“Nurse Bell?” My name is called. Turning to the voice, I’m surprised when I find Danger standing there. Legs crossed at the ankle, leather jacket back in place. The small hole where the glass cut is barely visible against the dark night. He drops his cigarette to the ground and stubs it out with his boot before walking the rest of the way to me. My legs lock for reasons I don’t know, but the closer he moves to me, the more indecisive I become standing here.

“You finished for the night?” He comes to stand directly in front of me, uncomfortably close. His breath is thick on my face and without thinking, I step back.

“Yep, all done.” I force a smile past my uneasiness as I try to control my racing heart.

His eyes narrow at my retreat, his lips tighten before morphing back into a grin I’m sure he thinks women fall for.

“Good, so you’re free to go get a drink.” The dimple in his chin grows as his eyes do a sweep over my body.

“Ahh, sorry, Danger. I’ve worked a double and I’m beat,” I politely decline and begin to turn away when his hand reaches out and grabs me, stopping me from my departure.

“Oh, come on, baby. You don’t have to play hard to get with me.” He tugs me back and steps in closer, our bodies colliding with force.

“Ump.” A pained breath leaves my lips as his hand fists my hair and tugs, forcing me to look up.

“I saw the way you were looking at me.”

My body is screaming at me to fight, to pull away, but I’m suspended between confusion and terror.

“I wasn’t—”

“You’ve got five seconds to remove your fucking hands off my woman, or I’ll break every one of your fucking fingers.” Jesse’s voice cuts through the fog that was slowly but surely suffocating me.

“The fuck?” Danger turns, but doesn’t release me. “She belongs to you?” He spits the last question at Jesse, anger dripping with every word.

“Did I fucking stutter when I told you to get your fucking grubby paws off her?” Jesse replies and I want to cry out and beg him to take him down now, but I don’t. I keep my eyes on Jesse waiting for his next move.

“So this is the bitch you’re ready to go to war over?” Danger releases his hold on me and steps back just as Jesse moves in, hand lurching forward straight to Danger’s neck.

“You call her a bitch again, see what happens.” Danger’s gaze moves from me to Jesse then back to me, weighing up his options. “Don’t fucking look at her. You look at me, cocksucker. You’re on our turf. You fucking show me respect.” The veins in Jesse’s hand grow as his grip tightens around Danger’s neck.

“Jesse.” I try to calm him, but I know it’s not going to work. Not even a little.

“You’re five seconds from me fucking you right up.” Danger’s eyes leave mine and move back to Jesse.

“You start anything you know there will be a war.” He tries to reason with Jesse, but from where I’m standing Jesse doesn’t seem to care.

“You don’t think there’s one brewing already? You have information I want. I’m already looking for a fucking reason to bring you down.”

“Even if I knew, I wouldn’t fucking tell you, cunt.” Danger spits, trying to shake out of Jesse’s hold.

“You think I’m fucking with you? You and I both know I can hand you your ass right now for touching my woman. But I’m willing to let it slide one time. You give me the name I want and I’ll let you walk away with some dignity.” Jesse doesn’t relent, holding Danger firmly in his grasp.

“You want me to go against my Prez?”

“I want you to fucking man up and help me find an innocent woman.” They hold each other’s stare, neither one giving in.

“Danger, just tell him what you know.” I try to plead, eager for the information, but also because Jesse’s hold is only growing tighter.

“You’re better off fucking shooting me. I’m not fucking spilling anything.” Danger doesn’t budge and I have to give it to him. He’s loyal.

“Jesse, please let’s just go. He’s not going to tell you anything.” I decide to focus on Jesse.

Jesse doesn’t say anything, but the tick in his jaw tells me he’s weighing his options.

“This here, it’s not over, asshole. You’re going to turn around, get on your bike and get the fuck out of my face. Do you get me?” Danger flashes a smile that hides his unease and nods, agreeing to Jesse’s order. Accepting his nod for his understanding, Jesse releases him with a shove. He turns his body away from Danger, dismissing him and giving me his full attention.

“The fuck you talking to that motherfucker for, Bell?” Jesse wraps his hand around my wrist and pulls me closer to him.

“What?” I ask, a terrified tremor in my voice.

“Fuck, baby, come here.” He takes me in his arms and folds me into his embrace. I sag against his hard chest, my heart rate racing to an all time high.

“Fuck, Bell. You had me worried.” He lets out a breath, holding me tighter.

“Why were you here? How did you…?” I try to focus, but my head is scrambled and my limbs become heavy.

“Tried to get you on the phone earlier, but it just went to voicemail. You told me you were finishing at seven. Something didn’t feel right, so I dropped by your house, spoke to your mom. She hadn’t heard from you either. Wanted to make sure you had left work.” He shakes his head, his eyes still burning brightly with anger.

“I’m glad you did,” I admit, brushing away thoughts of what might have happened if he didn’t.

“I’m taking you to the clubhouse. I’ll send Hunter for your car.” He takes my bag from my hands and moves to tuck me under his arm.

“I should just go home.” Not wanting to make a huge fuss, I pull back.

“I’m not letting you drive tonight.”

“Jesse, it’s not—” I start to argue that my mom is expecting me but his finger moves to my mouth, silencing me.

“Didn’t ask for your permission, sweetheart.” He squeezes me against his side and moves us to where his bike is parked.

“Thank you.” I stop and look up at him. “If you weren’t here…” I trail off, not needing to continue. He leans down and presses his lips to mine in a gentle kiss that in one breath soothes my burden, and manages to make me lose my fight.

“I would have killed that fucker, Bell.” He pulls back and places the helmet on my head.

“I think you managed to get your point across without committing a felony.” I straddle the seat, remembering how fired up he was seeing another man touch me.

“Don’t act cute. I’m still pissed.” He climbs on in front of me. Scooting forward, I place my arms around his middle and wait for him to start his bike.

“What? It was kind of hot.” I smile into his back waiting for his reaction.

“Yeah? Well, hold on to that thought, baby. My head might be calm, but my dick is still fucking seething from that cock sucker having his hands on you.”

I roll my eyes, but don’t stop my grin from growing. “Do you ever not think about your cock?”

“When I eat? Don’t like thinking about my cock then,” he jokes, and I let out a sharp laugh.

“I lo—” I start to say, the word becoming strangled when I realize what I started to blurt. Jesse stays quiet, the night air crackling between us.

“You do know I’m trying right, Bell?” He breaks the silence, without turning around.

I want to tell him maybe it’s not enough for me. Maybe I am selfish and I need more, but I don’t, because deep down I know it is.

I might never have all of Jesse, and maybe that wouldn’t be enough for someone else, but for me, it always would be. I would hold onto it with everything I had because it was more than he ever thought he could give.

“I do, Jesse.” A sigh moves past my lips as I rest my cheek to his back. He doesn’t say another word, the rumble of his pipes ending the conversation. And instead of worrying I’m going to run him away, I settle in against him knowing he’s trying.

‘Cause that is all I can ask for.