CHAPTER NINE

“Yeah.” Sofia tried to think of a polite way to escape the creepy man’s presence. His gaze continued to drop to her breasts, and he acted as if his fingers itched to touch her. He was old enough to be her father. Sick. “I believe Cherry’s waving to me.”

Trick turned to look into the kitchen, but before he could deny her statement, she scooted past him and hurried to where most of the women stood.

“Hey, there. Sofia, right?” Cherry wiped her hands on a cloth, a sink full of suds behind her. They had eaten off paper plates, but she noticed several platters, bowls, and pots sat in the sink and on the counter.

“Yes. Can I help with the dishes or something?” Feeling safe with the handful of women around her, she smiled.

“Sure. You dry and I’ll put them up. I helped pull them out, so stands to reason I know where everything goes.” Cherry’s burgundy hair fell in her eyes as she nodded to the brunette washing the dishes. “That’s Star. She’s got the hots for Cutter.”

“Let everyone know, Cherry.” Star rolled her eyes.

“Everyone already knows. You shouldn’t be humping his leg if you didn’t want anyone to know.” The teasing tone in Cherry’s voice had Sofia biting the inside of her mouth, trying to hold back the laughter.

“If you weren’t my friend, I swear I would bust you one.” The grin on Star’s face lightened the mood more. “I’m interested, but he’s still pining for his old lady. I may have to cast my eyes Chicken’s way. He’s a little scrawny, but the girl he was dating over in Trussville told him to get lost. So maybe he’d like someone to help him move on, and I do love to cook.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “I bet I could fatten him up real good.”

They all laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Mindy walked in, carrying a garbage bag filled to the brim.

“Just Star being herself. A nut.” Cherry smiled and took the dried platter from Sofia and placed it in a cabinet.

“What about you, Cherry? Whose old lady are you?” Sofia asked as she dried another large bowl.

A couple of long seconds ticked by before she realized it was quiet.

Sofia looked around. The women were busy cleaning and wiping without looking her way. When her gaze landed on Cherry, she caught the sad crooked smile. Had something happened to her man?

“Never mind. I don’t mean to be nosy.”

“No. No problem. I haven’t been involved with the club but a year. At first, I kind of hung out with a couple of the guys.” She pursed her lips and swayed back and forth like she was revving up to answer. “You’ll probably hear it sooner than later, but I hooked up with Wolf. He broke it off a couple months ago. So don’t be worried. I liked him and all. What woman doesn’t who meets him? But there are plenty of sexy bikers out there for the taking.” Cherry carefully sat down the pot she was drying. “Excuse me for a minute, I need to go pee.”

Sofia felt so bad. That would’ve been about the time she met Wolf.

“He’d never said anything about having an old lady,” Sofia said softly.

“Cherry will be okay. Don’t you worry about it,” Star said. “He never declared that she was his old lady. She knew he wasn’t serious though she’d hoped it would change.”

“She’s so nice to me.” Sofia wasn’t sure if she could be so polite to a rival. Or in her case, Wolf’s old lady, if and when he decided to send her back home. She forced that horrible thought away. Life had taught her to enjoy the moment, and she planned to relish every minute with Wolf.

When Cherry returned to the kitchen and before Sofia could apologize, shouting came from the room where the Brothers held church.

“Oh, oh. Sounds like they are disagreeing,” Mindy said.

“On what?” Star asked.

“Like Easy would tell me anything. I have no idea.” With a sigh, Mindy climbed on a stool and leaned back with her elbows resting on the bar. “And I don’t want to know.”

That was when Sofia noticed bruises again.

Should she say something to Mindy? To tell her about the local women’s shelters and how they could help her get out of an abusive relationship. But Sofia knew well that if Mindy wasn’t at the point of wanting to leave, she wouldn’t listen. Maybe one of the other women could talk to her, someone closer to her, not a newcomer.

Besides, if someone looked at her bruises, they would believe she was being mistreated. She grimaced. Maybe a little, but she believed it was more that Wolf didn’t know his own strength and she had fought the cuffs despite realizing they wouldn’t open without the key. Staring at her wrists, she mentally shook her head. Who was she to judge what was going on in their lives? The whole situation was crazy.

She glanced at Cherry and caught the woman staring at her with a sad expression. Unable to hold back, Sofia reached out and hugged her. The woman had been nothing but nice to her. She hadn’t forgotten who had released her from the pipe. Chances were she had an ulterior motive. Maybe hoping Wolf didn’t want anything to do with Sofia after she escaped.

“I’m sorry.”

Cherry leaned back. “Nothing to be sorry for. It is what it is. Besides, have you seen Twofer?”

Sofia shook her head. A weight lifted off her shoulders at Cherry’s attempt to smooth a bumpy situation. There were some good people in the world, and she felt Cherry may be one of them.

“I’ll grab him and introduce you. He’s not as pretty as Wolf, but he’s a good guy, and wow, the muscles on that man,” Cherry said.

At that moment, the Brothers came streaming out of the sunroom. Some of them were laughing and slapping each other’s backs, while a few others, those surrounding Wolf, had solemn expressions on their faces.

He walked up and placed his arm around her shoulder. “It appears we will be staying with Trick until after Christmas.”

She would love to stay with Wolf the whole time, but she needed to get back home to her cousin by Christmas. She worked in the office of her cousin’s shop, and though it was closed for the holidays, he was her only family. When she’d texted her cousin, she lied and said she was staying with a friend, but for her to stay away much longer without Hector finding out the truth, she wasn’t sure if she could lie to him again.

Wolf wrapped his arms around her. She sighed, resting her cheek to his chest, and decided one more night wouldn’t hurt. Anyway, she wanted to run her hands over his body, memorizing every bump and dip of his muscles.

She felt him stiffen.

“You gave a good speech, but we voted. So you better be there tomorrow.” Easy darted a look toward Sofia and then walked away, grinning ear to ear.

The man really gave her the creeps. He always acted as if he knew something that no one else did. Creepy.

“I feel the same way,” Wolf said, his gaze on his president’s back.

She looked at Wolf. “What?”

“It was plain on your face. He can’t be trusted,” he said next to her ear, in a low voice. “The man is up to something and I can promise it won’t be good.” He released her. “Come on and I’ll show you my old room.”

––––––––

After Wolf’s brother and Trick disappeared, he had moved out to his parents’ boarded-up house. So he wasn’t surprised when he walked into his bedroom to find nothing was left of his earlier life there.

“This was your room?” Sofia looked around at the bare, newly painted walls and tons of pillows arranged on the bed.

“Trick isn’t the sentimental type. He probably threw everything out I didn’t take with me and then had a designer come in.” Wolf pushed the pillows onto the floor at the opposite side of the bed.

“A designer? He doesn’t look or act like the type.”

“Don’t let Trick’s redneck ways fool you. He takes pride in his home. Only the patriarch of the Alabama Savalas family lives here.”

“I’ve heard of your family. I’m surprised Trick would let you join the Brothers of Mayhem. Divided loyalties and all.”

“It was his idea.”

“What?”

“He wanted an inside person.” Why in hell had he told her that? “Listen, I joined because my uncle was riding me about it, but I love the club. No matter some of the rough patches, they’re good to me. More of a family than my own.” Wasn’t that the truth? Trick had often told him that he wasn’t mean enough to be a Savalas. Only the bastard didn’t know what he was capable of when pushed. “Let me see if he left any of my clothes.”

Inside the closet were two large cardboard boxes. One was marked miscellaneous and the other clothes. That surprised him. The boxes had a mixture of his and his brother’s stuff.

Pulling out a well-washed, white tee shirt, he handed it to Sofia. “Here. The bathroom’s through there. Be sure to lock the other door. It leads into another bedroom.”

She started toward the bathroom and stopped, staring down at the tee shirt.

“What's wrong?” He’d never worried about what a woman was thinking until Sofia. Damn, he wanted to know her thoughts, everything she did, how she felt—shit, she was driving him insane.

“Want to scrub my back?” she asked shyly.

He’d been semi-hard watching her walk away, knowing she would be naked in a few minutes, but with that request he hardened to a throbbing hurt. Unable to say anything, he strode across the room and scooped her up.

She squealed, but quickly cut off the sound. “I take that as a yes?” She blushed and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Yeah, I’ll scrub your back and rub on a few other parts too.”

––––––––

Sofia sank into the kiss and whimpered when he set her feet back on the floor after locking the bathroom doors on each end of the room.

“Take your clothes off. I want to watch.” His deep voice sent desire shooting through her body. Her taut nipples ached from wanting his touch.

Unable to help it, too self-conscious of her extra-curvy body, she turned her back. He growled, but she ignored him as she stripped. Then she jumped and tensed when his hands cupped her ass.

“You have the perfect ass for my stomach to rest on when I fuck you in the shower,” he whispered in her ear. He nipped at her lobe and then licked it.

She leaned her head against his chest, giving him free access to whatever he wanted. When his solid body pressed to her back and his big hands massaged her breasts, heat and comfort wrapped around her.

His chest moved as he chuckled.

Craning her neck to look at him above her, she raised her brows in question.

“You get so quiet when I touch you. That is, except the small sounds you make. I fucking love those sounds.” He took her mouth, his fingers pulled and stretched her nipples as he rolled them to aching points. The sting kicked in a stronger reaction. Her knees weakened, and he clasped her to his clothed body.

She covered his hands with hers. “Time for you to strip, but I want to watch.”

A wicked grin spread over his face. “Sure.”

Without another word, he shrugged off his colors and carefully folded and hung the vest over a towel rack. His arms crossed his torso as he grabbed the ends of his tee shirt. Inch by inch, he lifted the cloth over his head. She took in the slow reveal of firm abs and pecs. Every inch of his body was firm but not overdone.

“Here, let me help you.” She couldn’t resist touching him any longer.

She ran her palms down his body until she cupped his groin.

When he hissed in appreciation of her touch, she unzipped his jeans and shoved the material to his feet, taking his underwear with it. As she slowly stood, she trailed her tongue from his bellybutton to the middle of his chest.

A deep groan vibrated beneath her cheek.

“You make me crazy.” His rumbling voice would have melted her panties off if she still wore them. “Do that again.”

She smiled and licked one small male nipple and then the other. That was when she realized, unlike all the other bikers, he didn’t have tattoos.

“Why aren’t you inked?” Unable to resist, she smoothed her hands over his muscled arms.

“I am.”

Gripping his wrists, though her fingertips didn’t meet, she leaned away and lifted them.

“Where?” She looked down. His stiff cock pointed toward her, but no patterns were revealed.

He chuckled and tugged from her hold. Stepping back, he turned.

She gasped.

Covering his back was a large flaming skull, mouth opened with tongue snaking out. He had the Brothers of Mayhem’s logo tattooed in black. He would die from having the tattoo burned off if they kicked him out of the club. No one was allowed to wear the logo outside the club.

“What made you do that?”

She tried to keep the horror out of her voice. Maybe deep in the back of her mind, she’d hoped to persuade him to leave the club. Now she knew he would never leave.

“Like I said before. I’m proud to be a Mayhem Brother. I’ll be one to the day I die.”

The nonchalant way he spoke sent a chill down her back.

He must have seen the anxiety on her face, for he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed.

“Let’s take a shower together and not worry about tomorrow. Okay?” He stooped down a little to see her eye to eye.

She cupped his cheek. The man in front of her treated her with such sweetness. Sure he was a little stubborn and pushy, but he appeared genuine. That was something she needed. A person who cared about her, not for anything they could get by using her or her family.

“Yes,” she said softly.

He leaned around her and turned on the water, checking the temperature before lifting the tab, releasing the spray of water from above.

His every movement sent a thrill through her. The sense of feeling taken care of brought a lightness to her shoulders. For years, she’d taken care of herself, her brother, and cousin, even the asshole ex. True, her brother and cousin kept an eye on her, but they never really went out of their way to make her feel safe or treated her so tenderly. The way Wolf handled her was different. Or was she deluding herself?

With a gasp, she held onto his forearms as he picked her up and stood her in the tub, pulling the plastic curtain closed behind them. The warm water gently sprayed over Wolf’s back and trickled down her face. She looked up at him. He was a beautiful man. What did he see in her?

“What’s wrong, babe?” He pulled her against him.

“Nothing. Sorry.” Apologizing was a bad habit of hers.

“I felt you tense up.” His big hand drifted down between her legs. “You worry too much. I’m here. Relax. No one will bother us.” His other hand crossed over her chest and stroked one hard nipple. “Let me make you feel better.”

The heat of his body and the warmth of the water helped her forget her insecurities. The way he touched and kissed her made her feel beautiful. Nothing like being desired and being caressed so gently and with such slowness. He acted as if he couldn’t get enough of her.

He slipped a finger between her folds and rubbed while pulling and pinching her nipple with just enough strength to make her moan. “That’s my sweetheart. Love your sounds.”

He moved away, and she reached out to stop him. “Don’t—”

“Wait a minute.”  He returned quickly and began soaping her. The silky feel brought another moan. She arched into the soothing touch as he ran a hand over her stomach and the curls on her mons. When he knelt to wash her legs and feet, she placed a palm flat on the tile wall to remain standing. Weak and needy for the satisfaction only he could give her, she followed his soft commands.

“Spread your legs a little. Damn, Sofia, you’re beautiful.” He looked up, still kneeling. “You tensed up again. You don’t like compliments. Baby, you’re beautiful in so many ways. Your dark chocolate hair and eyes, your smooth as silk skin, your tasty lips, and your sweet, sweet pussy.”

His mouth covered her, and she bit her lower lip trying not to scream. Instead, a long moan came out, and he chuckled against her flesh. That increased the sublime feeling to the point of pleasurable pain.

“You sing so beautifully for me.” He stood and turned her against the wall. His arms lifted her enough for him to separate her legs and thrust. “Damn, you feel so good.”

“You do too,” she said, her voice scratchy from all the emotions.

She placed both hands flat on the tile. He began pumping. Unable to hold back any longer, she screamed when his cock hit the right angle. His big arms wrapped around her waist for a firmer grip and he hammered into her. All she could do was hold on and enjoy the ride.