Page 26 of Under Kid’s Protection

He closed the distance between them, and his chest pressed against hers. He slammed his palm flat against the door, making her jump ever so slightly. Excitement danced in her eyes—an expression that once made his cock rock hard. He loved when women gazed upon him with a hint of fear and desire.

He brought the glass to his lips and chugged the remaining beer. He’d need it because while Vanessa was a decent enough-looking woman, she wasn’t Carrie.

Swallowing the last of the brew, he stared at her as he plopped the empty cup on a table within arm’s reach. He leaned down ever so slightly so his nose grazed her cheek. “Take me home tonight and I’ll show you.”

The things he had to do to secure a place to crash weren’t always pretty, but they had to be done.

Carrie’s couch wasn’t an option, so he took the only other offer he had available.

16

Carrie

Embarrassed and exhausted, Carrie sat on her couch holding Kelsey’s hand as the crisis worker reviewed resources with her. All she wanted to do was go back to bed and forget this night ever happened. After a round of “thank yous” and promises to follow up with her counselor, Kelsey led the mental health workers to the exit, and they finally left Carrie’s apartment.

Kelsey closed the door and glanced in her direction as she approached the couch. Lifting the blanket, she sat beside Carrie and snuggled into her. Finally, she had space to breathe. Everything had escalated far too quickly.

Carrie closed her eyes, welcoming the comfort of her best friend. She could fall asleep right there, but that wouldn’t be fair to Kelsey. At nearly two thirty in the morning, Carrie was willing to bet her friend wanted to get home to her own bed and her biker boyfriend.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured.

“For what?” Kelsey asked.

“Dragging you here like this.” Carrie sighed. “You don’t have to stay.”

“I know, but I want to.” Her friend ran her fingers through Carrie’s hair. “Are you kicking me out?”

“Never,” Carrie replied.

There was no one in this world who had been there for her as much as Kelsey. Always by Carrie’s side, this woman had picked up the pieces when Carrie fell apart again and again. She couldn’t be more grateful to have a friend like Kelsey in her life.

“Where was Kid?” Kelsey asked.

Carrie hadn’t shared the full story with the crisis workers. She claimed that the incident at the bar had triggered a trauma response. Purposefully, she failed to mention Kid. Maybe a little out of shame. She didn’t want to admit that she’d completely crumbled because of her own choices.

What would they think of her when she told them she panicked while trying to do the dance with no pants with a biker, of all people? Considering her history, they’d have her committed.

“I don’t know.” She sighed, opening her eyes and staring blankly at the television.

Kelsey pulled back and peered down at her skeptically. “That man has not left your side for months.”

True.

“You expect me to believe, after what happened at the Knucklehead, he just left you alone to fend for yourself?” Kelsey scoffed.

Carrie shrank slightly. While she’d never been one to shy away from the dirty details of her intimate life, especially with Kelsey, this was private and embarrassing. Sure, she’d told Kelsey her plan, but she felt foolish looking back on it. She should never have attempted being intimate after the guy grabbed her at the bar. The timing of it all couldn’t have been worse.

Despite all the growth and insight she had gained through therapy, she was still a silly girl who made poor decisions around bad men.

“I hope to God he hasn’t gone to the Knucklehead.” Kelsey shook her head. “I can’t imagine what Kevlar would do if…”

If what? Why did Kelsey’s words trail off?

“It’s not like that.” Carrie wasn’t sure what Kelsey thought, but Carrie was pretty certain she was wrong. Kid tore ass out of there because she rejected him. Bikers didn’t handle that well. At least, none of the ones Carrie had known.

Which, to be fair, was a total of two prior to connecting with Kid and his brothers. While they had tendencies like the others, they were a completely different breed. Which was why she didn’t have a clue where he went.

Kelsey gave her a squeeze. “Just know whatever he’s doing,” she said of Kid, “is not your fault.”