Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

A n electronic bell sounded as Demo entered the clinic. Good, at least Keys had been able to finish that before Paige had kicked him out. He had not liked it when he’d come into the clinic the day before and there’d been no signal to her. Demo didn’t think she would have taken away a device like that. The electricity used would have been minimal enough where it wouldn’t have affected her electricity bill. Not like turning off overhead lights—which he now noticed were all on—and taking away computer equipment would have. No, Demo suspected she hadn’t had a bell or anything over the door because she’d had a receptionist up until recently.

Bulldog sat in one of the waiting chairs. His large body was spread out with his elbows on the arm rests, his hands gripping the corners, and his booted feet planted on the floor. He looked tense as if he was getting ready to be shot out of a circus cannon. It was the agony in his eyes that held Demo’s attention, like Bulldog was burning from the inside out.

Without looking up at Demo, Bulldog confessed, “I don’t want her to know. Abby loves coming here and I will do anything to make her happy.”

Demo glanced between his SAA and the hallway that led to where Abby was getting her treatment and then back to Bulldog. “You don’t like being away from her,” he concluded. “It’s killing you to not be in that room with her.”

Bulldog nodded stiffly. “I don’t want her to know,” he repeated.

“She’s right back there,” Demo argued, unsure he understood Bulldog’s current torment. “She’s fine. You know she is. Paige would never harm her.”

Demo moved to sit in the chair next to him as Bulldog stared longingly down the hallway.

“We were separated for sixteen years. During that time, unspeakable things happened to her while I was living my life, fucking around, and trying my damndest to forget about her. Having her back in my life is a miracle beyond measure. I will never take her or her love for granted. Her unwavering love is what brought her back to me after all these years. But ,” he added with a hint of self-deprecation, “I can’t shake the feeling that I’m going to lose her again. You guys make fun of the two of us for being glued at the hip. You call it sappy or being whipped or romantic, but I don’t think it’s occurred to any of you that I can’t let her out of my sight. And the few times that I have to is agony.”

Demo looked at his friend in a new light. He’d always thought Bulldog was so strong, admired him for the way he took in Abby’s biological children as well as Lila and Cassie. But he hadn’t considered the toll it had taken on him. “Have you talked to your therapist about this?”

Abby, Bulldog, and Cassie telecommunicated with a therapist from Philadelphia. Demo had met her once at Abby and Bulldog’s wedding, but damn if he could remember her name. Lila saw a child therapist here in town, the same one that Bree also saw. Her name was Joanna and she shared an office space above the local bookstore with Jumper’s therapist, Dr. Rutenberg. Demo wasn’t sure if Bulldog still saw his therapist regularly or on his own, though he knew Bulldog joined Abby on some of her sessions when they wanted to discuss something with him.

“Oh, she’s aware. Dr. Skurja says my anxiety derives from a fear of losing her and guilt from not being able to protect her in the past.”

Demo wondered at the derision in his friend’s voice. “So you sit out here in pain while Abby’s only a few yards away behind a closed door because you want Abby to be happy and don’t care what that costs you?”

“Pretty much,” Bulldog nodded minutely. He glanced at Demo out of the corner of his eye. “I know what you have with Paige is new. I can’t give you advice about being in this stage of a relationship because I was never in this stage of a relationship. Abby was mine from the moment I laid eyes on her. There wasn’t a question of if . Hell, I’m not even sure I gave her an option.” He let out a humorless chuckle. “But I can tell you this: figure out what makes her happy and give that to her. Not what you think will make her happy.”

He indicated with his chin towards the expensive computer on the reception desk.

Demo scratched the back of his neck self-consciously as he admitted, “I thought it would make her happy.”

Bulldog raised an eyebrow at him. “You thought she’d open up the computer box, jump up and down with joy, and then fall madly in love with you? Hate to break it to you, brother, but that’s cheating.”

Demo glared at him. “That’s not exactly how I saw it in my head,” he grumbled. Though it was so damn close, it was embarrassing.

Bulldog chuckled. “Relationships are hard work. It’s a give and take, almost like a dance. You need to listen to what it is she actually needs. Not what you think she needs, which is actually about what you need.”

Demo felt a headache coming on. His shoulder twitched uncomfortably. “You make it look so easy. All of you do. Hell, I’ve never seen any of you fight or have a disagreement. Angel and Cage are in this weird honeymoon phase where they seem to sense the other one before they even walk into a room. Jasmine and Jumper are busy planning their wedding. Lucky and Bear have knocked up their women again. And you and Abby have, like, merged into this single organism that defies the laws of physics.” He shrugged. “I think… Or maybe I hoped I’d found my happily ever after with Paige. She’s amazing, Bulldog.” Demo couldn’t keep the smile off of his face. “I swear, I’m kicking myself for her being right under my nose this whole time.”

“You didn’t see the behind the scenes of all of us,” Bulldog told him. “You didn’t see the struggles each of us faced to get our women. You saw the glamor shots, the final cut. I guarantee you, Abby and I fight.”

Demo’s jaw dropped. “What? You do?”

Bulldog nodded. Demo saw his beard twitch with a smile. “It’s not big, shouting matches that result in blood being spilled, but we have our disagreements. Every couple does. Those who don’t probably have underlying problems that they aren’t dealing with. Most recently, Abby and I argued about whether we should push Cassie into going outside more. She does well the few times she’s been off property and Abby thinks we should continue to encourage that. I think we should wait until Cassie says she’s ready.”

Cassie had agoraphobia and often had difficulty leaving her own house to walk to the clubhouse down the path. She’d attended Bulldog and Abby’s wedding at the beach last October, but she’d struggled. Aside from the wedding itself, she had remained in her hotel room most of the weekend.

“Don’t look so surprised. Abby’s fierce when it counts,” Bulldog said with a level of love Demo could only hope to one day have. Maybe with Paige. “My point is, relationships, even the ones with an instant connection, are hard work. They take time and you have to be willing to put aside your pride and preconceived notions to figure out what your partner needs.”

Demo glanced down the hallway. He didn’t hear or see Paige or Abby. Still, he lowered his voice to barely a whisper. “Even if Paige feels for me what I feel for her, she won’t do anything about it so long as she still thinks she’s married.”

Bulldog nodded thoughtfully. “We’re working on that. But that actually might be a good thing,” he added.

Demo’s eyebrows drew down. “How so?”

“It gives you time to lay a foundation, Demo. Take romance out of the equation, build something sturdy, unbreakable. Make her fall for you before you get physical.”

As much as Demo’s cock disapproved of Bulldog’s suggestion, his mind couldn’t argue the logic in it. “Be her friend first.”

“Be her friend always ,” Bulldog corrected. “You can have the best sex in the world with a woman, but it’s not a relationship without that friendship.” He let out a small snort. “You have to actually like her before you can love her.”

Demo scratched his forehead. His eyes roamed around the waiting room. He let out a long sigh. “You’re making too much sense. Can we change the subject?”

Bulldog laughed, his eyes still never straying from the hallway for more than a second or two. He clasped Demo on the knee once before letting go. “Sex is the easiest part of a relationship, brother. It’s when it’s removed that couples tend to see what their relationship really is made of.” He nodded down the hall. “Be with Paige. Be everything to her. Give her everything she needs and desires. If the two of you decide to add sex into the mix, that’s your business and no one but you needs to know those details. But a true relationship? A partnership? It needs more.”

“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

Demo’s head whipped up. Paige stood in the doorway. Her unruly curls were thrown up into a messy bun that had just as many writing utensils in it as the day before. She had on a loose turtleneck sweater and dress pants under her lab coat.

And fuck if the sight of her didn’t make Demo’s heart expand. She was a vision.

Paige indicated behind herself to Bulldog. “Abby’s done. She’s getting changed now.”

Bulldog shot out of his chair like the cannonball Demo had equated him to earlier. He rushed past Paige and down the hall to the second therapy room door.

Paige stepped further into the waiting room. Demo stood but didn’t approach her. He wasn’t sure what to say or even how much she’d overheard.

With the reception desk almost as a barrier between them, Paige said, “I was going to yell at you when I saw you. Scold you for being too much and trying to take over my life when we aren’t even dating. But Bulldog has a point that I can’t ignore. Bottom line, I do want to build something with you. I want to have a relationship like theirs that is stronger than sex.”

She waved her hand towards the computer equipment. “I don’t need money or trinkets or things . I’ve had that relationship and look where it’s gotten me. I don’t need a white knight, Demo. I can fight my own battles. What I need is a partner who will face the bad and the good with me. Who will be my support and my guide as much as I am his. I want someone who is proud to be out in public with me on his arm but just as content holding me on the couch while we watch movies in our pajamas with the boys. I want a partner .”

Demo walked around the desk. Paige stood still, allowing him to approach her. He carefully lifted his right hand to one of the curls that had fallen around her face. He twined the corkscrew around his finger. Her chocolate eyes stared up at him with such longing, it took everything in Demo not to pull her against him. “I will absolutely be your support and your guide. It would be my honor to show you off and dance the night away with you. Lounging on your couch with you and the boys for movie nights? Hell, yeah!” He shook his head slowly, “But I’m afraid I can’t be your equal partner, Paige. Because I will always stand between you and the bad, always lift you up and cherish you like the queen you are.”

Her pupils widened, almost making the browns of her eyes disappear. “You shouldn’t say things like that. It makes me want…” Her words caught in her throat. “It makes me forget I shouldn’t…”

Demo leaned in, breathing her in. She had a unique scent of lavender, lemon, and peppermint. His nose trailed a path across her right cheek, tilting her face up towards him. Two steps forward pressed her back against the wall next to the door frame that led to the hallway. Demo released her hair, letting it go like a coiled spring, and cupped her left cheek with his right hand. He placed his left on the wall next to her ear.

“I don’t want you to forget,” he murmured against her skin. “You can’t change your past, Paige, but you can decide your future. I want a future with you. The question is, do you want one with me?”

Their chests were pressed so close together that he could feel the rapid beat of her heart against his own.

“Yes,” she breathed out.

“Thank fuck,” he said before he kissed her.

What am I doing…? Though the query was at the forefront of her mind, Paige could not stop herself from kissing Demo back. His touch was like a balm to her soul, healing and nurturing. Oh, it turned her on all right. Paige struggled to get close enough to him, completely forgetting the fact that Bulldog and Abby were inside her clinic too. But there was also a sense of peace that accompanied the fiery kiss that gripped her to him.

She wasn’t so prideful that she wasn’t grateful for his efforts to help her. Unlike Richard or her stepfamily, Paige knew he hadn’t bought everything and had Keys come set it up for her to flaunt wealth and status over her or to assert dominance. He truly had just wanted to help her. It meant a lot to her that he was willing to own his error and apologize. Not many—men or women—would so readily admit a mistake.

He would never know how much that meant to her.

Demo gripped her face between his calloused hands. His tongue stroked her lips, begging for entry. All thoughts of protest left her mind as their tongues tangoed.

A throat cleared.

Demo and Paige froze. Her eyes flew open to see Bulldog and Abby standing in the doorway just to the left of her.

Demo, though, didn’t move to step back. Instead, he pressed his body closer to hers. “Go away,” he said against her lips and then returned to kissing her.

Heat suffused Paige. She’d never been big on PDA, but she wasn’t against it either. It had just been a long time since she had the opportunity or the desire to kiss a partner without caring who was around to witness.

Demo’s touch was such a distraction that she feared she might become addicted to it. He was passionate, yet gentle. The evidence of his own arousal pressed against her stomach. Paige imagined him lifting her up so she could wrap her legs around his hips and?—

The throat cleared again.

Demo let out a sound that could only be described as a growl. He tore his mouth away from hers and rounded on Bulldog. “What the fuck do you want?”

“Other than to spare Paige any embarrassment should someone walk in off of the street into her place of business?” Bulldog inquired with a glance to the door.

Paige’s eyes went wide as she gasped, “Oh fuck.”

Bulldog sent her a gentle smile, indicating that he was neither angry nor disappointed in her by her wanton actions. “I also have an appointment,” he added.

Paige’s cheeks blazed so hot, she was surprised steam did not come out of her ears. “Oh God! I am so sorry.” She pressed against Demo’s chest, but he wouldn’t budge. “Demo, move!” she ordered. “I am so sorry, Bulldog. This is completely unprofessional. I don’t know what came over me. I am so sorry. Of course, I’ll comp your treatment.”

“The fuck you will,” Demo snapped. He glared at his friend. “Take your wife to get something to eat at the diner. I need to speak with Paige alone.”

“Demo, no,” she argued, but Bulldog nodded.

“You available in half an hour?” he asked her.

“No,” she said and then backtracked, “I mean, yes. I mean, my next appointment isn’t until one. But you don’t have to go. Demo, please?—”

“It’s all right,” Bulldog told her. He moved forward and Paige’s eyes went wide as she saw Abby had been standing behind him. Her friend looked happy despite witnessing Paige’s lewd behavior. Bulldog took Abby’s hand, guiding her towards the door. “You two might want to lock your door.”

Paige covered her face with her hands. She could not remember ever being so embarrassed in her life.

As soon as the clinic door closed after Bulldog and Abby, Paige pushed harder against Demo’s chest. “Move, damn you!”

Demo took three steps back. Unlike her, he did not look embarrassed or ashamed by their public behavior.

She glared at him. “Why would you do that? This is my place of business .”

Demo waved that off with a flick of his hand. “Trust me. Neither of them cared. Did you see Abby’s face? She’s happy for us.”

“I don’t care!” Despite her embarrassment, Paige was grateful for the interruption. It made her see sense. “We shouldn’t have done that. It was inappropriate.”

Demo crossed his arms over his toned chest. “Because of where we are or because of your marriage?”

Paige couldn’t stop the guilt that filled her at his question. It had nothing to do with betraying Richard and everything to do with her own morals. “I am still?—”

“That man doesn’t deserve you!”

Paige jumped at the harshness in Demo’s raised voice. There was a hidden anger in his eyes that she’d never seen before. The only reason she didn’t fear him was because that rage was not directed at her. “I agree,” she said evenly, hoping to calm him down too. “But it doesn’t change the fact that I am still married.”

Demo’s nostrils flared. “I thought I respected the sanctity of marriage before I met you. Never once have I ever gone after or knowingly dallied with a married woman. Never wanted the drama. Never felt it was worth it.” He stepped back up to her. “You’re worth it, Paige. I don’t care that you’re married. I don’t. If Richard walked through that door right now,” he pointed at the clinic door, “I’d tell him to fuck off. Well,” he corrected, “I’d punch him first but then I’d tell him to fuck off.”

Paige had to suppress a laugh. She shouldn’t have found his violent statement hilarious.

Approaching her again, he cupped her face between his warm hands. “You’re worth any battle, any fight, to make you mine, Paige Hannigan. You’ve already said you want a future with me. I think the better question isn’t if you want it, but if you’re willing to fight for it with me.”

He leaned forward, pressing his lips against her forehead.

Paige’s entire body trembled. She gripped his forearms with all her might. “It might not be easy. My kids have to come first, Demo. No matter what.”

“Agreed,” he said against her skin.

She took a moment to breathe in his scent of leather and aftershave. Then, slowly, she nodded. “On one condition,” she told him.

“What’s that?” he asked seriously.

“If Richard does come back, I get to punch him first.”

Demo barked out a laugh and pulled her tighter against him. His warm breath caressed her hair and forehead. “Deal.”

Demo: I didn’t like not seeing you today.

Paige: I know what you mean. This week has been crazy busy. You’ll never convince me the club didn’t have a hand in all my additional appointments. I am extremely grateful, but it also means less time with you and the boys.

Demo: How about I pick up the boys from Cindy’s tomorrow and we join you for lunch at the clinic? What time do you have free?

Paige: Really? You would do that? Oh, it’s so tempting, Demo! It’s not that I don’t trust you with them, but they don’t really know you. I’m not sure how they would handle being in the car with you like that.

Demo: I do mean to change that soon. I want the boys to get to know me. But you’re right. They don’t know me like they do Lucky. So how about LUCKY picks them up from Cindy’s and brings them to the clinic to have lunch with us? If you and they are fine with it after the meal, I’ll take them back to Cindy’s or we have Lucky come back to pick them up.

Paige: That sounds amazing, Demo, but I don’t want to put Lucky out. He has his own job and responsibilities.

Demo: I’m sure he won’t have an issue with it. If you want, I can text him or you can.

Paige: Let me think about it. I love the idea, but I think maybe we should put a pin in it until after the boys get to know you better.

Demo: How about we take them out this weekend? There’s plenty to do around town or we can take them out of town and get a hotel room for the night. Don’t worry—I promise not to ravage their mother. If you’re not comfortable sharing a hotel room, I’ll get an adjoining room to you guys.

Paige: [heart emoji] I love that idea. Why don’t we stay here this weekend and plan for an overnight trip in the future?

Demo: Sounds like a plan! Anything specific you want to do? I think Mabel is offering cookie decorating this weekend. That would be fun to do with the boys. If I remember correctly, it’s $10/cookie kit. We could do dinner afterwards.

Demo: It’s either this weekend or next. I need to double check.

Demo: I overheard some of the others wanting to take the club kids to it.

Demo: Paige?

Paige: I’m here. It sounds really fun, Demo, but I’m not sure I can do that right now. It might not sound like much to you but $30 is a lot for me right now. No doubt the boys are going to want drinks too. Plus dinner afterwards? Maybe if we did just one of those.

Demo: Slow down, beautiful. I asked you and the boys out. I’ll be paying. You never have to question about who is going to be paying the bill with me. I told you this. When you’re with me, you’re covered.

Paige: I wasn’t sure if that included the boys. It really shouldn’t. They’re my responsibility.

Paige: I appreciate the offer. I just don’t think it’s feasible right now.

Demo: What’s going on? Tell me what changed in the last 10 minutes to have you questioning who would be paying on our date?

Paige: Nothing. I just don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you.

Demo: Can’t take advantage of what’s freely given, Paige.

Demo: You and the boys are a package deal. I get that. I support that. I WANT that. I would never pay for you and not the boys or vice versa. When we’re out, all 4 of us or just the 2 of us, I’m paying. End of story.

Paige: You shouldn’t have to. I should be able to pay for my own kids.

Demo: I don’t view it as HAVING to. I view it as GETTING to.

Demo: Talk to me, beautiful. What’s going through that pretty head of yours?

Paige: Pretty sure I’d be curled up in a fetal position with a tub of Rocky Road and a bottle of gin if I broke open that dam.

Paige: Sorry. That was a weird thing to say.

Paige: Demo?

Paige: It’s been about an hour. I understand. I warned you I’m a mess.

Paige: Again, sorry. I hope you have a good night.

Demo: Open your door.

Paige was sitting on her couch with Nelly Bean resting on her lap while Mikey colored on the floor on his belly. Her oldest was shirtless with four glass cups suctioned along his spine. The faint trace of burnt cotton hung in the air.

She stared down at her phone wondering if she somehow misread the message. Nope, the instruction to open her door was still there.

Paige looked up and over at her front door, which she could just barely see from her position on the couch. She hadn’t heard an engine outside, nor had she seen any headlights shine into her house like someone had pulled into her driveway.

Demo had been silent for over an hour prior to his last text message. What did he mean by open her door? Had he sent a food delivery?

The leftovers from the diner food he had delivered again to her clinic had been their dinner, which the boys appreciated. There was only so much boxed mac and cheese she could serve them before they started complaining.

Paige had been in the middle of texting Demo when Mikey had started coughing. His asthma was worse in the winter months and it didn’t help that she had to keep the internal temperature of the house colder than she normally would to keep the electric bill down. The fancy house Richard had insisted on purchasing had electric fireplaces that provided no heat whatsoever and an HVAC system that controlled the entire house instead of sectioning off different areas. So she was forced to keep the house at a lower temperature than she personally preferred and lower than Mikey was supposed to have it long term. She absolutely hated that she couldn’t afford to turn the temperature up any more. Even a couple of degrees could increase her bill exponentially because of the ridiculous square footage of their home.

As soon as he’d started coughing, she’d moved him onto a blanket in the living room, placing cushions and jackets around him. After removing his shirt, she applied the heated cups to his back along with eucalyptus oil to his feet.

Ding! Paige looked down at her phone to see another message come through.

Demo: My balls are starting to shrivel up out here. Mind opening the door?

Not knowing what else to do, Paige stood. She repositioned Nelly Bean in her arms. Her baby was awake but resting after a day of running around with his brother and grandmother. She had a blanket swaddled around his little body. As much as she loved Cindy for her ability to watch her boys, Paige was tempted to take Steel up on his offer if the club opened a daycare center. Cindy wasn’t getting any younger. Ronald was still recovering from his attack over a year ago when a deranged criminal had followed him down from Detroit and assaulted Ronald and Cindy in their home.

Peeking around the curtain, Paige wasn’t sure why she was so surprised to see Demo shivering on the front porch.

Seeing her through the window, he reached into the plastic bag he was carrying around his left wrist and pulled out a carton of Rocky Road ice cream. He had an extremely cocky smile on his face.

Paige’s jaw dropped, but she quickly unlocked her door and opened to allow him entrance. “What are you doing here?”

“You said you wanted ice cream and alcohol,” he answered smoothly. “I came to deliver.” He shuffled inside, kicking the thick wooden door with an intricate design closed using his snow covered boot.

Paige hadn’t realized it had started snowing again. No wonder Mikey had an attack.

“ Brrr …” Demo shuddered. “It’s fricken cold out there!” He started to take his coat off, paused, and then put it back on. “It’s fucking cold in here too!”

“Language,” she hissed, indicating Nelly Bean in her arms. Her reaction was automatic. Richard had openly cursed around the boys and she’d always hated that.

“Oops.” At least Demo had the decency to appear sheepish about his slip-up. “What’s wrong with your heat? Why is it so cold in here?”

Her cheeks flamed as she admitted, “There’s nothing wrong with it. There’s just no reason to keep the house warm. We have sweaters and blankets. It’s more environmentally friendly to preserve resources.”

Demo stared at her for a solid second before he asked her, “Do you smell better when your nose grows longer?”

Her blush deepened.

Demo pushed past her into the foyer. “Where’s your thermostat? There’s absolutely no reason for your house to be this cold, Paige! You’re going to get sick! The temperatures are supposed to drop into the teens tonight!”

She winced. She hadn’t heard that. Then again, she no longer had a television to get the weather on and she rarely checked the app on her phone because she didn’t want to waste her minimal data plan. She needed to save that for posting her foot fetish photos and videos as much as possible. Shame washed through her. She’d been riding high after nearly being booked up all week and having most appointment spots filled for the following week that she had turned down two special requests from the fetish site that day.

Only to do the math of what she’d earned this week versus what she owed this week and finding she would still be coming up short. Stupid, foolish, arrogant … If she had just done the degrading requests maybe she could afford to turn the heat up in her own home.

She heard the heat kick on and flinched.

Nelly Bean must have sensed her embarrassment. He burrowed closer to her and asked, “Mama okay?”

She squeezed him tighter to her chest, needing his contact for support. “Yeah, baby. I’ll be fine.”

She hated lying to her son. Would she ever be fine again? She had less than two months to pay back her stepfamily and she couldn’t even afford to keep the heat on in her own home? She wasn’t fine .

“Hey.” Demo’s voice was soft, soothing. She opened her eyes to see him standing right in front of her. She hadn’t even heard him walk back up. “I’m sorry for snapping. I don’t like the idea of you and the boys suffering needlessly.”

It wasn’t needlessly. She took the edge of the blanket wrapped around her Nelly Bean to wipe at her eyes. “You think I want to keep my house this cold? Look at Mikey,” she snapped. “Keeping the house cold aggravates his lungs! But what else can I do? I have bills to pay and the amount of electricity this house uses is ridiculous! I can’t afford…” Her voice cracked. Her chin wavered. “I can’t afford anything ,” she settled on. “Every time I dig myself out just a little bit, another bill comes out of the woodwork. How can I possibly get ahead of it and keep my babies safe?”

Paige wasn’t sure what sort of reaction she was expecting, but Demo stepping forward to embrace her with Nelly between them wasn’t it. With his cut and jacket still on, Demo brought the two of them against his chest, squeezing his arms against her back. Paige buried her face in his warm chest as tears started to free-fall down her cheeks.

She had warned him how close her dam was to breaking… Well, it had officially broken.

Demo lifted her and Nelly Bean into his arms. Paige wanted to protest with his shoulder, but her fight seemed to have left her entirely. He never uttered a grunt of pain or seemed to struggle. At least, he only walked over to the couch to sit down. He arranged Paige on his lap with Nelly Bean still on hers.

Paige felt him shift under her as if he was stretching for something. Then he asked, “So, um, why does Mikey look like he was attacked by a giant octopus?”

Despite her tears, a laugh escaped her.

Demo was utterly and completely lost. He didn’t know how to help Paige. He’d never been around a crying woman before like this and, frankly, he didn’t like it much. He wasn’t used to feeling so helpless.

Made him really wish Richard was still alive so he could kill him himself. Fucking Scar and his quick knives. At least he’d made the man suffer. Richard had not died a quick death. Scar had taken his cock and balls; Richard had died from blood loss. But seeing how Paige was suffering now? It wasn’t enough.

He wanted Paige laughing and happy. Always. Never wanted to see another tear fall from her eyes unless they were happy ones. He could handle happy tears. Like…her standing at an altar before him…

Fuck, they’d only been dating a few days and he was imagining their wedding ? What the fuck was wrong with him? Had her witchy magic done more than help his shoulder pain? What love spell had she put on him that he was entirely wrapped up in her so effortlessly?

He hadn’t turned the heat up that much, not knowing if she liked her house on the cooler side or sweltering like a sauna. But there was no fucking way he was going to allow her to freeze tonight with the incoming weather. He’d pay for the damn bill himself and damn her pride before he allowed that to happen. Demo had hitched a ride with Pumpkin to the grocery store and then been dropped off here so Pumpkin could use his Bronco. It had better traction in bad weather than Pumpkin’s four-wheel drive Camry. Thankfully, SJ had been asleep and Ranger, who had young nephews so he knew what he was doing, agreed to keep an eye on him. Pumpkin only needed formula, wanting to ensure he had SJ’s brand in case the weather turned worse than predicted.

Demo looked over the back of the couch towards where he’d seen the kitchen entryway on his journey to the thermostat. Did Paige have enough supplies to last them if the storm continued into tomorrow? He’d only brought Rocky Road ice cream and a bottle of gin with him as a joke. Did this monstrosity of a house have a generator? Even if it did, was it gassed up for use?

Mikey eventually got up. He still had the cups on his back. Demo thought Paige was asleep against him until she instructed her son to turn around so she could release the suction cups. A slight whiff of burnt cotton reached Demo’s nose with each pop . Then, to Demo’s surprise, Mikey picked up all of the extra blankets and pillows from the floor and put them on the couch next to Demo. The kid burrowed and crawled his way into them before pressing his little body against Demo’s side.

Demo froze. He had no idea what was going on or why this little boy was curling himself around Demo’s left arm like he was a burrito shell.

Paige’s hand reached over and touched the little boy’s hair that was the same shade as his mother’s but not as curly. “Kids have good instincts,” she murmured softly. Her eyes were droopy, like her lids were too heavy to lift. “He knows you’ll protect us.”

Demo leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Always,” he mouthed against her skin. She had an odd scent clinging to her that was different than her usual mixture of lavender, lemon, and peppermint. Almost like wintergreen or maybe rosemary? It wasn’t a bad smell. In fact, after a couple of whiffs, he rather liked it. Whatever it was, it was earthy and he felt his sinuses open up more.

He didn’t know if she heard him. Paige became dead weight on his lap, which he didn’t mind in the least. Between the heat of the house rising, the body heat this spontaneous puppy pile was creating, and whatever that scent was that was clinging to Paige, Demo felt his eyes start to droop too.

Was this what it felt like to be in a family? To have a wife and kids so trusting of your love and protection that they could fall asleep so soundlessly in your arms? No wonder his club brothers had so easily given up their lives as bachelors. No wonder wars were fought and songs were written about this feeling.

It was new, like a pressure against his soul, but it was also all powerful and consuming. Demo knew he would do anything to ensure that this , right here with Paige and her boys, was his future.

Even if it meant burying the lies of her past so they never resurfaced.

The scent of coffee roused her. She was warm. Sweltering to the point of discomfort. Paige cracked her eyes open to discover she was in her living room. Had she fallen asleep on her couch? Where were her boys?

For a moment, her sleep-filled brain thought the noises from the kitchen were coming from Richard and anger rose up at the idea that she had fallen asleep on the couch waiting up for him again and he hadn’t bothered to wake her.

But then she started to blink away the haze of sleep, and realized it wasn’t Richard in her kitchen but Demo.

Paige’s eyes opened in shock, horror, and embarrassment as the memory of the night before returned. He’d brought her ice cream and alcohol—and she’d ended up ugly crying in his arms. What the hell must he think of her?

The source of the heat on her became obvious as she started to move. Mikey was sound asleep amongst the pile of blankets surrounding her. Where was Nelly Bean? Mouth open with little snores, she doubted even a marching band could wake Mikey. Still, she carefully eased herself out from under him and slid her way onto her knees by the couch. She’d sold most of their furniture, but kept the couch, kitchen table, and bedroom sets.

Gently, Paige rearranged the blankets around her son. She wondered if he was sleeping so soundly because he was warm or because he had gone to sleep reacting to her high emotional state. She didn’t like the idea of the latter.

Closing her eyes, Paige bowed her head with a hand on his tummy. Prayer hadn’t been a big part of her life for a while, but she needed it now. She needed someone to believe that she was a good mother, to acknowledge that she was doing her best and trying .

Paige forced herself to stand up. If she stayed as she was, she could very easily start to break down again. She needed to find Demo and apologize. It was early still, but she also needed to shower and get herself ready for work. If there were any private requests from the foot fetish site, she should probably grab it—regardless of how low the offered money was or what degrading action it asked of her. She needed to be able to pay for the heat being turned up the night before. Demo meant well, and she truly did appreciate the idea of what he’d done, but the reality was that she couldn’t afford the heat to remain on like this. If it was propane-sourced like their old house, maybe. But electric heat was expensive.

God, she hated this fucking house. Maybe she should burn it down for the insurance money. Illegal, yes, but she’d be warm for a good amount of time.

Demo was in the kitchen, leaning over the expensive marble counter. At some point, he’d removed his cut, jacket, and boots. His long legs were encased in dark jeans that rode low on his lean waist. White socks covered his large feet that almost looked too big for his narrower frame. A black long sleeve shirt clung tightly to his toned torso and strong arms.

Richard’s coffee cup advertising some damn country club he’d been so conceited about getting membership to was gripped in Demo’s hand. When he brought the cup up to his mouth for a sip, it caused the hem of his black shirt to ride up to show the faintest hint of skin around his navel.

Asleep against his chest was a swaddled up Nelly Bean. Demo had his left arm under her son’s butt with a blue sippy cup of milk gripped between his thumb and pinky finger of his left hand. Nelly Bean’s little face was smooshed against Demo’s chest like he’d fallen back to sleep mid-sip. His mouth was open and his nose looked uncomfortably molded upwards.

Paige thought her ovaries might explode at the sight. Which was completely ridiculous. She’d seen the man in his underwear during his treatment in her clinic. But there was absolutely nothing sexier than the image of him standing in her kitchen like it was his kitchen with her son asleep against his chest like he was his son. Above all, she should not be admiring his clothed body like he was a present wrapped just for her.

“You want any coffee?” he asked suddenly, making her jump. “Or are you planning on standing there ogling me all morning?” The playful smile he turned on her took out the arrogance of his question.

She was a bit impressed that her cheeks didn’t flush at the suggestiveness in his eyes. She squared her shoulders and walked into the kitchen. “Coffee.”

He immediately put his mug down. One handed, he picked up an empty mug he must have taken out in anticipation of her arrival and poured her coffee for her. “I assume you take it black.” He was keeping his voice low for Nelly Bean’s sake, which made it seem deeper, with more of a rumble. Paige should not feel jealous that her son got to be pressed up against him so while she was only standing next to him. “I couldn’t find any cream or sugar.”

That she did feel her face heat at. Cream and sugar cost money. She didn’t particularly like coffee without them, but she also couldn’t justify the expense of them. Black coffee was just fine. She was growing accustomed to it, in fact. “I take it black,” she said with as straight a face as she could.

Demo’s raised eyebrows when he handed her the mug told her he didn’t believe her, but he thankfully didn’t call her on her lie as he had the night before.

She accepted the cup with a low, “Thank you.”

From the strong smell, she could tell he’d used new grounds. She’d been trying to make the can of coffee last longer by reusing grounds over a couple of mornings. But she couldn’t scold him for not knowing that or for using new grounds. Someone who wasn’t counting every penny and trying to get a dime from a dollar wouldn’t think to do something like that.

She took a sip of coffee. “I can take him.” She gestured to her sleeping son.

Demo shook his head. “I got him. He’s fine.”

“Did he wake up when you did?”

“Actually, I woke up to him trying to get you up,” Demo informed her. There was no accusation in his voice, just factual. “He needed to go to the bathroom and the house was dark.” Paige’s eyes went wide that she hadn’t woken up when her son had needed her. Demo waved off her shock. “I got him up. We went to the bathroom and then came in here to get something to drink. He fell asleep soon after.”

Shame and gratitude warred inside her. “Thank you,” she pressed. “I can’t believe I didn’t wake up. I am so sorry about last night. I don’t know what came over me.”

“We need to talk, Paige.” Demo walked over to the kitchen table and pulled out a chair, indicating for her to sit with the hand that wasn’t holding her son.

The coffee nearly got stuck in her throat as she swallowed. Dread filled her gut. “Is this the part where you break up with me for being too much? I am so sorry I dumped all of…” Her voice trailed off. She hadn’t actually said anything to him last night. She’d just cried on his shoulder while holding her son and then her oldest had joined them on the couch. She wasn’t sure if that made what happened more or less awkward. “I am sorry, Demo.”

Demo indicated to the chair again.

Her shoulders sagged as she walked over and took the offered seat. He sat down catty corner to her.

Demo plucked her mug of coffee out from between her hands, placed it a few inches to her left, and then reached forward to grip her hands in his big one. He moved carefully to not jostle Nelly Bean.

“Paige, please look at me.” She hadn’t realized she’d been laser focused on his hand on hers until he spoke. She lifted her gaze to meet his. “First, good morning. I hope you slept well.”

Better than she had in a very long time. Longer than the two years since her husband had walked out on her. “I did,” she assured him. “Um, and you?”

His smile held a promise, one she wasn’t sure she understood yet. “I slept amazingly well. I can now see the appeal of puppy piles.”

Her cheeks flushed. She opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off.

“ Second ,” he said with a stern gaze, “if you try to apologize again, I will turn you over my knee and spank your ass.”

Heat flooded her…but for an entirely different reason. That statement should not have been appealing . She certainly would not have found it so if it had come from Richard.

A bit of cockiness touched his expression, like he knew the effect his statement had on her. “Another time,” he vowed, dipping his chin down at her slumbering son on his arm. Paige was so taken aback by the offhandedness of his promise that she felt like she had gotten whiplash and had to concentrate to follow along to his next words. “Paige, I know you’re going through a lot right now. It can’t be easy thinking you were going to spend your life, your marriage, with someone and then to have them walk out on you. I can’t imagine how hard that was for you.” He squeezed her hands. “And I can see how much you’re struggling. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Especially when the fault doesn’t fall on you. I want to help you. I need to help you. Feelings for you aside, it’s the right thing to do, but it’s something I have to do because I have feelings for you.”

Her breath hitched. Words got caught in her throat and she was unable to respond. Her pride wanted her to argue with his statement. But the fact that her situation had gotten so desperate that it was affecting Mikey’s health stopped her. A tear escaped her eye, trailing down her cheek.

Demo reached up and brushed it away with his thumb. He cupped her face in his large hand and Paige found herself leaning into his comforting touch. The dam was breaking again.

“I understand that you might not want my help,” he continued softly. “I don’t know how else to say it except that I fucking want you, Paige. I want to be a part of your life. I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know a damn thing about kids.” After a slight pause, he added, “The fact that I just cursed twice is probably evidence enough of that. But I want to learn. I want to get to know your boys. Not as Lucky’s friend but as yours . Friend. Boyfriend.” He leaned over the table and pressed his lips to her fingertips. “Lover.” His voice was low, sultry. “I want more nights curled up on the couch with you and the boys. Mind, in my vision of that, there’s a TV with a kids’ movie playing”—she flushed—“but that just brings me back to my original point.

“If you don’t want to accept my help, then let’s call Harper and Lucky over. You can tell them everything if you’re not comfortable talking to me about it. I wish you would,” he emphasized, “but I can understand if you can’t yet. But please, Paige, talk to someone . When I say I want to help, I’m not just talking about money. I got that message loud and clear.” She met his smile with one of her own. “I’m an accountant. I don’t have to give you money. I can look at what you’re dealing with and see if we can devise a plan to help get you back on your feet.”

Paige bit her lip, but before she could reply to him, his phone rang.

Her eyes landed on the clocks on her microwave and oven. It was around five in the morning. Who was calling him at this hour?

Demo must have thought the same thing, because he frowned and dug his phone out of his front pocket. “Yeah?” Whoever was on the other end of the phone said something short but it was enough to make Demo stand up suddenly. “The fuck?” he demanded. He handed Paige Nelly Bean a little rougher than he probably meant to, given his previous gentleness with her son. Paige quickly stood and took him. “Tell him to hurry the fuck up,” Demo snapped and then ended the call.

He was partway out the kitchen before he paused and turned back towards her. Rushing over, he gave her a very quick but feverish kiss. “I have to go,” he told her. “Stay here and keep the heat on. We’ll finish this conversation when I get back.”

Paige frowned after him. Something was wrong. She didn’t know what or who had been on the phone. Demo looked angry, but also afraid. “Be careful,” she pleaded, knowing he wasn’t going to give her details even if she asked.

“Always,” he promised. After another quick kiss, he ran out the kitchen and towards her front door.

Demo ran out her front door with his boots unlaced and clutching his jacket and cut in his right hand.

Yes, she reaffirmed to herself. Something was very, very wrong.