Divorced by Him, Claimed by the Biker King

E

yself in the rhythm of painting. The colors swirled together, forming something new, something almost

rr

my heartbeat quic

te. My feet were barely on the wooden floor as I galloped thunderously down the stairs, my heart pounding with antici

inside like he'd never been gone. His tall, commanding form took my breath

ne around his broad shoulders, inhaling the familiar sce

strong arms encircling

st his shoulder, noddi

over me, assessing every inch. "You're pale, Tess." His voice wa

of illness, however short-lived. "I've been okay,

h lilies in one hand and a bag filled with painting supplies in the other.

to my hands. "And I grabbed some new brushe

om me as I cradled the bouq

ay strand of hair behind

sed yo

xpression turned serious again. "You

aid quickly. "Just a

n? I can still

, shaking my head. "No. Tru

leased a breath. "Okay. But if you start feeling t

ssing his hand

s eyes said something I could not quite define. Guilt? Regret? But before I could

g around to take care o

n't have to apologize. I

fe, Tessa. I shou

always like this, so protective, so careful with me. Others whispered about him being controlling, ke

d as I watched him carefully unbox the new paints and brushes, lining

ack and admiring his work. "No

ding through me. "You

ble for a moment before it softened into som

me a home where I wasn't afraid all the time, a place where, finally, I felt safe. People didn't understand-how could they, anyway? They didn't kno

me. He was protecting me

ad. "Get some rest, okay? I'll

ed. "I

his study the way he did most nights. I knew

fresh canvas. It was reassuring, grounding. I dipped my brush into a deep s

medicine. I reached for the cup absent-mindedly, b

o get down on my knees to collect the fragments. Pain jabbed my finger as a sharp shard of

ing and picked up the remaining bits of bro

the herbal medicine-the acrid

t didn't. I rinsed my hands and, putting a

t of all that had happened: Garrett coming home, his worry, his embracing warmth. Something sho

my eyes, and, for now, totally forg

quiet hum of the house was lull

no

snappe

do

nst

y heart skip

rr

t of the lamp in his study seeping under the doo

be going ou

ng my robe tightly around me. My bare feet barely made a sound as I s

h each step. Perhaps he had forgotten something in

the bottom, I stopp

t door w

s if she owned th

y breath i

i

ascade of perfect waves down her back. Unrumpled by the late hour, flawless makeup

she doi

red me-perhaps instinct-or perhaps a warn

came next bro

hat sent ice through my veins, like she'd

pped out of

He'd seen her too. Maybe he would demand why she wa

th

ched f

band-the man I had loved, the man who had promised to protect me- cupped Lily's face in his hands and kissed her. Not a polite, cha

no

nds paused for half a second before he pulled

ed. My legs almost

pening. It could

ept gett

of my strangled throat-Garrett pulled back slightly, his lips brushing again

ocket, he pulled out

od ran

se, and inside, nestled agains

A dead ringer for mine.

ing around the ring on its velvet cushion, sliding it onto

e me, my entire life balanc

't be. Bu

ust betrayed me.