Trench
I drifted off as soon as the bathroom door closed and the sound of water started. I was going on less than five hours of sleep in more than two days. I would have slept through the night if it had not been for the knocking on my door at, shit, it was 7:50 P.M. The clock on my dresser was not my friend. I groaned into the pillow before remembering I had a guest, quickly angling my head to the side to find her asleep next to me. The warmth from her body heated my own as I watched her chest rise and fell slowly, her blonde hair spilling over her own pillow onto mine, the ends still damp from the shower. She was a vision.
Her legs tangled with the bedspread, one hidden underneath and the other hooked outside, leaving me to admire the absence of tan lines that extended all the way up her toned thighs to the hint of pink lace covering her backside. And, was that one of my shirts? The black tee that swallowed her small frame and bunched up at the waist.
The incessant pounding continued and my irritation rose in unison with my dick. I scrubbed a rough hand over my face as I rolled out of bed and jerked the door open. Clutch leaned against the door frame with a shit-eating grin while he stole a glance over my shoulders.
“You forget about church, brother? Must be some sweet shit she’s got for you to miss your own meeting,” he chuckled.
“Fuck, I’m exhausted. I fell asleep and lost track of time,” I rubbed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a new headache coming on fast.
“Sleep, huh?” He amused and motioned towards the open button on my pants and the obvious tent pitched beneath. “Sleeping Beauty sure looks nice and cozy in there.” Clutch’s eyes darted from the bed where Tori laid and back to me. His joking replaced by a more serious tone.
I groaned.
“Where else would you have me put her? Jinx was giving Tori shit and I only left her alone for ten minutes. Imagine how the rest of them will react. Fucking, Lo. He was supposed to be watching out.”
The last part drew a chuckle from Clutch. Lo was a good man, loyal as hell, and smarter than he wanted people to know, but the man was fucking useless when the girls were giving him attention.
“For himself, maybe. That redhead puts her lap on his junk and he forgets the whole world exists,” he snickered. “Another reason this is a bad fucking idea. You need to consider that shit if you don’t think she can handle Jinx. You know Jinx has been gunning for your cock every day since she set foot in this place. You keep parading Tori around and you’ll make her an easy target for Jinx and the other hang-ons.”
“Something tells me Tori can handle Jinx. Maybe a little too well. Five more minutes without fucking adult supervision and they would’ve been rolling around throwing blows.”
Clutch raised his brows, a little curious, a little skeptical perhaps, but in the end, he shrugged with indifference anyway.
“I might have paid to see that shit. Don’t be late, brother. Church is in five.”
Clutch didn’t like strangers in his home. I knew what he was thinking without him saying the words. Tori was a threat and a distraction that Pandemonium and I did not need. He wasn’t going to warm up to her easily, if ever. If my plan worked, he wouldn’t have to worry about her for long. I shut the door and searched my dresser for another clean shirt before pulling on my cut and buttoning my pants. Tori slept peacefully still. She had barely shifted at all while Clutch and I were talking. I guessed she was used to sleeping through loud noises and even better at ignoring conversations that did not require her input.
I never missed church. Tori and her warm body in my bed might be a bad idea, but fuck if I trusted her being anywhere else. I hesitated to leave her even now, but I doubted an air horn could have disturbed her. My earlier warnings to not leave the room without me would have to be enough.
***
Two hours later and the brothers were still arguing about whether it was safe to have Tori under our roof. Why were the Disciples after her? What if she was sent to spy on our operations? I grew tired as the discussion drifted further and further off course. Was I really claiming her or was that a bullshit act? If not, was she open season?
That’s what happens when you bring new ass into the compound. Especially one as nice as hers. I couldn’t answer questions that I’d not sorted through my own shit yet. All except the last one. It was a booming negative. Tori was off limits and anyone who so much as thought of touching her while under my protection would be dealt with personally. The guys looked between one another and laughed. All of them except Stryker. He knew I would make good on that threat.
“The fuck is so funny?” I practically shouted.
LoJack sat to my left and raised his palms up in surrender, even though his chest still shook in silent laughter. “Just saying it seems like you’ve claimed that piece. Don’t worry, brother. Your outburst is good enough for me to keep my dick away. I’m not trying to get it shot off while I’m young enough to still use it.”
“I’m glad we understand one another. Since you know I’ll make good on that promise, your smartass can be responsible for making sure the word gets out to the rest of the club. No one touches or talks to Tori without my permission,” I responded. I knew she had been dealt a shit hand, but I wasn’t one to trust so readily.
“What if she talks to us first?” Stryker added and I shot him a deadly glare.
“She won’t.”
The laughter ceased and I looked around the room to make sure I had their undivided attention.
“As for the Disciples, I’ll let you all know more when I do. For now, if anyone starts poking around, Tori is with me. Any other business?” Nothing else was said. “Good. I’m fucking tired. Get drunk, get laid, I don’t fuckin’ care, but stay out of my hair for the rest of the night.”
They all mumbled their understanding as I hit the gavel on the table and officially closed the meeting. I didn’t add that I had just spent the last two hours with a certain woman on my mind and thanks to her warm body my pants were too tight to think straight.