Rake's Redemption (Wind Dragons MC #4)(31)

After about ten minutes, I turn to him, letting my eyes roam over his handsome profile. I wonder if he likes it when women gently pull on that lip ring with their teeth, or swipe their tongues over it. I wonder just how many women those firm, sensual lips have tasted. I wonder how many he’s given his heart to, and how many have given theirs to his. Even though none of this matters, I can’t help but be curious.

“You going to stare at me the whole ride?” he asks in a husky tone that has me shifting on my seat.

“If I want to,” I reply haughtily.

“I’ll make sure to return the favor when we get inside, then,” he says, sounding amused.

I look back out the window.





Rake


I’m hard.

I’ve been hard ever since she picked up the rope, rope that I’d love to use on her. I’d tie her arms behind her back and f*ck her from behind while pulling her hair. Then I’d tie her arms above her head while I took her slow and deep.

I shift in my seat.

What an inconvenience this woman is turning out to be. It’s like craving something that I know is bad for me, wanting it so f*ckin’ badly but having to consider the consequences of giving in.

The price is too high though; I’d rather keep my sanity, my peace of mind, and my heart intact.

“I like this song,” she murmurs, turning it louder.

“What is it?” I find myself asking. When I’m with her I find myself forgetting what happened between us. I don’t think about anything. I just enjoy her presence. When she first came back into my life, I had to keep reminding myself so I could stay angry and not let my guard down, but now I’ve stopped. There’s no point, and I know I’ve been an * to her, even though she deserved it. I could be the bigger person here and cut the girl a break. At least, I can try. When I don’t think about it, everything is fine. It’s only when the past resurfaces that everything goes to shit.

She fits in here, with the women, and even the men are starting to like her.

The thing is, at the end of the day, she’s still Bailey.

And no matter what she did, she’s wearing me down a little.





THIRTEEN





Bailey


CARA picks up a slice of pizza, not taking her eyes off Rake. “Are you living with us now?”

“Yes,” Rake replies gently, chewing and swallowing his own bite.

“Why?” she asks curiously, not taking her brown eyes off him.

Thinking Rake would want me to answer, I’m about to open my mouth when he cuts me off.

“Because I needed a place to stay, and your mom was kind enough to offer,” he says, flashing me an amused glance.

“My mom is very nice,” Cara says, nodding her head. “I’m happy you’re here, Adam.”

I wait for him to tell her not to call him that, but he doesn’t.

“Thank you, Cara,” he says, eyes softening. “You hang out with that boy a lot, don’t you?”

Cara’s face lights up. “Rhett? Yeah, he’s my best friend.”

Rake nods his head, looking contemplative. What’s going on in that mind of his?

“Can I get you a drink, Adam?” my daughter offers.

Rake turns his head to me then and chuckles. “I’d love that, Cara. Thank you.” Cara gets up and heads into the kitchen.

“Fuckin’ hell, Bailey,” he mutters under his breath.

“What?” I ask, wondering what I’m missing.

He closes the pizza box and turns his body to face me. “In high school. I remember one day we went out for dinner at a diner and these kids were being little shits. You turned to me and said that when you had kids, they were going to be well-mannered and polite, not bratty, spoiled, and ungrateful.”

I remember that day. I’d actually said I was going to make sure that our kids weren’t like that, but things obviously didn’t go according to plan.

“She’s a good kid,” I say. “Best thing to happen to me.”

“She’s amazing,” he says sincerely, watching her pour him some soda in the kitchen. “Reminds me of Clover a little bit, without the attitude. You’re a great mother, Bailey. Then again, I always knew you’d be.”

I try to swallow the sudden lump in my throat. “Th-thanks.”

“You never speak about her father.”

My eyes widen. “There isn’t much to tell. His name is Wade. When I told him I was pregnant, he wanted nothing to do with her. I haven’t seen him since then, nor do I want to, but I think it’s for the best. I wasn’t in a good place then; I was destructive, and the men I chose at the time reflected that.”

His gaze hardens as he mutters, “All you have to do is give me his full name.”

And then what? He’d hurt him? I’m about to ask what exactly he’d do to him when Cara comes back to the table with two cups. She hands the first to me and the second to Rake.

“Thank you,” he tells her, taking a sip.

“You’re welcome,” she says, grinning. “I’ll go and pour mine now.”

She leaves us again and Rake and I share a look.

“You handled everything well today,” he murmurs, playing with his lip ring with his teeth.