GETTING EVERYTHING OFF my mind eased some of the stress resting firmly on my shoulders. But Creena was still hiding something. I wasn’t sure what or even why, but I knew it had to do with me. She played it off like it was no big deal but I could see it eating away at her.
When it came to her brother, she did everything she could to please him. It pissed me off, knowing the fucker was taking advantage of her. Family didn’t do that. It wasn’t right.
It had been a couple days since I had the nightmare. Every time I was near Asher, he would glare my way and question what the fuck I was doing without even saying the words.
I had no idea what I was doing but I knew I was falling in love with Creena. She felt the same way but didn’t want the words said. I complied. For the moment.
“Hey, Stone.” Creena came up beside me one late afternoon while I worked out in the King’s Harlots gym. “Work out with me?”
I cupped her nape and placed a soft peck on her mouth. “The things I did to your body this morning not enough of a workout for you, baby girl?”
She shivered, pushing out of my hold. “As much as I always enjoy what you do to me,” she ran her hands up and down her arms. “I need to fight.”
I grunted, understanding exactly where she was coming from. “Put your hands up and block me.”
Her eyes darkened, a small smile forming on her lips. “Thank you.”
***
(Creena)
I had seen Coby and Brogan spar together. It was beautiful in the way they danced, watching each other’s moves, knowing when the other would strike first. I was sure it always led to sex as a form of therapy.
I pulled my arm back, swinging for Stone’s face but he was fast and blocked me. We went back and forth for the next twenty minutes.
He hit.
I blocked.
I swung.
I missed.
He was good but I was also just warming up. I was better. It was the only thing in my life I had every right to be cocky over. Being trained to fight at a young age, I had to defend myself against the men who I was contracted out to kill.
“When was your last good fight?” Stone asked, side stepping around me.
“A couple years ago. With my brother.” I remembered taking him out and kicking his ass because he told me I couldn’t hit him.
“How long did it take you to knock him out?”
I smiled. Stone knew me well. “Ten minutes because I was going easy on him.” I kicked my foot out, knocking Stone onto his back. I straddled his waist, placing a hard peck on his mouth. Much to my surprise, he flipped me onto my back.
“Distracting me, pet?” he asked, peering down at me.
I shivered at the term of endearment. “Never.” And before he knew it, I pushed him off of me and was on my feet. “Why would I do such a thing?”
His brows narrowed, a twinkle of amusement hitting his dark eyes. “As long as I’m the only man you’re distracting, I don’t give a shit about anything else.”
“Don’t worry, baby boy.” I shook out my arms, stretching them up and over my head. “You are all I want.” I knew I should have told him how I felt but those three words hanging over our heads were distracting enough without us even saying them. Stone showed me how he felt with the touch of his hands and kiss of his lips. He took my breath every time he looked at me.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked, taking a step toward me.
“How delicious you are,” I purred.
He opened my mouth to respond when a loud rumble vibrated through the room.
“What the hell is that?” I asked, frowning.
“Jay’s father’s club?” Stone handed me a bottle of water.
I took it from him and swallowed the cool liquid while heading out into the hall. “Something’s going on.”
Stone grunted, coming up beside me. “Have you girls gone for a ride in a while?”
“No.”
He nodded toward the entrance to the club. “Then who are those women?”
I followed his gaze, my stomach sinking. “I have no idea. I’ve never seen them before.”
“Are they another chapter of the King’s Harlots?” Stone asked just as everyone filed out into the main area of the club.
“I …” I shrugged. “Brogan,” I called out, nodding toward my sister standing by the entranceway. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure.” She glanced at us. “You have my back?”
“Fucking right we do,” I told her, following her outside. Brogan and I were the only Harlots at the club. But knowing Stone, Lian, Henley and Coby were with us as well helped me feel somewhat better about these strangers randomly showing up out of nowhere.
“Hey.” Brogan jutted her chin forth, narrowing her eyes at a woman who slid off a bike first. “You’re on private property.”
“I know.” The woman cracked her knuckles, stretching her arms over her head. Her bright blue eyes slid over all of us before landing on Brogan. “You the president of the King’s Harlots?”
“Depends.” Brogan crossed her arms under her chest. “Who’s asking?”
“Can we chat inside?” the woman asked while a smaller female slid off the back of her bike.
There were only three women but the beautiful machines they came riding in on made it sound like there were a group of them. I had to give it to them. The Harleys they rode were loud and gorgeous.
“Fine.” Brogan turned around and headed back inside the club with Coby following right behind her.
I didn’t know what the hell was going on but having these strangers show up on our doorstep was unnerving as fuck.