She rubs her neck. The bruises look painful, and I scowl at the sight of them.

“I really thought I knew him,” she adds quietly. “And then I found out he could do something like try and kill me. I really am stupid.”

“You couldn’t have known,” I say instantly. “I’m glad you didn’t figure it out when you were with him.”

Allison shudders at the thought. “I probably wouldn’t even be here.”

I grimace at the thought.

“He’s gone now,” I say. I press a kiss to the top of her head. “And you’re here, in my arms, instead. Jesse can get fucked.”

“Thanks to you, he’s going away to prison,” Allison says with a small smile. “He kept calling you a mountain; I think your height intimidated him.”

“Good,” I say, laughing.

Allison curls up against me. I smile and hold her close. She’s so beautiful. I’m lucky to have her here with me.

“I love you,” I say without thinking.

Allison’s head shoots up, her eyes wide. I wonder if I should kick myself, but then I shake my head. It’s the truth. I’ve thought about it a lot since Allison broke up with me, and I know this is the way I feel.

“I fell in love with you almost from the moment I saw you,” I tell her softly. “I knew I wanted to keep you safe, and that I wanted to be by your side. Jesse fucking around with you just gave me an excuse to do that.”

Allison stares at me. I can’t tell what expression is on her face, and my chest tightens.

“I missed you,” she says finally. “So much. I thought about you constantly, wondering what you were doing and how you were, and I complained to Jacqui when I hadn’t heard from you since the break-up, even though it was my own fault. I felt lonely when you weren’t there. This… It feels so big and terrifying, but…” Her face relaxes into a smile. “I think I’m falling in love with you, too.”

I wrap my arms tighter around her and bury my face in her hair, taking in a shuddering breath. She clutches back at me, pressing herself against my chest. It’s so perfect that I can’t even find the words.

Somehow, despite everything that happened, Allison is here, in my arms, and she’s safe. That makes everything worth it.

Epilogue

Allison

One month later…

I hear the roar of Kyle’s motorbike and I drop my pen, grinning, as I walk over to the window. I’m just in time to see Kyle pull up in front of the apartment, swinging his leg over the bike and stretching. I see Mr. Hudson from across the road leaving through the door, and I can’t help but laugh at the scandalized look the old man gives Kyle and his bike.

Then I push myself away from the window before Kyle sees me. He’ll tease me if he realizes how excited I am, so I sit back at the table, pick up my pen and concentrate on the assignment in front of me.

Barely t

wo minutes later, my door opens, and I look up to smile calmly at Kyle.

“Hey,” I say to him, then glance at the clock. “You’re early.”

“Brooks let me off early,” Kyle says with a grin. “You ready?”

I’ve been ready for an hour. I clear my throat and look away from the knowing look in his eyes.

“Let me just finish this page,” I say, gesturing at my book. “I need to read this for Monday.”

Kyle glances at the page filled with tiny typeface and raises his eyebrows. “Have fun with that.”

I laugh. Where before, after the entire mess with Jesse and while we were still trying to figure out where we stood, we hesitated to tease each other about our work and training; it pleases me to see Kyle joking about my coursework being above his understanding. I’ve told him over and over again how much I appreciate what he does with his life, and how amazing he is.

Maybe it’s finally sinking in that, despite our vastly different personalities and lives, I want him anyway.

Tags: Mia Ford Roughshod Rollers MC Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net