Trench
As I rounded the corner, I was surprised to find Tori working next to Mama Jo at the sink, chatting like they’d known each other for years. It was a beautiful sight. That, and the gentle sway of her hips as she dried the dishes. My eyes roamed the length of her body, jealous of every piece of clothing that hugged her in places I wanted to reach. I was quickly losing any internal battle to steer clear of this one. I needed to put distance between us, however small, if I planned to let her go when shit with the Disciples blew over. Tori would want more than I could give.
I was playing with fire. Tori, in my room, in my shower, pressed next to me in bed. The smell of her skin, the heat of her body as she slept, were already branded in my mind and I was apparently a glutton for punishment. Mine, not hers, because I wanted it all.
With another woman, I wouldn’t be compelled to help, to secure her future. This woman, though, had already experienced more violence than any decent human being should ever have to endure. I knew the full gravity of torture that Preacher and his Disciples could inflict. As I watched Tori laugh next to ladies I’d grown to think of as family, I was thankful Mama Jo and Aimee were here to keep her company, even if Clutch was being a moody bastard because of it. He needed to get his shit straight with Mama Jo if he ever stood a chance at happiness. Aimee was beautiful, intelligent and stubborn as hell. Soon enough, Clutch wouldn’t be able to beat the men away. Too bad, Mama Jo put the kibosh on any plans Clutch had. She’d sworn all outlaws off her daughter, too aware of the dangerous lifestyle we lived after years of being married to Monster. Clutch was screwed six ways to Sunday because he respected Mama Jo. Aimee was completely unaware that Clutch had been protecting her for the last few years, since she graduated high school. If a man showed the slightest interest in her, Clutch made a house call. I even rode with him a few times. I used to laugh about it, but now I understand how he felt.
I loved women, but never one woman long enough to settle down. Tori was the first woman to sleep in my bed. I was a selfish asshole to make her think for a second she wouldn’t be better off without Pandemonium’s help, but I wanted to keep her close. For now. I tried to reason with myself, understand why I felt so possessive over this woman. I had helped plenty of people in the past, repaid club favors before, but none of them felt this personal.
As soon as this shit storm with the Disciples rolled over, I would give her exactly what she wanted. An easy out. A chance to escape and make a decent life for herself. It was the best solution for both of us. Who was I kidding? Those damn eyes of hers were my undoing. As soon as she finished helping Mama Jo, I offered my hand and quietly lead Tori back upstairs to our room. Our room? I’d already given her personal space in my world!
I’d asked a couple of the guys to swing by her place and grab her things, a gesture of goodwill. When they came back with one simple bag that weighed less than her, I froze. Tori had next to nothing, unless you counted the fading driver’s license with the too sweet picture or a few small denominations of cash that she probably made in tips at the diner.
I also made a call to Sadie and informed her that Tori would be taking an extended leave of absence. Sadie put up a short fuss, mentioning that Tori was the best help she had, but once I offered a couple of our girls as fill-ins she calmed right down. I knew the girls needed the honest work and Sadie needed the help. Win-win.
Once inside the room, Tori paused, glancing at the worn-out backpack on the bed. She was silent for a moment too long and I began to question whether I had done the right thing. Would she think it was an even bigger invasion of privacy?
“Is that what I think it is,” she turned toward me with tears swimming in those beautiful eyes and pointed to the bag.
“What the boys could find at least.”
Tori’s small hands hovered over the bag. Her eyes held the question her lips didn’t want an answer to. How did we get in?
“By the time Swerve got to your place it had been picked over pretty good. There were holes in the walls and the mattress had been cut open.” Tori’s hand flew to cover her mouth.
“What about my landlord, Bob? Was he hurt?”
“He’s okay. Swerve spoke with him after he collected what was left of your things. Don’t worry. We settled with him.”
“What do you mean, settled with him? Bob’s an elderly man, Trench. I need to pay him for the damages. His fixed income will never be enough for the repairs.”
I moved in close, cupping her cheeks in both hands so I could look her in the eyes.
“I know, babe. That’s why I had Swerve offer our help to fix the damages. I’m also paying for the remainder of your lease and I already know someone who might be interested in taking the room over. Bob will be making double what you were able to pay.”
“I can’t let you do that!” Tori yelled in panic. “It’s too much. I won’t be able to pay you back for six-months rent and still save to get the hell away from here.” Her words were coming fast and hard and they stung more than I wanted to admit.
I placed my finger over her lips to silence the chaos running through her mind.
“I don’t expect you to pay me back, Tori. Pandemonium works hard to make sure our community is taken care of. We would have helped Bob anyway. Even if you and I had never met. That’s what we do.”
Her shoulders sagged slightly, slowly beginning to relax. She had no idea how much her growing trust meant to me, even if she was still carrying my gun in her waistband.
I allowed myself one more touch, cupping her cheek with my hand as my thumb grazed the bottom of her full lips. When her breathing quickened and her mouth parted I knew she was as affected as me. The need to be inside Tori, claim her as my own, was overwhelming, but I wouldn’t push her. She had invisible scars from years of abuse and I wanted to be the man to erase them. Pressure of any kind could drive her right over the edge, or worse, make her regret anything that happened between us. I refused to be the catalyst or the cause of her pain. I wanted her pleasure and even more than that, I wanted to show her pleasure.
My dick throbbed, straining against the zipper on my pants to break free, to feel her velvet warmth gripping me while she screamed my name and settled into blissful oblivion. I could make her forget all the shit that haunted her. I would make her smile until her cheeks ached with the effort. She deserved happiness.
This thing between us went beyond physical and these feelings I was developing scared the shit out of me. Normal tasks seemed difficult since I brought her here. Trying to discuss business was a joke, my mind constantly drifting to thoughts of Tori, her sassy mouth, her warm body next to mine, the way she tried to hide her concern for me. It was enough to make a man go crazy and that’s exactly what I needed to avoid.
“You should rest tonight. If you have more questions we can talk tomorrow.” I offered both of us space for the evening and started for the door.
“Wait, what?” Tori whispered, the hint of irritation and sexual frustration not lost to me. “Where are you going?”
I hid my smirk before I turned around to respond. She wanted me to stay. That was progress and more than I expected or probably deserved. It was also dangerous.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I won’t be far away, but I think you could use a little space. I’m willing to give you that…for now.” As the doorknob turned in my hand, I took pause at the sound of her sigh. “Oh, and Tori, sleep in my shirt again. I like my scent on you. Just remember to stash the gun before you lay down.” I chuckled, having lit her fire and leaving it to burn slowly. I shut the door behind me just in time to hear the tell-tale thump of a shoe hitting the other side.
I smiled as I hit the stairs, moving closer to the bar and the sound of loud music. How the hell did I end up with a pissed-off blonde bombshell and a raging hard-on that I was denying relief?
One. Wild. Fucking. Ride.
***
I tapped the bar top with two fingers, signaling Jinx that I wanted another double. I couldn’t remember how many she’d served me so far, but I was clearly past the point of fucking caring. The bottles behind the bar were more like smudge marks than actual fixed points. I was too chicken shit to go back to my room until I knew Tori was asleep. Scared I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands and my dick to myself if I caught one more peek of her soft skin. Maybe if I drank enough I’d be able to make that fucker behave.
Jinx lined up the shot glass with a premium bottle of whiskey and poured it clean, not leaving one single drop to waste. Good girl. “I really should pay her more,” I thought, or had I said it out loud?
Fuck it. I smiled and tipped the entire contents back. The burn wasn’t as intense as the first four, or five, or six I’d had.
“You okay, sweetie?” Jinx leaned across the bar towards me, her arms pushing tightly together at her sides to display her generous cleavage.
Jinx was beautiful, but she was also looking for more from me than I was willing to offer. So, while I knew one round in the sack with Jinx would be hot, I had never returned her interest in a physical relationship. I wasn’t into giving mercy fucks, like some of the brothers. If Jinx and I ever hooked up, that was exactly what it would be. We both knew it, and yet it never stopped Jinx from her constant pursuit. The brothers gave me shit about it, but I waved it off whenever I saw the glimmer of hurt in her stare.
“I can take care of you, baby, if you just let me.” She spoke loud enough that I could hear her over the music and laughter.
“So, you’ve said before. I’m sure you could, Jinx, but then we couldn’t be friends anymore because you’d catch a case of the feels or some girly shit like that,” I chuckled and slammed the shot glass down entirely too hard. I was being an asshole. I knew it, but my alcohol infused brain couldn’t stop the harsh words from flying.
Jinx sighed, threw the bar towel over her shoulder and crossed her arms. It wasn’t the first time we’d had this encounter, but you had to give her credit for persistence.
“Well, it’s a standing invitation, Trench. You let me know when you wake up and realize what you’re missing. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Jinx! Another round over here, sweet thang. Pres isn’t the only one who needs your attention,” Lo yelled from the closest pool table. Brother was already swaying and the only thing holding his big ass upright was a flimsy pool stick. I attempted to stand up and join him for a game, but the room spun like the giant Tilt-A-Whirl at the County Fair.
“Easy, brother,” Reaper grabbed my elbow and balanced me while laughing at my inebriated state. “Been a while since I’ve seen you get shit-faced. Forgot how damn funny it is.”
“Fuck off, Reap. Shouldn’t you be getting laid?” I slurred.
“Plenty of time and plenty of pussy here to make that happen, thanks to you, but right now I think you need to lie down, brother. Where’s that fine girl of yours?”
“Pfft. Sleeping I hope.” I grimaced at the mention of Tori. I wanted her so much that I was pissed off when anyone reminded me of her. Fuck if that wasn’t twisted.
Reaper held up his free hand in a gesture of surrender while he took a swig of his beer with the other. I moved to the couch near the stairs and fell backward into the cushions, blocking the light with the back of my forearm draped over my eyes. I had enough sense left to feel two warm hands run underneath my shirt before I passed out and wondered if it was the beginning of a beautiful dream. One where Tori stuck around and carried my babies in her gorgeous belly.