Page 10

JACQUELINE

Waking up to the sun shining on my face, the night before immediately floods my mind. I spent the night in Wolf’s house. In his bed.

Shooting up to a sitting position, I glance around the space. The pillow next to me was cool to the touch. There wasn’t a dent or anything letting on that Wolf had been in the bed next to me.

Last night, after he put his foot down, he guided me to his room, gave me a shirt to wear, and left the room.

Didn’t say another word to me. I didn’t even go after him to tell him yet again I could go to my brother’s.

Honestly, I didn’t want to. I’d gone to Wolf, and he was nice enough to let me stay with him.

A part of me is disappointed to find myself alone in his bed. I’d been nervous when I’d climbed into the king-size bed, thinking he’d be joining me, but he didn’t.

Throwing the covers back, I take in the room. It’s simple white walls and dark furniture, not that it’s more than a dresser, nightstand, and bed. Even as spacious as the room was, it wasn’t filled as it could be. He didn’t have a lot of things in here.

I use his attached bathroom. I had to use my finger to brush my teeth because I surely wasn’t going to go out there without brushing them, and I wasn’t using his toothbrush.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I want nothing more than to find a hole to hide in.

I hadn’t washed my face last night, and my makeup was all smeared.

There’s no way I was going out of this bathroom without cleaning my face now.

I have total raccoon eyes. I also need to run a brush through my hair.

Thankfully, Wolf had a comb on the counter. I didn’t think he’d mind me using it. I also found a washcloth that I used to clean my face.

Once I felt halfway decent, I stepped back into Wolf’s room. My gaze lands on my dress lying on the floor. I didn’t know if I should put it back on or not.

I decided to stick to wearing Wolf’s shirt for now.

Maybe once he’s been to my house and cleared it for me to go back over there, I can run over there without any of the other neighbors seeing me.

Not that they’re that close. Houses on this street were pretty spaced out.

Just so happened mine and Wolf’s houses were a bit closer than the others.

Taking a breath, I finally leave the bedroom in search of Wolf. I find him sprawled out on the couch, back to the cushions, Kale sleeping peacefully on his bare chest. One hand was up over his head, the other holding Kale to him securely.

I wish I had a camera. The sight of the two of them together is beautiful. Priceless.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen something so magnificent—such pure beauty.

Watching the two of them together, I memorized it for later.

I might not have a camera, but I have a good memory.

Seeing them this way inspires me, and I really hope to get to my studio today to start what I’ve now got in my head.

Wolf stirs, and I shove the thoughts away, seeing as his eyes crack open to look at me.

“Hey.”

Oh my, that gravely sinfully sexy voice sounds more enticing when he’s just waking up.

“Hey,” I greet him back, knowing good and well my cheeks were on fire.

Wolf shifts on the couch, sits up, stands, and places Kale in a little seat where he keeps on sleeping.

“How’s he feeling?” I manage to ask as he straightens and steps toward me.

“Got his fever to go down,” Wolf remarks, coming to stand right in front of me, his arm going around my waist.

My breath catches in my lungs. I try to inhale and exhale, but I find myself frozen, staring up at Wolf.

I don’t know what to expect, though it surely wasn’t him wrapping his arms around me, pulling me flush against his chest. I definitely wasn’t able to think past his lips coming to rest against mine or the way my eyes fluttered closed when they did.

Wolf doesn’t just press a chaste kiss to my lips. His lips guide mine open, and his tongue slips inside. It’s not the first time I’ve been kissed, but it is the first that made me feel something go straight between my legs.

I slide my hands upward to wrap them around his neck, holding on tight as he tightens one arm around my waist, the other coming up to tangle in my hair.

Never before have I felt something so intense. Especially the tingling along my entire body. I find myself moaning into his mouth and earning a growl of approval from him. Between one second and the next, I find myself pressed against the nearest wall, Wolf’s body pressing deeper into mine.

Oh heaven, this man was built like a brick and felt amazing pressing into me. I tighten my arms around him and hold tight, wanting, no needing, more of his touch. I could feel his arousal pressing into me.

Feeling him, I was hot. Wet even. I knew what I was feeling between my legs. Never before have I felt anything like it.

Wolf slides a hand along my side, downward, and it’s then that Kale cries, ending the moment. With a heavy, reluctant sigh, the man kissing me pulls away. If I weren’t already leaning against the wall, I might have slid to the floor, but the wall was holding me up.

I watch Wolf cross the room to pick Kale up and cradle him to his chest.

“You’re all right, bud,” he says sweetly. The way he spoke to his son caused butterflies to flutter in my stomach. It’s sweet how he acts with the little boy.

Wolf’s gaze comes to mine, and he watches me closely as he asks, “You mind holding him a minute while I get his bottle made?”

Nodding, I don’t use words. I don’t think I could if I wanted to. Stepping away from the wall, I move to him and allow him to put Kale in my arms. Looking down at the little boy, I finally find words. “Do you want me to go change him while you get his bottle ready?”

I lift my gaze just in time to see Wolf’s nod.

“Yeah, everything is in his room.”

“Okay.”

With him going to the kitchen, I head to Kale’s room. I find it’s very organized. At the changing table, I get Kale changed and cleaned up. He’s not as feverish as he was last night. In fact, he didn’t seem to have a fever at all. That was good, means he has to be feeling better. Right?

Wolf finds us just as we’re coming out of the room, and I find myself asking a question without thinking. “Would you like me to feed him while you . . .” I let my words trail off, not wanting to think of what he could be doing.

Possibly showering.

The idea of him naked and in the shower causes my stomach to tighten into a million knots.

“You sure?” Wolf asks, watching me closely.

“Yeah, I don’t mind.” I really didn’t. Holding Kale, it felt . . . well, natural. Like it’s exactly what I should be doing.

“All right,” he says, handing me the bottle. “I’m gonna go take a shower. Should be done by the time he finishes.”

Oh my.

“Take your time.”

I surprised myself that my voice doesn’t sound breathy.

Leaving him in the hallway, I take Kale back to the living room, sit in Wolf’s recliner, tuck my knees up into the seat as well, and feed Kale his bottle.

“If you don’t mind me asking, where’s Kale’s mother?”

Wolf had come out of his room, hair wet, a bandana wrapped around his head, dressed in dark jeans and nothing else. Around his neck, he had two necklaces. One of them was a cross. The other held a ring of some sort. I couldn’t tell if it was a wedding band or significant for something else.

The thought of Wolf married and having kissed me doesn’t sit well.

For one, he doesn’t seem like the type that would be a cheater, but then again, what do I know.

I don’t even know the man. Just the few things I’ve learned in the past day.

It’s not much, but I do like to think I’m a good judge of character.

“She’s not in the picture,” he grunts and heads to the kitchen. “Want some coffee?”

“Yes, please.” I follow him with my gaze only from where I’m still holding Kale after he finished his bottle. Kale was asleep, and I didn’t want to put him down.

His words spin around in my head. She’s not in the picture? Why? What would possess a woman not to want to be in this little boy’s life? Let alone Wolf’s.

A few moments later, Wolf is back and sets a cup next to me. “Didn’t ask you what you want in your coffee.”

“I drink it black,” I tell him. It’s not my favorite way of drinking coffee, but I don’t hate it.

Wolf nods and looks to his son, sleeping in my arms. “I’ll take him,” he finally says, leaning in and taking Kale.

I thought he was going to keep holding him, but he moves him to the baby swing and starts it up.

He turns his attention back to me. “After we finish our coffee, I’ll go next door and get a better look.

See what it’s gonna take to fix your power. ”

Oh damn.

How could I forget about the fact someone had cut the power to my house last night?

“Um, okay.”

“You’ll have to hang out here with Kale while I go and do that. Aries and Vulture are coming over to help me go over everything,” he says. Then adds, “Two of my brothers in the club.”

I guess he saw my confusion.

“My brothers are members of the club. It’s what we call each other,” he explains. “There’s a lot to know when it comes to an MC, Jacqueline, but the main thing to know is that though we don’t all share blood, we’re all family, and that’s what we’re about.”

“Do you all do anything illegal?”Now, why did I have to ask that? “Don’t answer that. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s not any of my business.”

“You can ask whatever you want, Princess. If I don’t want to answer, I’m not, and I’ll tell you that. As for your question, the club does what it wants and needs to do to protect those who are family or under our protection.”

I could understand doing what was needed to protect family. I actually agree with the thought process. I also like that he answered my question.

Clearing my throat, I take a sip of coffee and ask my next question, “You and your brothers are going to check on everything.” Well not really a question, but it’s implied.

“Yeah, we’re going to see what needs to be done and fix what we can,” Wolf grunts.

“Will I be able to go into my studio today?” I wanted to work on what’s in my head. I was thinking it would be amazing to paint, maybe even do it with glass blowing.

“We’ll check to see if the studio is safe, if you think you can work with Kale in there with you, then sure.

But while I’m working on the other stuff, need you to watch him for me.

Noelle typically watches him for me, but with Bride, I’d prefer not to take the chances of Kale getting sicker.

His fever is gone, thankfully, and I don’t want him exposed more than he’s already been. ”

I nod, completely understanding him. I could paint what’s in my head easily, and it wouldn’t be any harm to Kale.

“Also, just keep the music down if he’s in there with you.” He smirks, watching me knowingly. Guess he knows I like my music when working.