Page 78 of Jerry's Passion (Insurgents MC Romance)
She pulled back slightly. “Why did you?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t want you to quit school and change all your plans for me. I didn’t wanna be responsible for you fuckin’ up your life. And the whole thing with your dad. I didn’t want to be the cause of your grief.”
“And you wanted to be with other women.”
He held her tightly talking into her hair as he stroked it. “No way. The only woman I want to be with is you. Nothing happened with Wendy the day you came to the clubhouse. I staged the whole damn thing to make you see that I wasn’t good for you.”
“Shouldn’t I have the chance to decide that?”
He sighed. “I’ve never been as miserable as I’ve been without you.” He tangled his hand in her hair and pulled it back, capturing her lips. “I love you so much, Kylie, and even if I have to give up my patch, I only want you. You’re worth everything to me.” Then he kissed her hard, digging his fingers into her soft flesh while images of his sister flashed through his mind, bleak sadness juxtaposed with hope and happiness. The dichotomy of life crushed down on him.
“I love you too. And I’m so sorry you lost your mom and sister, and in such a horrible way. I really am.” Her voice broke. “I’m here for you. You’re not alone. I’m here to listen, support, and just hold you.” She caressed his cheek with the back of her fingers. “I know it’ll take time to work out your feelings, and you’ll want space. I just want you to know you can always depend on me.”
Squeezing her, he whispered, “I know, and I’m lucky I have you.”
Her quiet presence comforted him, and it washed away some of the guilt he felt for failing to help his sister throughout her short life. Wanda and Kelsey were gone, and life went on.
He buried his face in her hair, swallowing the lump in his throat.
Chapter Thirty-One
“So, what timeare you guys going to be back?” Kylie asked her dad as he sat on the wicker rocker on the front porch.
“We should be back by six or so. Belle wants to buy some baby stuff, and then I’m taking her to another doctor’s appointment. I gotta stop by the club first to do some work.”
Kylie’s stomach dropped, and she strained to keep her voice steady. “So, you’re coming back to pick Belle up?”Please say no. Jerry’s going to pick me up in twenty minutes.He’d called her the previous day telling her he wanted to see her and spend the day with her. Kylie knew Belle and her dad were planning to be out all day, so she made plans for Jerry to pick her up. But Belle was taking her sweet time in coming down, and her dad had just sprung the stopping at the clubhouse plan on her. Her insides twisted and churned.
“No, she’s coming with me. Addie, Cherri, and Doris are gonna be there, and Belle’s crazy for Paisley and Hope. She’s got some things to discuss with Doris ‘bout the October rally. Belle’s stepping up to the plate nicely on her old lady duties.” Banger smiled.
“That’s great.”What the fuck is taking her so damned long to slap on some lipstick?
“Everything going all right with you? You seem nervous.”
Steady. He can read you.“I guess I’m a little nervous about starting my new job.”
“You’ll do fine. You want me to take you?”
She had to laugh at how protective her dad was with her. “No. I’m not going to my first day at school, but thanks for asking.
“If you change your mind, let me know. Now where in the hell is that woman?” Banger stood from the chair, opened the screen door, and yelled, “Woman, we gotta go.”
Kylie saw Belle come down the stairs and say, “What’re you yelling about? Do you want to switch bodies so I can see how fast you’d be ready being eight months pregnant and having to pee all the time?” Kylie smiled; Belle didn’t take much shit from her dad.
Banger grabbed Belle’s hand, pulled her close to him, and then kissed her. “Let’s go, beautiful.” He helped her down the front steps and they made their way to the SUV parked in front of the house. “See ya.” He waved to Kylie, and then they were off.
Not five minutes after her dad and Belle drove away, the pounding sounds of a powerful Harley engine invaded the cul-de-sac. A rush of adrenaline shot through her, and she placed her hands against her fluttering stomach as she watched for Jerry on his bike. Sure enough, he rounded the corner, and the sight of him took her breath away: dark sunglasses, black skull bandana on his head, blue jeans hugging corded legs, and a white sleeveless T-shirt showing off ripped arms covered in ink.Holy fuck. He’s gorgeous.
She met him at the curb as he pulled up, her tanned legs showing how much free time she’d had since summer break started. He yanked her to him and kissed her hard and deep, releasing a million tingles through her.
“Get on,” he said. She hopped on behind him and snagged him around his waist. She brushed her fingertips against his toned muscles and shivered at the thought of seeing him naked. With a jump, the bike roared out of the neighborhood.
The road he took when they’d left Pinewood Springs was a familiar one. It led to Evergreen Lake, a favorite place her mom and dad would take her to when she was little. She hadn’t been back to the lake since high school when one of the football jocks had taken her there, hoping to do more than gaze at the stars. Kylie had often felt like the football players dared each other to take her out to see which one would score with an outlaw president’s daughter. She hadn’t been interested in any of them because none had compared to Jerry.
As they rode on the narrow, one-lane backroads, tousled blonde ribbons whipped about her face like straws in a wisp of air. The sky was clear and blue, the air as soft as a kiss. To the left of them stretched a bright, grassy valley where rainbow-colored flowers dazzled in the whispers of summer. They rushed by the big pines, and the soaring mountains were covered with a rug of trees and yellow, pink, and blue wildflowers.
Jerry stopped the bike near a large lake, silver in the bright light of the noon sun. Flashing green and blue dragonflies hovered above it, and the water gently lapped the shore. He helped Kylie off the bike and drew her in, his lips hungrily seeking hers. His kiss was like the spark of a match, igniting all her nerves. As his hands slid down her arms, resting on her exposed belly, her nerve endings snapped and sizzled. With her fingers, she traced his biceps and tattoos, loving how his taut skin bulged over his muscles.
Jerry tugged away, then lifted his T-shirt over his head, his tanned skin glistening under the hot sun. As he draped his shirt over the seat of the Harley, the muscles of his back drew her in, and she couldn’t drag her eyes away from him. He turned around and chuckled when he caught her gaze. “Like what you see?”
