Rhythm of the Road (Lost Kings MC 16)

“I do,” she whispers.

“What?” I cup my hand over my ear. “I can’t hear you.”

“I’m afraid to say it.”

“Say what?”

“That I want you to visit me. I want to see you. I loved having you there tonight. So much.” She squeezes her eyes shut and rolls onto her back. “All these amazing things have happened over the last couple months, but I still miss you all the time. I’m always wondering, ‘What’s Rooster up to right now? I wish Rooster was here so I could tell him about this. Who’s Rooster with?’”

The smile slides off my face. “Sounds like this Rooster asshole is ruining what should be a good time in your life, Shelby.”

She pounds both fists into the mattress. “That’s not what I’m saying at all.”

“What are you saying?”

Her mouth’s twisted into a frustrated pout when she turns and glares at me. “I miss your face.” She blows out an annoyed breath. “I don’t know why. You’re probably a troll under that big ol’ beard.”

“Troll, huh?”

Her pissy expression softens. “I feel selfish asking you to take time away from your life to come visit me. You have your own things to do.”

I study her downcast eyes and pink cheeks. Her admission’s genuine. She’s not trying to keep me away. Who’s let her down so much that she’s too afraid to ask anyone for anything?

“Some things are more important.”

Wide eyes blink up at me. “What are we, Rooster?” She touches my shoulder, trailing her fingers over my ink instead of meeting my eyes. “I mean, this was a hookup back home. What does… What are we if you’re, you know, visiting me when I’m out on the road on a regular basis?”

Fuck, do I like how visiting her on a regular basis sounds coming out of her mouth. I lean down and brush a kiss over her forehead, then her cheeks, the tip of her nose and finally her lips. “You need to call it something?”

“I don’t need—”

“You’re my girl.” Oh, fuck that feels good to say out loud. Way better than I ever expected it to. “I’m your man.”

“My man, huh? That sounds serious.” She narrows her eyes. “I’m hardly a girl.”

“You’re my woman sounded like I ought to thump my chest while sayin’ it but that works for me too.”

The corners of her mouth twitch. “You’re more Viking than Tarzan.”

I cock my head and pretend to think it over. “True.”

“Can we really do this, Logan?”

“What do we have to lose?”

“Our hearts?”

I trace my thumb over her bottom lip. “Told you once before, I don’t want to break your heart. I’d rather hurt myself than ever hurt you.”

She tilts her head, rubbing her cheek against my knuckles. “I don’t want to hurt you either.”

“Give us a chance, Shelby.”

Her eyes glitter with hope or happiness as she stares up at me. “It’s boring on the road most of the time.”

Fuck, yes. “As long as I’m with you it doesn’t matter.” I open my mouth to say the club gives me plenty of excitement, then stop myself.

What the fuck am I doing?

Forget breaking her heart. Shelby’s all sunshine and sweetness. I’ve killed for my club and I have no doubt I’ll do it again. My life, the choices I’ve made, could ruin the career she’s trying to build. She’s so damn talented. I want her to accomplish everything her heart desires. I don’t think she understands the risk she’s taking being with me and I’m a selfish bastard for not explaining. It’s not just her heart I could break. It’s her whole world.

It’s one truth I don’t say out loud.

Instead, I lean down and brush another kiss over her lips, promising myself I’ll do everything in my power to protect her heart.Chapter FourteenShelby

My foolish heart won’t stop racing. Even though I didn’t want to admit it to myself, I’d dreamed about this moment happening when we finally saw each other again. The physical spark remains, no question. But the emotional connection—that burns hot too.

This is the worst possible time to be falling for a guy.

A relationship, love, anything that might tie me down right now is such a bad idea.

But Rooster’s not trying to tie me down. He didn’t hesitate to say he’d visit me on the road. It means the world to me that he understands and respects this crazy dream I’m chasing.

Previous boyfriends told me how ridiculous I was, or my odds were so little, I should just give up. Worse, some bitched like babies when music took my attention off them.

That’s why they got kicked to the curb.

Teachers, so-called friends, almost everyone except my mother have mocked my dreams. I’m hell-bent on proving them all wrong. While I’m at it, I’ll force the music industry to take me seriously too.

I can’t afford to get sidetracked. Not even by this sexy biker who says all the right things.