Free Shadow (A Bad Boy Romance): The Hoods MC by Heather West Page B

while I might now understand where you're coming from, I can't accept you going around killing people. Shadow that's just—"
     
    "I don't need a lecture." I reached for the pitcher of beer. Only enough for a half a glass remained.
     
    She yanked it out of my hand. "We aren't done talking about this."
     
    "I know." I sighed. If we were going to try and see what might be between us, it was better she knew about my missions, all of it.  But telling her the truth, the whole truth could be reason enough for her to break my heart all over again.
     
    Was I really willing to do this, to let her back into my life and maybe my heart? There hadn't been another woman after she left, that I had wanted as much I had wanted her.
     
    Okay, so yeah, the night she'd left me, I had sought out the company of a woman. Even brought her to a hotel room. But I couldn't get it up. I couldn't stop thinking about Allie. She hadn't been able to accept me, all of me. She had learned my deepest, darkest secrets and rejected me because of it. Her love, our love, hadn't been strong enough to overcome it. I was devastated and heartbroken. After I kicked the woman out—I don’t even remember her name—I swore off women.
     
    But seeing Allie—now Sky—made me realize I wasn't a loner. Not when it came to her. And I didn't want to be.
     
    I wanted her.
     
    God help me, I wanted her. Even if she might be the end of me.
     
     
     

Chapter Nine
    Shadow
     
     
     
    My gaze sought hers.
     
    She yanked out the chair and sat down across from me.
     
    "You don't believe me," I said, un-fucking-believably desperate.
     
    "I don't know what to believe." She rubbed a hand over her face.
     
    "I… I know I haven't made any of this easy on you."
     
    Her lips quirked, but she didn't really smile, and her eyes were so sad. "None of this is easy. Not even a little. I… I feel like I'm drowning."
     
    "Guess I better take CPR lessons."
     
    A startled giggle burst out of her, and she winced. "I do, though. I mean…"
     
    "I know. You've been through so much already. You don't need more crap from me."
     
    "No, I don't." She brushed her hair from her shoulder. It looked so damn sexy, but I knew she wasn't trying to be, and that made it even hotter.
     
    "Tell me how I can help." I reached across the table and grabbed her hand, my thumb rubbing across her knuckles.
     
    "Right now, I just need to get on my feet. Find some stability."
     
    "You can stay here."
     
    Her lips twisted into the tiniest of smiles. "You mean if I sleep with you every night."
     
    I grinned. "Doesn't only have to be at nighttime." I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively.
     
    "Oh, really?" She shook her head but she was laughing, and I joined in. "I would appreciate having a place to stay. Until I get settled."
     
    "Settled? You can settle right here."
     
    "Maybe… If we work out. Regardless, I need to be able to find work, and I'll need more clothes and… Where are my clothes? I assume I lived here when we were together—"
     
    "Yes."
     
    "But then I moved out. I must have taken everything with me. Where did I go? I didn't make it to Marie." She bit her lower lip. "So she wouldn't know, and I doubt I would've told you."
     
    "You didn't. You just… you just left." It still made me feel bitter to remember it.
     
    "Well, at least I know my name, my old name. Allie…" Sky bit her lower lip. "Am I… was I Allie Haymaker? Or is Marie married?"
     
    "She's married. Your name isAllie Moreno. We might be able to try and learn what you were up to."
     
    "By putting your investigative skills to good use for once."
     
    "Har, har, har. Yeah, I'll look into it for you."
     
    "When?" she asked pointedly.
     
    Just holding her hand was enough to make me even harder, and it was becoming extremely difficult to concentrate on our conversation with a hard-on. "Whenever you want."
     
    But not right now. Please, not right this second.
     
    "I'm hungry," she said.
     
    "So am I." From the way I