7. Razor

Igrip the steering wheel with sweaty palms, looking over at the precious woman sitting next to me. Aurora has been silent the entire ride to my place, her forehead pressed against the cool window, and I don't blame her. She just changed the course of her life. She broke free. And I'm so damn proud of her.

I knew something was wrong when I saw my girl burst through the backdoor of the farmhouse, her blonde hair whipping around her face as she ran. I was out on a stakeout, though I've finally admitted to myself that it wasn't for the club. It was for Aurora. I'll never apologize for being there when she needed me most.

Aurora had a frantic, almost manic energy about her, and I hopped out of my car as fast as I could to get to her. My heart wedged itself in my throat when I saw her almost roll her ankle after jumping over a scrap pile of logs. Thank all the gods in the universe that I got to her before she fell onto the unforgiving gravel and concrete.

"Razor?" my girl asks, her voice shaky and tentative.

"I'm right here," I reassure her.

She nods then readjusts so she's leaning over the center console, resting her cheek against my bicep. My heart kicks into high gear at her touch, and I curse this stupid car for not being a motorcycle. If I had my bike, Aurora would be wrapped around me, holding me tight while I weave through the streets and bring us safely home.

We pull into my driveway, but instead of opening the garage door, I leave the car parked outside. I don't know how Aurora would react to seeing a motorcycle in my garage. She's already dealt with so much tonight. It will have to be a conversation for another time.

At least, that's what I'm telling myself to justify not talking about it yet. If Aurora doesn't want to be involved with someone in an MC, that would break my goddamn heart that I just started using for the first time in decades. I'm not lying to her, I'm just… protecting her from upsetting information.

Sounds an awful lot like lying,my unhelpful inner monologue adds.

After helping Aurora out of the car, I wrap an arm around her waist and lead her into my home. She's leaning against me, giving me most of her weight while I direct her down the hall and to the left, where my bathroom is.

We stop in front of the mirror, Aurora's hazel eyes widening when she sees her appearance. With tangled hair, scrapes on her cheeks and chin, and the wild, terrified look on her face, I'm sure she's a little taken aback.

"You're always beautiful to me," I tell her, kissing the top of her head despite the twigs stuck there and the smell of beer.

Aurora shakes her head no, then buries her face in her hands as if she can't stand the image of herself. Another devastating blow to my already heavy heart. My girl has been through hell and back and I know it will take time to undo all the lies she's been told over the years. I just hope she lets me be the one to build her back up.

"It's true," I whisper, gently turning her around so we're facing each other. I remove her hands from where they're covering her eyes, kissing her knuckles before holding her hands in mine. "I'll remind you every single day." I don't know where these words are coming from, but Aurora seems to relax more and more with each one. "Why don't you rinse off in the shower and then I can bandage you up and see what the damage is?"

Again, my girl nods, as if that's all she's capable of at the moment. I take her left hand in mine, examining the original cut I saw there. It's not as deep as I first thought, but I decide to give it a quick cleaning and wrap it in gauze as a placeholder while Aurora takes a shower.

She stands there, her eyes unfocused as she circles her arms around her stomach as if protecting herself from the world. It kills me to see her this way, but I know a shower will make her feel better. Well, maybe not better, but at least more human.

"You're safe here," I tell my girl softly. She doesn't even acknowledge my voice, her mind a million miles away. I can see it all in those magical, multi-colored eyes. "I'm going to turn the shower on, okay?" This time, she nods her head.

Reaching behind her, I turn the water on hot, testing the temperature before standing in front of Aurora again. She's trembling and I'm almost afraid to touch her.

"The shower is ready, baby," I murmur, grazing my knuckles down her arm in the lightest of touches. She flinches, making me want to punch myself in the face.

"Okay," she whispers on a shaky breath.

"I'll leave some of my clothes right outside the door for you to change into. Come find me in the living room when you're ready."

Finally, finally, Aurora turns her attention to me, her eyes red and puffy from crying. All of her walls are down, her gaze completely open and vulnerable. I see the lost little girl she tries so hard to hide inside, the trapped woman who longs for freedom, and the defeated, broken angel who has all but given up hope. She has me now, and I'm going to love all the pieces of her wounded soul.

"I'll find you," she says. "Like you always seem to find me." The words hold so much meaning, but my stomach churns knowing exactly why I always seem to find her. Still, my girl is starting to trust me.

Aurora gives me the smallest of smiles, but it still lights up the room. It's a start.

After folding up a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt and setting them outside the bathroom, I begin pacing around my living room. She's here now. Under my roof. Under my care. Now what?

The shower is still running, so instead of wearing a path in my carpet from pacing, I decide to call an old friend. He has more connections than almost anyone I know and more importantly, he's from a different MC. My chest grows tight at the thought of reaching out to someone else to get information on Aurora. Not only would she consider that a breach of the trust I'm trying desperately to earn, but my Rebel Hearts brothers might see it as a betrayal as well.

Still, this is bigger than me. It's bigger than arbitrary club lines, especially when I've been friends with Domino since we were little hood rats who skipped school together. I trust him to keep this confidential.

"Razor? That really you?"

"Yeah, hey Domino. It's been a bit, huh?"

"Ah, what's a few years between friends? Besides, I haven't reached out to you, either. I've been up to my fuckin' eyeballs with all the shit I'm trying to do with turning the club around."

"How"s that going?" I ask though I"m kind of in a rush to get to the point of this call. I don"t know how much time I"ll have until Aurora gets out of the shower.

"The Deviant Souls had some monsters that needed to be eliminated from the club, the president being one of them. Never thought I'd be elected to take over and steer the club in a new direction, but here I fuckin' am."

"You're the best man for the job," I say, though it sounds like a fake platitude even to my own ears.

"So, what's up with you? I take it you didn't call just to shoot the shit."

I wince, though Domino doesn"t seem upset. My friend understands sometimes club business takes precedence. "Sorry to cut to the chase, but I don"t have much time. I… well… okay, so there"s this girl," I start, sounding awkward as hell.

"Oh, wow, okay, this conversation is going in a different direction than I thought. You know that I repel most women with my charm and eloquence, so I don't know if I'll have any good relationship advice for you."

"I have about a hundred and seventy-three people I'd call for relationship advice before dialing your number," I deadpan.

"I'm just honored I made the list," he replies cheekily. "So, what's this about then?"

I take a deep breath and exhale before thinking of the best way to explain the situation I'm in. "I need information on a… sensitive target." Domino hums in acknowledgment, knowing that sensitive means it's a personal favor outside of my MC. One that I don't want to get back to them. "She found herself tangled up with the Serpents."

"Mother fuckers," he growls. We're in agreement there. The Serpents have chapters all across Texas, none of them up to any good.

"She's not a Serpent. From what I can tell, she's some kind of maid-slash-waitress-slash-cook. There's something more though. Can you find out more information? If I dig any deeper, my club will know, and they might not trust Aurora. She's already had such terrible experiences in the MC world. I want her to know not every club is like the Serpents."

"You know I've got your back, but I just want to make sure you know what you're doing. The risk you're taking."

"She's worth it." I give him all the details I know about Aurora and clue him in on the cartel's involvement.

I'm met with silence for a few moments, then Domino says, "Consider it done," and hangs up. I know the search has already started.

I set my phone down on the coffee table and run a hand through my short hair. I have all this… this… energy pent up inside. I'm jittery and nervous but also pumped up and ready to fight off anyone who comes near Aurora. Shaking out my hands and arms, I take a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm the fuck down.

The sound of Aurora padding down the hallway has every muscle in my body tightening, and when she steps into the living room, everything snaps into place. I'm able to take a full breath again now that she's here, my heart finding a steady rhythm as I take in every inch of this precious woman.

Her damp hair is combed out and twisted into a simple braid that hangs over one shoulder. My shirt is huge on her, which makes her all the more adorable. How can I want to cuddle Aurora and kiss the tip of her nose while also wanting to see her bent over the couch, taking all of me as I sink into her from behind?

My eyes roam down her ample chest, rounded stomach, thick thighs… that are bare. She's only wearing the shirt, which is giving me all kinds of inappropriate ideas.

"Come in, princess," I say soothingly, sitting on the couch and patting the spot next to me. Never thought I'd be one to use pet names, but princess is just too perfect. My beautiful, ethereal princess who has been locked away from the world.

She takes a tentative step forward, then another, before she's standing in front of me. "Thanks for the clothes. The pants were too big."

"It's okay, baby. Come sit down and let me look at that cut." Aurora does as I say, though her movements are unsteady and jerky. "Hey," I whisper, reaching out to tuck a few strands of loose hair behind her ear. Aurora hits me with those hazel eyes, a little more green than blue at the moment. She's fidgeting and anxious, two things I don't want her to be when she's with me. "You're safe here," I remind her, not for the first time.

"I, well, I… I don't think you know what you just got yourself into," she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

"So, tell me." I try giving her my best smile, but it"s pretty damn rusty. I probably look more deranged than anything else. I grab the first aid kit that I retrieved from the kitchen earlier, open it up, and pull out the appropriate supplies. I don"t push her to talk, knowing she"ll give me another part of her story when she"s ready.

Kneeling in front of Aurora, I gently lift her left hand and remove the gauze I had wrapped around it earlier. I clean the wound out again and this time secure it with a proper bandage before assessing the other scratches. I notice an old, less-than-sanitary bandage pressed over her elbow, and I look up at Aurora with an eyebrow raised in question.

She darts her eyes away from me, a red blush creeping into her cheeks. "Yeah, I guess you should know I"m pretty clumsy. And accident-prone. I"m not…" Aurora sighs heavily, her shoulders dropping in defeat. I hate seeing her this way. "I"m not fun to be around. I"ll just break your stuff, trip on something, or more likely, knock everything off tables and shelves with my giant hips."

My gaze immediately drops to her hips, and fuck me, I can't wait to wrap my hands around them and hold her steady while I saw in and out of her sweet, tight little pussy. Clearing my throat, I shake my head and dispel my lustful thoughts. For now.

"Aurora, you're not a burden for existing," I tell her as I remove the old bandage on her elbow and sanitize the cut. She shrugs at my statement and I move on to cleaning up a cluster of cuts from the bushes she ran through earlier.

When I'm satisfied that my girl is all cleaned up and put back together, I take a seat next to her on the couch. Aurora looks up at me, her wide, round eyes brimming with tears. I slowly lift my hand to her face, not wanting to startle her. She lets me wipe her tears away with the pad of my thumb, her gaze never leaving mine.

"I'm not just clumsy," she whispers, nibbling on her bottom lip. "I work for a… well, they're not exactly a legit business," she starts, though I know she's choosing her words very carefully.

I don't say anything, I simply lift my arm over the back of the couch, letting Aurora snuggle up against me. I hold her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. I love that she smells like me. My girl will tell me everything in time. And if she doesn't, I have someone on the outside working to help me figure things out as well.

"Have you heard of the Serpents?" she asks. "They're a motorcycle club."

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from telling her that yes, I'm very aware of every Serpent in town. Instead, I nod. "Yeah, that sounds familiar," I reply, trying to play it casual.

"I"m sure whatever you heard was only the tip of the iceberg. The awful things they do, the people they work with, not to mention the disgusting members themselves…" She trails off as if thinking about a particular incident. Possibly the one that happened tonight. "Now that I"m gone, I don"t ever want to go back. I don"t want anything to do with the MC life. "

My heart sinks at her words. It"s understandable, considering she grew up in arguably the worst MC in the state. Still, I want Aurora to see that not every club is like that. We respect our community and are involved in local charity runs. Yeah, we skirt around the law sometimes, but we have a strict code of ethics. One of which is not running drugs. It"s a constant battle to keep Maplewood clean, and now with the cartel trying to set up a trade route, the stakes are higher than ever.

"How did you find yourself working for them?" I ask as I stroke my fingers up and down her bare arm.

"My dad was a member back in the day. He and my mom were…" Aurora takes a deep breath and blows it out, making the few strands of hair framing her face fan out around her. "They were meth addicts. They cooked for the club and then kept a little on the side to feed their own habits."

"I"m so sorry," I tell her truthfully. I can relate to strung-out and absent parents.

"It is what it is," she says with another defeated shrug. I get the sense she's had to repeat those words to herself hundreds of times over the years. No more. I vow to give Aurora the freedom she longs for. "Honestly, having my older brother there to protect me saved me from the worst of it. Well, until he joined the family business."

"No," I murmur, nuzzling into the side of her neck. My woman has been alone for so long, a true, rare gem hidden in a world of drugs, danger, and violence.

"My brother, Chad, used to take me out to the park or to the swimming pool when we were kids. I didn"t realize until we were older that he was trying to keep me out of the trailer park while my parents were cooking meth." Aurora"s lips pull into a surprisingly soft, nostalgic smile. "We would play hide and seek in the surrounding forest whenever Mom and Dad got into a bad fight. Chad really did try to protect me from the worst of it."

"What happened?" I ask softly. Obviously, Chad isn't there anymore to protect her, otherwise she wouldn't be in this position.

"At some point, he was no longer interested in playing with me or protecting me. My parents introduced him to the family business of cooking and running drugs for the Serpents, and that was that. He's never been the same. When our trailer burned down with our parents trapped inside, Chad had full custody of me when he was just eighteen. We went to live with the Serpents, where my brother continued to cook. He tried forcing me to help, but I couldn't. Even when…" Aurora cuts herself off as she tenses up, a shiver running down her spine. I hate that she has so many painful memories. "I just couldn't," she finishes.

"So instead of cooking meth, they had you cook food and be an all-around servant?"

Aurora nods, then melts against me, letting go of every damn thing now that she"s poured out her soul to me. I know I need to tell her about me, about the Rebel Hearts, and how we"re nothing like the MC she"s experienced.

"I have to ask," I say quietly. "Are any of the Serpents out looking for you?"

Aurora shakes her head. "Honestly, it"s already after eight, which means everyone is too drunk and/or high to notice much. They probably won"t even come to until noon tomorrow. I"m safe. For now."

"Forever," I correct her. She gasps, nibbling on her bottom lip again. It's too tempting, the way she's looking up at me, those wide, vulnerable eyes filled with equal parts hope and doubt. She wants to be loved so desperately, but she doesn't know how. I hardly know either, but I'll figure it out.

I lean forward, lust and longing warring with decency and not wanting to pressure her or take advantage of her situation. Aurora tips her chin up, her long lashes framing those magical hazel eyes.

"Are we going to kiss?" she whispers. Her innocent question is almost my breaking point.

"Would you like that?" I rasp, shaking with the need to consume her, body and soul.

"I…" A blush creeps up her neck and into her cheeks, but she never breaks eye contact with me. "I"ve never kissed anyone, but I think… I think I"d like to kiss you."

Her words sink down into my soul. She's never kissed anyone? Does that mean I'll be all of her firsts?

I cup the back of her neck with my hand, my fingers weaving into the silky strands of her hair. Brushing my nose against hers, I give Aurora one last chance to pull away. When she hums in contentment, I close the distance between us, our lips meeting for the first time.

She's soft and sweet, her lips pliant as they part for me. I start out slow, savoring everything about this moment as I suck on her top lip, then bottom lip, before sliding my tongue inside her hot little mouth. Aurora lets out a quiet moan, encouraging me to continue. I lick the roof of her mouth and then suck on her tongue, breathing in everything about my girl as we get lost in our pleasure.

When we finally break apart, my girl's lips are swollen, her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are glazed over as she blinks up at me.

"How was your first kiss, princess?" I ask, rubbing my nose against hers.

She smiles then presses her lips to mine in a kiss that's all too short. "Perfect," she murmurs dreamily. My heart soars knowing I satisfied my woman in this way.

Aurora yawns, making me chuckle. I kiss her forehead and get her settled back down on my chest.

My sweet girl yawns and tucks her head under my chin. I hold her close, silently promising to never let her go. I'll find a way to keep my girl and my club while also taking down the Serpents. No pressure or anything.

Aurora's gentle snores bring a smile to my face. I'll be right here when she wakes up.