"So, I can leave?" she asked.
"On one condition."
Her shoulders sagged, and she waited for him to continue without asking any more questions. He stubbed out his smoke with the toe of his boot.
"I want you to stay with me at the clubhouse." He held up his hand when her mouth opened. "It's not safe at the rental house, babe. Moroad could get to you before I or anyone else could help you."
"What if I go back to Coeur d'Alene, so you're not responsible for my safety?" Little lines appeared between her brows.
He knew deep down, she'd ask. Last night, he'd prepared to let her go. Standing in front of her, sensing the attraction between them that'd never left, even when she flashed claws and he'd locked her in his room, he couldn't let her go. "I can't let you do that."
"Then, I'm still being held captive here." She looked away and swiped at her cheek. "How long will this go on? Are you going to keep me here forever? Is my life over?"
He grabbed her hand, forcing her to look at him. "I don't know what tomorrow or next week will bring. But what I do know is you can continue working at the bar, earning money, and have a safe place to lay your head at night, right now. You'll have the freedom to come and go as long as you let me or one of the other members escort you off the property. If you want to go out to eat or go shopping, I can make sure that happens. It's for your protection. Slag isn't—I'm not going to throw you out to survive on your own."
"Why not?" Her voice shook. "You don't care about me."
"I've never said that."
"You don't have to." Her gaze dropped to his chest. "I've slept in the same bed with you for...I don't know how long, and you don't touch me. You can't forget that my brothers belong to Moroad. It's like I'm your enemy now, and I haven't done anything to you or your club. I've tried to follow all the rules, and I make sure I never leave the room without you knowing and going with me. Do you know how many times during the night I want to get up and go pee, and I stare at the wall until my stomach aches because I'm scared of waking you up and asking you to walk me down the hallway? I don't know what else I can do to prove to you that I'm—"
He hooked her neck, bringing her forward, and captured her mouth. She struggled against him until he opened wider and stroked his tongue against hers. As she gentled, she grabbed the front of his vest. His whole body stiffened. The weeks of ignoring his attraction to her set free.
She mewed. The vibrations of her moan absorbed by his lips.
His cock had other plans. He pulled back and kissed her lightly, holding her until she came down from the kiss.
"I never not want to touch you," he whispered.
Her gaze lowered to his lips. "You don't hate me?"
"I hated wanting you when I believed you were trying to bring Slag down."
"Do you still think that?" she asked.
He pressed his lips to her forehead. "No."
She looked up into his eyes. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do or what will happen to me."
"Will it help to know that tonight, there's nothing keeping me from fucking you?"
She swallowed and nodded.
"You better run in and get ready for work." He removed his hand from her neck.
She stepped backward. "What are you going to do?"
He adjusted his cock and caught her looking down at his jeans. "Walking it off."
Her mouth formed an O, and she turned and hurried into the clubhouse. He inhaled deeply and strolled halfway to the line of motorcycles before he got rid of the rush of lust.
Searching for one of the prospects, he found Jon talking to Rune. "Hey, Jon."
The prospect turned. "Do you need something, Brage?"
"I want you to go to the store and buy every pack of cinnamon gum on the shelf."
"Gum?"
"Ja." He found himself grinning. "Cinnamon."
He pulled out another cigarette. It was going to be a long eight hours until the bar closed and he could have Dinah again.
Chapter 18
Two hours into the bar opening, every table was full. The phone in Brage's pocket vibrated. He retrieved his cell and read the long text on the screen.
"Fuck," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
The news wasn't good. Hating what he needed to do, he tipped back the last of his beer and stood from the stool.
"Dinah?" He motioned her to him.
She wound around the tables and approached him with her brows raised. He leaned down and whispered, "I need to take Peer away for the rest of the night. Do you think you can cover the bar?"
She blew out her breath. "I can try."
"Ask Lizzy if you need help." He texted on his phone. "I've let Elling know Peer will be gone. He'll watch over you ladies."
Dinah glanced over at the bar. "Um, does Peer know he's leaving?"
Peer talked with one of the customers as he filled glasses. A heaviness settled on Brage's shoulders. What he had to do would forever change Peer's future.
"Not yet." He hooked her chin with his finger and said, "If things get too hectic and you ladies can't keep up, let Elling know."
She frowned. "You're leaving, too."
"Ja." He trailed his thumb along her bottom lip. "You can do this on your own."
"I'll try." She glanced around. "I need to make some drinks."
He watched her walk behind the counter and said, "Hey, Peer."
Waiting until his MC brother finished pouring the drink in front of him, he motioned Peer to follow. What he had to share needed to be done in private. He caught Dinah's gaze. There was a guard
