Dauntless (Sons of Templar MC #5)(59)

“The hard, babe, it’s for the world out there. A world that was hell-bent on destroying you. I get that. In fact, I stand here utterly f*cking shocked that I’m not holding the broken pieces of that beautiful woman I’ve been dreaming of since I laid my eyes on your sweet ass.” His eyes twinkled. “Somehow, by some miracle, you’re not broken. You’re whole. Beautiful. And soft. Most beautiful kind of soft ’cause the rest of the world gets hard. I get this.” He circled the area above my heart, sending a wave of heat to my toes. To the place I thought would be icy cold forever.

“I may hate that you’ve had to build that shield, babe, that life has made it necessary. Another part of me is glad as f*ck it’s there ’cause without it I wouldn’t be holding you in my arms, wouldn’t be able to taste how sweet it is beneath that.” He paused his monologue to press a chaste kiss on my mouth. I yearned for more, for it to deepen, the fire in my belly burning brighter than ever.

He pulled back slightly, his nose still brushing mine, and I watched him as if his impossible words had hypnotized me. “Don’t worry, firefly. I’ll keep your secret. I just want you to know that you don’t need all that hard. To use up all that energy trying to shut out the world. That’s my job now. To protect that soft, all the while making sure no one knows about it ’cause then I won’t be able to do a damn thing all day but knock motherf*ckers out who try and get my girl.” He gave me a look. “No motherf*cker’s gonna get my girl. Therefore, I need to hide the evidence that, in addition to being a f*ckin’ knockout with tits, ass, and legs, and a beautiful vocab to boot, you’re also soft and beautiful on the inside. That’s for me. Only me.” His hand moved to my neck to grip it firmly. “Also, I have other things I want to do with my days apart from knocking motherf*ckers out. Though, it is good for the soul to punch a douche every now and again.” He jutted his chin up in false thought. “I can think of one thing I’d much rather spend my days doing. Making love to my girl.”

I was about to open my mouth and ruin that beautiful moment by declaring I was most certainly not his girl.

My words were swallowed in a kiss.

As was my protest.

Because the way he f*cked me all night long had me believing I might just be his girl.

Until I woke up, at least. And the grim light of day exposed his beauty… and my reality. So I snuck out before I was tempted to say ‘f*ck reality’ and lose myself in that beauty.

If I had the luxury of seeing the future I wouldn’t have snuck out. Wouldn’t have left that beauty. I would’ve clutched it in a death grip if I’d known it was the last slice I’d ever get. Before ugliness swallowed me whole.



I closed the trunk of my car and tilted my head towards the sky, smiling. Yes, smiling. And doing something as simple as appreciating the warmth of the sun.

Of course, such a gesture would most likely singe my pale skin and open me up to potential melanoma, but for once I was seeing the silver lining.

I was basking in the light.

I was doing well.

One could almost cautiously say I was doing great.

I still craved it. Every single day. But I was learning how to handle it. Learning how to fill my life up with other things. Healthy things. No, I wasn’t drinking green juices or foregoing Pop-Tarts—that would never happen—but I was being more outgoing. Hanging with Rosie, and with Lily when she wasn’t studying or wrapped up in her husband. I was making friends with some of the girls at the club, despite the fact they’d f*cked the guy I couldn’t admit was a huge factor in how well my life was going.

Of course, since it was going well, when the sun was beginning to rise, that’s exactly when the eclipse hit.

No, that’s when the whole entire sun exploded in spectacular, painful disaster and I was wrenched into permanent darkness.

I’d just finished a grocery shop. One I could actually pay for and have some left over. I was toying with the idea of treating myself to some new boots when a figure blocked out the sun in front of me.

When I saw who it was, my good mood dissipated. “No. Not happening,” I said, trying to skirt around Dylan’s steroid-abused body.

A hand at my arm stopped me. Pain erupted from the tightness of his grip.

“Let me go,” I hissed. My eyes darted around the empty parking lot.

Just my f*cking luck. Right when I might welcome a hero, there were none to be seen.

“Not so fast, bitch. Carlos would like a conversation,” Dylan growled, yanking me into his face.

“Well, considering I’m no longer employed by that dickweed, I don’t have to come running when he calls. And because I’m no longer too high to care about things like self-respect, I’m not screwing you anymore. So let me go,” I commanded.

His eyes turned to slits. “It wasn’t a f*cking request.”

Then there was nothing. The sunshine seeped away.

I’d never feel its warm glow again.





Chapter Fourteen





“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”

-Shakespeare





Lucky


He woke up without even realizing he’d been asleep. It was a strange feeling. Like surging up from underwater and still having liquid seeping into your lungs. He thought it was from some bender he’d been on, a particularly bad hangover. He reached for her.