Stryker

9 - You are worth it

Coral

“Why would you think that?”

I swallow hard.

How do you tell a man that you’ve never willingly slept with anyone in your life?

That you’re basically a virgin?

“Because I’ve never done this before.”

His eyes bug out, but he doesn’t let me go. His hands are stroking my back gently.

I don’t know what it is about this man, but I’m falling for him.

How is that possible when I don’t even know him?

Not really.

However, I’ve watched him in the month I have been home. I’m a good judge of character. I read people well. This man is lonely, not in the conventional sense. He’s surrounded by people every day, but deep inside, he’s alone.

I know from Taylor that Stryker has no family at all. BlackJack found him living on the streets when he was nineteen, skinny from starvation, dirty, and alone. He tried to rob BlackJack, who took pity on Stryker and took him home. Taylor mothered him, and Jack brought him into the club.

To look at him now, you’d never know this beautiful man was once a lost child. He’s built like a giant in every way; years of hard work and working out with the men of the club have turned him into a giant of a man. Yes, he’s a biker and dangerous on levels most can’t even fathom. However, I see the beautiful man inside. He’s kind, compassionate, warm, and so beautiful it floors me.

Shepard will most definitely kill Stryker for even being here with me like this, for kissing me, holding me, touching me, but I want it so badly. I feel safe in his arms.

Don't get me wrong, I’m a strong woman; I’ve been through some tough times in my life, but I survived them, and they made me stronger. I can survive anything, but it doesn’t hurt to be in the arms of a strong man who would kill an army if they so much as looked at you the wrong way, just as he did tonight with that guy.

Don’t think about what happened tonight and what Stryker so obviously did to that man. It will only play on your mind and drive you crazy. You’ve spent all month wishing this man would feel something for you. He just saved your life, and now he’s here trying to tell you how he feels. Just be honest with him, Coral.

“I want you so badly, Stryker. I want you to touch me and do all those things you like doing to other women to me, but the truth is, I'm just not ready to go all the way.”

I don't know what else to say. I imagine I sound like a stupid little girl to a man like him, but I won't force myself to sleep with him when I'm not ready. I wouldn't be all there with him, and he deserves a woman's full attention.

My hands slide down his chest as I lower my head. I feel stupid, but at least I know now. He doesn’t want me for anything other than my body. I was dumb to think that he could want me for anything more.

His hand cups my face, lifting my head. I look deep into his eyes, I see so much within them. He wants to be loved so badly. I want to be the one to love him. I wish it could be me.

“What happened to you, baby?” His voice is low, calming, and full of curiosity.

How can he read me like this?

“Who hurt you, Coral?”

“I don’t want to talk about it, Stryker. I’m not ready.” I don’t think I ever will be, and definitely not with this man.

Stryker doesn’t say anything; he pulls me into his arms and holds me close to his big body. I wrap my arms around him and sigh. It feels so good to be held.

He rocks me gently and kisses my head, drawing a smile from my lips. “No one will ever hurt you again. Not with me around.”

“Planning to be around long?”

“As long as you want me, baby.”

Oh, God. Kill me now. My ovaries are about to explode for this man.

“What’s happening between us, Mark?”

I feel him smile against my head at the use of his given name, but I need to know. I don’t want to open my heart to him if I’m not really what he wants.

I know we don’t know much about each other but getting to know each other will be easy. I know Stryker is special, I know he should be mine. He will be mine. He just needs to stop fighting it.

“I’m claimin’ you, Coral.”

I pull away just enough to look up at him. His eyes tell me that he’s deadly serious.

Do I want to be claimed?

Erm... By this man?

Yes, I think I do.

“Ain’t waitin’ another day for some other fucke.r to come along and steal you away from me.”

“I don’t want any other man.”

“Damn fuckin’ right, you don’t. Ain’t got a damn clue how I’m gonna tell Shepard. The man is gonna kill me and then some.”

“Don’t say that.” I press my fingertips against his lips.

I know what Shepard will do when he finds out about this. He told all of his men what he would do if they came near me, and I know Stryker thinks a lot of his President. So, the fact he’s here, wanting to claim me, tells me that he’s been struggling with how he feels. It says that he thinks I’m worth going against his President for.

I feel fuckin.g honored.

“I need to say it, Little Bird, because if we’re gonna do this thing, then we need to be ready for the shitstorm that will no doubt hit us.”

“Can’t we just get to know each other first? Can we wait a little while before we tell Shepard anything? I mean, you might not even want to be with me in a week’s time.”

He smirks and tells me, “You have no clue, baby. None at all.” With that, he kisses the shi.t out of me. I can’t even keep up with him. I have never been kissed like this, not by a man.

I slide my hands into his hair, pulling him closer to my aching body. I’m not ready for se.x, I know that, and I won’t just have se.x with him because I’m throbbing in places I’ve never throbbed before. But the Lord knows I want to touch, taste, and feel him in every other way possible.

However, this perfect man doesn’t attempt to touch me anywhere but my back and face. He knows I’m not ready. He heard me. He respects me, and I am falling so hard already.

Stryker’s forehead rests against mine, his hands on my hips. “Do you want this, baby girl? Do you wanna try with me? It won’t be easy. I’m not an easy man to get along with; I’ve been on my own for so long that I don’t even really know if I can give you what you need. But you make me want to try, Coral.”

Never has anything been easier to answer in my life. “You’re not alone anymore, baby,” I tell him as I stroke his face with my hand. His eyes are closed, chest heaving with emotion. I don’t know everything he’s been through in his life, but he’s not alone now. “I’m here with you. I’m claiming you, Mark. I’m claiming you, Stryker.” I’m claiming both sides of this man. I want all of him.

I kiss his lips softly.

“No matter what we have to face, you need to know that you are worth it, Stryker. No matter what Shepard said, I know he’ll be okay with this in the end. He would never hurt me. I know that. All he has ever done is protect me. I don’t know what will happen between us, where this thing will lead us,” Apart from me falling in love with you, totally, utterly, and completely. “But I want to find out.”

He holds me in his arms tightly and safely, rocking me from side to side and mumbling his thanks in my ear. He has nothing to thank me for, but I feel he means the fact I’ve claimed him as much as he’s claimed me.

I’m claiming his heart. I’ll hold it tight and safe, and I’ll never let him down. I don’t care how this makes me sound, I have never felt this way about anyone in my life. I don’t care who says it’s too soon to love him. It’s too late, I already do.

I know he doesn’t love me yet, and I say yet because he will soon enough. Yes, I’m cock.y, but I see where this is heading, and I am so excited for the future.

On the other hand, Shepard’s another story, but I believe what I told Stryker, Shepard will come around in the end. I think maybe we should keep our relationship to ourselves until we’ve figured each other out.

I’m going to enjoy that part.