Page 25 of Infinitely Mine
“Yep. He’s the bestest protector, and he makes me laugh.”
Mammoth chuckled. “As long as I can be there for you too.”
“You are!” Jacob exclaimed.
Mammoth’s gaze softened as I stared into his eyes, allowing hope to blossom as the golden flecks seemed to glow. “This is thereal deal, Gorgeous. I know it’s gonna take time, and I’m okay with that. Just askin’ for a chance.”
“You’ve got it,” I whispered, feeling the warmth they both described in my chest. Maybe letting him in was unconventional and risky, but I couldn’t deny how Mammoth had ridden into our lives and made them better.
Jacob’s stomach rumbled, and he giggled. “I’m hungry.”
“Let’s get you some food.” Mammoth set him down and reached for my hand, leading us back toward the rest of the club and the giant spread of food piled on several tables.
I helped Jacob make a plate and got him settled with the rest of the kids before I joined the line to make mine.
Mammoth approached me and slid his arm around my waist. I lifted my chin and caught his hungry stare. It wasn’t for the food.
“Hey, Jacob.”
My son hollered back with a loud “Yeah?”
“Can I kiss your mama?”
In front of everyone? Just like that?
Our first kiss.
“Yes!”
Mammoth’s head lowered, and his lips brushed mine, soft, sweet, and over way too fast. “That’s just a promise of more to come,” he announced, turning me around and guiding me toward the table. “I wanted his permission because I’m in this for the long haul.”
I nodded, or I thought I did. Maybe I was a bit dazed.
Mammoth laughed and helped me fix a plate, making two of his own as we progressed through the line and finally found seats. His hard thigh rested against mine as we sat, and he took every opportunity to touch me in small but intentional ways. His fingers brushed mine when he handed me a cup of iced tea. Andwhen I saw the mustard on the corner of his lip, I lifted a napkin and dabbed at it, staring at his mouth.
“I give you permission to press those soft lips anywhere you want on me anytime you got the notion.”
Damn. His voice sounded like grit and sex. How was that possible?
I closed the distance between us and fused our mouths, wondering how it was possible that I could find Mr. Right in the worst of circumstances. My life was a mess. I was running from men who would torture and kill me if they discovered us. It didn’t seem right to let down my guard, but the big biker next to me proved he was the perfect companion and all the protector I would ever need for me and my son.
Mammoth groaned as we separated. “Woman, kiss me like that again, and I’ll be shoppin’ for wedding rings,” he teased.
At least, I thought he joked, but his expression was far too serious to doubt it.
“Let me in, Gorgeous. I won’t break that fragile heart of yours,” he murmured. “We’re takin’ this one day at a time. Your choice. Every fucking day. Yeah?”
My choice. Always.
God. Didn’t he know that was the way to my heart? Loving my son. Being patient. Showing up every day without excuses.
I tapped my heart and fought the urge to cry because he touched a part of my soul that I kept apart from everyone but my son. “You’re already in here.”
“Good.”
That day at the cookout brought us closer than I ever could have anticipated. Over the next week, I saw Mammoth every day. He showed up at the diner and had breakfast every morning. At night, he either brought dinner or helped me cook. Never in my life had a man stepped foot in my kitchen and asked to prepare a meal. He even did the dishes.
The following Saturday, he stood in my kitchen, instructing Jacob at nine a.m. on how to make breakfast pizzas. I watched the two of them, and it melted my heart. My son helped scoop scrambled eggs on the crust while Mammoth drained the grease from the sausage he had just browned. They worked in tandem like they’d done this a hundred times before today.