Page 104 of When You Stayed
I wanted it, all of it.
“I love you, Ford,” I whispered into his shoulder. My climax claimed me moments later, and his lingered in a deep groan as he chanted his love for me in return. “Then move in with me Royce. Stop making me wait. Let me wake up to that smell of roses in my nose, that feel of silky skin against mine, and those blue eyes that I fell for as a kid way too fucking young to understand those butterflies in my stomach.”
I laughed as my limbs became boneless and I flopped against the mattress, undone.
“I’ll move in with you, you idiot. Just know that if you ever lie to me again, I’ll wreck your bike or something, do you understand me?”
His mouth covered mine in a lingering kiss. “As long as you’re not on it when you wreck it, then that’s fine by me.”
I wasn’t even sure how to reply to that, so I didn’t. I pulled his face back to mine, rolled over, and made him fuck me again.
THIRTY
FORD
I knewI was pressing my luck with this move, but I was tired of waiting. Royce had barely forgiven me, and I wasn’t wasting any more time before sliding my name over her back.
She was still sleeping when I crawled out of bed and moved to the spot in her closet where I had secretly hung the leather cut. I doubted she’d dug through her clothes to see it, which worked out for me. Being here in her house for the past week allowed me all kinds of liberties, like napping in her bed where I could inhale that rose scent and let it brand my lungs. She had no idea that I’d invaded her space, but I was past caring. She’d invaded my entire life, so she could deal with me creeping around hers.
I hadn’t really told anyone that I didn’t even care that much that my house had burned down. She wasn’t hurt, and all the important things that I had kept inside of it were now in her possession anyway. Gus was protected, the rest was just old flooring and ugly walls. I wanted to rebuild a life with Royce, and with this property patch I intended to do exactly that. The leather was fresh, the white stitching that identified her as the president’s wife was bright and stiff. The skull patch representing the Stone Riders was in place, but I also added a small wolf howling as homage to her father. For me,there was a pink rose I had stitched into the back which was soft under my touch. It was the rest of the back that tugged my mouth into a smile.
Property of Ford Ryan
Under that, in smaller stitching, I had another few words added, and I knew they’d make Royce laugh.
Fucking finally.
Pressing a kiss to her neck, I felt Royce stir, and then eventually turn. The sheet was barely up over her tits, but her nipples pebbled and poked through the thin fabric, making my cock stir in my boxers.
“Morning.” She smiled up at me with the cutest fucking sleepy expression that it made my smile drop. Fuck, I was in love with her. She might as well have tugged my heart out and sewn it inside of hers.
I leaned down and kissed her.
“Morning.”
“I could get used to waking up to you.” Her raspy words were kindling to the fire burning in my chest.
“Good.” I brushed a piece of her hair off her brow. “I have something for you.” I held the leather in my hands, suddenly feeling nervous that she might change her mind about us…about this. She sat up, pushing her palms behind her, then curling her arm around the top of the sheet to keep it over her naked chest.
“Is that—” Her eyes darted to the leather as she lightly bit her bottom lip in curiosity. I knew it was nerves too. She did that when she didn’t want to get an answer wrong, or she worried that she might be embarrassed.
“Before I give this to you, I need you to know that it’s not just because you’re mine. It’s not just because I want the whole world to know it. I meant what I said when I told you this club is in your blood. You were always meant to have this patch across your back, and I’m so fucking proud that you’re wearing it with my name there too.”
Her gaze became misty as it dropped to the leather in my hands. I took a deep breath and pushed on.
“This isn’t a light thing for me. I’ve never given a patch to anyone…I’ve never even wanted anyone but you, Royce. If you decide you don’t want this, I’ll respect it.”
She moved, throwing her arms around my neck. I held her to me, with the leather between us.
“I have always wanted to be yours, Ford.”
I pulled back and held her jaw, cradling it tenderly while I memorized her face.
“So you’ll wear this?”
She smiled. “I’ll wear that, Ford, and I’ll even move in with you in that apartment.”
I laughed into her mouth as I pulled her in for a kiss.
