s [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

 Blood on the Moon is almost over. They're about to start a Lonesome Dove marathon. I grin.
 A woman after my own heart. You're telling me you really like to watch these damn things?
 Who doesn't? she asks, giving me a wink. It ain't often I'm on the receiving end, and I like it.
Turns me on. Not that that's surprising. Nobody ever needs to ask Beck Evans if there's a damn banana
in his pocket; he's always happy to see 'em. Tease turns back to the screen and sighs, letting her breath
out in a slow, controlled motion. I move closer to the bed and pause, looking down at her bare
shoulders, the perfect smoothness of her skin.  I'm sorry about earlier, she says, and it takes me a
second to figure out what she's talking about.  I shouldn't have brought up the pregnancy thing. I'm not
trying to scare you or pressure you into anything. I'm going home on Monday no matter what. There's
nothing to worry about.
I sit down hard on the edge of the bed and grab the remote from her, turning off the TV and trying to
figure out what to say. I ain't all that good with words.
 The only thing I'm worried about is you. I been lost before, sugar. I know what it's like to be
found. She stares at me as I lick my lips and try to figure out if I'm man enough to admit my feelings.
This girl is from a rival club, and I don't know how the other Triple M'ers would take it. Still, when I
asked her to stay, I meant it. She'd like it here; I'm sure of it. There'd be a price to pay, though. There
always is. Melissa. If Tease doesn't go back to her brother, I don't know how I'll get my friend back. I
hesitate and the moment passes.
It don't feel good to be stuck between a rock and a hard place.
 I'm gonna grab a real quick shower if you don't mind, I tell Tease and she nods, smiling at me as I
stand up and move away. It's hard enough for me to make it to the damn bathroom without looking
back, and I can't help but wonder if I got the fuckin' strength to watch her walk away forever.
Tease
Chapter 25
Sex.
What does it really mean? How does it define us? I wonder about that as I sit on the edge of the
toilet seat with Beck's cell clutched in my hand. I never thought it was that important before, that it
was just something you did. At least, that's what I thought on the surface of my mind. Deep down, I
must've realized that wasn't true because despite the pressure from the club, I didn't have sex with
anyone there. So I guess it always has meant something to me.
Sex with Beck is almost magical in a way. When he touches me, I forget who I am for that period in
time, get drawn into him and drown in the experience. It's almost like I need him, but does he want
me? I can't figure that out. He says stay, but then he doesn't back that up. I don't think I could survive
leaving the club if I had to go it alone. I'm used to having the support of others around me all the time.
I want to stand on my own, but I don't think I'm ready for that. My whole life, I've been groomed to be
an accessory to others. It's going to take a while to figure this out. If I did join Triple M, and he and I
didn't at least experiment and see where this goes, I'd feel lost.
I twist the phone around in my hands.
On the other hand, I'd die for my club. I would. I love everyone there like they're family, an
extended sea of brothers and sisters. I just don't feel like that's the right place for me to live my life. I
don't want to be anyone's old lady. At least, not anyone in Seventy-seven Brothers. I lean over and put
the phone against my forehead. Beck said I could make a quick call to my brother. I'm not sure if he
knows exactly what that means or how much last night meant to me.
We watched Lonesome Dove side by side on the bed and didn't touch. The absence of it made the
sex we've been having all the more interesting. I couldn't stop thinking about it as I fell asleep next to
him. When I woke up, our bodies were entangled.
 Shit, I whisper as I dial my brother's number. The longer I sit here, the harder it gets. And there
really is no right answer. Beck seems hesitant to say anything more, and I understand. If I don't go
back, my brother could flip out. He could kill Beck's friend, Melissa. He might come after Triple M.
If I do decide to leave, it can't be right now. Maybe someday. If Darren even lets you. He barely let
go of Lizzie, and he didn't raise her the way he raised you. I tap my nails against the side of the
toilet as I wait for Darren to answer.
 Hello? he asks, voice tentative. He's not used to getting calls from unknown numbers.
 It's me, I say, and my brother breathes a sigh of relief.  I want to come back today. The words
slip from my mouth before I can stop them. Triple M is going to be pissed. As for Beck, I think he had
some idea of what I was doing. He had to know when I slipped out of bed and asked for his phone.
I'm afraid to touch him, to eat another hamburger with him, to walk in the forest. If I do, I might change
my mind. Traitor. I swallow hard.
 What? he asks, sounding like he's about ready to blow somebody's head off.  Something happen
to you, Tease? I shake my head emphatically when I realize that he can't see me.
 No. I just & I don't see why we should drag this out any longer. Tax hesitates for an inordinate
amount of time before responding. There's something weird in his tone of voice that I don't quite
understand.
 Did you arrange this with Triple M? he asks. God, he knows me too well.
 Yes, I lie, and then because I can't wait any longer, I add,  And did you find Margot? Darren
stays silent for a long moment and then sighs.
 We did. She's under guard at the clubhouse until I figure out what to do with her. Why? I look up [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]