Katie woke up the next morning in a mass of tangles consisting of bed sheets and Chibs' arms. For a moment she laid there, scared to move not wanting to wake him or end the comfort and warmth she currently felt. The room was dead quiet, the only sound was his steady, even breath and heart beat. She lay with her eyes closed, letting her other senses take control. She could feel that she was lying on her side with her head on his chest, his body half turned towards hers and his chiseled arms wrapped tightly around her. She could feel the heat radiating from his naked body that was pressed securely against her own. She could smell the intoxicating scent that was his, masculine and sweet. For a moment she relished in the pleasure of her senses, then finally decided to open her eyes.
"Yar beautiful when ya sleep love," Chibs said as soon as her eyes fluttered open.
Much to her alarm, he was already awake and instead of being met with the serine sight of his peaceful, sleeping form, she was met by his dark, sexy eyes. He reached up brushing a few stray hairs from her face, then leaned over and placed a sweet, delicate kiss on her forehead.
"That is surprising since I don't sleep much," Katie replied in a groggy voice.
After she made her comment, she suddenly regretted it when she felt his body tense against hers.
"Ey, you are a handful when you sleep," he said after a beat.
Katie's gaze feel, not wanting to met the eyes of the handsome man lying next to her.
"How bad was it?" She asked, assuming he knew what she meant.
"Not too bad I suppose, but then again I don't know what bad is," he said running a reassuring hand over her cheek. "For future reference, should I wake you up?"
"Yes," Katie replied without thinking.
For a moment they laid still and silent, neither knowing what to say to the other.
"How often does it 'appen?" He asked in a quiet voice.
"Dreams are every night, but since I really haven't slept with anyone I don't know about the yelling and what not," she replied.
"Well, I'll let ya know and I'll wake ya up love," he said with another soothing hand brushing over her cheek.
"I'm gonna grab a shower," Katie said quickly as she detangled herself from Chibs and moved to get up.
She sat on the edge of the bed, a routine she had developed so she didn't fall on her face when she stood up. Her leg was worst in the morning and she needed to get blood flow in it before any sudden movement. Suddenly, she felt a rough hand graze the edge of the healing wound on her back, causing her to tense and become self conscious.
"I think those stitches are ready to come out darlin', why don't ya let me take care of those before yar shower," he said.
Chibs worked swiftly as he took out the stitches, trying his best not to hurt her. Katie sat quietly on the edge of the bed, not talking, not even a flinch. The warm, comfortable moment she had woken up in was over and her usual darkness began to set it. With the darkness came a strange, unfamiliar feeling. With a kiss to the cheek Chibs let her know he was finished and she made her way into the bathroom.
The hot water felt good against her skin as she stood under the shower letting it hit her body. She ran through the events of the night and morning in her head, a small smile graced her lips as she thought of Chibs. The inside of her legs were already sore, but the good kind of sore that makes you smile every time you're aware of it. He was quite the incredible lover, that was for damn sure. It has been slow and passionate, full of pleasure and raw, animal instinct. Hell, it was just mind blowing sex in her opinion, but there was still that nagging feeling in the back of her head and she still couldn't quite put her finger on it.
After the shower she felt somewhat better, more human. When she walked out of the bathroom she half expected Chibs to be dressed and gone. Instead, he was lying in bed smoking a cigarette, a sly, sexy smile on his face.
"I guess it's time ta get dressed and go ta work," he said with a sigh. "But I would much rather stay in bed with you."
"Yeah, that would go over real well with Clay," Katie replied with a laughed as she started to get dressed.
"Ey, probably not the smartest idea I've 'ad," he said before getting up.
After Katie got dressed she made her way out into the clubhouse and was relieved to find it empty. They had agreed to walk out separately so it didn't make things obvious and raise any suspicions. Katie went to work opening the garage for the morning, the bay doors got opened, the air compressors turned on, the valves on the welding tanks opened and the machines turned on. The guys started to make their ways in one by one, Tig being one of the last to arrive.
Katie was bending over checking one of the jacks when she felt a swift swat land firmly on her behind.
"Morning there sweet cheeks," Tig said flashing her a wicked grin as he hurried out of her arms reach.
"Tiggy, I'm gonna hurt you," she said as she when towards him with a hand raised.
Just as she got close enough to hit him she heard her name.
"Katie, can you come here a minute please," she heard Gemma call.
After turning around she discovered Gemma standing in the doorway of the office with her glasses in her hand.
"And your welcome Tig," Gemma added with a half smile.
Katie followed her aunt into the small office and closed the door.
"Sit down baby girl," Gemma said leaning against her desk.
"What's goin' on Aunt Gem, are you ok?" Katie asked with a concerned look as she seated herself on the worn out, old couch.
"I'm fine, I just wanted to thank you for last night. I don't know, don't even want to think about what would have happened if you hadn't been there," Gemma said in her signature tone.
"No need to thank me Aunt Gem, you know I love you and I'd do anything to keep you safe," Katie said as she lit a cigarette.
"I know baby, but I'm just worried you're getting to deep into the club. You've only been home a short while, you need to relax and settle in," she said in her motherly tone.
"Aunt Gem, I'm not getting in too deep, I'm just going what I gotta do and what the club needs. You know how is," Katie said in almost a dismissive voice.
"I do baby girl, but sometimes you gotta leave stuff to the guys," Gemma replied in calm tone.
Katie had just opened her mouth to tell her Aunt to relax when Tig popped his head in.
"Katie, we are at the table. Clay wants to you with us, now," he said before disappearing once again.
"I don't wanna hear it Aunt Gem," Katie said with a sigh as she got up off the couch and made her way into the club house.
Before entering church she stopped by the pool table and dropped her cell phones into the cigar box holding the ones from the members. With a brief knock she made her way into church, a questioning look finding its way to her face.
"You wanted to see me Uncle Clay? " She asked after closing the doors but standing just inside.
"Yeah, we haven't started yet. Tig pulled up a seat for you, come here and sit down sweetie," Clay replied in his gruff voice.
Katie walked over to the seat between Tig and her Uncle and took the seat offered to her. It was rare she got to sit at the reaper table with the club, but wasn't completely unheard of. Every once and while when she was younger Clay would ask for her assistance and she would get to be like one of the members at the table, just without the privilege of a vote.
"Tig informed us that you have a pretty decent relationship with Darby," Clay began after she was settled.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that, but I don't know if you would call it a relationship," Katie said with a grimace. "I mean, we get along and don't want to kill each other every time we are in the same room."
"Well, we need you to call Darby and set up a meet," Jax said from the other side of the table. "With the attempted attack on Gemma we need more information on the new Cigar King in town."
"Ok, I'll go do it right now," Katie said before moving from her seat and exiting the room.
A few moments later Katie came back into the room with a satisfied look on her face.
"Meet him in an hour by the docks," Katie said as she sat back in her seat, elbows resting on the wooden table in front of her. "What do you want me to find out?"
"As much as you can on Zobelle and his crew, whatever Darby knows," Jax said looking intently at his cousin.
"No problem, but I better go alone. With the history between you and him, I don't know if he will be as open if you are standing next to me," Katie said talking to Clay.
"No way," Tig said from the other side of her. "No way man, you don't need to be going unprotected. Not with what almost happened to Gem."
"Tig's right Kate, no one rides alone," Clay replied then sat and thought a minute. "Tig, you and Juice follow in the van, but stay back. We don't want him to know you're there, just keep an eye on things."
Clay dismissed her from the table and she made her way back into the dorms to suit up for the ride. Clay was putting more and more responsibility on her which made her feel like she actually had a purpose in the club. Although she could never be patched in as member, due to the fact that she was woman, Clay was giving her the chance to prove herself and she was appreciative. She was changing out of her TM mechanics shirt when Gemma found her once again.
"Going somewhere?" Gemma asked as she walked in, stopping with a hip out and her arms crossed.
"Yeah, got some stuff to do," Katie replied as she slipped on a faded, jean shirt with pearl snaps over her wife beater.
"I don't have anything from the garage," Gemma said with a hard look quickly blanketing her face.
Gemma stood for a moment and watched as her niece gave her a quick glance then turned to the shoulder holster hanging on the chair behind her, slipping it into place with ease. Katie then walked slightly past the now stern looking older woman to the dresser where her knives lay waiting. Without a word she picked up her good leg and secured the switch blade on the inside of her boot, then placed her K-bar in its waiting sheath on her hip.
"Clay is sending you out on club business?" Gemma asked tapping her foot angrily.
"Just got a couple things to do Aunt Gemma, come on don't do this to me," Katie groaned as she pulled on her wore leather coat.
"No, don't do this to me. I just said I don't like you getting into deep with the club and he is sending you out on business 30 minutes later. Why can't one of the guys do it?" She argued.
"Aunt Gem, you know I can't talk about it, there are certain things it's better I handle. I'll be fine," Katie said growing irritated with the mother cub chewing her ear off.
Gemma watched as her one and only niece grabbed the extra ammo clip off the dresser and placed it in the inside pocket of her coat, then last but not least strapped the .22 to her ankle. It was like watching one of the guys get ready when they went out on a run, but this time it was niece. She watched silently as Katie tied the Reaper bandana around her head, securing her long, dark, wavy hair. It was like watching someone get ready for battle.
"What does he have you doing?" Gemma demanded.
"Aunt Gem, don't," Katie growled as she pushed past the older woman and made her way out into the club house.
"Don't you walk away from me damn it," Gemma barked as her heels clanked angrily as she followed closely behind.
"Jesus Christ, Piney will you fucking help me? I can't handle this shit right now," Katie said in an irritated voice.
Just then Clay and Tig walked out of the Chapel, finding their way into the wrath that was Gemma. The two men stopped dead in their tracks, knowing that look all too well and suddenly looked as though they wished they had stayed in the other room.
"What do you have her doing for the club?" Gemma demanded, blindsiding the surprised looking president and Sergeant At Arms.
Tig quickly stepped out of the path of the angry looking matriarch and leaned against the bar next to Katie giving her a quick jab with his elbow.
"Nothing dangerous, relax. Just a couple connections we need her to tap into," Clay said shooting Katie and Tig a fuck you look.
"She is not a guy, she doesn't need to be doing stuff for the club," she said with daggers to Clay then turned her attention back to her niece. "You need to leave the club business to the guys."
"What so I can go hang out with porn queen and be her Barbie doll? Thanks, I'll pass Aunt Gem," Katie said with a quick chuckle. "Come on Tiggy."
Katie and Tig made their way out of the club house to look for Juice, the barks of Gem still ringing behind them.
"Man, I hate to see if she was in battle with me. I wouldn't have to worry about a road side bomb killing me, it would be death by nagging," Katie said to Tig with a smirk.
"I heard that!" Gemma yelled from behind them.
"I fucking meant you to," Katie shot back as she walked to her bike.