To be crass, he wanted to sleep with her, yeah. But not because he was bored, or curious, or because she was convenient. She was nineteen, and very inconvenient considering her dad and brothers were trained assassins, and she was club family besides. Hooking up with her was not, could not be a one-time thing, not given his level of emotional investment, but it would cause the kind of scandal that fractured families and upended MCs.
He had the stupid, teenage butterflies, sure, the sweaty palms, but it was more than that. He wanted to watch terrible reality TV with her. Wanted to put food on her plate and watch her nod her approval when she ate what he’d made for her. Wanted to hear her deep-breathing on the neighboring pillow and know she was safe; that he could close his eyes, and drift off, and that he’d be between her and whatever terrible thing might kick down the door. Wanted her on the back of his bike. Wanted his name inked on her somewhere that others could see it, and know she was taken. He wanted her to be his. In every way that counted. And he damn sure didn’t want to have to drop her back off at her dorm, even if that was the best thing for her.
Damn. He guessed he loved her.
He knew he did. Of course.
But he guessed he was in love with her.
Shep has honestly been a ton of fun to write. Cass, too, but I already knew that. I've been surprised by what a delight Shep is.
Fingers crossed for this weekend, guys!
Has this been published? I’ve looked for it everywhere.
ReplyDeleteNot yet. Lauren said it might happen this weekend!
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