Allison

I have been sitting on the bed for the last ten minutes just looking at the bedroom door. I know it's a safe place to be, no one here will hurt us, but I can't bring myself to move from the room. Lifting my legs up, I wrap my hands around them and rock back and forth. Nibbling my bottom lip, I wonder if I can just stay here all day. Would anyone notice?

I have my answer just as the question pops into my head. The door opens, so harshly the back hits the wall hard. I watch as Grayson leans his big body against the door jam, folding his arms across his chest, he tilts his head and studies me. I want to speak, just to be able to say something, but no words come out of my open mouth.

I hear him take a deep breath, see the annoyance in his eyes, but he tampers it down. Closing his eyes, he lifts his hand to his face, pinching the top of his nose, between his eyes with his thumb and finger. "It's safe to come out of here." He says calmly. I drop my feet to the floor, and move around from my spot on the bed. Trying to look around him. For what? I haven't a clue.

Dropping his arms to his side, he lifts his body from the wall, and walks closer to me. Once he's standing a foot away, he holds his hand out to me. I look from him to the door and back again. I reach for his hand, all while biting my bottom lip. He lifts me up with so much strength, I practically fall into his chest.

The feel of his hard chest, the warmth of his body seeping into the tips of my fingers and the palm of my hand have my eyes closing as that tingling sensation once again is at the pit of my stomach. It feels like butterflies are flying around in there, and I don't understand why every time he's close by I have this feeling. It baffles and scares me all at once. "Hey," His voice is low as he says the word close to my ear. I smell his cologne, the woodsy scent, and the smell of him combined all in one has my knees shaking. If he didn't have a hold of me, I'm certain I'd fall onto the floor.

"Alley cat, look at me baby." That name has my chin lifting, and my eyes popping open. I hate being this close to him, I feel as though he can see my vulnerability. As though, he can see straight through all the walls I have spent my entire life building up. He sees me for who I really am. No one else ever has.

He watches the movement of my neck as I swallow roughly. The heat in his eyes, is going to melt me to my core. I can feel it. He'll have me in a puddle at his feet, telling him all my deep dark secrets in no time. I'm not certain how I feel about that.

He gives me a sincere smile, as his hand lifts up to place a part of my dark hair behind my ear. "I'll stand by your side the whole day if it'll make you feel more comfortable. You have my word on that." My brows furrow as I study his eyes once more. All I see staring back at me is kindness, comfort, and the truth. He would really do that for me.

My eyes make their way past him to the open door once more. I find it endearing that he is more than willing to following me around like a protective bodyguard all day, but I know I have to do this on my own. It's important I show Lilith that even a broken woman can have strength when it's needed.

Looking back to his eyes, he drops his hand from mine, moves to the side, and gives a slight bow. "There's my Alley Cat, after you beautiful." I still see kindness held in his eyes, but now humor and pride shine through as well. He's proud of me for taking this next step. I give him a slight nod of my head, as I lift my shoulders back, standing straight. Making sure my chin is up and I'm look ahead the entire walk out the door and down the hall. Only pausing briefly as I make it to the top of the stairs.

His body heat lets me know he's close by. I feel him lean in closer to me, as he sniffs my neck, the breath he takes causing me to tilt my head to the side just a little. I feel his lips form into a smile. "Don't lose your courage now there Alley Cat, you've got my respect and attention. Now it's time to go down these steps and earn everyone else's too."

I go to take a step down when his arm reaches out and pulls me closer to him. A moan escapes from my mouth, shocking the both of us as he rubs his lips along the skin of my throat. "You're growing to like my touch." He growls into my hair.

I want to shake my head no. Pull away and turn around and slap him. Deny it to the fullest, but my body doesn't wish to move an inch. Instead, it has a mind of its own, as I wrap my arm around the back of his neck, pulling his face closer to me. Light kisses sprinkle along the skin of my neck as he breathes me in.

"You show them just how fierce you are Allison. Show them that the daughter of Tiger won't take no shit from anyone." He purrs into my ear. I simply close my eyes with a nod of my head. I remove my arm from his body, and place it along the banister, awaiting for him to release me.

I can feel the battle fighting within himself. There's a part of him that wants to let me go so I can do just that. Walk down these steps and show everyone that I am Tigers daughter. The smart mouth, sarcastic, strong woman that I have grown to be. Then, there's another part of him that dare I say wants what he wants. Which is for him to lift me up, carry me to the room, and show me what my body wants. Although, to be honest my mind doesn't understand entirely what my body is craving. I only know that he can show me what that is.

A second later, his arm drops from my waist, and he takes a step away from me. I hear a crack, letting me know he's moving his neck from side to side. Getting ready himself to become the man he has to be, the man in charge, leader of the crew. He's the alpha male here, the president of the club, and he cannot show his men this softer side to him.

He waits for me to take the first step. When I do, I find it easier to take the next, and the next. Until I find myself at the bottom of the stairs, hearing loud voices come from the main room. It sounds like there are many more men and women here than there were last night when we arrived.

My heart is pounding quickly against my chest. My legs are shaking, and to be honest I find myself faltering with whether I should continue on, or back peddle back to the room and lock the door behind me. "No," He steps closer to my body saying that one word with conviction. So much power held deep in his tone it has me growing weak.

"You are not a coward, there isn't a weak bone in this body of yours. I know this is scary. Hell, its completely nerve wracking for you, but I'm right behind you. Most of these men know exactly who you are as they either grew up with us or have heard the stories." He twists me around quickly, stopping with both hands on my hips. "We are your family and there is nothing you have to fear here."

The sensitive man that was upstairs with me has vanished once again. Leaving behind this alpha of a male looking deep into my soul. The look on his face lets me know that he will not accept an argument. That one way or another I will be walking into that room. With the tilt of his head to the side, the sadistic smile growing along his lips, he's practically begging me to challenge him.