Page 60 of Craving Her
I lean up to kiss him. I only reach his chin, pressing my lips against his salt and pepper beard, but it makes me happy, just the same. My man is so sexy it steals my breath. “I know that and eventually, Mom will, too. It goes deeper than that. Mom is a little jaded when it comes to how men in the club treat their women.”
“Why? For God’s sake, all the men who have claimed their women are devoted. Jesus, you can’t tell me your father has even looked at another woman,” he gripes. I can feel his anger—even if it’s not directed at me.
“Of course not, but she still remembers how they met.”
“How they met?” he asks, sounding confused.
A ghost of a smile blooms on my lips as I shake my head. “Dad was going through a really dark period. It’s not something he likes to remember, but he was always frank with us about it. He was adamant that he wanted us to learn from his mistakes and be better than he ever was. Mom said he also wanted to show us what a healthy relationship can bring into our lives and to never sell ourselves short. She said Mattie idolized him and wanted to be just like him, and Dad decided to open up about his struggles so Mattie would realize that belonging to the Savage Brothers could also eat you alive if you let it.” I close my eyes for a minute as the pain from small memories of my brother hit me full force. For a second my lungs burn, and I can’t breathe.
“Peaches,” Torin says softly. I open my eyes slowly. I know I have tears in my eyes. I mostly contain them and keep them hidden. Torin is the only one I can allow to see my pain.I’m safe with him.
“I’m okay. It just hurts. I know what my parents and Thea believe. Heck, even Dom thinks Mattie is gone, and he’s his best friend. I refuse to accept that. My brother would fight with everything he had to survive, so unless I see proof that he’s gone, I refuse to accept it.”
“Baby—”
“No, I’m not going to discuss it. My brother is out there. Maybe he’s hurt somewhere and can’t get word to us, but he’s alive. Nothing you say will make me change my mind, Torin.”
“I’m not going to argue with you, Skylar. I know what a fighter your brother is.”
I nod, mustering a genuine smile in response as he squeezes me close to his body. “He is,” I respond. I know he and Thea are the closest, but I’ve always thought the two of us were more alikeoverall. Mom says we are, and that thought brings warmth to my heart.
“So, explain what’s up with Sky?” he asks, and I sigh.
“Dad went to the hospital where Mom was doing an ER rotation. She was the one to diagnose him with an STD.”
“Oh, fuck …”
“Yeah. It’s definitely an odd way to start falling in love. Unfortunately, Dad was also fighting addiction at the time and sleeping with anyone who could help him feed that.”
“Jesus, I can’t even reconcile that with the man I know today,” he responds, clearly shocked.
“That’s because he’s not. Still, Mom never wanted us to fight the battles she did. Plus, over the years, she’s seen the struggles others have had. Even Dragon and Nicole stumbled a little, and they love each other completely.”
I nod. “Baby, those battles won’t be ours. My eyes will only ever be on you. Still, any of those issues could happen with any couple. It has nothing to do with the Savage Brother’s way of life.”
“You don’t have to convince me, Torin. I’ve always wanted to be a part of the club. It has never been what Mom and Dad wanted for me, though. That’s exactly why I chose a medical school in Cincinnati and spoke with Wheeler about being a doctor for the club. I wasn’t going to fight for my right to be part of Dad’s club. I would blaze my own trail—so to speak.”
“How did that asshole from the Devil’s Blaze get the okay to approach you, then?”
I laugh. “Dad really won’t care, Torin. He has always wanted his kids to be happy and considering the shape he was in when he met my mother, he’s not about to pass judgment on anyone. He’d probably kill you if you broke my heart—but …” I shrug, letting my words trial off unspoken.
“So, I’m going to have to win your mother over,” I answer with a frown.
“No. It would be good, but our relationship is just about us. They can either accept it or not. Adding drama to my parents' situation is something I'd rather avoid, though. I honestly don’t think I could handle much more, either. I’m about to crack. Although, once we find Mattie, you may have your hands full proving to him and Mom that you aren’t the man-whore they believe you to be.”
“Are you seriously expecting me to stay in the periphery of your life until Breaker comes back? There’s no fucking way, Peaches. You can forget it,” I growl.
“It won’t take that long. Mattie is alive. I know he is,” I argue, getting over emotional as a tear slides down from the corner of my eye.
Torin’s face softens slightly as he holds my face, using the pad of his thumb to brush a tear away. “Baby?—”
“If he was dead, Torin,I’d feel it,” I insist.
“You can’t expect me to wait however long it takes to claim you in front of the club, Skylar. You can’t ask that of me. Fuck, I haven’t been able to sleep since you left yesterday. I couldn’t lay in the damn bed without you.”
“I know. I missed you the same way.”
“Then what the hell do you want from me here, Peaches?”