“Rook, is it okay to come in?” Jana’s soft voice pierced through his thoughts, and he opened his eyes and blinked a few times. He kept his focus on Bobbie’s sleeping face.
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat, his voice thick with his turbulent emotions. He heard her come further into the room, and then there was the sound of heavy boots hitting the floor as well.
Looking over his shoulder he saw Tuck standing right in the doorway. He looked at Jana, her eyes red-rimmed from clearly crying, her body curled into itself as she had her arms wrapped around her waist. Tuck looked like he’d been hit in the gut. This had hit everyone really damn hard.
Rook gave one more kiss to Bobbie’s hand, and then stood. “I’ll give you some time with her.” He didn’t want to leave Bobbie, but he also knew Jana needed some time with her.
Rook gave Jana a hug on his way out, the woman starting to cry. He hated this. “She’ll wake up, and show us all how stubborn and strong she is.”
Jana chuckled, but it was sad, watery from her tears. “She is stubborn and strong.”
Yeah, she is.
That was what he loved so much about Bobbie.
He pulled away from Jana and left, shutting the door behind him so Jana could have some time to herself with Bobbie. He leaned against the wall across from the door, and stared at the smooth wood.
“You doing okay?” Tuck asked.
“Not in any sense of the fucking word.” Rook exhaled and rubbed his eyes. “I’m tired, but can’t sleep. I don’t want to be gone when she wakes up.”
Tuck stayed silent.
The seconds seemed to pass so damn slowly, and all he could do was stare at that door, wanting to go back inside.
“She’ll pull through.”
Rook nodded, but didn’t respond to what Tuck said.
They’d cleaned up Jimmy’s body, buried him in a deep grave in the woods where no one would find him, but that fucker should have been burned for what he did to Bobbie.
“Liam doing okay?” Rook asked, pushing away the thoughts of Jimmy. Liam, the prospect, had been badly injured by Jimmy when Liam had been waiting to follow Bobbie back to the club.
“He’s awake and eating on his own.”
Rook nodded. “I’m glad he’s doing better.”
Jimmy had stabbed Liam, but the lucky bastard had pulled through. Rook was glad his life hadn’t been lost.
“Just keep those positive thoughts, man. You knew the club loves Bobbie, and we’re all thinking about her and making sure she pulls through.”
Rook nodded, his throat too tight to make out any words. God, he hoped like hell she pulled through, because if she didn’t make it he didn’t know what he’d do.
Chapter Eighteen
The darkness lifted away, and Bobbie felt her head become clearer, felt her mind become aware. But with that awareness came the blistering, staggering pain. She hurt all over, all the way from the roots of her hair down to the nails on her toes. Her mouth was so dry, her lips burning from the need to get moisture on them.
Using all the strength she had, Bobbie slowly opened her eyes. The light was so blinding it caused a flash of agony to take root in her brain, right behind her eyes. Hissing out, she closed her eyes again and worked through the discomfort. When she opened them again her vision was better, and she adjusted to the light. She looked around the room, knowing instantly she was at the clubhouse in the med room. The sound of beeping beside her had Bobbie turning her head and staring at the IV pole. She looked at the tube running down from it, and saw it was connected right into the crook of her arm.
She shifted slightly on the bed, but stopped right away, as the pain was just too much. Feeling a heavy weight on her hand, she lowered her gaze to the opposite side of where the IV pole was and saw Rook’s big body draped slightly over the bed. He had his head on the mattress. His eyes were closed, and his arms were bent at the elbows and resting right beside her. One of his hands was on hers, his strong, long fingers curled around hers.
“Rook.” She tried to say his name. At least she thought she did. Licking her lips, she swallowed past the tightness, dryness of her throat. “Rook.” Bobbie’s voice was strained, low, and very coarse.
But Rook was out cold. She stared at the ceiling, trying to remember what had happened. It was like trying to remember a dream. Bobbie knew what had happened, felt the truth of it, but she couldn’t bring up the details. It didn’t make sense, as if she were trying to recall something that was distant.
The shuffling of Rook’s clothing had her opened her eyes and looking at him. He cleared his throat and lifted his head, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity they looked into each other’s eyes. She smiled, or tried to, but even that hurt.
“Hey,” she said softly.
His face was a mask of all these different emotions, and she couldn’t help the tears that instantly assaulted her.
“Bobbie,” he said in a deep, hoarse voice. “Baby.” He moved closer to her, smoothed his hand over the side of her head, but he barely applied pressure.
“How long have I been out?”
She saw Rook’s throat work as he swallowed.
“Five days.”
God, five whole days.
“If you’re in too much pain I’ll have the doc come in and give you some pain meds.”
She nodded, but when he went to leave her she reached out and grabbed his hand. He stopped and looked down at where they touched.
“You have no idea how good it feels to have you here, being able to touch you, Bobbie.” He cupped their combined hands with his other one, and bent down to kiss her knuckles.
“The pain meds can wait. I just want you to stay next to me for a little bit.” Everything that had happened came rushing back, and she felt her tears come harder, faster. Rook brushed them away. He sat back down, moved closer to her, and smoothed his hand over her head again.
“It’ll be okay, baby. I’m not going anywhere. I‘ll never leave you. I knew you were strong enough to pull through.”
She closed her eyes and breathed out slowly. The memories were like an assault to her, and she couldn’t help the sob that came from her. Rook rose up and wrapped his arms around her, but he was gentle, easy, and she knew he was being mindful of her wounds.
“I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.” He kissed the shell of her ear. “You’re mine, forever, Bobbie.”
She lifted her arms and hugged him, trying to bring him as close as she could without causing too much pain. “He’s dead?” She tried to say the words clearly, but they were gutted, broken up. She felt him nod.
“He’s gone, baby. He won’t be hurting you ever again.”
She breathed out slowly.
“I love you so much, Bobbie, and the thought of losing you was too much to bear.” He pulled back, and she saw, for the first time since she’d known Rook, the tears in his eyes. They didn’t fall, and it might just be a watering in the corner, but they were tears nonetheless, and they were because he loved her so much.
“I love you, too.”
He looked down at her mouth. “I want to kiss you, baby, but I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You’ll only hurt me more if you don’t kiss me, Rook. I desperately need that contact from you.”
He leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers, but it was soft, hesitant almost.
“We’re in this together,” he said against her mouth. “Forever.”
Chapter Nineteen
One month later
Rook helped Bobbie out of the truck, mindful that even a month later she was still sore and healing. After she’d woken up the doc had been called. He’d done another once over of her, given her more meds, and told her it looked like she’d be okay, that she’d make a full recovery with time. That was all Rook needed to hear to feel that dread he’d had inside of him leave.
“Are you sure you want to be here?” Rook asked, holding onto her waist, even though she could stand just fine. The truth w
as he didn’t want to let go of her. He wanted her close, hell, attached to his hip. After her getting hurt he’d vowed never to let her stray too far. Call him possessive, over the top. Hell, he didn’t give a shit because he was all of those things with this woman. He just loved her too much, and he wasn’t going to let anyone take that away from him.
She smiled up at him and nodded. “For the fifth time, yes, I want to be here,” she said on a teasing note and started chuckling. “I swear I didn’t think you could get anymore alpha, but you’ve proved me wrong.” She grinned even wider.
He pulled her against his body gently, cupped the back of her head, and kissed her soundly. “Baby, when it comes to you I’m downright crazy.” He felt her grin against his mouth, and with one sweep of his tongue along her bottom lip, he pulled away. “When you start getting tired tell me and we’ll bounce.”
She nodded. “It’s nice to be back here, though, I mean not hooked up to all that shit and able to enjoy myself.”
He kissed her on top of the head again. “Come on, baby. Everyone is anxious to see you and to see how well you’re healing.”
He held his hand around her waist, kept her close to him, and together they walked to the club. Once inside he was surprised to see everyone standing in a half circle. There were balloons around the club, and damn did the place look less grungy. A few of the sweet-butts came forward, one of them holding a cake, the other holding a bottle of champagne, and the third holding a leather cut. Rook moved away from Bobbie, grabbed the cut, and faced her. He knew they’d been planning a little welcome back party. This day wasn’t just about celebrating the fact they’d patched Tank in, but to welcome Bobbie back. She was family, after all.
He stared at the woman he loved. She’d dyed her hair, with help from him, and the highlights she so loved to have in the strands were now a deep red. She was gorgeous, and the only woman he’d ever fully given himself to.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her smile wide as she looked around the club.
“Baby, this isn’t just Tank’s patch party, but a welcome back home party.” He hated that she started crying, because he didn’t like to see her upset, but he knew it was happy tears.
He moved closer to her, leaned in and kissed her in front of everyone, and felt his love for this woman rise so high, so strong, he couldn’t even fucking breathe. “You know I love you, that you’re my old lady.”
She nodded.
“I wanted to make it official, as official as it comes in the club.” He pulled back and lifted up the cut, showing her the back of it.
Her eyes widened, and she started crying, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh, Rook,” she said from behind her hand, the words muffled.
On the back was the Brothers of Menace Patch. The top rocker read “Property Of” and the bottom read “Rook”.
“I don’t expect you to walk around and wear this, because you own me just as much as you’re mine, baby. But I’d be fucking honored if you had it on while we ride, showing everyone that you’re my old lady.” Rook had changed since she’d gotten hurt.
He was still her biker Dom, still the man that loved spanking her ass, loved giving her that pain she needed with her pleasure, but seeing her almost die had woken something inside of him. He’d realized that he couldn’t go through life hiding his feelings, especially to her and his club. He didn’t care if they saw how much he loved her, how much PDA he gave her. He wanted them to see that she’d changed something in him, that to him she was it. She was his world.
“Rook, I’ll wear this with pride.” She took the cut and slipped it on. She moved the dark hair off of her shoulders, and he saw the flash of the bandage that still covered the healing wound on her neck. He didn’t look at her as the woman he loved and had almost lost. He looked at her like she was his soul mate … because she was in every sense of the word.
He was truly lost and dark before he met her.
Bobbie had given him that light, and he clutched onto it like a lifeline.
She moved toward him, and he immediately wrapped his arms around her. There was a round of cheers from the men and sweet-butts behind him, but he only focused on her.
“Let’s get this fucking party started,” one of the brothers shouted, and there was another round of cheers.
And Rook felt that warmth fill him, surround him, and he held onto it, knowing that this was what living really felt like.
Chapter Twenty
Bobbie couldn’t help but smile as she sat on the couch and watched as Rook attempted to cook dinner for her. Since the accident she’d moved into Rook’s place, gotten out of her apartment lease with a little growling and glaring down at the manager from Rook, and she was slowly healing. Maybe moving in with Rook when they’d just really become a couple, when they’d admitted how they felt for each other, was quick, but having a near death experience tended to put perspective on living into people.
“Shit,” Rook cursed and started shaking his hand.
“You burn yourself?” she asked and couldn’t help but chuckle. Seeing him hurt wasn’t funny, but for such a big man like Rook, so strong and powerful, seeing him getting hurt because he was trying to cook for her for the first time was slightly funny.
The look he threw over his shoulder at her told her he didn’t find this humorous, and all that accomplished was making her laugh out loud. “Need some help?”
“No.” He shook his head and grabbed his beer, taking a drink as he focused on the pan. “No, you just sit there and let me do this. I want to do this.” He started grumbling under his breath as he finished cooking.
The scents that came from the kitchen were … unique, but she had faith her man could cook her something incredible, or at least edible.
After about ten minutes he came into the living room. “Okay, I think it’s good to go.”
She repressed her smile and rose, setting the magazine on the coffee table and going into the kitchen. Since moving in with him she’d added a bit of a feminine touch, but Rook had been supportive in everything she’d done, even smiling as he watched her put pictures on the walls, the one she’d had at home and the few new ones they’d taken together.
The table was set with his mismatched dishes, and that had her smiling wider. This man wasn’t used to cooking for himself let alone someone else, and the fact he’d gone to so much trouble had this warmth filling her.
“Come here, baby. Let me do this the right way.” He grabbed her hand and led her over to the table. Rook pulled the chair out for her like a gentleman, and she sat down. He then proceeded to serve her.
There was rice and mashed potatoes, rolls, and a salad. It was carb overload, but it looked good, edible, too. And then he set chicken, or at least she thought it was chicken, on the center of her plate. There was this yellow cream sauce over it, and the scent coming from it was a mixture of something being burned on the bottom of the pan, and a salty, sweet combination.
Looking up at him, a little apprehensive over eating it, but loving this man enough that she’d never disrespect him or hurt his feelings, she started scooping the food up with her fork. He’d tried, tried for her, and that was all that mattered. Besides, she wasn’t the best cook either, and had no room to say anything when she’d burnt her fair share of food in the past.
She was keenly aware he wasn’t eating just yet, and had his focus on her. Once she had a little bit of everything on her fork she took a bite. After chewing and swallowing, staring at Rook as she did so, she smiled and nodded. “It’s not bad.”
He proceeded to take a bite, and after swallowing it grabbed his beer and chugged it.
“You liar,” he said on a grimace. “It tastes like shit.”
That had Bobbie bursting out laughing.
“It’s not bad, not really. And for your first time cooking I’d say you did an incredible job.”
He didn’t move, didn’t even blink as he watched her.
She pushed her plate aside, leaned forward, and looked
at the scruff that covered his cheeks and chin. She then lowered her gaze to the dark shirt he wore. He wore that shirt like he was about to burst free from the material like the Hulk, and God, did that turn her on. It had been over a month since they’d been together, done anything sexual. Bobbie knew he’d been holding back as to not hurt her, or fearing he would hurt her, but she was healing, and she wanted him, wanted his hard body on hers.
“How about we skip dinner and…” She lifted her eyebrow.
He shifted on the chair, grabbed his beer, and drank the rest of it as he looked right in her eyes. He set the bottle down when he was finished, and shook his head. “I don’t want to hurt you, and as much as I want you—” He looked down at her shirt, and she knew the front was gaping. He cleared his throat. “As much as I want you, baby, I think it might be too soon after the accident.”
She stood, moved over to him, and smiled as seductively as she could. “I won’t break, Rook,” she said softly. And before he could say anything, before he could stop her, she started getting undressed. She didn’t miss the huge erection he sported, and that had her desire rising higher.
“Baby, are you sure?” Rook asked in a tight, strained voice.
After she took off her bra and tossed it aside, now standing in front of him naked, all she could do was nod in response. “It’s been a long time, Rook.”
He ran a hand over his mouth and nodded. “Yeah, baby, it has. Believe me, I know, but I want you to be totally healed.”
She cupped her breasts and gasped out at how sensitive they were. “I really need you, Rook.”
He groaned deeply and stood up. “This is about you, but the D/s is on hold until you’re fully healed.”
She stared up at him and nodded. And the longer they looked at each other, the more her arousal grew. She became frantic and started pushing his shirt up, and he took over by grabbing it and pulling it up and over his head before tossing it aside.
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