Once she was off, I took her hand again, this time, lacing my fingers through hers as I got off my bike.She looked up at me, meeting my gaze.I could see her nervousness.And Goddamn if she didn’t stick the tip of her tongue out to moisten her lower lip.
I groaned, leaning in to capture her mouth with mine because I absolutely had to taste that intriguing lower lip myself.“You’re killin’ me, woman.”
Her eyes were now glazed, half lidded as she lost herself in my kiss.Which, I wasn’t too proud to admit, made me want to puff out my chest, give my brothers a big thumbs up, and shout, “I’ve still got it!”at the top of my lungs.
When she finally let herself drift out of the moment and back to reality, she frowned at me, narrowing her eyes.“Are you managing me?”
I almost barked out a laugh.“No.But if kissing you is the way to get your attention, I’ll gladly do it all the damn time.”
Her gaze softened and she reached up to stroke my beard with her hand.“I should be careful around you.You’ll take me over if I let you.”
“No.I don’t want to control you or anything, Nadine.I want you happy.Right now, you’re nervous.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” she muttered.
“You’d be crazy not to be.I trust these men with my life, but you barely know me, let alone them.”
“I know you.”Her smile was soft and almost reverent.“You’d never put me in danger intentionally.”
“I’m not the same person I was before prison, Nadine.You realize that, right?”
“Yes.But you’re still protective.Not just of your family and friends.Everyone around you.”
“I think you’re seeing more than is really there, honey.I’m an asshole on the best of days.Especially when men get hurt doing something stupid.”
“Oh, yes.I know.But pointing out someone’s stupidity doesn’t mean you still don’t try to take care of them.”
I started to refute what she said, but I stopped and really reflected on her words.Was she right?I mean, she was definitely right about me pointing out people’s stupidity.I’d had enough of holding back my opinions working at the hospital.Instead of arguing, I turned it back to her.“What makes you say that?”
“Chuck and Jermaine.”
I blinked at her.“What do you mean?”
“I have no doubt you have men inside the prison.It was hinted at, and I overheard things some of the guards said.I also know that you’re not operating a prison babysitting service.Assuming you told me the truth and you had someone keeping an eye on them, you’ve taken that person from a task they would normally be doing.Because, while multitasking is a thing, I imagine it’s much, much harder to do that kind of multitasking while in prison.Guard or prisoner.”When I gave her what must have been a blank look, she lifted her chin.“Tell me I’m wrong.”
I shook my head slightly, then stopped.Was she right?“I mean, you saw their files.They didn’t need to be there.The system failed them both.”
“So you made it your responsibility to protect them?”
“Not in so many words, no.I just felt sorry for them.”
“Uh-huh.”
I frowned at her, taking a step back, but retaining hold on her hand.I pointed at her.“You’re trouble.”
“Remember that when you try to manage me again.”Nadine took a breath and looked around her, taking in everything in the immediate area.“Looks like something out ofMad Max,” she muttered under her breath.
I chuckled.“Come on.”I tugged her after me.“Let’s get inside.You can shower or take a soak in the bath if you want.It wasn’t a long ride, but if you’re not used to it, you can be a bit sore.”
“You call two and a half hours not a long ride?”I just grinned at her.Which made her scowl at me.“Fine.But please, let me work my way up to rides that long next time, huh?”
I leaned in and kissed her cheek.“I’ll look forward to it.”
“I’m hearing a double entendre there.”
“Not denying it.”
I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face as I led her through the compound and toward the inner warehouse that housed most of the living quarters.Venus and Piston had said their goodbyes outside the gate while Mama and Pops had stayed to see Gunnar for a while, which left us alone when we reached the apartment Knuckles’ wife, Hannah, assigned us.
