Priest: A Motorcycle Club Romance (The Viking’s Rampage MC: Tucson Chapter Book 2)
Priest: A Motorcycle Club Romance: Chapter 9

Sunlight woke me the next morning and I stretched. I tried to roll onto my back, but something heavy kept me pinned in place. The fog of sleepiness faded quickly and I remembered where I was. Who I was with.

I peeked over my shoulder and saw Priest behind me, his body plastered to mine. His face was relaxed in sleep, so I studied him for a moment. It was the first time I’d gotten to see him unguarded, just relaxed and natural. That face had been tormenting my dreams—and my heart—for months now.

The way he kissed me last night was going to replay in my mind every night for sure. I sort of regretted stopping him. A wicked thought entered my mind. Facing forward, I arched my back, grinding my ass back against him.

My eyes widened when his dick responded immediately. It pressed against my flesh, heavy and thick. I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Part of my amusement was because he’d responded so quickly, but the other half was nervousness. He felt fucking huge. It wasn’t surprising because he was such a big guy to begin with. Still, it was a little worrisome. Suddenly I wasn’t so upset we hadn’t had sex.

Besides, I really needed the space to sit down and think about everything he’d told me. Unwrap my emotions, which were tangled up more than a fishing line in the reeds. I felt so raw and confused after yesterday. And I really didn’t want to jerk him around. I needed to figure myself out so I wasn’t unfair to him.

Seeing his ex almost die. Watching his children trying to process it and hardly being able to help. Having him finally explain what happened between us and then holding me all night long. It was all just too much for me to absorb in the moment.

“If you don’t stop grinding that sweet ass against me, I’m going to fuck you.”

I froze, unaware that I had in fact continued to rock back against him while I was overanalyzing the last twenty-four hours.

His arm tightened around me and he thrust his hips lazily. I felt his length slide along my butt and I had to swallow back a moan. Why did he have to be so sexy? It made it really hard to stay mad at him. That wasn’t completely accurate. It wasn’t just his looks for me. The way he was with his daughters and the way he always seemed to be helping those he cared about turned my heart to mush. It would have been so much easier if he were a cheater or a liar. I could walk away from that. No, my man had to be family oriented and fiercely defensive.

Oh fuck, did I just call him mine?

“I have to go to the bathroom,” I squeaked out, and scrambled out of his arms.

His laughter followed me as I shut the door to the ensuite bathroom. It was deep and husky from sleep and it slipped along my skin, causing heat to flash over me like a wildfire. Or maybe that was from us dry humping each other like teenagers. Either way, I was a damp mess.

Leaning against the counter, I stared into the mirror and shook my head at my reflection. “What are you doing, Jenny?”

I honestly didn’t know. I wanted him. Badly. But I was so afraid of opening up to him again and getting hurt. If I got closer to him and he cut me out again it would destroy me. I just knew it. He was it for me. So was it better to take the risk and be with him, knowing he could shatter my entire existence with a few words or actions? Or should I withdraw and keep that distance between us? Guarding my heart meant he’d never reach it and therefore couldn’t break it.

Sounds of the bedroom door opening and little girls piling into the room filtered through the door. Damn. I was in my bra and panties. I didn’t want them to see me like this.

Slipping into the robe that was hanging on the back of the door, I said a silent apology to Wendy for using her stuff. It didn’t take long for Priest to wrangle the girls out of the room. I slipped out of the bathroom and found my phone on the nightstand.

I tapped out a quick text before I got dressed. My clothes were wrinkled beyond repair. I looked at the clock and sighed. I was going to have to call in sick. It’d been such a late night and emotionally packed day yesterday that we’d all slept in until nearly ten a.m.

Looking around, I made sure I hadn’t forgotten anything, then made the bed. Finally, there was nothing left to do but face Priest with a conflicted heart and mind.

He looked up from the stove as I walked into the kitchen. He had on the slacks from yesterday, but hadn’t put the shirt back on. All that tanned, smooth muscle was on display. Not to mention his tattoos. I longed to run my hands over the ink on his skin. Taste it with my tongue.

My phone dinging made me jump and pulled me out of my trance. Priest was watching me with knowing eyes. The heat between us simmered in the air. It smelled like we were burning up. My eyes dropped to the pancakes—which were, in fact, what was burning—then gave him a hesitant smile.

“My mom is here to pick me up,” I told him. Shock played over his features. “Better get those before you set off the smoke detector.”

He cursed under his breath and started scooping small pancakes out of the pan. While he was busy, I turned to the four girls watching me from the table.

“It was so nice to meet you all,” I told his three daughters. I gave Caitlyn a wink. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

She smiled and nodded. They all waved goodbye as I hurried out of the house. I ignored the cursing coming from Priest, just as I tuned out him calling my name.

I was getting in my mom’s car as he stepped into the doorway to the house.

“Who’s that?” The awe in my mom’s voice had me glancing over. Her eyes were wide as she stared at Priest. He was a sight, only half dressed, scowling at us.

I couldn’t help it, I started laughing. My mom was sitting here ogling the man who I’d just spent the night with. The one who claimed I was his.

“The one you told me to give a chance to,” I told her.

She pulled out of the driveway, careful not to hit Priest’s truck, which was parked very crooked. “Man doesn’t know how to park, that’s for sure.” I couldn’t replace a short way to explain to her the hurry he’d been in. Or how exhausted he probably was when he returned from the hospital.

As we drove home, I filled her in on what’d happened. My dad had never really been around, so it’d always just been me and my mom. We were best friends. I would do anything for her. Give anything to make sure she was happy and healthy and I knew she’d do the same.

“Honey,” she told me, glancing over at me with a serious look on her face. “That man has it bad for you,” she informed me.

I rolled my eyes. “Mom. You saw him for all of twenty seconds.”

“Yeah, and I saw the look on his face as you went bolting out of his house.”

“I didn’t bolt,” I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest. “And it’s his ex-wife’s house.”

It was her turn to roll her eyes. We had so many of the same mannerisms and identical attitudes. “You seriously don’t think he bought that house for his kids?” When I shrugged, she shook her head. “Trust me. His name is on the mortgage for that place. Guaranteed.”

“Dad never did that for me,” I pointed out.

“That man is not your father,” she argued.

“You’re acting like you know him,” I said in exasperation. “I don’t even know him and I’m the one he said he wanted. Besides, I know that he’s not like Dad.”

I wasn’t embarrassed to tell her about the things Priest said to me. She wasn’t going to judge me, besides, I was a fully grown woman.

“Look, Honey. I get it. He hurt you.” She flashed me a dark look. “And don’t think I won’t be having words with him about that someday soon.” Before I could tell her she wasn’t going to be meeting him—most likely—she continued on. “You don’t trust him because of what he’s done. Makes sense. You don’t believe me when I say he’s hooked on you.”

“Because you don’t know him,” I stressed.

“Exactly. So what you need to do is really simple.”

“It is?” I asked.

“Find someone who does know him and talk to them.” She grinned at me, happy to have solved my problem.

I didn’t have the heart to tell her I didn’t have anyone I could ask about him. His MC brothers weren’t going to talk to me, and that would be embarrassing, even if they would. I doubted even Hush would…

Tilting my head as an idea formed, I pulled my cell phone out. I tapped out a text, smiling when Hush responded almost immediately. I saved the phone number he sent me then wrote another text.

Hey! It’s Jenny. Want to get lunch with me today?

I smiled when I read the reply a few minutes later. We were just pulling into our driveway as I made the plans. I had just enough time to shower and head over to the restaurant.

Leaning over, I kissed my mother’s cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”

“You’re welcome, Baby,” she said, patting my arm.

I rushed out of the car and into the house. Maybe my new friend could help me figure out the mystery that was Priest.