Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 42685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 213(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 213(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
She was such a giver. So much so that she tended to forget to take care of herself, too. But that’s why she had seven of us to look after her. We did our best to make sure she didn’t overdo herself.
A light knock sounded on my door. I turned my head the slightest bit to look at it before I grunted in acknowledgment. It slowly opened to reveal Tank’s massive frame. Capone and Hawke were still holed up in Hawke’s room, and I was pretty sure the others were outside doing shit to their bikes. I thought Tank would’ve been outside, too, but apparently not.
Today was a relatively calm, unproductive day. Which all of us desperately needed. No sales. No runs. Just family time.
“She okay?” Tank quietly asked as he rounded the bed. He toed off his boots and peeled his shirt over his head, revealing all of those thick muscles and his tatted skin. I ran my eyes over him. To anyone else, his size might have been intimidating. It sure as hell was for me at first. But now, his size just made me feel safe. Protected. Like nothing in this fucking world could touch me when he was near.
“She’s okay,” I rumbled. Brushing my hand down her spine, I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Just tired, I think.” I smirked up at him. “You guys take a lot out of her.”
He chuckled as he shucked his jeans and peeled off his socks. “She loves it.”
I laughed a little, being careful not to jar her. He wasn’t wrong about that. I’d never known a woman who loved sex as much as April did.
Tank peeled off his socks and then slid under the blankets. When he pressed his body to April’s back and wrapped his heavy arm around both of us, I shivered, my eyes sliding shut for a moment.
Being in Tank’s arms was the safest I’d ever felt. Would ever feel, to be honest. I loved the other guys to fucking bits and pieces, but nothing was equal to Tank holding me like this.
“You been doing okay?” Tank asked me.
I opened my eyes in surprise. His dark ones locked on mine. Warmth spread through my chest and relaxed my limbs. His thumb brushed over my hip. Clearing my throat, I nodded my head. “Yeah,” I rasped. “I’m okay. Nightmares are still pretty infrequent.”
A small smile tilted Tank’s lips. “Good. I worry about you.”
I sighed, even while my heart felt like it was going to grow wings and burst straight from my chest. “If I ever start spiraling, Tank, you will be the first to know. I promise.” I let a small smile tilt my lips. “There’s no need to worry.”
He grunted. “I always worry, baby.” My heart skipped a beat in my chest. I wasn’t much of one for terms of endearment—had been called various forms of them over the years while I was a sex trafficking victim—but from Tank, they heated my soul. He had a way of making the endearment tenderly slide across my skin before sinking into my bones, warming my chilled soul.
April moaned quietly and shifted a little, her arm coming up to rest on my chest. Her fingers clamped on my chest hair, and I bit back a wince all while I softly smiled down at her. She was so clingy, but I couldn’t get enough of it. The other guys would cuddle her in a heartbeat, but most of them sent her in my direction, knowing intimate touch like this without sex was my love language.
And this beautiful woman never took offense to them sending her to me. She understood. Knew all of us so well. Had learned each of our quirks, our love languages, and what shaped us so effortlessly. And she loved us as if it were as easy as breathing.
“So glad I don’t have chest hair,” Tank chuckled, eyeing my chest. I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Does it hurt?”
I shook my head. “It does when she first grabs on but the pain quickly ebbs,” I assured him. “Besides, I like it.”
He snorted. “You fucking would.”
I just grinned at him. He brushed his lips to the back of April’s head, his eyes still steady on mine. “Capone was worried about her earlier because she saw Hawke like that. No matter how many times she sees him go through sub drop with Capone, she worries too much every single time.”
“Capone has never and will never leave any of us alone during sub drop or any kind of low,” I said quietly. I’d even had Capone cuddle me and take care of me once when Tank was gone on a run. I hadn’t been out of my room all day, and he found me shaking on the shower floor, icy cold water beating down on me. He’d stepped into the shower fully clothed, turned the water off, and silently wrapped me in a towel before carrying me to bed.