Sinful Protector (Roughshod Rollers MC 2)

“Not going to run off on me tomorrow, are you?” I ask.

It was meant as a joke, but it comes off sounding more serious than I meant it to. Allison stiffens slightly in my arms and then raises her head.

“No,” she says after a long moment. “Unless you want to kick me out.”

I chuckle. “No, I don’t.”

Allison smiles up at me. Her bright, blue eyes are calm and happy, and her whole body is relaxed against mine. She takes in a deep breath.

“Want to watch a movie?” she asks.

“Sure,” I agree.

But neither of us move. There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to let go of her, half-frightened that she’ll disappear on me the moment I do. She doesn’t seem to want to move either; she doesn’t even twitch to allow me to get up and find something to watch.

“Your pick,” Allison reminds me with a yawn.

“You’re laying on me,” I tell her. “I can’t get up.”

“That’s a shame,” Allison says, though her tone is insincere. “Guess we can’t get up, then.”

“Guess so,” I say with a smile.

We fall silent, lying quietly together for long moments. It’s nice and comfortable, and I don’t feel the need to break the silence at all. I’m content just being here, with Allison.

“Hey, Kyle?” Allison asks after a while.

“Hmm?” I reply, sleeping and content.

“I’m sorry I messed around with you so much,” Allison says quietly.

I hesitate, thinking this through. Then I sigh and smile slightly.

“You had a lot on your mind,” I reply. “Though I wish you could have trusted me enough to ask for help.” I snort. “I get why you didn’t; we still barely know each other.”

“Yeah,” Allison sighs. She makes a face. “But I should have just asked you from the beginning. You and your friends are efficient. Is your detective friend part of the club?”

“Yeah,” I say. I laugh. “You wouldn’t believe it if you met him, though. He’s not as rough as the rest of us. I’ve never asked him why he joined. I should, one day. His “friend”, on the other hand, she’s as rough as you get. Sometimes we joke that she should be the one in the club.”

“What sort of person is she?” Allison asks curiously.

“Argumentative,” I say immediately, laughing at the memory of the last public argument Alex and Hayley Reed had in the bar. “She’s nice to everyone, except Alex.”

“And they’re friends?” Allison asks doubtfully.

“Well, we all think they’re fucking,” I say casually.

Allison snorts, a smile spreading across her face. I grin, glad to have dissipated the solemn air around her.

“I’d like to meet some of these people,” she says, smiling as she presses a soft kiss to my shoulder. “I want to thank Alex, too.”

“I’m sure he’d appreciate that,” I say. I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re beautiful, Allison.”

She flushes. “Thanks.”

“I’m serious,” I tell her. “Jesse was an idiot to let you go.”

“More like I’m the idiot,” Allison groans. “How could I have dated him for two years without having any idea about what sort of person he was?”