“‘Oh captain, my captain,’” I breathed out, and Shadow grinned.
“Wrong movie.”
I smiled, sliding his hair back, then running my finger over his bottom lip. “You are seriously amazing.”
“Ditto, baby.” He kissed me again. “Just wait until I can actually process enough to take my time.”
“You’re saying this will be better next time?”
“Hell yeah, it’ll be better.”
“I don’t know if I can handle better,” I admitted.
“Give me a second. I’m gonna get rid of the rubber.”
He slid out of me gently, heading to the bathroom and returning with a warm washcloth and settling it between my legs.
Sliding under the covers, he pulled me against him and wrapped an arm tightly around my waist. “It’s gonna suck not stayin’ here tomorrow night.”
“Yeah,” I breathed out. “Want me to bring cookies by the station?”
“You don’t have an oven.”
“Don’t know how to bake cookies, either, but I could buy some.”
He kissed my temple. “Nah, we always have fresh baked goods on hand. The community likes to thank us on a pretty regular basis.”
“Just how many gorgeous women do you have parading into the station half-naked with baked goods?” I demanded.
“None. We never have gorgeous women parading into the station with baked goods. They’re always troll-like. Warts, ratty hair, somewhat green complected.”
I snorted. “Nice save.”
He rolled me so he was above me and rubbed his nose against mine. “I don’t share, Posey, and I don’t cheat. You will never have to worry about that.”
“Same, honey.”
“You want to explore this with me?”
“Be exclusive?”
His finger stroked the apple of my cheek. “Yeah.”
“You don’t think it’s too soon?”
“Do you think it’s too soon?”
“I asked you first,” I sassed.
His lips twitched. “No, I don’t think it’s too soon. I like you, Posey.”
“You like the outside Posey.”
“You don’t think I see the inside?”
“You haven’t known me long enough to see all the bad,” I admitted.
“Why do you go straight to the bad, baby?”
I shrugged. “I’m a lot, Nolan.”
“You’re enough, Posey.”
“I’m too much.”
“Bullshit,” he hissed, leaning down to kiss me. “Quit.”
“You’ll see,” I whispered.
“I won’t fuckin’ see, Posey. You need to quit.”
“You’re already seeing,” I hissed.
“Jesus,” he ground out, but he smiled. “You’re gonna push me to the limit. I can tell.”
“You might want to cut your losses.”
“Posey, I like this. I like your sass, I like your ridiculousness, I like your drama. What I don’t like is you saying negative shit about yourself. But we’re gonna work on that. I’ll fuck it out of you if I have to.”
I let out a quiet snort and he kissed me.
“Nolan, you’re gonna get sick of—”
He kissed me again.
“You need to listen—”
Another kiss, this time with tongue.
“Seriously?” I bit out, which awarded me another kiss.
“You need more?” he challenged.
I wrinkled my nose.
“Posey?” he pressed.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
He grinned, kissing me again. “I’m hungry.”
“It’s midnight.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m not hungry,” he said, throwing the covers back. “You want a sandwich?”
“Are you making it?”
He pulled on jeans, commando. “Baby, you burned your kitchen down when you tried to cook a box, of course, I’m making it.”
“I didn’t try to cook—oh, forget it. Yes, a sandwich would be good, thanks.”
He grinned, pulling his hair back into a rubber band, then walking out the door.
CHAPTER NINE
Shadow
POSEY HAD A full day, so I kissed her at her car and forced a smile even though I hadn’t wanted to leave her bed.
“Four?” she asked.
“Four.”
“Okay, honey, I’ll see you then.”
“Drive safe,” I ordered, and she smiled.
“No, I’m gonna run my car into a tree.”
Sliding my hand to her neck, I tugged her gently forward. “Love that sass, Posey.”
“For now.”
I kissed her with a growl. “Quit.”
She grinned, indicating she was busting my balls, and gripped my leather. “Have a good day.”
I kissed her again and then waited for her to climb into her car and drive away before taking off to the barn.
I pulled up to the club and parked, walking inside to find my sister and a couple of the old ladies playing games with the kids.
“Looks like a party,” I said, and Kinsey and Alfie came running to me.
“Uncle Shadow!” they squealed in girlie stereo.
“Shouldn’t you be in school?” I admonished as they wrapped their arms around my waist.
“In-service day,” they said, and I gave them a squeeze.
“Nothin’ better than a day off.”
“Our dads are taking us for ice cream,” Kinsey said.
“After they’re finished doing important biker stuff,” Alfie informed me.
“Biker stuff is very important,” I joked.
“Yo, Shadow,” Ethan called, setting his pool cue down and walking toward me. I tried not to chuckle at his attempt at a swagger. The boy had accidental game and it was fuckin’ adorable.
“Hey, bud.”
He gave me a fist bump, then crossed his arms. “Do you need more help on the greenhouse?”
My sister set Doc’s daughter, Chloe, on the floor next to her twin brother, and made her way to me.
“Not much I can do right now, but when I start up again, I’ll let you know,” I said.
Ethan nodded and headed back to the pool table, and I wrapped an arm around my sister. I did not like the nasty bruise around her eye. I stuffed the rage down and gave her a squeeze. “How ya doin’?”
“I’m good,” she said. “As you can see, I’m safe. I’m not happy I had to call in a sick day, but I’m here.”
“You tell your boss why you called in sick?”
“As a rule, it’s nobody’s business. But since it’s Melonie and she’s one of my best friends, yes.”
I rolled my eyes and caught sight of Nova running out from the hallway, Shutter following.
“Nova’s here too?” I asked.
“Darlene’s working,” Cat said.
I raised an eyebrow in Shutter’s direction, and he shrugged. Jesus, my brother was a good guy. He put up with a lot more shit from an ex than I would.
“Shadow!” Nova squeaked and came running to me for a hug. I bent, catching her and lifting her up high. She wrapped her legs around my waist.