Trusting Thorn (Miami Saints MC #5)

Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

Oakland

Feeling the heat at my back and the strong arm wrapped around my middle, I smile, surprised by how calm I feel about what happened this morning.

It's crazy, but since the moment I met Thorn, I've felt this pull towards him.

Shifting carefully, I turn in his arms and look up just in time to catch his eyes opening and a smile take over his face.

"Hey, beautiful," he murmurs, leaning in to kiss me softly.

When he pulls away, I can't help but blush. "Hi."

"How are you feeling?" he asks, his hand sliding up to cup my jaw.

"I'm good," I admit, feeling my cheeks heat up even more when his thumb starts tracing circles on my hip.

Thorn's expression turns serious. "We should probably head over to your trailer today and see if there's anything salvageable."

And just like that, reality comes crashing back in. I blow out a breath and I nod as the bubble we'd been in pops. "Yeah, you're right."

After a long wet kiss, we roll out of bed and dress, stealing glances at each other as we do. It's a crying shame to have to watch Thorn cover his incredible ass.

"Stop looking at me like that, woman," he growls.

My cheeks heat as my eyes jump to his. "Sorry."

Shaking his head, Thorn chuckles. "Promise, baby. There's gonna be a whole lot more fucking later."

My teeth sink into my lip.

"Fuck it," he growls, tossing his shirt to the side and lunging.

An hour later as we trudge down the stairs, I'm struck by how perfect this all feels.

"You want a coffee, honey?" I offer, following Thorn into the kitchen.

He stops suddenly, making me almost run into his back, and stares down at me with a look on his face I'm not sure of.

"What? You don't want any?"

His lips twitch. "You called me 'honey'."

"Oh," I whisper.

"Get that look off your face, baby. I just hadn't realized you were all in, yet. But hearing you call me honey, I know we're on the same page."

My cheeks grow warmer.

"Gonna make me a cup of coffee?" Thorn teases.

"Yeah," I nod, moving to the machine on the counter and starting a fresh pot.

When the coffee’s ready, I pour us each a cup with Thorn leaning against the counter beside me. "I called Dex last night and had him send some prospects over to start cleaning up the mess at your trailer."

"That's... really nice of him," I say, surprised he'd thought that far ahead.

Thorn shrugs. "Didn't want you having to deal with it, sweetheart."

"Thank you." It's been a long time since I had someone take my back like this.

"Nothing to thank me for, baby. Knew before you gave yourself to me this morning that you were mine." He says the words like it was always a given and if I'm being honest, I think I felt it too.

We finish our coffee and head out to Thorn's truck.

The drive to my trailer is relatively quiet, each of us lost in our thoughts.

"Oh God," I whisper, feeling my eyes well up with tears when he pulls into my driveway.

I knew it was bad yesterday, but seeing it now, in the light of day, I was not prepared.

"Come on, baby. Gotta rip it off like a bandaid," Thorns advises, getting out of the truck.

I take a deep breath to calm myself and climb out. When I round the hood, I can see that the prospects did their best to clean up what they could, but the place is still a mess.

Sensing I'm close, Thorn's hand finds mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay, baby. I'm going to figure out who did this and when I do..." He leaves the rest hanging between us.

Looking up into his stormy gray eyes, I nod.

I know if I ask, he’d tell me, but I think it’s best that I don’t.

"Keeping your head in the sand?" His brow lifts.

I shrug. "If there's something you think I need to know, then you can tell me. Otherwise, I think I'd prefer to stay in the dark about it."

"Fuck, you're perfect," he says, giving my hand another squeeze before leading me inside.

The second we step through my door, I'm hit with a wave of emotions.

This tiny trailer has been mine and Morgan's home for so long. It isn't much but it was our safe space, and someone came in here and wrecked it - violated it.

"Come here." I step into Thorn's arms and let him hold me together as the tears fall. "Get it out, sweetheart. I've got you."

And I do. I cry and let it all out. Not just what's happened here in my trailer but everything I've been through in the last six years.

When I finally feel like there's nothing left, I pull back and look up at Thorn. "Thank you."

His eyes search mine for long seconds before he finally says softly, "Always." With a tender look on his face, he lifts his hands and wipes my tears away.

I don't care that it feels like we're moving at light speed. Unless he tells me to kick rocks, I'm holding on with both hands.

"Talk to me, what's going through that head of yours?"

"It was so hard when Derek left," I start, my voice shaky. "I was alone and pregnant, and I had no idea how I was going to manage."

Thorn's arm tightens around me. "You're so strong, baby."

I take a deep breath and laugh humorlessly. "He left me with a mountain of debt, I'm still trying to pay off and when I called my parents in Georgia, begging for help, do you know what they said? ‘You took off with that boy. You're on your own.' When I look at Morgan... never would I refuse to help her." Thorn's jaw clenches, but he remains silent, letting me continue.

"I was scared out of my mind. Eighteen and pregnant," I shake my head thinking about how naive I was. "I had no idea what the heck I was going to do, but after that first doctor's appointment, when I heard Morgan's heartbeat for the first time... that's when I knew I'd do whatever it took to give her a good life."

"A fucking warrior. That's what you are," Thorn growls.

I smile softly, a little bit amazed he sees me that way.

"Hey," he rasps.

I give him my eyes. "You're not alone anymore, Oak," he says, his voice firm. "I meant it when I said you belong to me now."

"I want that more than you know," I admit, softly.

His words send a warmth through my belly, and for the first time in a long time, I feel hope.

"No more crying now, babe. Can't stand to see you cry."

"Sorry," I laugh, wiping at my face, sure that I look like a wreck now.

For the next few hours, we both work, sorting through what can be saved and what needs to be thrown out, and by the time we're done, I'm emotionally and physically exhausted.

"Let's head back," Thorn suggests, seeing the toll all of this is taking on me. "We can grab some takeout on the way."

I nod gratefully, bagging up the clothes that hadn't been shredded and then following him out to the truck.

On the drive back to the house after picking up the food, Thorn clears his throat. "So, I've been thinking..."

"That's dangerous," I tease, trying to lighten the mood.

He chuckles, but I can tell whatever is on his mind is serious to him. "Maybe. But hear me out. I think you and Morgan should move in... permanently."

I turn to look at him, surprised. "You don't think this is all happening a little fast?"

"What'd I tell you this morning?" he cuts me off.

"That I'm yours," I answer.

"That you're fucking mine. I want you with me. Both of you."

My heart races at his words. "Are you sure?"

"More sure than I've been about anything in my fucking life," he admits.

"Okay." It’s crazy and fast, but I can feel it in my bones that this is the right decision.

Thorn reaches out and tilts my head so he can see my eyes. "Gonna make you my old lady, claim you in front of my club."

My heart pounds in my chest. "And Morgan?"

"She's part of the package," he says without hesitation.

Tears prick at my eyes, and I blink them away. "Okay," I whisper.

"Okay?" Thorn says again, a grin spreading across his face.

I nod, smiling back at him. "Okay. I'm all in."

Thorn pulls me into his arms, kissing me deeply.

When we break apart, both of us breathless, he rests his forehead against mine. "You have no idea how happy that makes me."