Comp's Chance

“How about this? You go back and lay down, and I’ll get you a small snack,” he says, leading me back to his room.

Why is he taking care of me? I hate the thought of taking over his space when I can tell he’s not used to people being there.

“I really don’t want to take over your room. I saw a couch in the common room. I can sleep there,” I tell him, turning, but he pulls me up short.

“Trust me, you do not want to sleep on that nasty ass couch,” he says, shuddering. I don’t even want to know.

“Are you sure?” I ask him.

“I’d rather you be in my bed,” he tells me before making his way out of the room and, I guess, to the kitchen. I look at his bed again before giving up and crawling under the covers. His bed must be the comfiest one I’ve ever laid on. The minute I’m enveloped in the soft, warm blankets, my eyes drift. I’m almost asleep again when I hear Nix come back in.

“I brought you two slices of pizza, Sunshine. Paisley said it was your favorite,” Nix whispers to me. Pizza really is my favorite, and it smells absolutely amazing.

“Thank you,” I tell him before sitting up, and with my eyes only half open, I scarf down the pizza, much to Nix’s amusement. I look back over at him before I feel the blush on my face and duck my head.

“I’ve got a little more work to get done, then I’ll head to Swift’s office. He has a couch in there I can sleep on,” he says, but I don’t like the thought of that. First, I hate I feel like I’m taking over his space. Second, this man is huge, and I mean huge, huge. Like six foot seven huge. There is no way a couch will be comfortable enough for him. Third, sleeping with him holding me was the best feeling in the world, and I’m going to be selfish and demand more of that.

“No,” I say, shaking my head.

“No?” he asks, lifting a brow at me.

“It’s late, and you need sleep, too,” I say, grabbing his hand and pulling him down on the bed.

“If you want me to sleep, I’m gonna have to take my clothes off. I’ll leave my boxers on, but I sleep naked most nights. I can’tstand the feel of clothes rubbing over…” He stops before he says it, and I know he means the scars.

“You can turn the lights off and get undressed if that makes you more comfortable,” I tell him, but I point my finger at him before continuing. “But boxers stay on. No funny business.”

He smiles and chuckles before nodding his head.

“Whatever you say, sunshine,” he says, and I can’t stop the shiver at the nickname he’s given me. I’ve never had a nickname before unless you count bitch, as Milani affectionately calls me. I always thought I would hate them, though. When people called each other ‘baby,’ I always thought it sounded so condescending, but I’m pretty sure I would love any name as long as it came out of his mouth.

He walks over to his computer before shutting it down, and then turning off the overhead light. It’s dark in the room, and I can hear the rustling of clothes before he climbs into bed. He stays on his side, but that’s not going to work for me.

“Can I hold you?” I ask him and hear him snort.

“Isn’t that my line?” he asks, grabbing me and crushing my body against his.

I go willingly and feel instant relief. I don’t know where all of this is coming from, all these feelings, but knowing he took care of my baby girl just so I could get some extra sleep makes me question how I’ve been feeling since getting here. Hell, since the day Jason showed his true colors.

I’ve never trusted men since that day, well, since before that day, but my feelings were solidified after Jason’s shit. I haven’t been with a man since the night I lost my virginity, all because of those trust issues. But in just under a day, Nix has shown me that maybe not all men are the same.

I keep my hands and head on the unmarked parts of his body as I snuggle in close. I want to know everything about him. Iwant to see all of him. One day, he’ll trust me enough with his secrets. I’ll make sure of it.

Ten

COMP

Imake my way down the road, relaxing as the wind surrounds me as I pass by fields of animals and crops. This is the best, most beautiful drive I’ve ever experienced. I just wish it was for better reasons. Today, I’m going to see my cousin Bash. I’ve tried getting him to put me on the visitor’s list for years, but he wouldn’t until now. It probably has something to do with what my program pulled up this morning, but I won’t know until I get there.

The drive is a long one; thirteen hours there and thirteen back. I needed to get out of the clubhouse for a bit, so this was the perfect excuse. Sunny hasn’t slept in my room since that first night. Granted, it’s only been three days, but I’m going fucking insane. I’ve stayed out of the way, throwing myself into working endlessly to find shit on her ex. To say I’ve found some shit would be an understatement. Not only is that fucker corrupt, but so is his whole family.

I compiled everything for Swift and left it on his desk before setting off this morning. The family is good at hiding their dirt, so it took me longer than usual to get everything I could. I still have a few places to dig, but I wanted the club to have something to go on while I’m gone. Like I said, the fucker’s family is goodat hiding their misdeeds, but I’m fucking better. Thank fucking Christ Sunny left when she did and didn’t test the fucker to see if he would take Paisley. I have no doubt in my mind he would have won that fight.

My mind drifts back to Sunny. Sleeping has been nearly impossible since she let me hold her in my arms. My sheets are covered in her scent, and I feel empty and cold when I’m not holding her. I haven’t left my room; I haven’t been able to sleep, and I’ve barely eaten. I’ve been fucking kicked off my axis and have no clue where to go from here. One of the main reasons I took this trip so quickly, instead of waiting a few weeks, was to try to get my head back on straight. I need to work through everything in my head and figure out what the fuck I’m going to do next.

Sunny’s words ring over and over in my head.

Don’t push people away just because the scars are more than skin deep.