I find Trinity in the downstairs laundry room, folding sheets, towels, and crap like that. It strikes me hard how much I hate she’s basically a maid some of us use for sex. The biker thug in me knows that’s what a club mama is, but the caveman obsessed with Trinity wants to burn the clubhouse to the ground and carry my woman off into the woods.
Shaking the awful feeling that settled over me after my conversation with Rock has been impossible. I see Trinity in a different light. Not pity. Admiration? I feel like such an asshole for ever being jealous of the way she fawns over the other guys. Fussing over them for their birthdays, the parties for Teller and Murphy when we patched them in. It’s her way of showing appreciation for our shelter and protection.
Clearing my throat to get her attention, I relax my jaw and actually think about what I want to say.
“Hey, Wrath.”
“Hey.”
She sets down the towel and focuses her attention on me.
“I, uh, wanted to apologize for the other day.”
She drops her gaze to the floor. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. We had a good time.”
My jaw clenches again. It was more than a good time for me. It fucking shattered me into a million pieces hearing her say how she trusted me from the second we met. Knowing the full extent of how badly I fucked up afterward doesn’t sit well.
I want to make it up to her. “Well, how would you feel about spending more time together?”
She tilts her head and folds her arms over her chest. “Why?”
Because I need you.
“Well, you know I’ve got that big fight coming up, right?”
“Yeah,” she answers slowly.
“I could use your help training, getting ready.”
“I don’t know anything about fighting.”
“Not the fighting part.” Shit, I have to make this up as I go along. “Like a personal assistant. Um, organizing my schedule of classes. Helping me with meal plans. That kind of stuff.”
By the excited gleam in her eye, I know I’ve got her. Warming up to this plan, I start spouting off more nonsense. “I’m just worried ‘cause the last fight was a little harder.” By harder, I meant I actually broke a sweat, but she doesn’t need to know that. “Gettin’ older. I need to take this shit more seriously or I’ll get hurt.”
Her eyes widen as if the idea of me getting injured never occurred to her, which pleases me no end. I also know what a dick I’m being by using her concern to my advantage.
I’m completely confident in my ability to beat the shit out of whoever they put me up against. But this time, Trinity isn’t slipping out of my grasp, so I’ll use whatever weapons I have at my disposal.
“What would I do?”
“I’ve got a meal plan, but it’s complicated.” My lips curve into my best meathead smile. “You know, small meals every two hours with a balance of proteins, fats, and carbs according to when I work out. I’d love your help keeping it all organized.”
“Okay.”
“And I’ll be working myself to exhaustion at the gym, so a ride, would be helpful too.”
This serves two purposes for me. Keeping Trinity away from the other guys and spending lots of time together where she can watch me in all my sweaty glory.
“What about my stuff around here?”
“This is a priority, Trin. I already talked to Rock about it.” That’s not true, but I’m headed to talk to him next. “He’s gonna talk to some of the girls and the prospects about pitching in more. Ordering supplies or whatever for the house, you can do from my office down at the gym.”
“I’m not a nutritionist or anything.”
“I know, but you’re smart. If I give you some articles and stuff, you can make sense of all of it for me.”
The corners of her mouth twitch up but she’s still watching me with suspicious eyes. I guess over the years, I’ve given her the impression I don’t think highly of her. When the exact opposite is true.
Even though I have ulterior motives, I’m excited about my plan. Trinity’s smart and knows how to organize shit. Having her help while I condition myself for this fight excites the fuck out of me. I’m already in damn good shape, but I’ll be the motherfuckin’ Terminator by the time this fight rolls around.
I’m not sure what to make of Wrath’s proposal. Part of me is flattered. Part of me is cautious. We don’t exactly always get along.
Can I tolerate spending days at the gym, watching Wrath punch things? Preparing himself to take punches? As complicated as our relationship is, I can’t stand the thought of him hurt. If he thinks I can somehow help him, of course I want to.
And the hint of vulnerability Wrath showed when he asked me to help him went straight to my heart. His faith that I have some sort of skill that will be useful in helping him win his fight, makes me proud. From what he said, a win will mean a lot for the club.
There’s no way I’d turn him down.
“Okay, I’m in.”
A grin splits his face. “Fuck yeah, baby.” He grabs me around the waist, yanks me to him, and crushes his mouth against mine.
He releases me so fast I wonder if I imagined it. The sweet burn of his kiss still lingers on my lips. My pulse is in overdrive.
He catches my eye. “We’ll start Monday.”
Settle down. This isn’t about sex. It’s about helping the club.
I can’t get carried away and let myself fall into bed with Wrath again.