Page 106 of Rags's Awakening
He rolled her onto her side, wrapping his arms around her. He brushed her hair out of her face, combed his fingers through it, kissed her head, her temple, her cheek, then pressed his lips to hers. She settled into him and sighed.
He watched the slow, steady rise of her shoulder as she breathed against his chest. He tried to summon his usual post-fuck detachment—the easy, practiced slide back into himself—but the gears wouldn’t catch.
What the hell was this?
The wall he’d spent over a decade building hadn’t just been breached; it felt like she’d reached through the brick and squeezed his heart. This was more than physical, more than anything he’d ever shared with a woman.
The vibration of his phone pushed the thought aside. He fumbled in his jeans pocket and slipped it out.
Casey stirred next to him.
“Stay put, baby. I gotta take this real quick.”
When he saw Throttle’s name on the screen, he knew church had been moved up sooner than Hawk said. “What’s up?” he asked.
“Church’s been moved up an hour. You got about thirty minutes to get your ass to the club.”
“What’s the reason?”
“Banger’s got some shit he’s gotta do with his son.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Rags set the phone down and held Casey tighter against him.
“You have to go,” she said softly.
“Yeah. The meeting’s happening soon. Sorry, baby.” He kissed her forehead.
“Are you coming back afterward?”
He looked down and caught her eyes. “I don’t know. We may have some club business.”
“Okay.”
Just like that. No argument, no whining, no questions.She knows the score.
“Promise you’ll call or text so I know you’re okay.”
“Yeah. You gonna do anything today?”
“Since you’re headed out, I’ll finish up a client’s project. Zoe wanted to go for dinner, so I’ll let her know I’m free.”
“I’m sorry. It’s the way my world—”
“You don’t need to explain. I get it.”
She did.
And that was one more thing he’d have to ask her about.
Rags quickly shrugged into his clothes, snagged his toiletry bag, and walked back into the family room. Casey sat curled on the couch, the fuzzy robe wrapped around her. A small smile touched her mouth, but her eyes tracked him like she was memorizing the way he moved. Something softer lingered there, like she already missed him.
Shit.
He got it. He was missing her too, and he hadn’t even left.
“Have a good time with Zoe, but not too good.” He laughed, but it sounded forced.
