cock and go back to watching the movie.

It’s late when I wake to whimpers. The TV is on some random program.

Realising I must have fallen asleep too, I look down and see Ally’s face scrunched up as she whimpers in her sleep.

Her guttural cries of “no” have my gut clenching in anger that she’s still having nightmares about the dickhead who attacked her.

Gently, I run my hand down her head through her hair, massaging her scalp with a light touch and hum softly under my breath.

I do this until she comes out of whatever dreams have her gripped in a nightmare.

Ally lets out a shuddering breath and tilts her head on my shoulder, looking up at me with an unfocused stare. Pressing my lips to her forehead, I whisper reassuringly, “It’s okay, baby. You’re safe. Nothing’s going to get to you while you’re with me.”

She shakes off her dream, and her eyes clear. “Sam?”

“I’m here, baby, you’re safe,” I reassure her again.

“Safe,” she whispers, closing her eyes and breathing deeply, and I know she’s asleep again.

Switching off the telly, I shuffle out from under her until I’m standing before bending and scooping her up and taking her towards her bedroom.

She wakes again as I put her down and pull the covers over her.

Her hand clutches mine. “Stay,” she pleads.

There’s no way I can turn away. I don’t think I’d ever be able to say no to this woman. Not with the way she’s looking at me, like I’m the only person in the world who can keep her safe. It’s a heady feeling having the woman you’re falling for look at you like you’re her hero.

Slipping into bed with her, I wrap her up in my arms, smiling a little when she sighs and sleepily murmurs, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, baby. Sleep, I’ve got you,” I assure her. And I do. I’ll always have her because she deserves nothing less.

***

That was the first time she spent the night, but it wasn’t the last. It started a tradition in our generation of Crows.

Fridays, we’d finish work early, go for a long ride, and then meet up at the café as per usual before we’d either go home or arrange to meet up at the pub.

So far, we’d not done the clubs, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to share Ally with more people just yet.

My life had got infinitely better with Ally in it, and at her urging, Alec and I’d sorted our shit out.

I’d missed having him in my life. I’d taken to heart when Ally had reminded me that life was short.

Too short to let hurt feelings get in the way of a friendship that had seen me through some of the worst times in my life.

I knew she was right, so I’d made the first move, but it had only been a matter of time because Alec had made it clear he was about done with my shit.

It was good to have my best friend back in my life, especially with the shitstorm that was circling around my sisters.

While Alec and Bren were fixing all that broke them, Ally and I were working on us. While we’d spent the night together, we hadn’t had sex. I don’t think either of us was ready for that step just yet, but I knew in my heart that it wouldn’t be long.

The quiet, beautiful girl who preferred to fade into the background had crept into my heart. Now, she was firmly ensconced there, and I was never letting her go.

I’d eventually have to speak to her dad, and I can’t lie. I was a little hesitant about broaching that conversation with him. I knew it better be sooner rather than later because I planned on making her mine before long.

And by mine, I meant everything, not just my Old Lady. I wanted to marry her and put my babies in her, and for that, I’d have to have her father’s blessing.