Thumper (Cerberus MC)

“You mean you stay here and me move on?” My heart clenches just with the thought.

“Not a chance. If you go, I go.”

I rub my thumb over his bottom lip, releasing a yelp when he catches it between his teeth before releasing it. He told me last night he didn’t like it rough, and he proved that, but just like he also mentioned, the nipping is quickly becoming my thing. It’s a feral act of ownership, and I kind of love it.

“I never expected to be happy, Javi.”

“I know we have a lot to work through, but this connection we have is worth working on. I want—”

I press my fingers to his soft lips. “I never thought I’d find people that I was genuinely happy around, people that I felt like I could trust, and I’ve found that here. I don’t walk into the kitchen every morning wondering if someone is going to hurt me, or if they’re thinking of a way to manipulate me, trying to get something from me with nothing in return.”

“There are a lot of awesome people around here,” he agrees. “So, does that mean you want to stay?”

I nod. “I think so?”

“Think?” His smile grows. “What will it take to convince you?”

“That’s a good start,” I say when his tongue circles my belly button.

I flex my hips again, but then his stupid phone rings, and I feel a little selfish and disheartened when he leans over to grab it from the bedside table.

I expect to hear the voice of someone from the FBI when he answers, and that’s exactly who it could be, but the smile on his face when the call connects tells me it isn’t work related.

I look away, hating the jealousy that’s simmering inside of me for the woman who is able to make his face light up the way it is.

I move off the bed, grabbing my clothes from last night and tugging my shirt over my head. My leggings are next as he talks in a low tone to whoever is on the other end of the call.

“I’ve been waiting to hear from you,” he says, pure excitement lacing his tone. “Yeah. I could do that, but I think a video call would be better. Yep, hanging up and calling you right back.”

Jesus, I trusted this man, and I feel a swarm of guilt for even thinking things could be different. I want to cry, and that only makes me angrier.

“Cara, wait,” he snaps before I can walk into the bathroom.

I won’t beg him. I won’t even let him see that I’m mad and hurt.

“Cara…” he begins but the woman on the other line seems more important. “There you are. It’s so good to see you. She’s right here.”

I look over my shoulder to find Javier holding his phone out to me, and it doesn’t go unnoticed that the camera is pointing at the ceiling. At least he’s not flashing her his junk in front of me.

“Give me just a second. Shit,” he mutters as he tries to climb off the bed. “Cara, it’s for you.”

He waves the phone in my direction, and I’m tempted to reach for it, but watching him struggle a little with how I feel right now is the perfect punishment.

He crosses the room, a bright smile on his face. Rather than handing me the phone the second he’s within reach, he presses his body against mine, his mouth close to my ear. “I’d love nothing more than to fuck that fire out of your eyes, but your sister is on the phone.”

My mouth hangs open as he presses a kiss to my cheek and drops the phone into my hand.

I turn it to face me immediately.

“April?” Tears spring to my eyes at the sight of her.

Her hair is darker, more of a mahogany than bright strawberry blonde like mine, and she was blessed with the most gorgeous green eyes. They’re bright and happy, the complete opposite of the last time I saw her on a video chat.

“Cara, I’ve missed you so much.”

I look away from the screen in search of Javier, and he has a wide, pleased grin on his face as he fights into a pair of jeans before shuffling to the closet to grab another button-down shirt.

Thank you, I mouth to him.

“Who is that man? Is he naked? I mean, I only saw his chest, but damn it, Cara, I’m so envious of you right now.”

“You shouldn’t talk of such things. It’s not—” I clamp my mouth closed, catching myself before I spew lines from my time back at Knight Salvation. My sister is seventeen going on eighteen, and her appreciation of a gorgeous man is not inappropriate. “He’s the hottest guy I’ve ever laid eyes on, and he’s all mine, so keep your tongue rolled up.”