13 - Midnight Gift Exchange
*I got you a little something. I know we said that we weren’t going to, but I did. – Darkness*
Darkness walked down the hall just off the kitchen towards the back porch. In her regular spot on the far side of the long porch, Camille sat with her portable lamp and what he assumed was one of her new encyclopedias. Tink lay in front of the rocking chair with one of Camille’s feet on his back, and the other tucked up under her.
Standing in the shadows, he took a moment to simply look at her. His light. Her beautiful soul called to his dark and scarred one.
Her dirty blonde hair was down, and she wore her standard fare for her evenings at the clubhouse. Pajama pants, a matching spaghetti strap shirt and her gray cardigan. The rest of the club believed that the sweater was because she was modest and innocent.
Darkness knew better. Nessie had told him a year ago that his light was a prospect. That would mean that before she came here, she had probably earned her patch. And somewhere under that sweater with the large pockets, was a patch tattoo.
His dark eyes skimmed over her form, and he wondered where it could be. He had seen it tattooed on the Saints, printed on their T-shirts and of course, stitched onto the back of their cuts. A red devil riding a motorcycle with large angel wings flowing out behind him. A golden halo hanging precariously on the left horn.
The thought of exploring her skin to find her patch tattoo had his dick straining against his jeans. Taking a deep breath, he thought of anything that would make his chub go down. Motorcycles. Clogged toilet. The large alligator, Boudreaux, that lived in the bayou located behind the clubhouse. Who the hell named him Boudreaux?
Once he was back under control, he stepped out of the shadows and into the small circle of light.
“Want to go for a ride?” he asked.
It was not uncommon for him to ask her this simple question. They went for rides a few times a week when they were both suffering from insomnia. Now that she was back, he needed some time with her. Time without all his brothers watching and listening.
Smiling at him, Camille closed her book and turned off her light. She picked them both up as she got up and Tink stretched and yawned as he moved with her. When she stood in front of him, Darkness gave into the need to touch her.
His large dark hand gently caressed her pale cheek. Tink sat at her feet and leaned against her leg. The guard dog no longer growled when Darkness touched her or when the brothers got close. But if she fell asleep, everyone knew to give him a wide berth.
“Pancakes?” he whispered.
“Sounds good.” She agreed, pressing her cheek into his embrace.
“I missed you.” His quiet admission had her heart fluttering.
“Missed you too.” She whispered.
He smiled at her with his bright white teeth almost glowed in the faint security light. It would be so simple to lean in and taste her lips again. The way that she looked up at him, he was certain that she would let him. Her tongue slipped out and licked her lips just before she bit down on her bottom lip.
“I need to go get dressed.”
He nodded. “I’ll meet you out front.”
Camille joined him out front in jeans, riding boots and her jacket. He watched as she tucked a box into her saddle bag and pulled Tink’s harness out. Once the dog was secured on the custom seat, they rolled out of the compound with the prospect closing the gate behind them.
They had two routes that they usually took to IHOP, tonight, Darkness went the short route. The night waitress just waved at them as they came in. They waved back and went to their usual table. Tink settled in under the table and tucked himself out of the way.
As they sat down, Camille placed the box from her saddle bag on the table and pushed it towards him. The khaki-colored walls were covered with pictures of their specials and their famous pancakes. The high-back booths lined the walls under the windows.
Darkness and Camille typically sat at the four top table near the back. There was a long bench with multiple two top tables with chairs on the other side. There was an older homeless man, Henry, that the night manager would let come in and use the bathroom for a sponge bath. On colder nights, or when it was raining, they also let him stretch out on the bench on the back.
“What’s this?”
“It’s called a present.”
“For me?”
“Duh.”
“In that case…” he pulled a small box out of his cuts inside pocket and offered it to her.
Blushing, she took it and carefully took the professionally wrapped paper off. Inside the blue box was a matching jewelry box. On the white satin pillow were a pair of silver and black diamond stud earrings.
“They’re beautiful.”
“I hoped you would like them.”
“I do.” She said taking out her small gold hoops that so many of the Saints wore and replaced them with her new studs.
The waitress came by and sat their drinks down. After confirming that they wanted their usual and he ordered a meal and gift card for Henry, and promising a bowl of water for Tink, she disappeared.
Darkness tore at the paper and found a plain white cardboard box. Inside was a custom pocketknife. The blade was an iridescent damask with a black hilt and silver writing.
“A certain Darkness is needed to see the stars.” Darkness read aloud.
He blinked back tears that suddenly filled his eyes. He’d never received anything this nice from someone like her. Not even his ex-wife gave him anything like this.
“Do you like it?”
Confused, Darkness looked at her. How could he not like it?
“It’s perfect.”
“I had to ship it, I couldn’t take it on the plane.” she said softly.
He reached across the table and took her hand in his. It was only then that he realized how nervous she was.
“Cam.” He said her shortened name barely above a whisper.
Her eyes slowly trekked up to his. When their eyes met, he stood slightly and leaned across the table. She mirrored his actions and their lips touched in a light brush of affection over the table.
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