Her Shelter (Angels Halo MC Next Gen Book 6) Read online

  Anyone who didn’t know me usually cowered when they first saw me. When they found out who I was, they damn near pissed themselves. I’d been patched into the MC the same day I turned eighteen. No need to prospect, because I’d already proven myself to my dad and his brothers. I’d already spilled blood for them and my family. Killing Carlo Santino had given me instant respect within the club.

  That respect only caused others to fear me. If I’d been patched in so easily, then I must be a dangerous motherfucker.

  And they were right. I would put a bullet in anyone without so much as a blink if I thought they were a danger to those I cared about.

  Yet Delaney felt none of that fear when she looked at me. But she was right, too. I would gut anyone who harmed her, including myself. There was nowhere safer for this girl than with me.

  3

  Delaney

  With my stomach full and my body relaxed after the heat of the shower, it was hard to keep my eyes open after eating the last bite of the yummy lemon cake Max said his aunt had made for him. The woman had some amazing baking skills, and I now had a new favorite dessert.

  My eyes began to drift closed without my permission, and suddenly I was being lifted. Looking up at Max, I willed my heart not to jump out of my chest as I met his intense metallic gaze. “I got you, little one,” I read his lips. “You’re safe here. Sleep.”

  Closing my eyes again, I let my head rest on his chest as he carried me through the apartment. Moments later, I felt the coolness of sheets and a plush pillow under my head. My lashes flickered up to take in my surroundings. A lamp had been switched on beside the bed, casting a soft glow across the room.

  The bed was a queen with a dark wooden frame. The sheets, pillowcases, and comforter were a deep crimson color. A digital clock on the nightstand beside the lamp told me it was one o’clock. Max’s scent enveloped me as he tucked the comforter up around me, and I snuggled deeper into the pillow.

  Before he straightened, he brushed his lips over my forehead. The sweet, innocent touch of his lips to my brow made my heart skip a beat even as tears stung my eyes. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had tucked me in. By the time my parents died, I’d been putting myself to bed for a few years.

  When he straightened, I was scared he was going to leave me, and I quickly caught his hand. His brows pulled together as he looked down at me. “Don’t be scared,” he signed.

  I shook my head. “I’m not. I…” I hesitated. How did I tell him I wanted him to sleep beside me all night? I felt the safest when he was right next to me. The fear that Uncle Tony would find me had vanished, and all I felt was the kind of peace that had been missing from my life for the past eight years.

  Max brushed my hair away from my face, something he’d done several times earlier. The soft sweep of his fingers across my cheek made my entire body heat as an ache throbbed between my legs. It was uncomfortable, and I pressed my legs together, trying to relieve it, only to feel a dampness on my inner thighs.

  He lowered his eyes to where I was squirming, and his nostrils flared. One of his hands rubbed over his mouth as hunger filled his gaze. That only made the throb intensify, which caused me to squirm even more.

  Dropping to his knees beside the bed, he cupped the side of my face, his thumb brushing over my bottom lip for several excruciating moments. “Do you ache, little one?” he signed, and I quickly nodded. “Me too, baby. But I don’t think you are ready for that. I want nothing more than to crawl into this bed beside you and kiss every inch of your sweet body. I would spend the entire night easing that ache deep between your legs. And one day, I pray you’ll let me. When you’re ready.”

  “Max.” My lips formed his name, but I didn’t feel the vibrations in my throat that told me any sound had escaped. Still, his eyes were glued to my mouth, so I knew he understood the plea of my speaking his name.

  He leaned in close, lightly touching his lips to my temple, then down to the corner of my mouth. The heat of his breath on my skin made me shiver, and I clenched my legs closed as the throb pulsed to the out-of-control beat of my heart. “Sleep,” he signed. “I don’t want you to have any regrets. When you’re ready, I’ll give you everything you want and need. I promise.”

  I liked that he wasn’t rushing me, that he was giving me time to trust him. But for some reason, I already trusted him. More so than any other person in years. I couldn’t put it into words, but there was just something in Max’s eyes that told me every part of myself was safe with this guy.

  Including my heart.

  But even though my entire body was one achy throb, I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that kind of intimacy. I was a virgin. Did guys even want a virgin these days? One of the girls at school had been telling her friends that she’d had sex with her boyfriend. He’d gotten so pissed because it was her first time and he’d thought she was more experienced, that he’d actually broken up with her over it.

  I’d thought the guy was a douchebag, that he’d only been after sex and once he’d gotten it, he’d come up with whatever dumb reason to break up with her. But now, I wondered if Max would get upset that I had no experience. Would he still want me if he knew? Would it turn him off?

  He tapped me on the nose, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Sleep,” he encouraged. “I’ll be on the couch.”

  Quickly, I sat up, shaking my head. If anyone should be on the couch, it was me. He’d already given me so much. A delicious meal. A hot shower. Fresh clothes. A roof over my head. And now I was taking up his bed? It wasn’t right to steal his big comfy bed as well.

  He gently pushed me back down until my head was resting on the pillows. “You are going to sleep in here,” he signed while glaring down at me. “I need you to sleep in my bed, little one.”

  “But—”

  He captured my hands before I could sign more and kissed each palm before tucking them under the blanket. “Don’t argue. I won’t sleep if you don’t take the bed, and I have to work in the morning.”

  “Where do you work?” I asked curiously.

  “Downstairs,” he informed me with a shrug. “My dad owns half of the garage. I’ll inherit it one day, which was why he didn’t argue when I told him I was moving out and into this place.” He tucked the covers around me again, then leaned forward and rubbed my nose with his. “Sweet dreams, little treasure.”

  Despite the lingering ache between my legs, I was almost asleep before he even closed the bedroom door on his way out. The bed was just too comfy and warm. With his scent surrounding me, and knowing he was just a room away, my brain shut down and sleep pulled me under.

  The next time I opened my eyes, the sun was shining through the window. A glance at the clock told me it was 11:32. Gasping, I sat upright in bed. I hadn’t slept so late since leaving Uncle Tony’s house, and even then, it was a rare occurrence. Marta usually woke me up with breakfast, no matter what day of the week it was.

  As I leaned back against the headboard, my fingers brushed over a sheet of paper. Picking it up, I saw it was a note from Max. Seeing his somewhat messy, masculine handwriting made me smile.

  Delaney,

  I didn’t want to leave for work without letting you know, but you were sleeping so peacefully I didn’t have the heart to wake you. I’ll come up for lunch, and we can eat together. Make yourself at home, because that is exactly what it is for you now.

  There is cereal and other breakfast food in the pantry. The coffeepot is ready to go. Just turn it on when you get up.

  See you soon, little one.

  Max

  I traced a fingertip over his name, a smile teasing at the corners of my mouth. Could he be any sweeter?

  I tucked the note against my chest for a moment, my heart melting for him. Was it insane that I was falling for a guy I’d only met the night before? Maybe, but I realized I didn’t care if I was crazy or not. I liked Max, and with the way he made my heart so dang happy, I knew I could fall in love with him all too easily.

  That should scare me, but fear was the last thing he made me feel.

  Folding the piece of paper, I tucked it under my pillow and then got out of bed. I used the bathroom and saw that Max had left an extra toothbrush on the sink for me. I unwrapped it and placed it beside his in the holder. The sight made my heart constrict with a shot of pure happiness, and I practically skipped into the kitchen.

  I made coffee and then a slice of toast. If Max was coming back for lunch, I wanted to eat with him, but my stomach was already vibrating with grumbles, demanding some kind of peace offering to hold it over until he returned.

  After eating and savoring a cup of coffee, I cleaned up the kitchen and then went to take another shower. I’d had to wash my hair three times the night before just to feel clean, but I still washed it again. I needed to shave, but I didn’t want to ruin Max’s razor. Maybe I could find a job so I could buy a few personal items.

  My period was due, and I’d run out of the hygiene products Marta had given me. I’d stocked up some at the shelters I’d stayed in back in Oakland, but those hadn’t lasted long either. Deciding I’d worry about that when the time came, I finished washing my body and then stepped out of the stall.

  As I was wrapping the towel around myself, the bathroom door opened. My gaze locked with Max’s, and his nostrils flared. Hungrily, his metallic eyes caressed my body, his eyes tracing droplets of water as they dripped down my neck and were absorbed by the thick towel.

  He tipped his head back for a moment, and I quickly made sure the towel was in place before he lowered his gaze back to mine. “Hi,” he greeted with a smile. “Did you miss me?”

  I nodded, my own eyes eating up the sight of him. He was wearing dark-wash jeans again, but instead of the leather vest—or cut as he’d explained to m
e the night before—and white T-shirt, he was wearing a black industrial-style button-up. The sleeves were tight over his upper arms and molded to his thick chest. I was so entranced by the sight of him, I didn’t have time to feel embarrassed that I stood there with hairy legs.

  “Good,” he signed. “You finish up in here, and I’ll make us some sandwiches.”

  I nodded again, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He seemed to have the same problem, because he stood there for another minute before cupping the side of my face. I leaned into his touch, savoring the feel of his rough palm against my softer flesh.

  “I need to feed you,” I read his lips. “But first, I need to taste you.”

  I tilted my head back, silently giving him permission to kiss me all he wanted. He grabbed hold of my waist with his other hand, jerking me against him before cupping one of my hips. His thick fingers squeezed my bottom, and I felt my moan of pleasure vibrate in my chest. Slowly, I watched as his head lowered.

  The kiss started off gentle, as if he were afraid of scaring me. But when my lips slightly parted, shyly offering him access, it changed. His fingers squeezed my hip, massaging it as his tongue stabbed in and out of my mouth, playing with my own.

  When he finally lifted his head, we were both breathing hard and my mouth tingled. Touching my finger to it, I tried to press the feeling deeper, wanting it to linger, but he caught my hand and pulled it away. Dropping a softer yet quick kiss on my lips, he stepped back. “I need you to hurry and get dressed, little treasure,” he signed, his movements urgent. “Before I do something that might mess this up.”

  Before I could assure him he wouldn’t mess anything up, he turned and closed the door as he left.

  4

  Max

  As soon as she walked into the kitchen, I wanted to grab her and spread her across the island. Maybe eating Delaney for lunch would help me focus on work instead of just lying beneath the car I was supposed to be fixing, thinking about how much I missed her.

  It seemed ridiculous to miss her when she was so close, but I fucking did. Badly. That pressure in my chest had only gotten worse and worse as the morning had gone on and I couldn’t see or touch her. As soon as it was noon, I’d called to my dad that I was going to grab something to eat, and I’d hauled ass up the side steps to my apartment. Luckily, he’d been on his way home himself to eat with Mom, or he probably would have stopped me.

  And I honestly didn’t know what I would have done if he or anyone else had delayed me from seeing my little treasure.

  She was wearing another one of my T-shirts and a pair of my old sweats. They swallowed her whole, making her look even smaller than she was, and I fucking loved it. Her hands landed on the island where I was finishing up with our sandwiches, and I glanced down, spotting her injured finger.

  Dropping the butter knife into the mayo jar, I turned and washed my hands before grabbing the first aid box off the top of the fridge. I’d forgotten about the wound on her finger, and it pissed me off. I should have taken care of it the night before. The first time I’d noticed it, I could tell it was infected and painful for her.

  She frowned until I took her hand in mine and carefully cleaned the nailless finger. She flinched when the alcohol swab brushed over the reddened flesh, but she clenched her jaw and didn’t pull away. Meanwhile, I began to sweat because I knew my doctoring was causing her discomfort. The thought of her in pain drove me crazy. Knowing I was the cause of that pain pushed me to the brink.

  As if she knew my inner struggle, she touched my back with her other hand and leaned her head against my arm. I brushed a kiss over her brow before finally tossing the little gauze in the trash and then slathering a little antibiotic ointment over the area before bandaging it.

  Once it was covered, I lifted her hand and kissed her fingertip, earning me a sweet smile from her sexy lips. She wrapped her arms around my middle and tilted her head back. Unable to stop myself, I bent and brushed my lips over hers. It was a soft kiss, barely a flutter of our mouths touching, but it got me harder than I’d ever been in my life.

  Her sigh did nothing to calm the inferno she was causing within me. Lifting her, I placed her on the island and then finished making our lunch. Picking up half of the ham and turkey sandwich, I touched it to her lips, and she took a small bite.

  “What’s your favorite sandwich?” I asked once my hands were free.

  Her brow scrunched up as she considered her answer. “Grilled cheese,” she signed, then added. “But peanut butter and jelly is a close second.”

  I grimaced. “Sorry, baby. You won’t find anything peanut butter in this place. My sister is allergic.”

  “That’s okay. I like BLTs just as much.” She took a hungry bite of her sandwich.

  “I’ll make sure I get bacon at the grocery store,” I promised, then wiped my mouth on a paper towel. “I’m going to grab you a few things after I pick up Nova later. Can you tell me what sizes you wear?”

  She seemed to deflate right in front of my eyes, and I replayed what I’d just said that could have caused that kind of reaction. When it hit me, I stepped between her legs. “Nova is my cousin,” I told her with a grin. “She’s thirteen and like another sister to me. I’ll bring her back with me so you can meet her.”

  Her brown eyes brightened, and for the first time, I noticed there were flecks of green scattered within them. I became hypnotized by the discovery and realized there was more green in her left eye than her right.

  Delaney stroked her fingertips down my jaw, a smile teasing at her lips as they brushed through the two-day-old scruff. “You don’t have to buy me things. I was going to ask if you knew anywhere I could get a job.” She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth before continuing. “Maybe somewhere that will pay in cash? I don’t want my uncle to find me by creating a paper trail.”

  “We can talk about that later,” I deflected. “And I want to buy you a few things. As much as I love seeing you in my clothes, eventually my family will want to meet you. I don’t want to have to rip Reid’s eyeballs out of his head if he sees you without a bra on.”

  Her skin glowed a pretty pink. “I will pay you back.”

  “No,” I growled, even though I knew she couldn’t hear it. “You will not.”

  “But, Max—”

  I caught hold of her hands and wrapped them around my waist, putting an end to the argument before it even got started. “I want to know your sizes and what your favorite colors are. Write them down for me before I go back to work. I have watch duty at the middle school today, and I usually pick up Nova when it’s my turn.”

  She only glared up at me, but I gave her a quick kiss. “Please, little treasure,” I signed with a pout. “Let me take care of you.”

  “You have already given me so much,” she said after pulling her hands free. “I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness.”

  I threw back my head and laughed, which earned me a light slap to the chest. Grinning, I shook my head at how adorable she was. “No one has ever called me kind before, treasure. Not even my own mother. But I really like that you think I am.”

  She rolled her eyes at me. Laughing, I tickled her until she was squealing and giggling, begging me to stop. Her giggles and her voice as she cried “stop” were the sweetest, most precious sounds I’d ever heard. I hated that she couldn’t hear it or my own voice, but I was just thankful the accident that had taken her ability to hear hadn’t robbed me of her as well.

  After lunch—and I’d gotten her to write down her sizes and favorite colors—I left her with a kiss to her soft lips and a promise to bring home dinner. The kiss would have to hold me over until I got back, but I wasn’t confident it would help any.

  Somehow, I was able to finish up the repairs to the car I was working on before I had to ride over to the middle school. Ever since two of Ramirez’s men had attacked Nova to send a message to the Vitucci family, the MC had been taking shifts each morning and afternoon at all three of the schools in town to make sure that she and the other students stayed safe.