FIVE
THE place is cleared out when I reenter, but I can still hear muffled laughter, so I know they’ve just moved their party elsewhere in the clubhouse. I appreciate it. The whole place is huge inside, and such a bachelor pad. There is no color in sight, everything in blacks, browns, and whites. I follow behind Dex, taking in every detail. I sigh when I come across a wall full of mug shots—how charming. Dex turns and flashes me a boyish grin when he hears my sigh, as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking. What exactly have I gotten myself into? We pass some sort of game room, a spacious kitchen, and an even larger living room, until we turn down a hallway. We pass a few doors before we come to a stop. Dex opens the door in front of us and turns on the light, gesturing for me to enter before him. I step into the room and look around.
“Get settled. I’ll get your stuff from both the cars,” he says, shutting the door before he leaves. The room is spacious, with a king-size bed, a dresser, and a desk. The rest of it is bare. Utilitarian, even. I open one of the doors, which leads to a decent-size bathroom. When I see the claw-foot tub, my mouth turns up into a smile. My day just got a little better—it really is the small things in life.
Dex returns a few minutes later, carrying my bags. He puts them on the bed, turning to me with a contemplative look on his face.
“You hungry?” he asks, his eyes roaming to my stomach. “I can get you something to eat.”
“No, I’m okay,” I tell him. I still have food in my bag if I do get hungry. He steps closer to me, his fingers lifting my chin up.
“Not the best situation,” he says, smirking.
“You think?” I all but growl.
“You can study some of your classes online, can’t you?” he asks, scanning my features. “I know school has always been important to you.”
“Yeah, I can. That’s what I was going to do. I really want to finish my degree, baby or not,” I tell him. It’s the truth. The degree is for me. It’s what I’ve always wanted. I know a baby changes things, and it might take me longer to do it, but I will reach my goals in the end.
“You do whatever work you can online; you hang out here for a bit, okay?” he says, his eyes softening. “It won’t be so bad, you’ll see.”
“What am I meant to do here?” I ask him, rubbing my arm with the palm of my hand. “I want to do something. I’m not used to being idle.”
“You’ll find your place. Some of the old ladies are nice women,” he says, smiling.
“Some?”
That means some of them are bitches.
“You picked up on that, huh?” he comments, chuckling.
“I’m a lawyer, what do you think?” I say dryly, causing him to laugh harder.
“Not yet, you aren’t,” he points out.
“Whatever,” I sigh. Law student, lawyer—the outcome is still the same.
“I don’t think they’ll accept ‘whatever’ in court,” he says.
I roll my eyes at him. “Funny.”
“What kind of lawyer are you going to be?” he asks, eyes still dancing with amusement.
“I want to work for the DA,” I say, raising an eyebrow at him. I don’t really know what area of law I’m going to choose yet; I just say it to annoy him. “I want to put all the bad guys behind bars.”
“Is that so?” he says, grinning like a damn fool.
“What the hell is so amusing?” I snap, narrowing my eyes on him. I just told him I wanted to put people like his criminal friends in jail; how is that in any way funny?
“Club could use a good lawyer,” he says, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Someone we could trust.”
“Oh, hell no!” I say, lifting my finger and poking him in the chest. “Not happening, buddy.”
“Did you just poke me?” he asks, trying to keep a straight face but failing. His lip twitches as he tries to contain himself, but he looks on the verge of laughter again.
“Yes, what’s it to you?” I ask belligerently, tilting my chin up.
“How would you like it if I poked you?” he asks, smirking.
“You already did, you asshole! That’s how I got pregnant!” I yell in his face.
This time, the laughter doesn’t subside. He falls onto the bed, clutching his stomach like a damn kid.
I rub my forehead. “You’re seriously weird.”
He flashes me a lopsided grin.
I unpack a few of my things, including my teddy bear Coco, which I put on his bed right in the center. Then I stare at Dex and dare him to say something about it.
His eyes widen. “Is that . . . Coco?”
My jaw drops. “You remember her name? That’s a little weird.”
“How the hell could I forget? You made me have a fuckin’ tea party with her when I was ten, and I was traumatized!”
I flashback to that memory. I was five and made him sit in my outdoor playhouse to have tea with me and Coco. Every time he tried to leave I’d cry.
“Good times,” I murmur, grinning.
His mouth twitches. “Can’t believe you still have that bear. Holy fuck. It’s probably diseased or something after all these years.”
“Coco is in perfect health.” I sniff.
He apparently finds this hilarious, judging by the cackle that escapes him. Is he laughing at me or with me? I think it’s the former.
The door suddenly opens to reveal two scary-looking men. Both are wearing leather vests telling me they are part of the MC.
“What the fuck?” Dex snaps at their entrance.
“You all good in here?” one man asks. “I heard a noise sounding suspiciously like laughter.”
He looks to be in his late thirties, with brown hair and eyes. He has a beard that, I’m not going to lie, he pulls off nicely. He’s sexy in a dangerous, rough way.
His eyes find me and narrow slightly. “This her?”
I glance at Dex in amusement. “Been talking about me, have you?”
A muscle ticks in Dex’s jaw. “Had to explain you, didn’t I?”
I look back to the bearded man, who doesn’t look impressed. “The way he was going on about you, I thought you’d have bigger tits or something.”
My mouth drops open.
“Arrow,” Dex snaps. “Don’t fuckin’ start.”
“You didn’t just say that,” I reply, crossing my arms over my chest.
How fucking rude.
Yes, they were smallish, but they were nice. Perky and symmetrical!
“I did. Just wondering what all the fuss is about, is all,” he replies in an annoyed tone. “Learn your place around here, and fast, little girl.”
Okay, what a jerk.
“Arrow,” Dex warns. “Faye is under my protection. No one so much as breathes in her direction, you got it? And you can pass that on. I know you fuckers like to gossip.”
At least he was standing up for me. Arrow scowls but doesn’t say anything.
Kill them with kindness.
“Nice to meet you, Arrow,” I lie, ignoring his look of surprise. I then turn to the next guy. He has dark hair and eyes, a scar across his neck. It looks like someone sliced him with a knife.
“Irish,” he says with a slight accent.
“Nice to meet you, Irish,” I say, nodding my head at him. They both look at me like I’m crazy, and I probably am. But there’s no harm in using good manners.
“Why do they call you Arrow?” I find myself asking. “Do you have an arrow tattoo?” I search what I can see of his body for any signs of it.
Silence, then laughter.
“What the hell is so funny?” I ask, looking between them in confusion.
Arrow leans against the door and stares at Dex.
“What?” Dex replies, no trace of laughter on his face.
Arrow shrugs, and then looks at me in a new light. “Can’t remember the last time I heard you laugh like that, Sin.”
Dex scowls, eyes darting to me, then back to Arrow. “Is there anything else?”
“No, we just wanted to meet your baby mama,” Irish says, looking completely amused.
I wiggle my fingers at them. “I believe that would be me.”
“Oh, darlin’,” Irish says, “you are way too good for him.”
“Is that a fuckin’ moldy teddy bear on your bed, Sin?” Arrow asks, raising an eyebrow and looking amused as hell. “Holy shit. I need to take a picture of this, ’cuz no one else will believe it.”
“You can use my cell,” I offer, smirking.
“Get the fuck out, you two,” Dex growls, sending a glare in their direction. They leave, and I can hear their laughter echoing down the hall.
I turn to Dex. “Do I have to call you Sin now?” That’s going to take some time getting used to.
“If you want to,” he says, lying back on the bed. His T-shirt rides up a little, showing off his toned stomach. It should be illegal to look this good. He finds me staring but doesn’t say anything about it, so I continue to let my gaze linger.
“I think it would be weird calling you anything other than Dex,” I admit quietly.
“Call me Dex, then,” he says softly. “I think I’d like that better than you calling me Sin.”
I nod. “Okay, good.”
“Few things you need to hear. Your actions reflect on me while you’re here. Respect the other guys; respect me in front of the other guys. You can get mouthy when we’re in private; I kind of like that,” he says with a wink.
“So you want me . . . to not be me in public?” I gape, gritting my teeth. Was this going to be like how it was at home for me? My mother not liking anything that came out of my mouth, me always having to watch what I say?
“No. Not at all—”
“If I’m going to have to walk on thin ice with my words, I may as well be back home.”
His eyes widen. “It’s nothing like that, Faye. I don’t want you to stop being who you are. It’s just a respect thing. You need to show respect to get respect, do you get me?”
He doesn’t want me to stop being me; he just wants me to behave in front of his club members? I guess I could do that. I doubted I’d be talking to them much anyway.
“Fine, I’ll try to keep the browbeating to a minimum. In public anyway,” I joke. “Anything else I should know?”
“You’re lucky I know what that mouth can do. It’s worth putting up with your shit,” he says, amusement dancing in his eyes.
I narrow my eyes on him. “You better not say stuff like that in front of the others!”
“Why not? Sex isn’t some secret thing around here. You’ll learn that quickly, don’t worry,” he tells me with a quirk of his lips.
“No one is going to—”
“Nothing will happen here that you don’t want,” he says, the tension in the room reaching an all-time high. “Yes, the men enjoy women, and regularly, but all the women are consenting. We’re not monsters, Faye.”
“I didn’t mean to imply that you are . . . It’s just, well, I don’t know how things work here,” I try to explain.
“You’ll learn. Everyone here is open, no judgment, Faye. We have each other’s backs.”
I purse my lips. “As long as the women know their place.”
He laughs at that, like I said something hilarious.
“There is nothing funny about this situation, Dexter Black!” I snap.
“Why are you full-naming me, Faye? Those are fighting words,” he says, grinning at me.
I lean back onto my elbows and shake my head at him. “Trust me, if I wanted to fight, you would know it.”
He reaches his hands out, his index finger trailing down my cheek. “I have your back, okay? You never have to worry about being safe while you’re here.”
I swallow. “Okay.”
“Everyone will come around with you—don’t worry about that,” he says, nodding his head.
I wasn’t worried until he just mentioned it.
“So . . .” I start, shifting my position. “Where are you sleeping?” I ask, taking in the one and only bed and blinking quickly.
“This bed is massive,” he says, lip curving.
“It is,” I agree, waiting for him to continue.
“Plenty of room.”
“Uh-huh,” I murmur, waiting for him to come out and say it. “I can see that.”
“So, I’m sleeping here with my baby mama,” he says, grinning at me.
“You did not just call me that,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest and scowling. “Surely there’s somewhere else you can sleep.”
Sleeping next to him, wrapped in his arms sounded appealing.
Too appealing.
I didn’t think getting even more attached to this man was a good idea.
“I did just call you that. Listen here, woman, this is how things are going to go. I’m going to sleep here every night, but don’t worry, I’ll be keeping my hands to myself. Like I’ve said a million times, you are safe from everyone here—including me. Now, go take a shower,” he says, covering his face with his arm.
I ignore the feeling of disappointment at the “keeping his hands to himself” part, but it’s probably for the best. It is for the best. This situation is complicated enough as it is. Besides, who needs hot sex with the sexiest man you’ve ever laid eyes on and had a crush on ever since you can remember?
Me, that’s who.
Not that I’d ever admit it out loud, but I think being pregnant has made me even hornier than usual. Or was it just because I was around Dex? Maybe it was just after I had a taste of him and realized how mind-blowing sex could actually be. Either way, it sucked to have it once and then be taken away so soon, but I needed to remember that I’m only here because of a broken condom and Dex’s supersperm.
I decide to let the future me worry about everything and jump into the shower. I dress in my pink cupcake pajama pants and a white tank top. I consider putting a bra on, but I can’t sleep in one; it’s too uncomfortable. Besides, my boobs are small, like Arrow kindly pointed out, and nothing Dex hasn’t seen before. When I walk out, trying not to cover my chest with my hands, Dex is still on the bed, watching a movie.
“Finally,” he grumbles, glancing down at my chest.
He clears his throat.
“My eyes are up here,” I say, looking down. Seriously, nothing much going on there, I don’t know why he’s staring at them like that—like they look like Salma Hayek’s breasts.
Now, those are spectacular boobs.
“Fuck,” he curses, then heads into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Finally? That was me trying to be quick. I wouldn’t say I was high maintenance, but I’m definitely not low maintenance. Wait, what just happened? Shaking my head, I push my thoughts aside.
Feeling thirsty, I stare at the door, wondering if I should head out or not. My thirst winning, I slip out the door and head to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, I pull out a bottle of water and smell it first, just to make sure it isn’t vodka or something.
“May I ask why you’re smelling the water?” comes a highly amused voice from behind me. I turn and come face-to-face with a very attractive man. Very.
“Well, hello there,” I say, checking him out. Shoulder-length blond hair. Wearing nothing but a pair of low-slung track pants. Amazing body covered in tattoos.
“Nice pj’s,” he says, staring at my pants and then lingering on my chest.
Props to him for actually noticing the pants first.
“Thanks, I love cupcakes,” I say. “And food in general.”
“So do I,” he says through a chuckle.
I blink slowly, taking him in from head to toe.
“You guys should make a calendar,” I blurt out, causing the man to grin at me. “Who are you?” I ask, cringing when I realize it came out sounding rather rude.
“I’m Tracker; who are you?” he answers, apparently not offended.
“Oh, good, you aren’t going to kill me or something,” I say to myself.
“What?” he asks, making a choked sound.
I shrug sheepishly. “I’ve been warned. I’m supposed to be on my best behavior, but I don’t exactly know the rules around here. I already know I’m going to have a problem with them though. Am I allowed to ask questions and stuff? Because I’m curious by nature.”
Tracker blinks slowly a few times, then laughs. “Fuck, you’re cute. No, there will be no killing for asking innocent questions.”
“And for non-innocent questions?” I pry.
He grins, revealing straight white teeth. “Can’t make any promises.”
“Faye!” Dex calls out.
“That would be me,” I say, giving him the small wave.
“You’re the baby mama?” he says, eyebrows reaching his hairline. His gaze drops to my stomach.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I snap, narrowing my eyes. “Is that going to be my name now?”
Dex walks out, a scowl etched on his handsome face. “Why the hell did you leave the room?”
“I was thirsty!” I tell him, waving the bottle of water at him.
“You were thirsty?”
“I’m pregnant, remember? You were there, I believe. Yes, thirsty,” I say. I turn to Tracker. “You were just going to tell me about those tattoos of yours?”
“I was?” he replies, sounding amused as hell.
Dex turns to Tracker, and if looks could kill. . . .
“Good luck with that one,” Tracker says to him, his body shaking from laughter. Dex, looking considerably less happy, if that’s possible, takes my arm and pulls me back to the room. He locks the door behind us. He stares at me, as if thinking about what to say. Then he shakes his head.
“Don’t walk around at night by yourself.”
“Am I a prisoner?” I ask him, my tone ice-cold.
“No, of course not, but this place is filled with men. You’re beautiful. You do the math.”
“O-oh,” I stutter. God, he can be sweet when he wants to be.
“And don’t fuckin’ walk around like that with no bra on. Jesus Christ, Faye!” he growls.
“Fine!” I snap.
“I’ll give you one of my T-shirts; you can wear that over your top,” he says, staring daggers at me.
I roll my eyes. “I thought you said this place was all free love. I’m sure they’ve seen a pair of B-cup breasts before. It’s not like it’s cold in here or anything! You can’t even see my nipples!”
His eyes were back on said nipples. “Are we fighting over your fuckin’ nipples right now?”
“And if we are?” I ask, lifting my chin stubbornly.
“Maybe I’ll pull your little top down and suck one into my mouth. All this talk of your nipples has me wanting a little taste. . . .”
My mouth goes dry. Before I can think of a comeback, he says one word.
“Sleep.”
“Okay,” I say, sliding into bed and getting comfortable. He joins me but stays on his side of the bed. I try and dispel thoughts of him doing as he said, pulling my top down and licking and sucking on my breasts.
Just as I’m about to fall asleep, dreaming of him, I hear him say, “I know you think I’m going to be a shit father, but I’m going to try my best. Good night, Faye.”
I fall asleep with a small smile on my lips.