Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 42128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 211(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 211(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
In the days I’d been here, I’d met so many of his club brothers, along with the wives of those who were married. And the kids.
I was almost afraid to drink the water around here, with how many small children and pregnant women were a part of the club.
I sat beside Soren, who kept one hand resting on my thigh under the table the entire time. The easy camaraderie between everyone made me appreciate them even more. These people genuinely cared for each other.
Toward the end of the meal, Alanna turned to me with a tired but happy smile. “Delaney, would you mind holding Waverly for a minute? My arms are killing me, and I need to grab the dessert.”
Her husband, Drift, had stepped out for a moment, so it wasn’t as though she could hand the six-month-old off to him. And I was sitting right next to her, so asking me made sense.
I hesitated, my stomach tightening. Part of me wanted to politely refuse, but I still reached out to take the baby in my arms. “Sure.”
The baby girl blinked up at me with big, curious eyes and grabbed a fistful of my shirt. Something painful twisted inside my chest as I gently rocked her.
She was so small and innocent.
I didn’t know how anyone could bring a child into this world. I had barely escaped a monster who wanted to preserve me like some sick artifact. And the danger wasn’t over because Dr. Kinghorn was still out there.
Soren was dangerous too, even if his violence felt protective. This entire life was soaked in risk. How could I ever bring a baby into a world where people like Dr. Kinghorn existed? Where motorcycle clubs and hunting killers were just part of everyday reality?
I couldn’t.
The decision solidified in my mind. I would never have children. I couldn’t condemn an innocent life to this kind of fear.
Soren watched me holding the baby with a heated expression. His eyes darkened to a stormy gray-blue, clear with approval and something deeper. He leaned closer, his voice low against my ear so only I could hear. “You look real good holding a baby, Delaney. Gonna look even better holding mine someday.”
The words slammed into me like a physical blow, and my heart lurched painfully. I more than liked Soren. I had started hoping he wanted me for real, beyond just keeping me safe during this nightmare. Our heated makeout sessions and the comments he made about the future had given me hope that he saw something lasting with me.
But his remark made everything feel impossible. He clearly wanted a future with kids. A family. And I was certain I could never give him that.
I forced a small smile and nodded, but inside I was spiraling hard. Panic and sadness mixed as I gently handed the baby back to Alana when she returned to the table. My hands shook slightly as I picked up my water glass, trying to hide how deeply that single comment had rattled me.
Soren had no idea how impossible the future he casually mentioned felt to me. And he didn’t give me any space to figure out what I was going to do about that.
He stayed close as we left the kitchen, his hand on my lower back the entire walk back to his room. The moment the door clicked shut behind us, the tension that had been simmering between us all evening ignited, fueled in part by my desperation to at least have this time with him if I couldn’t have forever. After all the fear, I deserved a little taste of happiness.
Soren turned me in his arms and kissed me hard, backing me up until my legs hit the bed. There was nothing careful about how his mouth claimed mine with raw hunger, his tongue stroking deep as his hands roamed over my body. My fingers gripped his shirt as I pulled him closer.
He didn’t waste time. Within seconds, he had me laid out on the bed, his big body covering mine. His hand slid under my waistband, his fingers finding me already wet and aching.
“So fucking ready for me,” he growled against my throat. “This pretty little pussy is dripping, angel.”
I gasped as two thick fingers pushed inside me, curling just right while his thumb circled my clit. He kissed me through every moan, swallowing my cries as he worked me higher and higher. When his mouth replaced his hand, licking and sucking with devastating focus, I shattered hard, trembling beneath him.
Even as I came down, still shaking, he refused to go further. He kissed his way back up my body and pulled me tight against his chest, his breathing ragged.
“Not tonight.” His voice was rough with restraint. “Not until you’re completely mine in every way.”
I didn’t try to push for more this time, not when I had so many doubts about what the future would hold for us.