Uncontrollable Temptations (Tempted #3)(47)

So peaceful.

So beautiful.

Mine.

My fingertips traveled down the length of her over my leather vest she still wore. I was losing what was left of my mind. That was the only logical explanation for why I made her wear it, why I never wanted her to take the fucking thing off. My hands traveled down to her hip where fire tortured her skin. I recalled the apprehension in her eyes as I kissed her there, my fingers working the scars, trying to erase them from her memory.

They were horrific, tragic, but it was no lie when I said they were beautiful. How could something that told the story of how this woman became mine not be beautiful? I don’t know what it was about her, but there was no controlling the need burning deep inside. The need to be her man, the person she turns to, the one she chooses for herself.

I have no business wanting those things from her. None at all. I’m going to lose her. I’m sure of it. Blackie is right—Reina is deep under my skin. I knew she’d wreck me, that she’d ruin me. A man like me can’t have sunshine—not when he’s destined to wander in the darkness until the devil calls him home. But there was no turning back now.

I leaned over her and pressed my lips to the top of her head.

“You…” I whispered into her hair, leaving the rest of the sentence where it belonged. In my head. In my heart.

I pulled the covers over her body and quietly climbed out of bed, bending down to pick up my clothes. I peeked through the slotted blinds and was greeted by the dawn of a new day.

The day that tortured my soul, year after year.

Fifteen years ago my life changed on this day.

Fifteen years ago my heart became complete.

And for the last thirteen years, this day, is the day I dread.

I moved away from the window and walked into the bathroom to wash up. I emerged from the bathroom, changing my t-shirt and sat on the chair in the corner of my room, pulling on my boots when I heard a light knock on the door. I lifted my eyes to the door, then back to Reina. I stood, walked over to the bed and bent down for a kiss, careful not to wake her. My gaze lingered on her as something unfamiliar erupted inside my chest. I chalked it up to having her in my bed, wearing my cut, a mix of the two screwing with my emotions. I liked what I saw. I liked having her in my bed, pretending I was hers.

I was a twisted son of a bitch.

I walked around the bed to my nightstand and opened the drawer, lifted my gun and stared at it like it was a foreign object. I made sure it was loaded before tucking it into the back of my jeans. I moved to close the drawer and my eyes zeroed in on the orange prescription bottle.

Not today.

I slammed the draw shut as another knock sounded on the door. I moved quickly so whoever was on the other end wouldn’t wake Reina. Pulling open the door I came face to face with Blackie

“We need to talk,” he announced.

I brought my finger to my lips, silencing him as I glanced over my shoulder, looking at the woman in my bed one last time, fighting the urge to wake her and lose myself in her again. I stepped outside the bedroom and closed the door behind me.

Blackie’s eyes narrowed as they traveled the length of me.

“Not going to do this with you, Blackie. I suggest you quit while you’re ahead,” I threatened.

He held his hands up in mock defeat, his bloodshot eyes dull as they glared into mine.

“Got bigger fish than that,” he said, tipping his chin toward the door. “Jimmy called,” he sneered. “It’s show time motherfucker. Get your saddle ready.”

I grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him away from the hallway, not wanting to risk Reina waking and overhearing anything.

“Downstairs,” I growled.

He mumbled something inaudible but did as he was told and I followed him down the stairs into the common room.

“He called you?” I questioned.

“Tried calling you but your phone was off,” he accused, pausing for a beat as I poured myself a cup of coffee. “He wants to meet today,” he added.

I took a sip of my coffee, placed the cup down on the bar and pierced him with a look.

“Not today,” I said, leaving no room for argument.

He took a seat at the bar, leaning back against the stool as he crossed his arms against his chest.

“That’s not an option and you know that. He’s on the heels of his visit with Vic. We reschedule now and that’s giving him a chance to think. You don’t want him thinking, you don’t want him guessing or questioning why we’re suddenly in the drug business. If this shit is going to work, we need to move when we’re told to move and he’s pushing. You heard Vic with your own ears, he told Jimmy we’ve always been trying to move shit but Vic’s been a road block. Now that he’s playing the desperation card and crying poverty, it’s okay for us to supply their organization with the drugs, just as long as Grace keeps her house,” he stated, shaking his head. “He wants the meeting today; we need to oblige. So do you man, you take today because you need to and I’ll set the meet with Jimmy.”

Blackie knew the significance of today, been with me long enough to know this day was mine, the only day I’m not president of the Satan’s Knights. It’s a day when the rest of the world fades away and all that is left is my son.

I didn’t like him going into this shit with Jimmy without me. It was my duty to bring this bastard to his knees. And here Blackie was, sweeping in and cleaning up after me as he always did. But he was right, it was unethical to keep Jimmy waiting and a major mistake giving him an opportunity to second guess forming an alliance with us.