She’s already driving me fucking crazy. She has so many mood swings that I don’t know whether to laugh, shout, or fucking strangle her. She is hot though, and I smirk to myself, relaying last night and the way the cheeks of her ass flushed under the strike of my palm. That tight little ass. I’ve never been so damn hard, and if Owl and his old lady hadn’t banged on the freaking door, I’d have knocked out another one.
The way her eyes shimmer with tears and then the next second fire with indignation has my blood running cold then hot, the effect sending my heart stampeding in my chest.
Just as I pull into the IHOP parking lot, my cell vibrates from the passenger seat beside me.
“Scorch.” I smile, the sound of my best friend’s voice always stabilizes the erratic thoughts in my head.
“Yo, dude. How’s shit? Not heard from your ass in a while. I’m beginning to think you’ve dumped me for some other dude.”
I laugh, his humor akin to my own. He’s the only one who gets me in this shit life. The only one who one hundred percent has my back. We’ve been in a few fights together, always taking a hit for the other when we’d tried to tap some already taken ass. Hell, I took a bullet to the gut for him once.
“Well.” I clench my teeth, hating that I’m deceiving him. “I kinda got myself hitched.”
A pregnant pause has my jaw tightening further.
“The fuck?” he finally croaks out. “Say that again, ‘cos I’m sure you said you got yourself hitched.”
“I claimed an old lady, Scorch. Tits that eclipse my dick between them, an ass I can bounce my dick off, and a pussy my dick thinks is a freaking vice!”
“Mm-hmm.” He sounds doubtful.
“No kidding. She has the hugest eyes on the damn planet, a hot mouth that swallows my cock all–the–way–fucking–down. And she fucks like a whore who’s greedy for cum.”
“So, you got hitched just ‘cos she’s incredible in the sack?” I know he’s cynical. Fuck, I would be. He knows me inside out. He always has the ability to read every thought in my head. Still, if my dad finds out I told Scorch the truth… it isn’t worth the repercussions.
“Straight up. I want you to meet her, man. Then you’ll understand why I snatched her before any other fucker got their dirty dick near her.”
“Why haven’t I heard about her before if she’s this fucking hot under the covers?”
Swallowing, I force my voice lower, as if angry. “You pulling my dick? I have fucking told you! You were too lit to remember!” I bite my lip, praying that’s enough to put him off the scent. It seems to pay off when he chuckles.
“I’m always fucking lit, dude.”
“Exactly, man. Listen, I’ll be back in a couple of days. And, seriously, you need to meet her.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He laughs. “Frost in love, huh? Never thought I’d see the day. But, honestly, I’m choked up for you. Although, I would have preferred to watch the miracle happen with my own eyes, just for it to sink into my brain.”
Laughing, I nod, even though I know he can’t see me. “There’ll be a huge gathering at the club, I’m sure. Enough booze, coke, and ass to sate your sick needs.”
“There ain’t ever enough pussy to sate this sick dude’s appetite. You know it, brother.”
“I know it.”
Grinning, I end the call and step out of the truck to grab some food. It’s turned dark and the shadows mock me, one morphing to my right causing me to place my hand over the handle of my blade. The parking lot is half full of cars, plenty of places to hide, but the light blazing through the IHOP window would expose any fucker who dared to step out and face me.
“Come on then, cunt. You want me?” I shout, goading the motherfucker who daren’t take me on. It’s evident he only wants to scare me or he would have faced me.
When nothing but the moon moves, I snort and enter the diner. I don’t have time for this shit. I know how crazy women get when they’re hungry. And I like my dick attached to my balls, not in a pan for my old lady–ha, my old lady—to broil.
Another motel, another IHop. We got back in town sooner than I thought so I’ve had us camped out in another motel just on the out skirts so her bruises are fully faded before introducing her to the club. When I suggested going for food she almost knocked me over trying to get out the room.
I love the way she devours her food. I like that she isn’t skinny and always conscious of what she puts into her belly.
“Good?”
“Hmm,” she mumbles around a mouthful. “So…” She glances at me between taking another forkful and stuffing it between her lips. “Any of the women at the club that I have to be wary of?”
Snorting, I lift a brow. “All of them.”
She chuckles, aware of how it goes with club sluts. “Yeah.”
“You used to get along with the chicks in your club?” Distracted for a moment, I lift my fork full of pancake and bacon. “This syrup is delicious.”
Her lips twitch and the sparkle in her eyes at my appreciation over IHOP’s new brand of syrup is accompanied with a nod of agreement, but answering my first question, she shrugs. “One or two. A couple of the old ladies kinda watched out for me, but they never really ‘liked’ me,” she states, making air quotes. “I was the spoiled princess. Well, I wasn’t, but that’s how they saw me.”
Tilting my head, I stare at her. “Did you get along with anyone?”
“Not really. A couple of them were kind to me, as I said, but really, they only tolerated me.”
“That’s why you fell for Dean. A diversion and complete opposite to what you grew up with.” It isn’t a question, more of an observation, and she knows it, although I don’t think she’d ever considered that reasoning.
She shrugs. “Who knows? All I want is to go to college and make a different life for myself. Study is one of the few things my father allows me to do. Yet, sometimes, I think he thinks I want to study just so I can bring something extra to the club from it. Not because I want to go out and explore the world, or because I want a life that is just mine. It’s always what and how he can gain from something.”
It’s hard to grasp that club life isn’t what Avery wants, but I have no qualms about her studying, or even getting a job outside of the club. However, the club is my life, and I still demand her complete commitment.
“I’m good with you going to school, sweetheart. But that doesn’t mean I don’t expect you to involve yourself with the club. It’s my life, and I’ll need you there from time to time. I won’t allow your total exclusion.”
“Oh, no.” She quickly shakes her head. “I didn’t mean that. Just that I dream of being who I am. That’s all I’ve ever wanted, Slade. To be me. To be free to study and work in a totally different environment. I want to spread my wings and fly a little farther.”
I nod. I want her to spread those amazing wings too. I want to be proud of everything she achieves, and I want her to be damn good at it. “That’s all good. But don’t act surprised if I tie a piece of elastic to your ankle. You’ll always come back to me, Avery. Don’t think you can push me away when you start to fly, ‘cos, believe me, my hunting skills are as good as my fighting skills.” She appears amused by that, and I narrow my eyes at her. “Something funny?”
“Not at all. You keep mistaking me.” She lays her fork on her plate. “It’s understandable until we get to know one another a bit better. It’s just that, where my father would have said those exact words, yours are said in a completely different context. You don’t want me on a leash because you want to own me, just that you don’t want me to run.”
“You sure about that?” I quip. Leaning forward, I smirk. “I do own you, darlin’. You’re now my old lady, and whether you agree or not, it makes you mine.”
The carefree mood that had found us both chatting easily for the first time disappears and she stiffens. She looks almost hurt, and squinting, she drops her eyes from mine.
“Look,” I say, “like I said, I’m all for an education. But what I’m saying is, I’m all for my club too. You’re an important part of Lilith’s Army now. You’ll be respected for being my old lady. Lilith’s Army isn’t like the Cutters. We value every single one of our brothers and their old ladies. Family is important, blood or not.”
She nods, but I know I’ve lost the easygoing quality to our conversation.
“Eat up. There’s someone I want you to meet,” I tell her, desperate for space away from the tiny motel room. I’m not used to being cooped up. I love the open road, the freedom it gives the mind and soul. There’s nothing better than blowing the cobwebs from your brain.
She looks at me dubiously and I roll my eyes. “For Christ’s sake, princess. You’re gonna have to learn to trust me sooner or later. I’ve told you time and time again, no one will touch you now you’re mine. Unlike your father’s false promises, I never break mine. What’s this life without a promise?”
She looks up and I can see the wounded expression in her eyes ease a little. “Promises are just tickets that gain entry to disappointment, Slade.”
I give up, blowing out an exasperated breath. “Fine, have it your way. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
Obeying me immediately, she pushes her plate away and follows me out.
She’s learning.