His Young Queen: (Steel Jackals MC #1) (17 page)
Tish just looked at him as something he’d said the other night echoed through her mind.
“…you were my own little blond angel with the eyes of an adult. Man, I wanted to lock you away so bad. I was so afraid something was gonna happen to you too.”
Something had happened to his little blond sister, she realized, trying not to react to the revelation. He’d used the past tense, but did that mean she’d been taken away by someone, or was she deceased?
Tish came in and stretched out next to him, forcing herself to be patient. If he only felt able to open up to her little by little, she’d have to live with that.
“Okay. How about this? When the time comes, I’ll tell my baby maker what your preference is, and we’ll see what we can do to please our master. And we’ll go to the trouble because we love you. Now, we know you don’t trust that love yet, but your young old lady will work on that for you since you are very generously—if unnecessarily—working on a multitude of things for her.” She pressed her lips to his pec and then laid her head down over the kiss. “Soon you won’t remember what it was like to live without my love in your life, Josh. And even if you never love me back in the same way, I’m still yours. Don’t ever forget that.”
“You done?”
“Yes. I think so.”
“Good. Because all this hearts and flowers you’re about is starting to piss me off.”
Grinning at the gentle tone he’d used that proved he was teasing, Tish cradled her hard-ass, ex-con close and lovingly petted his powerful body.
He drew her in tighter and it was a few minutes before he spoke again. “Should have gone easier on you tonight,” he murmured as he stroked her side. So touchy-feely, she thought, as she soaked it in. “Uh,” he cleared his throat, and because it was so unlike him, her ears perked up at the discomfort in the sound. “Before you fall asleep, I have to apologize for the way I spoke to you on Friday. When you offered yourself to me, and I was a fuckin’ idiot thinking I wasn’t the first guy to hear those incredible words, well, we both know I didn’t like that.”
He grunted and unnecessarily adjusted his pillow before stilling again. She nodded but kept her head down because it was clear he was brutally uncomfortable. To have her looking at him would make it worse.
“I’m sorry, Tish. I was way out of line. What I should have said before walking out, was; I’m so proud of you. I’m proud and sometimes a little awed by your strength. Your character is stellar, and you have an ingrained sense loyalty—which explains why Rachel is still around—and that’s something I respect the fuck out of. You commit, and you’re there, solid as a rock.” He dropped his lips to her hair. “You’re the most valuable thing I own. And I mean that with a reverence you’ll never fully appreciate. I’ll stand before you and protect you with all that I am, and I’ll kneel at your goddamn feet because I’m man enough to know my young queen is my greatest strength.”
Staggered, and more honored than she’d ever been by anything ever said to her, Tish turned her head and buried her face in his neck, and she cried. It was the first time in her life that anyone had ever said she made them proud. What didn’t surprise her, as he held her in his strong arms, soothing her with a quiet apology, was that it was Josh who’d given her this by recognizing what she’d worked so hard to become: A good person. His words touched her very soul, and she knew she’d treasure them forever. A forever she’d spend with him, her king.
“Sorry,” she sniffled a moment later when she came out of his soaked neck and accepted the corner of the bedsheet he handed her.
“I’ll never fuckin’ open my mouth like that again. I told you I’m not good with that shit.”
She finished mopping up her tears and dropped her hands to just stare at him. “That was the most incredible thing anyone’s ever said to me, Josh, and by saying it, you reminded me why my love for you is what it is. Please open your mouth like that again, but only on special occasions, because I’m not a fan of crying. ’Kay?”
He cupped her face and caught the tears hovering on her lashes with his thumbs. “I’m not a fan of seeing you cry. You’re sure they’re not sad tears?”
She gripped his wrists and nodded. “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
He brought her down into the security of his arms. “Then I’m doing good so far.”
“You’re doing great, as I knew you would.”
She laid her head over his heart, and they finally allowed the stillness of the night to close in around them. Savoring each moment that ticked by, Tish closed her eyes, and just before she fell asleep, she humbly thanked God for answering the desperate prayers of a lonely ten-year-old girl.
~ THE END ~
(but not for Josh…)
HER PROUD KING
(Steel Jackals MC #1½)
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Tiff P. Raine
An award-winning, bestselling romantic suspense author (under a different pseudonym), Tiff P. Raine has now crossed genres into erotic romance. She writes about her possessive alpha males and their spirited women from her home in Southwestern Ontario. And, yes, she is a reclusive cat lady, but currently has only one beauty of a feline to keep her company. You can find her social media links below.
A very large, exuberant thanks to the readers who continue to one-click, the bloggers who continue to pimp, and the faithful fans who share, get excited, and continue to support me while I empty my mind of stories. You’re the best!
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