Winter’s Touch Novel – Winter had always wanted children, always. Viper wouldn’t be swayed, though. “Viper…” “Why do you torment yourself like this?” He scooted closer to her. “Viper, we can have a baby if you would just listen to reason.” “Not if one of those reasons involves a chance of me losing you.” She could see fear in his direct gaze. “The attack was four years ago. My body has healed. My doctor said he believed we could have a successful pregnancy.” “We can’t take the chance. It’s not only you the doctor said would be in danger, but the baby, too. I couldn’t bear losing either of you.”
“Viper…” “Why do you torment yourself like this?” He scooted closer to her, placing his hand on the back of her neck to lift her eyes to meet his. “Viper, we can have a baby if you would just listen to reason.” “Not if one of those reasons involves a chance of me losing you.” She could see fear in his direct gaze. “The attack was four years ago. My body has healed. I’m in better shape now than even before the beating. My doctor said he believed we could have a successful pregnancy. There are high-risk obstetricians who specialize in difficult births. Just one, Viper. Just one child. That’s all I’m asking.” Winter broke down in tears, pleading with her husband. He pulled her close, burying his face in her neck. “Pretty girl, please don’t cry. We can’t take the chance. It’s not only you the doctor said would be in danger, but the baby, too. I couldn’t bear losing either of you. I told you I would look into us finding a surrogate. If not in Kentucky, then we could move to Ohio.
God, I’d move anywhere to make you happy.” Winter broke away from him, getting to her feet to stare down at him. “You’d move anywhere for me, but you won’t take a chance on a baby?” She hugged her belly. “I want my own child, Viper. When we tried to adopt, and were turned down, I was upset, but I could live with their judgmental attitudes, because I knew how hard it was for me to keep my job. The only school the school board would let me work in, is the one no one else wanted. I want a child. Even if we do find a surrogate, there would be risks involved. We haven’t even started to look into it yet, because we both know we’ll be putting the fate of our child in someone else’s hands. Viper tried to pull her down on his lap, but she took a step backward. “I’d climb a mountain for you. I would starve. I would do anything for you, Viper. Please… please can’t we—” “Winter…” She brushed her tears away. “I need to take a shower.” “We need to finish this discussion first.”
He got up, pulling on a clean pair of jeans. “Why? You’re not going to change your mind, and I’m tired of listening to your excuses.” Viper moved to where she was forced to see him. He opened his mouth to say something, but then his cell phone rang before he could. “Answer your phone. We’ll talk later.” She brushed past him, going into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind her. Winter took off her clothes, throwing them in the hamper before turning on the shower. She began washing herself, letting the water carry her tears away. She had always wanted children, always. Viper wouldn’t be swayed, though. Viper was sitting on a chair, and Moon was sitting in the one next to him as she entered. She was going up to Viper to peck him before she went upstairs to bed, but before she could make a move, Sasha walked up behind him and Moon, provocatively linking her hands over Moon’s shoulders. “Come on! You promised me a rematch.”
She had on a tight pair of shorts and a purple top that showed her large breasts when she leaned over, giving Viper a view of her papilla. Winter turned on her heels, heading toward the stairs. “Later, Sasha.” Moon grabbed her wrists, jerking her away from him. She made a disappointed face, pouting as she moved to their side. “How about you, Viper?” She tossed herself onto his lap, winding her arms around his neck. Any other time, Winter would have let Viper handle the situation, but she decided that only a wife should deal with this. Dropping her briefcase on the floor, Winter walked toward them. Like a striking snake, she grabbed a handful of Sasha’s strawberry curls, pulling Sasha off her husband’s lap. “There is only one bimbo who gets to sit on his lap, and it isn’t you,” Winter snarled down at the woman. Sasha’s face crumpled, tears brimming in her eyes. “Why did you do that? I was only joking around with him.” The bimbo was trying to turn the tables on her? Winter leaned down, determined to show Sasha just how funny she thought her flirting with Viper was. “That’s enough, Winter. Go on upstairs to bed.”
Winter’s mouth dropped open at his order. He was taking up for Sasha? Winter straightened, going to pick up her briefcase, but Viper’s hand was there before she could. She jerked away from his touch before he could put an arm around her and took her briefcase from him. When he then started to follow her to the steps, she glared at him, stopping on the bottom stair. “I’m going to bed… just like you ordered me. Believe me, you do not want to go up there with me right now.” Viper’s face grew angry, but he stepped back, letting her go upstairs alone. Staring at the mirror, she saw bruised and pain-filled eyes staring back at her. “Train called and talked to everyone. Then I had a meeting with the brothers about the expansion.” “How’s Train?” “Missing everyone. He said to tell you hi.” Winter was glad Viper had turned off the lamp before getting into bed. She was positive her face was fiery red. “Then I stayed up until Moon and Sasha left to go back to Ohio.” “Why?” Winter asked, careful to keep her voice neutral, yet all she wanted to do was get out of bed and jump for joy. “Why did they leave? I thought you wanted Moon here.”
Winter had learned that Moon was a contract lawyer. “Isn’t it obvious? Sasha has been rubbing you the wrong way from the minute she came in the door. It’s your home; if you didn’t want her here, all you had to do was say so. Moon will come back in a couple days.” Her husband was right. “You’re not going to change your mind, are you?” “No.” “I finally figured it out tonight.” “I can’t lose you, Winter.” “You would have made all the women leave, wouldn’t you?” “Yes.” She sighed. “I love you so much it hurts.” “I love you too much to lose you to a dream that we can achieve without placing yourself or our child in danger.” Winter’s empty stomach woke her before her alarm went off the next morning. She stared at Viper’s face as he continued sleeping.
The dark shadow on his jaw made him look dangerously attractive. She was relieved Sasha was gone. After starting a pot of coffee, she was reaching for a mug when Jewell came in. Winter caught a sidelong look on Jewell’s face. “What?” “You seem in a better mood this morning than last night.” “I am. I know I made a mess of myself last night.” Winter blushed, disappointed in herself for overreacting. Jewell shook her head. “You only did what the other women were dying to do.” “Well, it’s good she’s not here anymore, then.” Jewell avoided her eyes as she poured coffee into their mugs. “I better get to work. We have a big order to get out today.” She turned from the counter, heading toward the door where she keyed in the code. “Jewell?” Winter called out, before she could leave. “Did something happen after I went upstairs last night?” Winter saw Jewell’s hand tighten on her coffee as she turned back to her. She could practically see the wheels turning in her mind as she decided whether to tell Winter something or not. Sighing, she stepped back from the door. “Winter, I love you like a sister. We’ve shared the same table, and even though it was a long time ago, we’ve even shared the same man.” Winter stiffened in shock, a chill of foreboding going down her spine. She knew Jewell and Viper had shared a sexual relationship before he had married her, as well as all the women in the clubhouse; they just didn’t talk about it.
None of the women had made any overt moves on him since they had married. “I love you, too. If you think there is something that I need to know, please tell me.” Winter wanted to hear what was bothering Jewell, but at the same time, she wanted to run from the hurt she was afraid Jewell was going to disclose. Her hesitation had Winter’s stomach sinking. “Did Viper touch Sasha?” “No! Or… I don’t think he did. He went into the kitchen after you went upstairs, so did Moon and Sasha. I went to tell Viper that Train was on the phone…” Whatever Jewell had seen brought a worried crease to her forehead. “What did you see?” “Viper was hugging Sasha.” The coffee in her mug splashed on her hand. “When they saw me, they broke away. It was the guilt on their faces that made me question if it might have been more. After Train’s call ended, Viper told us that Sasha would be taking Raci’s place at the factory, and Raci is going to stay at the clubhouse in Ohio for a while.
The reason Sasha and Moon were leaving was so Sasha could pack the rest of her clothes and get out of the lease for her apartment.” Winter felt numb from Viper’s betrayal. He wouldn’t have cheated on her—her husband loved her—so why had he told her Sasha left because she didn’t want her there? Why had he lied, instead of telling her Sasha would be a permanent fixture in the club? Setting the mug down on the counter, she decided to confront Viper about Sasha returning. Why had he lied? She opened their bedroom door to see the bed empty and heard the shower on. She was going to call work and tell them she was going to be late, but before she could reach for her phone, she heard Viper’s cell phone pinging. Going to the nightstand, she picked it up, keyed in his password, and then covered her mouth as she sunk onto the unmade bed. Let me know when you get rid of Winter. Don’t worry; I’ll make sure you don’t get lonely. What did Sasha mean? Did Viper cheat on me?