MY PROTECTOR: The Valves MC

by Kathryn Thomas

  “What are you so nervous about? They’re going to love you.” Grayson is lying in bed watching her as she flits about the room, trying and failing miserably to keep her cool.

  “How do you know that? You can’t know that!” Adriana knows that her voice is verging on hysterical. However, knowing that Grayson’s mom and sister are on their way from the airport is bringing out that side of her.

  Grayson smiles ruefully and opens his arms to Adriana. She goes to him automatically, as if her body is no long under her control. She sits on the bed, and he envelops her in his embrace. With that, it feels like all the tension is seeping out of her.

  He whispers in her ear. “They’re going to love you because I love you.” He lifts her face up towards him and kisses her deeply, his tongue exploring her mouth so deliciously she feels her knees begin to wobble.

  Absently, she wonders if she’ll ever get used to the effect that he has on her. She wonders if she ever wants to. “It’s just…it’s the first time I’ve ever done the meet the parent thing. I don’t have much practice.” She shrugs her shoulders, wishing that she didn’t sound quite so small.

  “I’m glad that this is important to you.” Grayson rests his forehead against hers. “It is for me, too.” He kisses her again, deeper this time. His hand starts to draw ever decreasing circles on the smooth skin of her back.

  She feels her body responding to him and the tingling start between her thighs, as he touches her. She knows that now isn’t the time to let herself go, not when his family is about to arrive. “Grayson, you don’t play fair!” She wriggles out of his reach, laughing. “I’m not going to meet your mom for the first time from your bed.”

  “But you’re so beautiful when you’re lying in my bed.” Grayson throws her one of his deadly winks and ducks as the cushion she’s just thrown at him goes sailing over his head.

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  GRAYSON

  Operation: Meet the Family couldn’t be going any better. He watches as Adriana and Kay sit together by the pool, talking and laughing, thick as thieves. Adriana looks up, sensing his eyes on her, and she smiles at him. It’s one of those smiles that makes him feel like his heart has just skipped a beat, and he grins like a fool.

  Willow and Tommy are busy by the outdoor bar, trying to pretend that they’re not flirting with each other. Grayson wonders how long it’s going to take for them to figure out what he and Adriana already know.

  West is fixing Grayson’s mother another drink and telling her some story that makes her throw back her head and laugh. He doesn’t think he’ll ever get tired of seeing his mom happy, not after he spent years seeing her do little else apart from cry and cower in the corner.

  This is his family. All the people whom he loves are in one place, and it’s the best feeling in the world. He takes a swig of his beer, his eyes return to Adriana and the lines of her face and body that he knows so well. God dammit, she’s beautiful. He shakes his head like he can’t quite believe his luck.

  “I’m so proud of you, Grayson.” His mom has snuck up beside him, and she clinks her fresh glass against his bottle. “The national championships…it’s amazing.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Grayson throws an arm around her shoulder, barely able to believe it himself. This is what he’d been working towards and what he’d wanted for as long as he could remember, but it all paled in comparison next to what he could have lost.

  “West was telling me that it’s a lot of traveling, fighting the champions of different states, a lot of days on the road.” She’s clearly going somewhere with this, and Grayson looks at her, waiting for her to ask the question that she’s circling around. “How does Adriana feel about it?”

  “She understands. We’re talking about her taking an extended holiday from the hospital so she can come on the road with us. We’ll make it work.” Grayson shrugs, not because he doesn’t care, but because he’s completely certain that there’s no reason to worry. He and Adriana can get through whatever life throws at them; they’ve proven that already.

  “She’s lovely, Grayson.” His mother’s voice brings him out of his thoughts.

  He smiles at her. “She is. She’s everything I want. She’s my soulmate.” It sounds so simple, but there’s a world in that one phrase.

  The night that he’d gotten Adriana back, they’d talked about his past and his history with Morrison. He’d told her everything from beginning to end, not leaving anything out, not wanting there to be any more secrets between them. He’d seen where secrets had gotten them.

  She’d been silent throughout his whole story until he reached the end, soaking in everything he was telling her. When everything had been said, she hadn’t raged at him for waiting all this time to tell her. She didn’t call him a monster or a murderer or any of the things that he had been afraid she would call him. She didn’t tell him that she needed time or space to think about it. All she did was look straight into his eyes and plant a kiss on his lips that was so soft and so full of feeling that he felt like his heart would explode with love for her. He’d held her so tight that night, barely sleeping. It was as if he was afraid that she’d be gone again in the morning. But she wasn’t. She was right there by his side, as she had been every day since.

  “So what are you going to do about it?” His mom raises an eyebrow at him in an expression that he recognizes as one he’s inherited from her.

  “How did you know?” He can’t believe that in the short time she’s been here that she’s managed to figure things out so completely.

  “Mothers know these things.” She reaches over and takes the beer bottle out of his hand. “The sun is about to set. This would be a good time.” She nudges him slightly, encouraging him with a smile.

  He takes a deep breath, preparing himself for what he’s about to do, not because he’s unsure, but because he feels like all his future happiness hangs in the balance of a one word answer. He feels in the pocket of his board-shorts, checking for the umpteenth time that the square box is still there. He’d been carrying it around, waiting for the perfect moment and life, as it does, had gotten in the way. Now, there are no more excuses. Now is the time.

  He stops in front of Adriana and Kay who look up at him curiously. “What’s up, Gayson?” His sister laughs at the expression on his face. “You look like you’re having a moment.”

  Adriana tilts her head as she looks at him and he sees concern cloud over her beautiful face. “Gray, is everything alright?” She gets to her feet, looking around as if there were some danger threatening them yet again. He wonders how long it will be for her to let go of that fear that’s followed her around since Morrison took her. She still doesn’t sleep through the night. When she wakes from one of her nightmares, he holds her, his heart breaking. The bruises and scratches on her body have faded, but the emotional wounds ran deeper and would take much longer to heal. But they would get through it; together they would find a way through.

  “Nothing bad. At least I hope not.” Grayson reaches out and strokes her soft cheek, unable to be close to her without there being some contact between them.

  She looks at him questioningly, her green eyes curious, unsure of what’s coming next. Here we go, he thinks, as he gets down on one knee.

  “Grayson.” She breathes his name as she watches him, her eyes widening.

  “Holy shit!” Kay’s whispered exclamation breaks the tension a little.

  “Adriana, I love you more than I thought I could love anything or anyone. I can’t imagine my life without you. I found you ten years ago, and I messed it all up. Then, I was lucky enough to find you again. I’m not going to let you go this time. I know now that I can’t be without you, that being without you isn’t anything close to what living should feel like.” Grayson pulls the box out of his pocket and his hands shake a little as he opens it, showing her the ring set with diamonds and emeralds that match her sparkling green eyes, eyes that now look like they’re filling with tears. “Adriana, will you make me the hap
piest man alive? Will you be my wife?”

  The silence is deafening and for what feels like the longest seconds of his life, he starts to wonder if he had scared her, if she thought they were moving too fast. But when he looks up into her eyes, he can see that there are no questions in them, only answers.

  She kneels down in front of him, taking his head between her hands and resting her forehead against his. “Yes, Grayson. How could my answer be anything but yes?” She laughs and a single tear tracks down her cheek. He wipes it away, like he will all the tears that come after them—for the rest of their lives.

  THE END

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  OTHER BOOKS BY KATHRYN THOMAS

  By the time I’m done, everybody will know she belongs to me

  Ten years ago, I broke her heart.

  I thought I’d never see her again.

  Never thought I’d hear her soft moans or feel her body trembling against mine.

  Until now.

  And this time, I won’t ever let her go.

  I’ve spent my entire life breaking things.

  Bones, hearts, and my opponents.

  She was the only thing I regretted breaking.

  I thought I’d lost her for good.

  I thought I’d never see her again.

  Until I saw her again.

  Saw those same innocent eyes.

  Saw those same irresistible curves.

  She says she wants nothing to do with me.

  She says she can’t re-open the wounds of the past.

  She’s wrong.

  She’s been mine—she’s always been mine.

  And by the time I’m done with her, everybody will knows she belongs to me.

  Forever.

  ***

  SHE TRIED TO RUIN MY CAREER. NOW, I’LL RUIN HER.

  I’m this league’s worst nightmare.

  Good looks, hard body, and a scandal sheet a mile long.

  She was here for her next big story.

  I’ve got something else big for her to get her hands on.

  The media says I’m everything wrong with professional basketball.

  Pure talent and athleticism can’t bury the scandals and ghosts from my past.

  The last thing I needed was another reporter looking for their next big story.

  But that was before I saw who they sent.

  She’s here to uncover my latest scandal.

  But one look and I know she’s going to be that scandal.

  She wants to use me for her next big story?

  I’ve got something else big I want her hands on.

  I’m going to show her just how bad I can be.

  Just how far I can push her.

  Use her.

  Until she can’t decide if she wants to beg me to stop.

  Or beg me for more.

  Until she’s begging me to stop.

  ***

  I STOLE HER, RUINED HER, AND FORGOT HER. BUT THAT WAS BEFORE I FOUND OUT ABOUT OUR BABY.

  I wrecked her, used her, and ruined her for other men.

  I thought that was the last time I’d see her.

  Until I heard the rumors that she’s pregnant…

  And that the child is mine.

  She was a small innocent thing who should’ve never been around a bunch of animals like us.

  I made her my trophy.

  I paraded her around for everyone to see and then I took everything I wanted from her.

  I wrecked her, used her, and ruined her for other men.

  I thought that was the last time I’d see her.

  That was before I heard the rumors:

  She’s pregnant, and everything screams that the baby is mine.

  The only problem is, she’s now the property of someone else.

  A real filthy bastard who lives up to his club’s name.

  He thinks that she belongs to him.

  He couldn’t be more wrong.

  Nobody takes my woman and child from me.

  I’ll kill every person who dares to get in my way.

  And I won’t stop until she’s mine.

  Forever.

  ***

  I’LL RIP HER CLOTHES OFF AND F*CK HER UNTIL SHE SCREAMS.

  Her friends warned that I’m the last person you want to f*ck with, and she stole my bike on a dare.

  I don’t play nice, I don’t obey the rules.

  She thinks she’s in for a night of thrills.

  I’ll teach her a lesson she’ll never forget.

  I was in town to do one of the most important deals for my club—the Diamondbacks MC.

  She was looking for a night of thrills.

  Her friends warned her about me, but that didn’t stop her from taking my bike.

  Nobody lays a finger on my property and gets away with it.

  And Eve Robinson sure as hell isn’t going to be the first one.

  When I got my hands on her, I decided to punish her another way.

  I ripped her clothes off and pinned her to my bed.

  Taught her a lesson that she’ll never forget.

  But now some bastard thinks Eve belongs to him.

  He has no idea what I’m capable of.

  No idea what I’ll do to keep what’s mine.

  SHE’S MINE, NO MATTER WHAT.

  I broke her heart to save her.

  She swore she’d forget me.

  She swore that she’d never see me again.

  But that was before the old demons in our life tried to take her away.

  Before I became the only one who could save her.

  I broke her heart all those years ago when I walked away to keep her safe from the monsters in my life.

  I didn’t ask for forgiveness.

  I didn’t ask for a second chance.

  But somehow the two of us found our way back to each other. Back to where it all started.

  When I saw her again, I couldn’t hold myself back.

  I had to have her.

  Own her. Possess her—body and soul.

  Make her know who she really belonged to—even if she doesn’t know it yet.

  But that was before my enemies put a target on her back.

  Before I became the only one who can save her.

  But this time I won’t walk away.

  This time, I’m keeping what’s mine.

  No matter who or what tries to take her from me.

  SHE SHOULD’VE TURNED ME AWAY.

  I’m an animal who’ll break your heart.

  She’s a good girl who took over her late mother’s boarding house.

  She needed the money and I needed a place to stay.

  But I’m the last person she should’ve let into her home.

  Good girls like Isabel Bishop aren’t supposed to fall for animals like me.

  She didn’t realize how hard things could get when she took over her late mother’s boarding house.

  Tenants were few and far in between, and she was desperate for cash.

  I was looking for a place to stay—somewhere to keep low and out of sight.

  At first it was simple necessity.

  But that was before I saw her delicious curves.

  Before I tasted her sweet lips.

  Before I felt her quivering underneath me.

  She thought things were hard before?

  I’m about to show her just how hard things can get.

  Show her just how badly I will corrupt her.

  How badly I will ruin her.

  How badly I will devour her.

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