“Not worth the hassle, plenty of other pussy.”

“You okay?” Tripp asks, now understanding what happened. I wrap my arms around him tightly, resting my head on his chest.

“Perfect now, babe.” I answer, relaxing in the moment. For the first time in my life, it felt good to say I was someone other than Roundman’s Doll.

We hang out for a little while longer as I meet Tyler, Heaven Hill MC VP. He’s the biker that called Tripp over earlier. I’m introduced to Liam, the club Prez and his ol’ lady Denise. We meet a few other Heaven Hill members before we leave for the night. It was comforting to be in Tripp’s arms all night. If I was sitting, then it was on his lap. If I was standing, then it was with his arm around my waist and his hand down in the back pocket of my jeans cupping my ass cheek. I’m not used to having someone on me like that, and if it had been anyone else, it would have annoyed the shit out of me. With Tripp, though, shit felt right. It felt good, so much so, I could spend my lifetime in that man’s arms, by his side and never get enough of him.

Waking with Doll tangled in me after a night making her body tremble beneath me is a happiness I’ve never had. As a kid, my grandpa always talked about the love he and my grandma shared. Every moment he had with her was a treasure. He always told Rex and me, “Treasure your women when you find them. Make sure your woman knows that she’s the center of your world. There is no better feeling than waking up to the person who accepts everything about you. The moment she climbs into your arms, when she seeks you out as her comfort, her protector, and her love. You carry that moment for a lifetime.”

Last night, Doll came to me. She could’ve shut the guy down without claiming herself as mine, but she didn’t. Pop’s was right, there’s no better feeling than waking up with Doll after she’s climbed into my arms. Choosing me, she’s choosing me.

The thoughts of having her like this for my lifetime brings warmth deep inside of me. Today, I bring her back to my house. Tonight, I will have her in my bed. Tomorrow, I return her to her world. Tomorrow, I say goodbye to my lifeline. Tomorrow, I say goodbye to my heart because when I leave, I leave it with her. As much as it’s going to suck, I’m going to leave her. It’s going to crush me, but I’m going to walk away. The other thing Pop’s always said, “Don’t give your woman unnecessary pain.” My life would be unnecessary pain for Doll.

I have all of today, tonight, and tomorrow’s drive to make sure Doll knows she’s my treasure. Starting in this moment, when I gently rub the back of my hand against her face. Knowing she’s asleep, I share what’s on my mind.