Page 36 of Lick

“I was worried about how you’d feel this morning. I’m glad I stayed. Now you can rest while I grab what you need.”

“I appreciate it. I do, but you have a job. Or jobs, by the sound of things.”

“None of them is more important than you or my kid.”

Well, that shuts me up. Is he serious right now? The look on his face dares me to argue. I keep my mouth closed and swallow down my shock as he heads off to the kitchen.

I stare around the room, finding the side of the bed next to me undisturbed. He must have slept on the sofa, which has me wincing. The thing is a two-seater and not designed for sleeping on by someone my height, let alone Lick’s.

He walks back into the room with a glass and a small plate laden with biscuits. He places both on the nightstand. “I’d let the pill kick in before you try to eat, though maybe sip the drink.”

I nod gently, not wanting to jar my brain and do just that. The cool, refreshing liquid goes down a treat.

“I need to head out and do a few things, but I’ll be back later to pick you up.”

“You don’t need to explain. You’ve been more than…Wait. What do you mean, pick me up?”

“Right, the stuff we need to talk about,” he mumbles, running his hands through his hair before he sits on the edge of the bed beside me.

“Is this about the motorcycle club?”

He looks up at me sharply. “How’d you know about that?”

I frown. “One of the bouncers at Shooters told me I might find you there. I went, and that’s when I was told you weren’t there, but your dad was. Nice guy,” I snap sarcastically.

“I’m his only kid. He’s protective of me.”

“Yes, because I pose such a danger to you. I had to deal with your pissed-off father, who is intimidating as hell by the way, and his buddies. I hope our child, especially if we have a daughter, never finds herself in a similar position. Because god knows I was an idiot for taking the risk of finding you there in my bid to track you down.”

I slam the glass down on the bedside table and move to get up but suddenly find myself flat on my back with Lick leaning over me. “That’s some temper you have there, kitten. Gotta say, seeing you flex those claws does something to me.”

I swallow, my mouth suddenly feeling dry.

He dips his head until his nose skims mine. “I like this side of you. I can’t help but wonder what those claws would feel like in my back.”

“I swear I was calm and reasonable until you came into my life. And now I’m…” I stumble, looking for the right word.

“Now you’re feisty. Feisty’s good in my world.”

“But I’m not part of your world, Lick. Hell, I don’t even know what that would look like.”

He lies beside me but keeps his hand on my jaw, so I have no choice but to keep looking at him. “My dad is the president of the Royal Bastard MC Birmingham chapter. And there are multiple chapters around the world, each with its own president. The mother chapter is based across the pond in New Orleans, and their president, Jameson, is the president of all presidents. It was his late father, Bulldog, who made my dad the president of the Birmingham chapter.”

“Okay. What does this have to do with me?”

“I’m just giving you a little back story. Our kid will have not just a grandfather who is in an MC and a bunch of uncles, but also a father.”

I pause as what he’s saying sinks in. What an idiot I am. Even when I went looking for him at the club, it never crossed my mind that he was a part of it. First, I thought he might just be partying there, then I figured he was a frequent flyer because of his connections to his dad. Now I have to wonder if I was that woefully naive or just ignorant.

“You’re a biker?” I clarify.

He nods, studying my reaction, but I school my features. “Born and bred. And when my father steps down, I’ll take his place.”

I let out a shaky breath, not even sure what it all means, but it feels big.

“My mother died when I was a kid. Her parents died before I was even born, and I was left an inheritance from both, which is what I used to buy Shooters.”

“Wait, you don’t just work there. You’re the owner?” Jesus, is that croaky sound my voice?