Order (Tattoos and Ties 2)

“He’s got a ways to go before he’s a fierce guard dog.”

Alec laughed, watching the puppy brave up and attack before scurrying away when Key did it again. Alec had done the right thing; his heart filled with the perfectness of the moment.

“When I was a kid, there was a stray in my neighborhood. I named him Nash. It was short for Nasty because that’s what everyone called him. I loved that dog.”

Alec didn’t question anything about the stray, especially while watching Key’s expression turn nostalgic. He’d learned those stories ended with his heart breaking for the little boy.

“Perfect name. Nash, it is.”

Key grinned at the same time something caught the pup’s attention. It took a second for Alec to realize it was a candle’s glow flickering on the bedspread, drawing Nash’s attention this way and that, causing Key to laugh straight out loud.

“He’s perfect.” Even Key’s loud outburst didn’t sway Nash from his pursuit of the shadows crossing the bed.

“He is.” Alec reached out again, taking Key’s hand. “He needs you here, babe. He needs this to be your home.”

“Alec…”

“No. Listen to me. When I was in Westlake yesterday, I saw our future so clearly there. We don’t need all this house or this pretentious neighborhood. I see a large backyard, a huge shop, a place to store all our vehicles, for you to work on your bikes, and lots of land separating us from our neighbors,” Alec explained, painting a mental image of his dream with Key as he spoke.

“Alec…” Key said softly. “What would your family think?”

“Who took care of me when I was with them? You saved me from falling into a deep depression after spending twenty minutes with them. I don’t care in the least what they think.”

“Alec…”

“No. I anticipated the skeptical look, but I won’t be swayed. I see us as long-lasting, maybe even becoming a family. You, me, this little guy, and possibly children someday.” Maybe he’d gotten ahead of himself and said too much as Key moved back several inches, instantly raising those concrete barriers between them, completely separating him from Alec. “No, babe, listen to me. You know you feel it too. I’ve changed. You’ve changed. My world’s gotten much smaller, but given me so much more in return—it’s given me you.”

Key started to rise, scrambling to push himself off the bed. Alec reached out, palming Key’s cheek, his thumb smoothing over his lover’s beard. Alec’s gentle touch stopped Key with as much power as a forceful hold, which showed just how much his big strong biker truly respected him.

“I can’t ever make you understand. I’m a biker. That’s what I am. That’s all I’ll ever be,” Key said, desperation in his voice.

“Have I asked you to change?” Alec asked, looking down at Nash who sat watching them, his big brown eyes shifting between him and Key.

“Yesterday, the club found out Ray had dated that DA bitch like twenty years ago, and I had to hold Dev back from whoopin’ his ass,” Key explained, his gaze imploring Alec to understand.

“So that’s true?” he asked, lying back down on the bed, throwing out his arm to stop the curious pup when Nash bounced up, leaping forward to chase another flame.

“You knew?”

“Yeah, for months. I thought it might just be gossip floating around the office.” He drew Nash back toward him, and Key closed the circle, getting the little guy back between them.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“We don’t talk like that to one another and never about club business. I’m surprised you said this much to me,” Alec explained, lifting on his elbow.

For the first time since Key had spoken in detail about his club’s business, he looked shocked he’d let so much out and went immediately on the defensive. “I’m not talkin’ about the club. I was trying to explain what they’d do if they find out I’m with you. I regularly plan for the moment I learn they know…”

“Babe, stop putting all that between us. Stop. Let me love you. Let me take care of you. Whether you believe it or not, it’s true, love will take care of everything else. It already has. We’ll keep to ourselves, tucked away. No one will know.” He cupped Key’s neck, drawing him in for a kiss. “Just let this happen. Be in this with me. We’ll figure out the rest, just like we’ve been doing.”

Nash attacked Alec’s shirt sleeve as he leaned in for another quick kiss, drawing their attention his way. They both looked down when their tiny puppy growled. “He’s precious.”

“He’s a fighter.”

“Like his new daddy,” Alec teased, lifting his chin again to seal the tentative agreement with a kiss. This kiss lingered, and he felt Key give in even as Nash set his sights on a new target, the tattoo on his lover’s chest. Key’s genuine laugh, the one that melted his heart, broke the kiss as he looked down at the dog, scooping him up. At the same time, his biker rolled to his back, lifting the puppy high in the air. Nash barked several times, seeming to say he wanted back down on Key’s level.