Rocket (Hell's Handlers MC 5)

Yeah, she’d take him. Warts and all. Or at the very least she’d try. There was still the question of whether she’d freak out having any kind of normal sex life. Only one way to find out.

Chloe slid her legs over the side of the bed, shivering when the air hit her bare skin. Only thing she had on was her skimpy panties and a T-shirt of Logan’s she’d pilfered from his dresser. Smelling him all around her was too tempting to resist.

Quiet as can be, she tiptoed barefoot down the hall to the only closed door. Not that he’d ever admit it, but Logan was hurting. His past caused him shame, and the fact that his past was interfering with his present sent him spiraling.

He needed to know she didn’t blame him. None of his brothers or their women blamed him. And not a single one of them, her included, would hold his history against him. Hell, no one would even think less of him for it. In fact, she’d bet he’d been able to use his skills to benefit the club on more than one occasion.

Six months ago, those thoughts would have scared the hell out of her. Violence of any kind hadn’t been a direct part of the life she lived. Then it found her, transforming her world. And if she were honest with herself, the idea of having a trained killer sleeping under the same roof was more a comfort than a deterrent.

She came to a stop outside his door. After a quick prayer that she could give Logan what he needed, she stepped into the quiet room only to stop dead when his piercing blue gaze drilled into hers.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

SPENDING COUNTLESS NIGHTS in hostile territory had honed Rocket’s ability to maintain awareness of his surroundings while still catching some sleep. Wasn’t really something he could teach or explain. Just a skill his body developed as a result of exhaustion combined with fearing for his life. His body demanded sleep but had an innate sense of self preservation, so it found a way to rest while staying alive. As such, he woke the second Chloe padded within three feet of his door.

Expecting her to knock, he sat straight up in the bed. The sheets only covered his lower half, which was buck naked and already reacting to the thought of her nearness. Nothing he could do about all the skin on display up top unless he wanted to dart across the room naked and risk her walking in. Not that she hadn’t seen it all before. Still, she was skittish and probably not expecting to walk in on him naked and hard.

Seconds ticked by with no movement beyond the closed door. Had she changed her mind? Decided whatever she’d needed from him wasn’t worth the effort? He wouldn’t blame her after the bombs he’d dropped earlier. Or the way he’d abandoned her in his house without so much as a “here’s where the bathroom is.”

He was torn, split down the middle by greed and selflessness. The altruistic half—okay, maybe one third—of him hoped she’d just turn around and scurry back to the safety of her room. Lock the door for good measure. The other side, the side that was a selfish, horny bastard wanted to call out to her, pull her into the room, and have her in all the ways he’d imagined since he started following her around.

A soft snick sounded through the room immediately before a sliver of light appeared by the door. The crack grew until the door was open, illuminating Chloe standing frozen with wide eyes.

Rocket stiffened—everywhere. Goddamn, there wasn’t a single piece of lingerie for any amount of money that was sexier than Chloe standing there in nothing but his worn T-shirt. He swallowed, adjusting the sheet in a lame attempt to hide his boner. All he could think of was whether she had anything under the shirt or if the soft fabric rested directly against her tits and ass.

“You okay?” he asked, voice noticeably strained.

She stared for a few seconds before starting forward. Step by step those long, sleek and very bare legs ate up the gap between her and the bed. Being held close by those silky thighs while her ankles crossed behind his back was a vision he had both awake and asleep.

“Can’t sleep,” she finally said as she reached the bed. “I have a few things to say to you.”

Fuck.

Here’s where she informed him what fucking scum he was.

As if he didn’t already know. Most days he was good with it. Good enough to keep his past from the forefront of his mind. But ever since he’d met Chloe, he felt dirty.

Without being invited, she slipped into the king-sized bed next to him. Rocket clenched his jaw so tight, his teeth squeaked.