Shadowing Me(54)

Well, all this makes sense, and the name, in a fucked up way, fits him, but I could never call him Tavis on a personal level. He is Shadow to me. If he wants me to call him Tavis while we’re in bed together, I’ll do it, but I can’t do it all the time. I don’t care how well that name suits him, he will always be Shadow to me.

“I didn’t expect that, to be honest with you. I thought it would be something horribly awful like Bobby Lou or something funky like that,” I smirk as I play with him.

“Bobby Lou? Really? Is there anyone with that name?” He chuckles, and I grab my phone off the nightstand to Google the name.

“Let’s find out, shall we?” I giggle as I type in the silly name, but as I repeat it, it doesn’t sound all that silly. “Wow! It’s a really common name, believe it or not,” I say as I hand him my phone so he can see. I can’t believe it really is that popular of a name, and the more I sound it out with my lips, the more it grows on me. Go figure.

“It sounds appealing now, doesn’t it?” he replies as he hands me my phone. “All joking aside, you’re going to promise to stay on the compound today, right? Because, darlin’, I can’t worry about you while I’m working, and ZZ sure the fuck doesn’t need to worry either. Please listen to all of us for once. Do as you’re told. I know that’s the last thing that you want to hear, and it’s the last thing I would ever want to ask you. I wouldn’t be practically begging on my knees for you to stay home where you will be safe.”

When his tone takes on a strange high pitch with his last sentence, it pulls at me in the weirdest way. “Are you okay?”

I’m concerned, very damn concerned. For Shadow to show any kind of insecurities, more than freaks me out. Why are the guys suddenly showing me new sides to them? I don’t enjoy being thrown for a million and one loops. It stresses me out.

“I am, Tea, now that we’ve done this.” He gestures between us again. “It’s serious. This thing between us is fucking serious as shit. I wouldn’t risk hurting you with all my bullshit if it wasn’t. You were there. You know exactly how much I tried to resist us getting together.”

No shit, there were so many weird, awkward moments where we both pulled at one another and fought constantly, until the other day. This is definitely a step in the other direction for us. It happened fast, too.

“Shadow, is this your messed up way of telling me we’re exclusive, and you’ll be hurt if something happens to me?”

I’m not making light of the conversation this time. I’m completely serious. He is acting like it will rip him to shreds if I get hurt.

“Darlin’, we’ve been exclusive ever since I fucked your ass bare.”

The little fuckwad. “Way to a girl’s heart, Shadow,” I grumble as I go to stand.

“Tea, stop. You know I was being serious before I went all horny idiot on you.”

It still sucks that he worded it that way, but then I remember who he is, and what he does for a living, and who our family is. These men aren’t filtered, and god forbid someone ever try to muzzle them like they deserve most of the time.

“I know. Oh, and I’ll stay here today. I won’t leave the compound, but please keep an eye on my brother. That bitch has her claws so far deep in him, I ain’t sure he has balls anymore. He’s a pussy whipped bastard because of Sabine.”

When I mention her name, he cringes beside me. Yeah, I don’t like hearing it nor saying it, either.

“Has he been back at all?” he asks, breaking me from my evil thoughts of Winter’s sister.

“Yeah, but he isn’t speaking to anyone. I’ve only known him for a few months. This isn’t like him. I don’t know what else to say.”

I’m disappointed in my brother. For him to go against our father’s wishes is a big deal, and it makes it even worse that he is trying to patch in. He isn’t listening to a patched member. He has repeatedly messed up. I wish I knew what was going through his head. Mace has only wanted to please his newly found family. This goes against all things Breakneck when you’re patching in. I only worry that this will affect their decisions to let him continue to prospect.

“Your dad isn’t happy, Tea. He’s voiced that.”

“I know.” I scoot down on the bed so that my head hits the soft pillows.

Shadow moves closer to me. “This shit is depressing as fuck,” he growls as he tickles me. “Were you the one watchin’ me?”

Ah, hell. “A few times I did.” I gasp as he continues to tickle torture me. “I do believe you were watching me as well.”