Page 23 of Ashes’ Addiction

After a while, Miranda rolled to one side.

“Sorry. I guess I should let you breathe.”

“You were fine, Tiny Warrior. I like having you lay on me. But it does mean I can get up and take care of a couple of things.” He rolled out of bed, went into the restroom, and took care of the spent condom, after washing up. He took a damp cloth back into the bedroom where he cleaned up Miranda. After tossing the cloth aside, he laid back down and pulled her into his arms.

“Hm. That was great, Ashes. I’d say let’s go again but I’m sleepy. Maybe after a little nap.”

“Call me Jacob.”

“Jacob?” She tilted her head back to scowl at him.

“Yeah, Tiny Warrior, Jacob.” He used a thumb to smooth the wrinkle between her brows. “It’s my name. No one uses it anymore but I’d like you to.”

She watched him, as if trying to decide if he was pranking her or something.

“Jacob, huh?” she asked.

He nodded. Not saying anything.

“All right. I can do that. I like it. It fits you.” She laid her head back against his chest and closed her eyes. “Jacob it is. Thank you, Jacob, for everything.”

“You’re welcome. Always.” He didn’t think there was anywhere else he wanted to be. This was perfect.

Chapter Twenty

It didn’t take long for Miranda to feel at home in the Sons of Sin clubhouse. It helped that everyone, or nearly everyone, was friendly and did everything they could to make her feel welcome. And the ones that didn’t? Well, they were the ones Winter called the “mamas.” Ashes called them club ass. Miranda didn’t care what they were called as long as they stayed away from her and her man.

By her fourth day at the compound, or whatever they called it, she didn’t hesitate to go where she wanted, and if there was somewhere she wasn’t sure she should be, she found Winter to ask. Sure, she could have asked one of the Sons, but she found she was just more open with another woman. Well, other than Jacob.

“You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?” Winter said, pulling out a chair. She sat across the table from where Miranda had been staring into space as she sipped a cup of coffee.

“What makes you say that?” Miranda asked.

“That goofy grin. We only look that dopey when we’re thinking about our men.” Winter cleared her throat, turning to focus on something across the room, but Miranda didn’t look to see what. Something told her whatever it was didn’t matter but that her new friend was about to ask something she wasn’t comfortable with.

“Look, I know it’s none of my business, but I also feel I need to ask. Have you seen a doctor? I mean recently?”

Miranda blinked. That wasn’t what she’d been expecting. Questions about her intentions, or maybe about what was going on between her and Ashes, that she’d expected, but not this.

“Not unless Doc counts.” Miranda watched Winter as she answered. “What kind of doctor do you think I should see?” Had she been totally wrong about Winter? Did the other woman think she’d lost her mind and needed to be committed? A thousand possibilities flashed through her mind before the other woman spoke again.

“I don’t know.” Winter shrugged one shoulder. “What kind do you think? If it were me, I’d probably want to see my OB, maybe my primary care to make sure that son of a bitch didn’t do anything permanent.”

Miranda thought about the scars on her back and knew she’d never get rid of them, not completely. She suspected if she found a plastic surgeon, they might be able to make them less prominent, but right now, she didn’t know if she wanted to do that. The thought of the pain of surgery and recovery made her want to curl up and hide. The memories of how she’d gotten the scars were still too fresh. Maybe time would give her some distance and a reason to see about having them repaired but she wasn’t there yet. Maybe not ever.

“I also think you should talk to someone about what happened,” Winter said, her voice barely more than a whisper, as if she didn’t want to be overheard.

“To who?”

“I don’t know but someone. Bottling it up and pretending it didn’t happen isn’t healthy. I’m not trying to tell you that you need counseling, I’m just worried about you. You need someone you can confide in, you know what I mean? Is there anyone you trust?”

Miranda was quiet as she thought about it. The only person she trusted that much was Jacob. He hadn’t pushed but he let her talk when she was ready and he didn’t try to make her feel bad about anything she’d been through. If anything, he got upset on her behalf, which made her feel better, more cared for, less like a victim. There were a lot of reasons she didn’t want to lose him. Though, part of her feared he’d get bored with her or find another damsel in need and leave her in his dust. She knew that was the stupid part of her brain that always told her she was wrong, so she did her best to ignore it.

“I talk to Ashes, is that enough?”

Winter eyed her, as if trying to decide if she was being placated or if Miranda was being serious.

“Are you honest with him? Or do you hide parts of what you went through?”