Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
He stiffened beneath me and was silent so long I didn’t think he was going to answer me. I pushed up to look down at him. The expression on his face was one of stubbornness. “What? What’s wrong?”
“First name don’t matter. It’s Mars.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You’re telling me I’m going to be your old lady, the mother of your children, and you’re not going to tell me your first name?”
Now he looked disgruntled. “Don’t want to.”
“Mars. What’s this? You’re not acting like the badass biker I know you to be.”
“Don’t wanna tell you my first name.” He frowned, but I was pretty sure I saw his lips twitch.
“Fine. I’ll make up one for you. I’ll get Lemon to help. We’ll start calling you by your new name, and I promise you, it will stick. Everyone will start calling you by your new name instead of Mars. You really willing to risk that?”
“Fine, you little hellion. It’s Francis. My first name is Francis.”
I had to purse my lips to keep from smiling, which I’m sure he wouldn’t appreciate. Finally, unable to help myself, I stroked his beard with my hand and gave him a look of sympathy. “You poor thing…” Then I burst into giggles.
“That’s it. Now you’re gettin’ it.”
Mars tickled me until I was screaming for mercy, pressing my legs together so I didn’t pee. When he finally let me up so I could relieve myself I realized I felt lighter in spirit. If not happier, at least better able to process everything that had happened.
He leaned against the bathroom door as I cleaned up. I looked at him in the mirror. “You’re so good for me. I’m lucky to have met you.”
“Same here, honey.”
“I think I checked out when Claw… you know.”
“Yeah. I know.” He just gave me a steady look, not judging or forcing me to finish my sentence. It was just one more thing I was grateful to him for.
“You knew before I acknowledged it to myself.”
“Baby, that was too much to ask of anyone to go through. You had what you saw a reason for what you did, though I still wish you’d have let Lemon bring you to us before it got that far. You didn’t know us then, and there was no reason for you to think we’d help your sisters. I hope you realize now that there’s nothing anyone in this club won’t do to protect you and any you call yours.”
“I do.” I smiled up at him. “I’m sorry I put you through that. The memories it brought back to you…”
“Gave me the strength to control my demons and begin to heal. Ain’t promisin’ it’ll always be perfect, but I know now that I can lose myself in you and it’s like a natural balm for what ails my mind.”
“I disagree,” I said as I stepped to him and circled his neck with my arms. “I think it absolutely will always be perfect.”
“As long as we’re together. I can’t do it without you.”
“As long as I’m alive, Mars. You’ll never have to.”
He kissed me then, lifting into his arms and carrying me back to the bed. We made love again. It started out slow and tender but soon became more aggressive and so thrilling I never wanted the moment to end. Never once did Mars voice a fear he might hurt me. He even gave me a brilliant smile afterward, like a carefree kid who’d learned to ride a bicycle without his training wheels.
“God, I love you, Scarlet!” He rolled us over so I lay against him with his arms tightly around me.
“I’m gonna remember this moment for the rest of my life,” I said, resting on his chest.
“Me too, honey.” Mars tucked my head under his chin with both arms securely around me, and I felt like I was finally home.
“One thing, though.” I said as sleep threatened to take me.
“Yeah? What’s that.”
“How much trouble will I be in if I tell Lemon your first name’s Francis?”