25. Skylar

Chapter 25

Skylar

Wow. I knew sex with Torin would be great. I'd gotten a big enough taste of that three years ago that I didn't doubt it at all. That's part of the reason I held on, even after he repeatedly shot me down. I'm realistic enough to admit that. People roll their eyes at me when I try to explain how I feel about Torin. I know my sister has. She says I can't know I'm in love when I barely know the person. I think that's kind of hypocritical since she has been in love with Dom since we were kids, even knowing what an asshole he was. Torin wasn't like that. He never has been. I watched Dom's so-called love change who Gabby was. Dom only gave part of himself to Gabby, never all of him. That made her desperate. She felt like she was never good enough for him, and it twisted her up in a million directions. I watched from afar and saw it all, because it's a road I could have easily gone down where Torin is concerned.

The thing is, Torin was never like Dom. He kept himself completely away from me, so as not to give me hope. I've seen him when he didn't think I noticed. His eyes were always on me. He wanted me. His gaze was hungry and possessive. The minute he would notice I was watching him, it turned cold. In one way, it was good, because I got to see that he cared. He just wouldn't allow himself to take what I was offering. In another way, it was bad, because I held on for three years when any other woman would have probably given up and said to hell with it all. I could never do that, and the reason is simple— I do love him .

Now, I don't know if it was love at first sight or if it grew over the years by watching him in the quiet times when no one else was around. I just know that it's real. Over the years, I've constantly spent my time watching how he did things. Torin was always the first to help someone if they needed it. When the little kids are at the club, this big, bad biker will get on the floor and play with them. A while back, Nailer's two-year-old grandson, Dale, had a health scare. They found a tumor attached to his spinal cord. It was terrifying. I know because I would volunteer at the hospital. I hid myself away every day when Torin would come and visit. He'd spend hours talking to Dale. He'd read to him, joke around, and do anything he could to make the little guy laugh. Yet, after he would leave Dale's bedside, he'd venture into the common area at the cancer center for the kids and he'd visit there. He was even a volunteer reader there during community time for all the children.

I doubt anyone at the club knows about Torin doing that. I know Nailer knows about Torin and his son, but the rest of his brothers? Probably not. So, I held on. I never regretted it either. I would have held on forever, but his escapades with the club girls were slowly cutting out my heart. I think that's why I understand Gabby, because I was becoming a shell of the woman I wanted to be. So, I decided to go out, get laid, and live my life. I was officially squelching the Torin James torch that I'd held onto for way too long.

Which makes it ironic that he showed up the night I was putting my plan into action. It also explains why my head is a jumbled mess at the moment. Hell, that could partly be because of the mind-blowing orgasm.

"I'll be right back, baby," Torin whispers near my ear, before placing a kiss on my forehead. My damn heart squeezes in my chest at how sweet he's being. I feel like I fell into a damn rabbit hole. I nod as I look at him, feeling too many emotions to name. I don't trust myself to speak, but when he smiles at me—looking at me like I'm the beginning and end of everything for him—I feel the strongest urge to cry. When he finally walks away, I close my eyes and try my best to get ahold of myself.

When I finally open my eyes, he's coming out of the bathroom, holding a washcloth in his hand. He goes to the end of the bed and begins crawling up. That's when I realize I don't have the sheets or covers pulled over me. Panic hits me, and I don't even know why. After what the two of us just shared, it shouldn't be there at all. I can't truly explain it. I just feel extra vulnerable. "What are you doing?"

"I'm cleaning my woman up," he murmurs, giving me a heart-stopping grin. I bite down on my lip to keep from moaning when I feel the warm cloth slide against my pussy. It feels good. I can't deny it. Torin was big. I'm not sure what I expected, but one could say he was truly blessed below the belt. Shit, the man is blessed everywhere. I can't get over the fact he is actually asinine enough to say he wasn't enough for me. Torin is fierce but can also be sweet and gentle. He has a huge heart that he doesn't let anyone see, and he looks like a damn Greek god. How can he be so blind about what he can offer a woman?

No, not a woman. Me. He wants me. He claimed me last night as his. I tried to stay detached, but I couldn't— not completely.

"Torin," I start, though his name turns into a gasp as he places a gentle kiss not only against the top of my pussy, but on the inside of my thigh.

"Are you very sore, sweetheart? I tried to be gentle, but I kind of lost control," he explains as he tosses the cloth toward the bathroom.

"I'm okay," I answer, while knowing I'm blushing bright red.

He settles on his side, staring at me. His arm comes around my stomach as he pulls me against him. "No, Peaches, you're fucking fantastic," he corrects, giving my lips a chaste kiss.

When he goes to pull away, I tangle my fingers into his dark hair and bring his lips back to mine, kissing him. I'm too raw and confused to let him know what I'm feeling, so I try to show him my love through my kiss. It's different from the past kisses we've shared. This one is soft and tender, small pecks on our lips, sucking them into our mouths before our tongues dance together. It's a kiss filled with peace … and love.

"I feel like I might be dreaming. I'm afraid I'll wake up and this will all have been a dream."

"It's not a dream. I'm here and I'm not leaving your side again."

"I think I'm afraid to believe that," I tell him honestly.

"Baby, I just cleaned your blood off my cock. Do you really think I would have taken your innocence if I wasn't in this thing with you one hundred and ten percent?"

"No, I know you're a good man, Torin. A bit of an idiot, but I've always known you were one of the best men I've ever known."

"Thanks, I think," he snorts, laugh lines crinkling around his eyes with his smile as he kisses my lips quickly.

I slide my hand against his cheek, letting my fingers dance through his beard. God, he really is beautiful. "I love you," I tell him, surprising myself. I didn't mean to say that. It's the last thing I probably should have done. I close my eyes, leaning my forehead against him as the severity of what I just said hits me. Jesus, I am stupid. What if I scare him away? Men don't talk about feelings. I know that.

"Hey, stop," he says, pulling my chin up so I'm forced to look at him once more. "I'm your safe place, Skylar. You can talk to me about anything. I care about you, too, you know?"

"You do?"

"Peaches, I took your virginity. I put you on the back of my bike, and I've claimed you in front of our sister club. You're the daughter of our Enforcer and the little sister to a man I respect more than anyone else in the club. Do you really think I'd claim you if I wasn't serious?"

"You respect Mattie over anyone else in the club?"

He nods. "I mean, me and Killer are tight. Dom too, really. I respect all the originals too. Your family is badass, baby, you know that. Still, Breaker is the one I've worked with day in and day out. I'd trust my life with his decisions. I know there's more and more talk about Dragon stepping down. If that happens, people figure Dom will step up and demand the role, but the club is family ran, really. It has been since Dragon almost died from the way I understand it. Dragon, Bull, and Dancer always vote on any major decisions before it is presented to the rest of us in church. To be quite honest, the majority of us are hoping when the time comes, it goes to Breaker. It's nothing against Dom, but decisions he has made in the past haven't been the greatest. He's changed, sure, but he's never been as driven when it comes to club business as Breaker. So …" he trails off, shrugging. I find myself smiling. I'm proud of my brother, but it's more than that. It makes me feel good that they all see in my brother what I've always seen—not to mention the same thing about Dom. I shrug the thoughts away. It's not my place to care what the decisions about the club are going to be. I know my dad, Uncle Dancer, and Dragon well enough to know they'll be smart when the time comes for them to step down. I do know Dad is planning on it soon. He and Mom want to travel now that she's ready to pull back from her medical career. They want to concentrate on each other, and I would like that for both of them. Plus, now that Thea is pregnant, they want time to devote to their grandkids.

I'm brought out of my thoughts by the way Torin keeps sliding his fingers back and forth on my hip. I can feel myself getting wet again. Of their own volition, my hips being rocking as my hunger for this man surges again.

"Tor …," I whimper.

"Fuck, Peaches, I can't take you again. I know you're too sore to have me inside you this soon. Plus, you need to sleep. You have your test and then we have to head back to Kentucky. Once lockdown is over, both of us are going to have to talk to your family. I want them to know that you belong to me now."

"Does that mean you belong to me, too?" I ask. I don't tell him I'm insecure. He said he cares for me, but it didn't escape my attention that he didn't use the word love either.

"Abso-fucking-lutely," he rumbles, kissing me again. I reach down and wrap my hand around his already hard cock. I squeeze it as he pulls away from me. "Baby, no. You have to be awake early. Plus, it will hurt too much if we?—"

"I'll sleep better after you give me another workout," I respond with a grin. I can tell by the look on his face that he's not buying my story, so I pull out the big guns. "Torin, I'm hurting now. I need you inside me. You'll make it better, while being gentle. I know it. Make love to me. Please?"

He closes his eyes and lets out a breath. "You're going to be the death of me, baby," he growls as he pushes me gently onto my back. "You'll tell me immediately if it's too much for you." I nod, knowing I'm lying my ass off. As long as he's deep inside of me, I don't give a damn if there is some pain. The pleasure more than makes up for it. Besides, there's a part of me that is afraid this will all fall apart. After wanting him for so long, I don't want us to be apart. I just need him as close as physically possible.

Hopefully forever …