Comp’s Chance (Reckless Omens MC)

Chapter 9

Nine

SUNNY

W aking, I feel more refreshed than I have in my entire life. I don’t know what it is; I just know that I feel safe, cared for, and, most importantly, rested for the first time in as long as I can remember. I haven’t felt rested since the minute Paisley was born.

I open my eyes and finally remember where I am. Nix’s bed. It’s so comfy, so big, and it smells like him. I take a deep breath before rolling over and seeing the time on the clock. I gasp, scrambling out of bed. I look around the room, and Comp is sitting at his computer station. I call it a station, but it’s basically an entire room set up with monitors, computers, gadgets, and what I can only describe as spy equipment. In my defense, I only use my Mac to do my editing work. That is about as far as my computer knowledge and skills extend.

I stare at him for another minute, realizing he has headphones over his ears. This is the first time I’ve gotten an uninterrupted view of his face. However, I can only see half of it since he’s looking at his computer and not me, but the side I can see is the scarred one. A nasty scar runs from right under his hairline on the right side down his face and neck until it disappears under his shirt. I trace his face with my eyes, noticing the scars cause his lip to turn down slightly. I can only describe it as the Phantom from the Phantom of the Opera, but with long hair that didn’t get the burns… He’s still beautiful to me.

I know what’s in his heart; I know what kind of man he is. The man who takes one look at a single mom in need and drops everything, the type that sees a woman breaking down and holds her. Hopefully, I’m the only one he’s doing that too, but… dammit, I can’t think like that. I can’t let my mind go there. If I do, the hope will eat me up until I decide to be brave enough to do something about it. Then, I will have to deal with the rejection when he realizes just how much baggage I carry.

I shake my head, knowing I need some fresh air or at least a room not surrounded by a man I’m crushing on, hard. But before I can even sit fully up, Nix whips his head around. He quickly removes his headphones and combs his hair back to hide his face.

“You shouldn’t hide your face. You're very handsome, and the scars don’t take away from that,” I tell him, unable to keep the words in. When he realizes I saw him, the panicked look on his face nearly breaks me. There is no way I can let this man think he’s less than or not good enough just because of some scars.

“People don’t want to see that shit. Too many times getting called fucking gross or hideous, make sure I stay hidden,” he says, shrugging, but he turns his back to me, and I realize he doesn’t want to talk about this with me. I understand, even if I hate it. I stand, ready to leave the room, but look back at him.

“Just because a few assholes don’t have a soul doesn’t mean the whole world is like that… and even if it did and the world was against you, the people here love you. Don’t push people away just because the scars are more than skin deep,” I tell him before turning and walking out of the room.

I still can't believe I slept all day. I’m freaking out about Paisley. Was she worried when she woke up without me? Could she find me in Nix’s room? Did she go back to bed hungry? I have so many questions, but when I make it back to our room, what I see has me coming up short before a smile crosses my face.

A Disney movie plays on the TV, and all three kids are piled in the bed. Paisley is in the middle, with Rome on one side and Rae on the other. All three have their hands locked together, and it makes me tear up. My baby girl has finally found the place she belongs. Don’t get me wrong, she had a friend back in our hometown, but not like this. Unfortunately, the mistakes of my past were taken out on her. The whole town shunned me and, by extension, her. I wipe the tears from my eyes when I hear someone behind me.

“They’ve been inseparable since Paisley woke up from her nap. We got them fed, and they wanted to watch a movie together. I wanted you to get enough sleep, so I told Halle and Loki I would watch them. I hope that was okay,” Nix says from behind me. I shiver at how close he is but nod my head.

“That’s perfectly fine. Thank you so much for taking care of her. I didn’t mean to sleep so long,” I say, wondering where I’m supposed to stay since I now have a bed full of kids. Nix must see my concern because he grabs my hand before pulling me back down the hallway.

“Are you hungry?” he asks, but I’m not. I may have just woken up, but I still feel so exhausted.

“No, I just really want to lie back down,” I tell him, rubbing my eyes.

“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't stand 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. I want to see all of him. One day, he’ll trust me enough with his secrets. I’ll make sure of it.