Chapter 2

Gemma and I walk back out to the main room and to the bar. Seeing Tig standing there, I walk up beside him but don't touch him. He puts his arm around my waist and pulls me close to him before kissing the top of my head. "Want something to drink?" he asks me. "Water please." I whisper. The prospect hands him and water for me and he opens it and hands it to me. "You okay?" Tig asks. I look at him and nod my head yes. We stand around for a while and I just listen to the guys talk.

A little later, we head to his dorm. Once inside I ask "Can I take a shower?" He walks over to me and pulls me close. Tilting my head up he says "You don't have to ask. You can do anything you want. Okay?" he say. "Okay. Thank you." I say. I get into the bag that Gemma brought me and take out a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top and head to the shower. Stepping into the shower, I let the hot water stream down over me and it feels amazing. I want so bad to relax but it's been so long since I was allowed to that I don't know how to. I get out of the shower and dressed before heading back to the bedroom. I walk out of the bathroom, and see Tig sitting on the side of the bed in just his boxers. "Come here Sweetheart." he says softly. I walk over and he reaches for my hand. Taking his hand, he pulls me to stand in between his knees. He looks up at me and says "Look, I know I'm older than you and you don't know me, I get it, but...I need someone to stand by my side. I'm tired of being alone. I claimed you as my Old Lady but if you aren't comfortable with that…" he says before I cut him off by putting my finger against his lips. "You saved me. Something about you makes me feel safe so if you want me by your side, I'll be by your side." I tell him. He pulls me down to sit on his lap and says "Okay."

We stand and move to lay down. Lying in bed, he pulls me into his arms and asks "Can I kiss you?" I nod and he leans forward and kisses me softly. When he pulls back, I lean forward and kiss him again and he deepens the kiss. He doesn't push me for more but the kisses are soft and loving. Once we break the kiss, I lay my head on his chest and say "Thank you." He squeezes me softly and I drift off to sleep in his arms.

Waking up the next morning, I hear the shower going and know he's in there. I get dressed and sit on the side of the bed and wait for him to come out. He walks out in just a towel and I look down at my hands while he gets dressed. "Are you hungry?" he asks. "I'm okay." I tell him. "You need to eat Doll." he says and I nod. We walk out to the main room and to one of the tables and a woman barely wearing anything brings us plates of food and coffees. We are sitting there for a few when one of the guys, Chibs, says "Tell us a little bit about you Lass." I look at Tig and he nods it's okay. "I grew up in Portland. Parent passed when I was nineteen and no siblings. Dad was Scottish and mom was Cherokee Indian. I met Danny a little over a year ago and a few months in, he started beating me." I say. "He won't do it anymore." Tig says. I look at him and say "I know." before leaning against him and him putting his arm around me and holding me close.

We listen to some of the others talk and I look up and see some of the ladies glaring at me. "What is their problem?" I whisper to myself. Tig looks at me and then sees what I am looking at. "Don't worry about them. Their pissed because I'm with you. They'll move on to someone else soon." he tells me and I nod. This isn't going to be easy. I see how skinny they are and I'm not. I'm a thick girl. Being around those girls is what he needs. I'll stay by his side where I'm safe but I need to tell him that he needs them. "Can we talk?" I ask and he nods. We head to his dorm and I start talking. "I appreciate what you're doing for me Tig. I want to be here. I do. But I can't give you what those girls can. If you want me here then I will be but I want you to still be with who you want. They can do more for you in that department than I can." I tell him. "That's bullshit right there sweetheart. Look, I don't want those girls. They just want the patch, not the man. You're doing everything I need you to do by being here and when you're ready, we'll get there but only when you're ready. I can handle shit until you are. I don't need them. I need you." He tells me. I nod and he pulls me to him and kisses my lips softly and says "Happy will be here in a few days to give you my crow." I nod and he kisses me one more time before heading out to the main room again. Sitting back at the table, he pulls me to his lap and just holds me.

That afternoon, he has to leave for a little while for club business. Sitting at the bar, drinking a cup of tea, one of the girls from earlier walks up. "I don't know who you are but you need to leave Tig alone. He belongs to us." she tells me, standing there with one hand on her hip and the other on the bar next to me. I just ignore her. "I'm talking to you bitch." she says. I grab the fork that's on the bar and stab her hand with it. She pulls it back, trying to pull the fork out and I shove her down. Getting in her face I say "Tig claimed me as his Old Lady which means he belongs to me. Get in my face again and it will be more than a fork sticking out of your nasty ass body." I tell her. Before anything else can be said, I feel an arm around my waist and hear Tig ask "You okay Doll?" I look at him and say "Yeah. Just handling the trash." He looks at the croweater and says "Don't disrespect my Old Lady again. Get outta here." Her friends run over and help her out the door. He looks at me and asks "Was that a fork stuck in her hand?" I look down and say "Yeah. Sorry about that." I try to move around him to head to the dorm, worried that he's mad but he grabs my arm and says "Babe, you did good." I nod and pull away before heading to the dorm. He follows me in and says "Talk to me." I sit on the bed and say "Are you mad?" He kneels in front of me and says "No baby. I'm not mad. I'm kinda proud." I look at him and he says "You stood up to her. You defended your place as by Old Lady. You did good baby." he says. "Okay." I say softly. He leans forward and kisses me softly and says "I proud of you." I lean into him and just let him hold me.