Parking my Jeep at the club, it’s packed with family and close friends of the members. It looks like I’m the last to show up, so I’ll get a cot on the floor I’m sure. This isn’t my first time being here on lockdown. It happens more often than you think.

Pulling my keys out of the ignition, I climb out and Piper comes running out of the club in heels and a skimpy dress, her hands in the air like she hasn’t seen me in years.

“Addie!” she screams, throwing herself into me. The smell of perfume and tequila strong. I want to tell her how their idea backfired, but knowing Piper, she will want to sneak out and show me how it’s done.

“Are you drunk?” I wrap my arms around her, hugging her back.

“No, I mean I’ve had a few, but I need it with this place.” She giggles, taking a step back. She knows the stress lockdown can bring. No personal space and everyone is in everyone’s face.

“Yeah, can’t wait.” Sarcasm deep in my voice. This is one thing I do miss about living in Texas. No lockdowns.

“Your mom is helping the other old ladies get dinner ready.” She places her hands on her hips. “It’s no five-course meal, but it fills your belly if you’re hungry.” She thumbs my cheek where Baby hit me, and I wince.

“Yeah, I’ll go find her.” Walking to the club, Piper follows right beside me.

Going on and on about some guy she has the hots for, but all I can seem to focus on is where is Zane? He hasn’t pulled up with the other motorcycles yet.

Inside the club, it’s as packed as I thought. Zane’s mom, Dani, is rolling out cots and handing out rolled up sleeping bags, and some of the guys are fighting over a bag of chips over near the bar.

Slipping through the crowd, I make my way toward the kitchen.

“Excuse me,” I politely say, weaving through bodies of leather and tattoos.

Finally reaching the kitchen, I push the doors open, and an empty bottle of mustard is thrown at me.

“We said get out! When it’s ready, it’s ready!” Cherry yells, tossing more crap at me.

Ducking just in time, my hair falling in my face, I laugh, gaining all the old ladies to look in my direction.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry!” Cherry covers her mouth in surprise. Her daughter Piper looks so much like her you’d think they were twins. Red silky hair, freckles, and skinny bodies that could get away with murder.

“Grab a knife and start smothering sandwiches, babe.” My mom tosses me a loaf of bread. Heading to the island, I start smothering mayonnaise on bread.

The double doors to the kitchen open and Maverick slips in. He’s Bull and Anahi’s son. He’s in his teenage years, his acne taking over his face.

“Hey, can you sneak me another sandwich?” he whispers to me. His dark hair reminding me of Zane and Dani. He looks just like them.

“Sure, bud.” I grab two sandwiches and top it with chips before handing it to him.

“Sweet. Thanks!” He takes the plate and turns around to sneak back out.

“You know he’s going to be as big as a linebacker if you keep feeding him!” Dani scolds me, catching me giving him more. I can’t help it. He’s like a little brother to me. If he wants more food, I’m going to give it to him. It’s not like he’s overweight. He’s growing.

“Well, when he’s a famous football player he can fly me around the world.” I laugh, and that gets the women chatting.

Sandwich after sandwich, glob after glob until finally nobody else comes in for dinner. I’m so stressed the thought of food makes me sick, so I don’t eat. Not tonight.

Washing my hands, I head back into the main area of the club. It’s a madhouse. So many bodies in such a small space. Some of the guys are playing cards, the old ladies are nearly yelling at each other laughing, and I don’t even know what Piper and Delilah are doing with Saint and Rad. They have cards stuck to their foreheads. Nibbling on my lip I decide to look over some essays outside, I can’t think in here. If I try and pull papers out in here, I’ll have boot marks and pot smoke all over them.

---

I grab my bag out of my Jeep and pop a squat on the pavement before spreading out papers and markers. The ground is warm and hard. But it’s quiet out here. I can think.

Deep into a student’s work, I chew on my red pen trying to understand their comparison of atoms and food. Their minds can be very confusing sometimes.

“You could have done this in my room, you know.” A gravelly voice has my body tense and head snap up.

Zane is leaning against my Jeep, his arms crossed and head lowered. Dropping my pen from my hand, I smile and shake my head.

“No, I’m fine. I needed some air,” I justify. Today has been a lot to handle.

“Hmm.” He grunts. “So, what are we doing about this principal?”

I knew he wasn’t going to let that go.

“I don’t know. I’ve crossed a line.” I sigh. Mr. Thad knows I framed him, and I am definitely a target now.

“Well, I’m going to be with you at all times, and if he so much as looks at you wrong. I’ll be handling the situation, Sunny.”

My heart beats against my chest like I’ve been running instead of sitting down. He called me Sunny. He hasn’t called me that since we were kids.

Turning on his boot, he heads back to the club leaving me in a pool of memories.

---

Sitting on a picnic table that has seen better days, I’m leaned back on my hands, my foot tapping to the base thumping through the speakers of Piper’s car.

The sun is shining harder than ever today, and my cheeks feel warm and pink. Feeling as if someone is watching me, I roll my head to the side and find Zane standing in the doorway of the club, staring at me. His arms are crossed, his ankles too. His hair sways in his eyes with the fan blowing behind him, and he’s shirtless, only his low slung jeans on his body.

Forcing myself to look away before someone notices our staring game, I sit up.

“I’m going to get some water. Want anything?” I ask Piper.

Dancing like nobody is watching, she shakes her head.

“Okay,” I laugh. Taking the back door into the club, I enter the kitchen and grab a glass from the drainer. I fill the glass up with ice and water from the fridge, the sound of ice cracking from the water making my mouth salivate.

Taking a few sips, it cools my throat off just enough but does nothing for the heat sweating down my back. Sighing, I turn around and run right into Zane. He smirks and presses his hand onto the fridge behind me caging me in. My eyes sweep to his, my heart pounding in my ears as he looks back at me. He’s so close I could kiss him.

His fingers dip into my glass of water, pulling free a chunk of ice. My mouth parts, but I don’t say anything.

Slowly, he runs the ice down my neck and around my collarbone. It’s so cold it hurts, droplets of water slipping down my breasts.

“You out there soaking up the rays of the sun, it’s as if you are the fucking sun, Addie.”

I scoff, his line too romantic.

“Would you be my sun? My Sunny?” he whispers, and my eyes widen. The pull between us so strong it should have its own name.

The door to the kitchen swings open, and we part away from each other.

“Hey, we should go swimming!” Piper announces not noticing Zane and I awkwardly avoiding each other.

Zane gives me one last look before popping the ice cube into his sexy mouth and leaving the kitchen.

I was his Sunny from that day on.

Shaking my head from memory lane, I wipe my hands covered in gravel dirt and stand up, nearly knocking into a woman smelling of perfume.

“Sorry, I—”

My mouth hangs open as I take in Baby staring at me with red pursed lips. Her red shirt torn and revealing her black bra, and her jeans tight as hell. We are so different.

“You look surprised to see me.” She twirls her hair. Closing my mouth, I look to the floor, lost to what to say next.

“Baby, I am surprised. Why are you here?” I glare at her and cross my arms. I thought Zane got her out of here.

“Oh, please. Did you really think Zane was going to get rid of me for good? He knows how much of a flake you are. He wouldn’t sacrifice what we have just to get with you, sweetheart.”

My nostrils flare, my nails cutting into the palm of my hand. I want to hit her, I want to find Zane and demand answers. I know club sluts though, and how they love getting under the skin of members’ close ones. I also don’t need to make a scene with family and friends here.

“Move!” I demand, shoving past her. The sound of her screeching giggles making me done with today. Heading to the club, pissed off Delilah is outside smoking a cigarette, staring at me through squinted eyes. She’s wearing a tank top and baggy jeans, her soft belly showing.

“You going to take that?” she nods to Baby. Glancing over my shoulder, I scowl at her.

“She’s not worth it,” I mutter. “I know she’s lying.”

Piper steps up beside Delilah, her face serious instead of drunk.

“She’s stepping into your house, and is shitting on you with a smile on her face,” Piper informs with a heated tone. Anger boils inside of me. They’re right. It seems petty, but to every female in this club, I look weak.

---

“So now what?” I turn around, dropping my things to the ground. Both of the girls step up beside me, their arms crossed.

“Bull doesn’t like cat fights in his club, so we better do this outside.” Delilah laughs. Piper gives her a high-five and they both start toward Baby who is on her phone standing in the lot.

Following them, I feel myself develop like a black flame, one that is heard of but not seen. Baby has taken so much from me and I’ve always turned the other way, something my mother taught me. Tonight, I am going to teach that bitch there is another side of Addie.

The Devil’s Dust side.

Piper snatches Baby by the hair, causing her to scream and drop her phone to the ground. Leave it to Piper to beat the shit out of someone and still look like a model.

Without missing a beat, I close my fist and slam it into her pretty little face. Her nose cracks, or maybe it’s my knuckle because a raging heat races up my fingers as I make contact.

“Shit!” I scream, shaking my fist out.

“Good one!” Piper laughs, tripping Baby to the ground.

“Wait, let me explain!” Baby cries, holding her bleeding nose.

I drop down and lift her chin up with my finger making sure she looks me in the eye. Her heavy makeup and doll-like features making me sick. I hate how pretty she is.

“This is my house, bitch!” I spit in her face, and the girls laugh. I can’t believe I did that, my mother would die if she knew I just spit on someone. But the feeling inside of me is amazing. I want to do it again, I want more of this rage. I want to teach her a lesson. That personality is more than looks, perhaps.

Grabbing her left tit my nails dig into her flesh. They’re not so perfect. They’re not soft, and creamy. They feel firm and unreal.

“Are these real?” I ask.

“What are you doing?” Worry laces in Delilah’s voice, but I ignore her.

“What? Why?”

I squeeze harder, making her wince. The jelly inside making me want to dig my nails in until she bleeds.

“No!” she cries, trying to pull away. I scoff. I hope she didn’t pay a pretty penny for these.

“Hold her,” I tell the girls. Piper grabs her hands, and D gets her feet. I stand, watching Baby wiggle like a worm.

Pulling my knee up, I strike my foot down on her breast again, and again, willing for the implant to bust inside of her.

“Jesus Christ!” Piper laughs, trying to hold onto a screaming Baby. I’d cup her mouth, but we’re out of hands at the moment. We should really think about adding another chick to our crew.

“What’s going on out here?” The voice of Dani making the girls and I tense. Dani is the type of mom that will either help us or make us clean our mess up.

“Run!” Delilah whisper laughs. If anyone knows Dani, it’s her daughter, Delilah.

The girls let go of Baby, and we run into the darkness laughing. I’m a whole other person right now. Dark, daring, and bad.

Putting my arms in the air, I scream and laugh, the night whispering into my ear how proud it is of me for sticking up for myself.

It felt good. Fuck being the bigger person. From now on, I am standing up for myself.

The rush is amazing, I feel high.

“That tit is never going to be the same again.” Piper laughs slowing down.

“Oh my God, I’ve never seen anything like that.” Delilah raises her hand, and I give it a high five.

“I didn’t know you had it in you, holy shit!” Piper runs her hands through her hair.

I laugh, not sure where that evil within came from either. I guess just being stepped on over and over again really did add up to something inside of me. I tried to be a lady, but eventually, you gotta handle your shit.

---

Lying in bed, I stare up at the ceiling, my arms behind my head. I’m still in my jeans but took my shirt off earlier. All these bodies in the club, the air conditioner can’t keep up. I’d sleep in just my briefs but having the place packed with family makes me uncomfortable. The thought of Thad hurting Addie making me angry. I don’t want to kill and torture just anyone, I want to kill him. I want to see his head bounce off the floor with a bullet to the skull. See the fear in his eyes when he realizes he messed with the wrong girl; that Addie is my woman.

Sitting up, I throw my legs over the side of the mattress and drop my head into my hands. God, I’m so fucked up. I can’t sleep for shit. Never have been able to get much sleep but knowing Addie is in danger has me more hostile than usual. I should have listened to my gut today and not let her try and take down the principal. What the fuck was I thinking? Then again, I’d give Addie anything if she asked.

She’s my weakness.

A loud screeching noise causes me to raise my head from looking at the dark floor. It sounded like a woman screaming. Standing up, I open my door and look down the dark hallway. Whimpering pushes my feet forward, my brows narrowed as to what it could be.

Turning on the hall light, I find Addie twisted in a sweaty sheet on a cot. Her face scrunched in pain, and her hands waving around.

She’s having a nightmare.

Bare feet against the cold floor I make my way to her and pick her up. She stops crying and rests her head against my chest, her nails digging into my pecs.

I can’t let her sleep out here on a fucking cot. I take her to my room. Shutting the door behind me, I can’t seem to put her down on the bed. I keep staring at her, wishing for the life of me this was much simpler than it is.

Resting my nose against her cheek, I close my eyes, the beast inside of me snarling and circling its cage at the thought of being next to something so fragile.

“Can I keep you?” I whisper against her delicate skin.

“Yes,” she mutters. Not expecting a response back, I’m shocked. I know she won’t remember this tomorrow, I know she’s not in the right state of mind, but it still does something to me.

“I’m cold, Zane.” She pulls me close, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s awake at all. I want her to remember this, I want this to be our thing. I want to embrace her and hold her throughout the night like I’ve always dreamed.

Placing her in my bed, I think about crawling in next to her to keep the darkness that haunts her at bay because I am the scariest thing in this club and nothing would dare come near her while she sleeps next to me. Knowing deep down she won’t remember any of this, or how she even got in here, I cover her up and grab a pillow wedged between the mattress and the wall. Tossing it on the frayed carpet on the floor in front of my bed, I sprawl out on my back. The pillow folded under my head.

My love for her is louder than my demons. Maybe, just maybe, I can tame them enough to be with her. To run my hands down the curve of her body, and taste the sweetness of her skin for the very first time. Is she worth losing the club over though? Some men grow up dreaming of cars or certain colleges to get into. This club was my silver lining. The only thing I ever wanted was a place at the table. Now I have to decide if Addie is worth more than that.

Her hand flings over the bed, her cute pink painted nails drawing me in.

Reaching up, I tangle my fingers with hers and listen to her breathe.

For the first time since I can remember… I fell into a sleep darker than my day.

---

Waking up I stretch my body, my toes curling in on themselves as I’ve rested more than I have in a long time. My eyes flutter open and I suddenly remember I’m at the club. But I’m not on a cot, I’m in a bed. Snapping upright, I find myself in Zane’s bedroom. In Zane’s bed.

What the fuck?

The door to the room suddenly opens, and I quickly try and flatten my bed head with my fingers.

“Coffee?” Zane questions, holding a black cup. Steam dances above the rim, the smell of brew filling the room. Shit, he looks amazing even in the morning. Sleep heavy in his emerald eyes giving them a hooded sexy look. The stubble on his jaw is darker than usual, and he’s not wearing a shirt, giving me a full glimpse of his hard abs. What does he do, a hundred pushups a day?

He hands me the cup and I push myself to take a sip to keep my mind from continuing to race. Even if it’s lava in my mouth, I force the sips. It does nothing to contain my desire though. My body buzzes wanting to have his warm body next to mine this early. I wouldn’t even mind the morning breath. My eyes scope out his scar on his bicep, my own blazing the skin on my arm as if I was just shot yesterday.

“How’d I—”

“You were having a nightmare, I brought you in here and you seemed to sleep better,” Zane cuts me off mid-sentence. My eyes fall to the coffee cup. My nightmares stalk me as soon as my eyelids close. I’m not safe even in my own head.

“Thank you,” I merely whisper.

“What did you dream about?”

My eyes pop to his, and I think for a second about lying but I’m curious if he has nightmares too.

“About the shooting,” I confess. Zane’s body swells, as if me telling him the past haunts me pains him.

“One of the men brought your bags.” He points to the floor and I nod. Something else is weighing heavy on my mind.

“Why is Baby here?” I change the subject. I have to bite my cheek thinking about how we fucked her up last night. I wonder if we really did bust her implant?

He gives me an off look as if he doesn’t know what I’m talking about. He either really doesn’t or he’s good at lying.

“Yeah, I ran into her last night and she didn’t seem upset about a breakup in the least.” Sarcasm drips from my tongue.

Zane shrugs. “I haven’t seen her since I ended things.”

He turns toward the dresser and I notice his back is covered in flames. My eyes widen when they land on the name Sunny dancing in the smoke. Nearly choking trying to catch my breath, he jerks around to help me.

I point at him, eyes wide.

“You have my name on you?” I croak. The lettering was hard but had a soft tone to it. It seemed personal.

His shoulders rise, and he turns back around, flinging a red shirt out of the dresser and over his head.

“Hurry up, you’re going to be late for work,” he grumbles. Just as he reaches the door he stops, his hand on the doorframe.

“The only thing that ever burned me enough for me to never regret was letting you go, Sunny,” he rasps, and tears fill my eyes. He glances over his shoulder, his eyes piercing me. “You see I don’t have Baby’s name on my back?” He steps out, shutting the door.

My name is tattooed on his back! It dawns on me that I really mean something to him. Us, could have been a thing if we took the leap.

Throwing my hair up into a slick low ponytail, I reach for the clothes folded up in my suitcase. I didn’t get to pack my things so I’m nervous to see what the guys got me. It’s not zipped up, and it looks like someone has been rifling around in my stuff. Reaching into my clothes, something soft hits my fingers and it jumps.

Falling back on my ass screaming, two bunny ears poke out.

“Jersey!” I huff. Reaching forward, I scoop him up. He wiggles his nose, his eyes looking around the room.

“This is new to you, isn’t it.” I use my baby voice.

The door slams open and Zane is in the room with his gun drawn. His eyes find me and Jersey, and he relaxes, slinking into the door frame.

“Sorry, Jersey gave me a scare.” I laugh.

He tucks the gun in the back of his jeans and squats down to look at Jersey.

“You’re the only person I know that has a pet bunny.” He runs his strong fingers between Jersey’s ears, and he closes his eyes. I suddenly feel jealous of my bunny.

“I’ll have one of the boys get him some water and food. Keep him in here, he’s safe in here.”

I look over at him, a smile pulling at my lips.

“Thank you. For everything.”

His eyes flick to mine, a small smile almost tugging his lips.

“No problem.”

He stands, taking his hand from the bunny and Jersey tries to kick to get back to him.

Zane leaves us, shutting the door.

“I know, he has that effect on me too,” I whisper to Jersey before putting him down on the floor.

Going back through my clothes I pull out a few things and go into the bathroom to change. Jersey following me. I shimmy on a pair of black leggings with my white and black flannel button up that drifts down mid-thigh, making sure to roll the sleeves up so I don’t die from the heat.

Slipping on a pair of flip-flops, I grab my cup of coffee and step outside the door. Blowing a kiss to Jersey before leaving.

It’s already a madhouse in here this morning. Distant chatter coming from the main room, and the smell of eggs and bacon overpowering the smell of men and leather.

Slipping down the hallway, I come face to face with some of my girls.

“Hey! You look cute!” Piper waggles her shoulders as she chomps down on a piece of toast.

“Thanks.” I laugh at her.

“Hey! Eat!” Cherry pokes Piper’s plate, and Piper begins to talk back about how she’s an adult.

The low rumble of a man’s voice has my attention on the closed doors to the chapel. The men must be in church. Glancing over my shoulder, the girls are busy busting each other’s balls, so I decide to eavesdrop on what the men are talking about. I’m curious if Zane is telling them about Thad.

“Just make sure and stay with her, we will go around to every low-end dive bar and see what information we can dig up on these Lost Wolves in the meantime,” Bull states to the table.

“Got it,” the familiar voice of Zane responds.

“Keep your fucking hands to yourself!” Bobby demands, and I roll my eyes.

“I got tails on the other girls today as well,” Lip chimes in.

“You shouldn’t be doing that,” Delilah whispers in my ear, making me jump.

“Jesus, you’re going to give me a heart attack!” I pant, holding my chest.

“Yeah, well that will be the least of your problems if one of the brothers catch you listening in.” Her brows raise.

Swallowing, I nod, knowing she’s right. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that even though this place is family, it’s us they’re harder on. Delilah is club through and through.

Turning on bare feet, Delilah heads to the counter for breakfast. Her sweatpants two sizes too big for her, but her black tank top two sizes too small.

The gavel slams from inside the chapel and so I quickly step over to the couch, acting as if I’m minding my own business.

The men shuffle out, and boots scuff to a halt behind me.

“You ready?” Zane asks.

Swallowing a sip of my lukewarm coffee, I turn and smile.

“Mhm.”

Heading to my Jeep, I notice Zane stop at his motorcycle.

I slow my steps and look at him puzzled. Is he following me on his bike?

He holds out a helmet and my stomach falls. He wants me to ride into work with him.

“Oh no, I’m not riding on that to work!”

“Well, seeing as I’m the one babysitting you today, I don’t see how else you’re getting your cute little ass to work?” He’s serious, laughter dancing in his eyes.

“My hair will be everywhere, Zane,” I argue.

He shrugs, not giving a shit about my hair.

Fuck this. I’m taking my Jeep. Turning back around, I head toward my car and hop in. Where are my keys? I look in the sun visor, nothing. The floorboard; nothing.

Something out of the corner of my eyes grabs my attention.

Zane stands there with an arrogant smirk on his face, dangling my keys in his fingers.

Grasping the steering wheel, I shake it as if it were Zane’s head. Son of a bitch! I almost forgot how aggravating he can be.

Jerking my bag from the passenger seat, I hop out and slam the door.

“I hate you!” I growl, rushing past him to his motorcycle.

He chuckles, enjoying himself before blowing me a kiss.

After I fasten my helmet, scowling at Zane in the process, he starts the engine to his slick bike. It’s not that I don’t like riding, it’s just not the ideal ride to work is all. I also haven’t been on one in forever.

Sliding on behind him, my school bag slung around my chest, I wrap my arms around him. He’s so muscular my fingers barely touch. Jesus, he smells good. Like soap and leather.

Not expecting him to kick it into gear so fast we fling forward and I squeeze tighter. Having him in between my legs like this taking my mind off my hair and the sweat dripping down my back.

Resting my cheek against his back I inhale his scent, take in the wild wind whisking around my face, and get lost in the thought that maybe one day a ride like this will be more than just a ride to work. Maybe, it can be forever.

---

Arriving at the school, Zane parks near the back of the parking lot where a small tree casts just enough shade on a small patch of green grass. Sliding my helmet off my head, I shake my head free from being smashed into such a small space, and hand it to him. Sweat sticks to my hairline, and I can feel ridges from the helmet on my forehead.

“So what are you going to do while I’m in there?” I question before climbing off the motorcycle, making sure my leg doesn’t touch the exhaust. I’ve had that happen only once, and still have the scar from Bobby’s motorcycle.

He shrugs, climbing off the bike after me.

“Read,” he states casually.

“Read?” My brows furrow in. He reads? Like magazines?

Zane unzips one of his saddlebags and pulls out a book that looks like it’s seen better days. I snatch it from him, curious what he would be reading and he swells up like I’m the bully and he’s the kid I just took lunch money from. The cover is missing colors, and the binding looks as if he’s rolled the book more than once and stuck it in his back pocket. He’s read this a few times by the looks of it.

“Gatsby?” I read the title aloud. One of my favorite reads.

“What?” Eyes hooded he gives me an evil glare, one to cast a spell of goosebumps along my arms. I can tell he feels judged, but I am turned on more than anything. A bad boy who is educated.

“I just figured you more of a motorcycle parts magazine type of a guy.”

He snatches the book back and looks it over. His body relaxing as he holds it firmly in one palm.

“I like reading. It lets me see what… what normal people are like.” His tone takes a vulnerable dip, and my heart skips for him. He thinks he’s so different, it scars him. I mean, he is dark and scary at times, but I don’t think it’s as far as him being abnormal.

“Well, you’ll see the obsession in that book is not so normal!” I point at it, taking a few steps backward toward the school. “Everyone has their flaws, nobody is perfect and by reading book after book you will see that nobody is normal,” I state.

His face hardens, his hand rolling the book.

“You read this one?”

I scoff.

“I wish I had done everything on earth with you,” I quote exactly from the book. Our eyes lock and it occurs to me what I just said. Clearing my throat, I turn on my heel.

That got awkward fast. But it’s true…

---

Hours pass and Zane lays out under the tree reading. He’s shirtless, his chest tan and probably sweating. I chew on the end of my pencil thinking about his legs bent out just enough for me to climb in between. The way he’d look up at me with a cocky smirk on his face. I’d straddle his lap, and jerk his belt buckle free of his jeans from his sexy waist.

“Miss Addington?”

My head jerks to a student at my desk holding her test. Her eyes wide with concern, and brows lifted. Thankfully she has no clue what my wet daydream was about, crap my panties are so fucking wet.

“Right, just set them in the basket face down.” I blink several times to get back in the moment and away from fantasy biker land.

Sighing, I look back down at tomorrow’s lesson. At least Thad hasn’t confronted me about anything today, if anything he’s been avoiding me. For now.

Maybe it’s because he’s seen Zane that Mr. Thad knows he’s bitten off more than he can chew.

---

Haunted eyes staring at me in the darkness make me wave my hands out to keep it away, the sound of fireworks going off, and the laughter of Zane echoing in my ears. I twist and turn trying to get away, but everything just becomes louder. Half dead men riding by on motorcycles throw snakes at me, and my legs are sinking into sand so I can’t move.

“Addie!” Zane’s voice echoes in my head.

“Help!” I scream, and then I’m shoved really hard and brought to a bright light of the room.

I’m sweaty, mouth dry and out of breath.

Zane sits at the end of the bed, looking at me with wide eyes.

“I had- I had a bad dream,” I rasp. It’s the same dream I have every night.

Zane grabs the sheets on me and pulls them off. The cool air refreshing. My big shirt and short shorts make me a little uncomfortable though and I wrap my arms around my legs.

“Come on, let’s get something to drink.”

“No, I’m fine.” I wave him off.

His green eyes flicker with dark specks.

“Get up.” He pats the bed and stands up. He’s wearing nothing but briefs and I can’t help but stare at the bulge.

He crosses his arms, and my eyes slide up to his.

“What’s on your mind?” He tilts his head to the side, playing with me.

“Entertain me,” I reply in a raspy voice.

He stands there, ideas dancing in his head.

Rubbing his chin, he looks me over one more time before stepping forward and grabbing me off the bed. I squeal just as he walks into the dark hallway. He steps over cots, the sound of people snoring and coughing telling me their sleeping.

“Where are we going?” I whisper, slapping at his backside.

He ignores me and goes into the kitchen. Flicking the lights on, the stainless steel appliances shine bright.

He plops me down on the counter, the coldness making me nearly jump off.

“That’s cold!” I whine.

“You’ll live,” he clips. Asshole.

He jerks the fridge open, and pulls out a tub of chocolate ice cream, grabbing two spoons in the strainer.

He pops the lid open, and positions himself between my legs, a smile playing at his lips.

“Why are you smiling?” I grab my spoon, but he knocks it out of my hand and presents his spoon of chocolate ice cream to my lips. He’s feeding me.

Opening my mouth, he slips it in, the chocolatey goodness coating my tongue.

“This is the best remedy for bad dreams,” he states. Grabbing the spoon he made me drop I fill it with ice cream and feed it to him. His plush lips sliding over the silver, making me want to pull him closer to me.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” I rebuttal.

He feeds me again, and I feel my nipples bud with the coldness entering my veins.

“Have you always had the nightmares?” he asks, and I sigh.

“Yeah.”

“Me too,” he whispers, and my eyes fall onto his.

“Have you always had them?”

He nods.

“Mine always end with you being washed to sea, or these bull looking devils riding off with you,” he confides, and my heart breaks. Mine always end with Zane getting farther and farther away.

Done with the topic, he tosses his spoon in the sink and takes mine tossing it in the sink as well.

I hop off the counter, just as he puts the ice cream back into the freezer.

He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, his abs grabbing my attention.

“Ready for bed?” he asks.

I’m ready for something else.

Walking up to me he grabs me under the thighs and tosses me over his shoulder.

“I can walk you know!” I laugh, but he ignores me and turns the lights off.

He steps over sleeping members and takes me back to his room before plopping me down on the bed.

He positions himself on the floor, and I scoot to the side of the bed. His sheets smell so clean, I can’t help but inhale them.

“You can sleep up here with me, you know.” I smile down at him.

“You ain’t ready for that kind of entertainment,” he rasps, rolling over on his side trying to hide his massive boner.

My clit throbs thinking about him in between my legs just moments before.

God, when will this punishment ever end?

The days pass, and I continue to fall asleep in Zane’s bed. One night I woke up with my hand in his. I couldn’t help but bite my lip and rub my thumb over his. I wanted to stay awake and relish in the moment forever, but sleep took over. He takes me to school on his motorcycle every day, and he reads while I’m working. Looking sexy as hell under that damn tree with no shirt. Things are getting intense, as if a ticking time bomb is ready to explode at any moment. Both between me and Zane, and at school Mr. Thad hasn’t said anything, but it’s only because Zane is with me.