10. Thea

If someone had told me I'd be dating a biker in my father and brother's club, I would have told them they should stop snorting dime store shit. Yet, as I leave Raze in my bed, talking on the phone, laughing is exactly what I do. We've been officially dating for a month, and the last two weeks he has been in my bed every night. I'm not sure what that says about me, but I don't really give a damn, either. We haven't done anything other than kissing, a little hugging, and sleeping. It's something I didn't think a badass biker—like the one I've apparently gotten ahold of—could manage.

After the mess with Deke, I didn't think I'd be ready to open myself up to another person. I'm not really, but that isn't what Raze and I are. He likes me and I like him. We're not thinking beyond each day, and I love that. It has helped that Mattie backed off and seems to accept our relationship. Of course, I'm pretty sure he knows we aren't having sex, and that's helped. I've been at the club with him, and Dad and Raze had a talk. I'm not sure what was said, but even Dad seems okay with the two of us seeing one another. The only thing I'm really nervous about is that Dom doesn't know yet. It's not as if I'm purposely trying to keep him from finding out. I'm really not. It's just, he hasn't been around the club when I'm there, and I have no reason to reach out and tell him. I asked Raze once if he had told Dom about us. He said because of my history with Gabby and Dom, he, himself, hadn't reached out to Dom to tell him who he was seeing. Not that he was keeping me a secret, it's just he didn't see a reason to talk with Dom about it.

After that conversation, I felt kind of silly. Clearly, I was overreacting and there was nothing to address with Dom. That made sense. I mean, we never had a relationship. We're not even close. I'm acting insane. It's time to start living my life, and apparently, that will include dating Raze. The thought makes me smile. I like him. It also helps that I messaged Deke on Facebook Messenger and told him to stop trying to get in touch with me. I couldn't forgive him, and I didn't want him in my life anymore. He messaged me back, telling me he definitely made a mistake, but he wasn't giving me up. I responded by telling him he didn't have a choice. Then, I proceeded to block him from my account. I did all of this while Raze held me and gave me courage. I then relived my relationship with Deke by telling Raze all of the garbage I put up with, all the pain and what happened the moment it turned physical. Raze held me and let me talk. I know hearing it upset him. I could feel the muscles in his body grow taut as he listened to me talk. To his credit, he never said a word. He just held me.

"Are you sure you wouldn't like me to help you shower? I am a master with soap."

I giggle—something I never did a lot of until recently. "I never met a soap master before."

He comes to me, wrapping his arms around me, picking me up as if I'm light as a feather. He carefully backs me up against the bathroom wall. I wrap one leg around him, and he puts a hand under my bad leg, bringing it up and supporting it as it rests on his hip. That's another thing about Raze, he always takes care of me without drawing attention to problems—like my bad leg after a night of it hurting because of the tendons and muscles drawing.

"Oh, Flame, wait until you see what I can do. I'm going to rock your world."

"That sounds like a promise," I murmur, and yep, this is me… flirting.

"It is darlin'. I could start tonight."

"I promised Mom and Dad I'd come home and stay tonight for dinner because Skylar is coming in."

"You could cancel…"

I sigh. "If only you knew how much I wish I could. My kid sister and I aren't exactly close."

"You two don't get along?"

"We're like oil and water."

"You being the oil," he hums, confusing me and making me laugh all at once.

"Why am I the oil?"

"You slide over my body, nice and slick, holding in heat, and making my engine purr."

"Oh God, that was so lame."

"It's still true."

"I'm going to miss you tonight, you freak."

"Your little pet names for me are just so sweet, Flame."

I roll my eyes. "You're supposed to say you'll miss me, too," I instruct.

"I definitely will."

"Is it me you'll miss, or my food for poker night tomorrow?"

"Baby, your spinach dip is the shit," he replies with a smirk.

"I think I hate you now," I mutter.

"No, you don't. Now, give me those magic lips of yours so you can get ready for your first day of college."

"It's a good thing you're a great kisser, Raze, because your seduction game is shit," I complain.

"I'll work on that," he promises as I lean down and he kisses me, starting my day off in the best way possible.