by S. Nelson
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. It’s simply a blanket warning.”
I held the door for her so she would step inside first, allowing me a few extra seconds to calm myself before I walked into Chambers.
Once the door shut behind me, Zoe made her way toward Braylen, who was sitting on the couch in the middle of the room. I made a left and moved to the open door of our meeting room. The second I entered, everyone’s eyes were on me.
“Nice of you to join us,” Marek snarked, flicking his hand in the air, which was a gesture for me to take my fuckin’ seat and fast.
“There’s no goddamn code anymore.” The gripe came from across the table, from the man sitting directly next to our VP. Ryder glared at me seconds before his eyes landed on Kaden.
“Why you lookin’ at me?” Kaden asked, the deepest frown set between his eyebrows. He’d unknowingly been pulled into my drama, and just when things between him and Stone were starting to calm.
“Because you’re the one who set the precedent that it’s acceptable to go after another member’s daughter to fill your bed.” Stone grunted with Ryder’s declaration, leaning forward, both men glaring at Kaden.
There were so many things Kaden probably could’ve said in response, but he only replied with, “If you have a problem with Brick and Zoe, you need to take that up with him. Leave me out of it.”
Okay, so maybe he could’ve said something else to direct the situation away from me. But to be fair, this was my fight and not his.
“Enough!” Marek shouted. “Why can’t you guys keep your dick in your pants?” He didn’t wait for a response to his outburst before he changed the subject. “We need to reassess our situation here. They’re gonna make a move and soon. I can feel it. And right when we need everyone on board, we have three of you out of commission, especially if they hit soon.”
“I’m fine, Prez,” Ryder argued, sitting straighter, the sound of his cut against his leather chair sounding almost ominous.
“Yeah, me, too.” I threw in my retort, even though I wasn’t in any shape to fight if something happened in the next few days. Hell, possibly the next week. I felt better than I had, but still had a way to go before I was back to my old self.
Tag was quiet, leaning against the wall near the door because all the seats were filled, resting his weight on top of his crutches. He was in the same boat as Ryder and me. There was no way he’d be of any use, hobbling around on those damn things.
“Shut the fuck up,” Jagger retorted, pushing a strand of his hair off his forehead, and rubbing along his temple. “Neither one of you can defend this club or any of our families with the strength we need.
“I have a suggestion.” The comment came from the only other member who was close in size to me. “Hawke and I have two cousins who work security. They also served in the Marines, so they have tactical training. I called and asked if they could help if we need them. They’re just waiting on approval from you.”
“You trust them?” Prez asked, looking a bit skeptical.
“With my life.”
“Are those the guys that showed up at Indulge a couple years ago?” Jagger asked. “They had a couple chicks with them?”
“Those chicks were their assignment. And yes, that was them.”
“One of ’em was almost as big as you.”
“Ford.”
“Who?” Jagger asked.
“Ford. That’s the bigger one. The other guy is Owen, his younger brother by two years.”
Marek leaned back in his chair and looked to be contemplating his next words, his attention remaining on Tripp the entire time. “How much did you tell ’em?”
“Only what they needed to know. That we’re having issues with a rival club and they’re a threat. I also told them about Braylen’s accident as well as them killing that girl.”
“Erin,” Tag chimed in. “Her name was Erin.”
“Erin,” Tripp corrected, nodding at Tag before glancing back to Marek. “And that they shot three of our own.”
“So, basically everything,” Cutter injected.
“Like I said. What they needed to know.” Tripp’s attention bounced from the ol’ man to our president.
“We don’t have a choice at this point. They can replace Brick and Ryder if something pops off before they’re fully healed.” Marek gave Tripp a quick nod. “Call and tell ’em we’ll be in touch if we need ’em.”
“Will do.”
While I hated I wouldn’t be able to stand with my brothers if anything happened before I was whole again, at least there were men who could help us out in the interim, which gave us a better chance at keeping everyone safe.
7
The incident with my dad at the club last week didn’t surprise me, but I’d been embarrassed all the same. Braylen told me to give him some time to come around to the idea of me and Brick, that everything would work out as it should, but her words didn’t give me solace. However, there was nothing I could do other than live my life, which included taking care of Brick until he healed.
He never asked me to stay or wait on him while he recovered. In fact, in the beginning, during the moments he’d drift into consciousness, he told me I should go and stay with my dad, that I’d be safer there, but I didn’t budge. And by not budging that meant I ignored his wishes.
He had family, but they didn’t live in California. His parents, who were still married, lived in New Jersey. He hadn’t told them what happened, and I didn’t blame him, but if I wasn’t here to take care of him, I would’ve insisted he call one of them to come and stay with him for a while.
Not that my insistence would’ve made a difference I supposed. Brick was stubborn and didn’t do anything he didn’t want to. Although I still would’ve made the request.
Since I’d met him, I tried to dissect why I was so drawn to him, but I came up baffled every time. Of course, I was attracted to him. Who wouldn’t be? He was gorgeous and sexy, but more than those attributes, Brick made me feel safe, and it had nothing to do with his large size, which was a bonus in my opinion. The way he looked at me, it was as if I was precious. Sometimes I even thought I saw a flash of panic drift over his face when his eyes connected with mine, but the expression would be so quick I often thought I imaged it.
After drying off, I opened the bathroom door, intent on getting dressed and making breakfast, having finally managed to fill the fridge and cupboards. But instead of walking into the bedroom I’d been staying in, I ran right into a mountain of a man, bouncing back a step in startled retreat. His arms came up to steady me, the heat of his touch lighting my skin on fire. I craned my neck up and up until my eyes finally landed on his beautiful browns. His gaze was soulful, so full of unspoken promises that I never wanted to look away.
It wasn’t until he looked me up and down, did I remember I was completely naked. I wasn’t shy about my body, especially in front of him, his appreciation for my round backside making me want to taunt him, but I shouldn’t tease him.
Not yet.
Not until he was able to toss me on the bed and have his way with me without me worrying whether he’d hurt himself.
Brick’s injuries were healing nicely, and he regained more of his strength each day. His pain had decreased as well, although I was sure the meds Addy had him on contributed. She was happy with his progress but told him not to rush anything. We both knew what she meant, even without her having to spell it out.
“Are you going to let me get dressed?” I laughed, stepping into him, and running my hand down the center of his chest. He no longer wore a bandage over his wound, but the skin was still red and slightly puffy, dissipating a little more each day. He’d undoubtedly be left with scars, a constant reminder of what happened.
I intended to walk around him, but instinct pushed me closer. The only piece of clothing he wore was a pair of black sweatpants, his appearance right now driving me wild. Running my fingers along his waistband, I tugged them lower, revealing the
delectable deep-ridged V of his abdomen. I fought against being selfish and demanding he fuck me. I craved his aggression, his dominance. I loved when he used his mouth on my—
“Will you please stop lookin’ at me like that?” He growled, the deep rasp of his voice making me want him even more. “Or I’ll be forced to do things you don’t think I’m ready for.”
“You’re not.” I moved my hands to cup his ass.
“Then why do you keep teasin’ me?” He removed my grip and clasped both my hands into one of his, resting his free hand on my collarbone, forcing me to walk backward until I was in the middle of the bathroom again.
“I can’t seem to help myself.”
“Then let me do what I want to you. What I know you need. What we both need.” He shifted my hands to rest at the small of my back and turned me around to face the mirror. I was immobilized, testing the restraint of his hold, which was strong. I was barely able to wiggle my fingers, let alone untangle my wrists.
He trailed the fingers of his free hand over my belly, dragging his touch upward until he hovered over my breast. A wave of goose bumps skidded across my skin, puckering my nipples.
“I love your tits,” he said, pinching one, then the other, the ripple of pain he elicited making me wet. I closed my eyes, wanting to give in, but hesitant to do so yet. “Look at me.” I shook my head in defiance. “Zoe.” He said my name with a warning. “Don’t make me tell you again.” My lids popped open and I stared at him through the reflection of the mirror, his stare promising me untold pleasure if I only relented and gave in, which I was on the verge of doing.
Brick pushed me further into the counter, bending me slightly forward. He rubbed against me, the jolt of his cock against the seam of my ass making me choke on my next breath.
“We shouldn’t,” I whispered, hating every syllable I spoke.
“We can.” His eyes darkened. “It’d be really easy for me to get inside you. I bet if I checked, I’d find that you’re soaked. Am I right?” I nodded, unable to tear my eyes away from his. “Do you want me to check anyway?” Again, I moved my head up and down. He shifted his hand from my breasts, to my belly, then a few inches lower until he reached the top of my mound.
I parted my lips to plead with him to stop teasing me but was interrupted by the ringing of my cell. We stood in position, waiting until the sound stopped, only for it to start up again.
“Who could that be?” he asked, raising his brow.
My phone rang once more. “If you let me go, I can check.” I attempted to break free, but I wasn’t going anywhere until he decided to release me. “It’s probably my boss.”
Natasha had been understanding when I told her about my father getting hurt. Of course, I left out many details. No one outside our circle needed to know what really happened.
With a heavy and hesitant pull of air, Brick removed his hand from mine but didn’t move back, continuing to pin me against the lip of the vanity. “I will fuck you today.” His blatant comment left no room for debate, and at this point, I didn’t want to argue.
A moment later, he moved back, allowing me enough room to walk out and snatch up my phone from the bedside table where I left it to charge.
As I swiped the screen, it lit up, flashing the name Andy. Brick was behind me, startling me when he leaned over me and looked at my phone.
“Who’s Andy?” He attempted to conceal the jealousy in his voice but failed.
I wasn’t ready to tell him about Andy yet, still trying to wrap my head around how to broach the subject with him.
“Just a friend.”
Instead of saying anything else, he grunted, taking a seat on the bed. He wrapped his fingers around my wrist when I moved away from him, wanting to take the call in private.
“What are you doing?”
“Just a friend?” he asked. I nodded. “Then you can take the call here, in front of me.” The small smirk on his face shifted to one of annoyance the longer we stared at each other. But it was only seconds, as I answered the call before it went to voice mail.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Zo. I’ve been trying to call you for the past two days.” I’d seen the missed calls and meant to call back, but I’d been preoccupied with the obstinate man sitting in front of me.
“Yeah, sorry about that. I’ve been busy.” I looked at Brick and I wanted to divulge everything, but I might freak him out if I didn’t find the right time to tell him everything.
“How’s your dad?”
“He’s doing better, thanks.”
“That’s good.” There was a small pause before the conversation picked back up. “A few of us are going out tonight and wanted you to come. Can you break away for a little bit and join us?” Another small pause. “Please. I haven’t seen you in what feels like forever and would love to catch up.” The reality was, we’d just seen each other two months ago, before I left London.
“I didn’t know you were in town.”
“Surprise.”
A small laugh escaped me, and I smiled. I’d always enjoyed our time together and did really want to catch up. “Okay. Text me the details and let me see what I can do.”
“Great. And, Zo… I miss you.”
A single heartbeat later, I replied, “Me too. Talk later.” I hung up the phone, all too aware of the bristling man sitting only feet from me. His eyes never left mine, even though I was still naked. Guilt enveloped me even though I’d done nothing wrong. Correction, there was something I hadn’t told him yet, and I supposed some people would construe that as lying.
“What did Andy want?” he asked, saying my friend’s name with a measure of distaste.
“A few of my friends are in town and want to get together tonight for dinner.”
“No.”
“No what?” I tilted my head in confusion.
“No, you’re not goin’.” His lips curved upward but his tone belied his expression.
“And why is that?”
“It’s a safety issue.”
“We’ll be in a public place. And you can drop me off and pick me back up when we’re done if you want. What’s gonna happen?” While I understood his concerns, I didn’t see the harm in meeting my friends for dinner and possibly a few drinks, only to come right back here.
“First off, you wouldn’t be goin’ anywhere without me, so to offhandedly suggest I can take you and pick you back up is asinine. And second, a lot can happen.”
He pushed back, asserting himself and making decisions for me, which I didn’t appreciate. I didn’t care how worried for my safety he was; he had no right to try and dictate what I could and couldn’t do.
Changing tactics so our conversation didn’t turn into an argument, I made a proposal. “Why don’t you come with me, then?”
“I don’t think so.” He rose off the bed and prowled toward me, exciting me and making me nervous at the same time. “I don’t have anything in common with your friends. Remember last time?”
The incident he referred to was when we’d been out shopping and ran into Whitney, a colleague I’d worked with in London, who’d come to California for business for a few days. She looked Brick up and down and the superior air she put on wasn’t fake. She was a snob and often made comments about people who looked a certain way or who didn’t have as much money. She even made some comment about Brick being my bodyguard, because otherwise why would I be seen with him.
He’d wandered off to the side to give us a moment together, but he heard what she said. I corrected her, and she laughed, playing the whole thing off like a joke. But the damage was done. On the ride back to his house, he’d been silent, going to bed earlier than normal without so much as a kiss good night. Thankfully, he was in a better mood the following morning, and I knew better than to bring up the incident again.
“She wasn’t a friend. Besides, who cares what anyone thinks? I don’t.”
“But you will. Eventually.” He reached down and grabbed my hands, running his thumbs over
the tops, his touch soothing. His nostrils flared slightly while he looked lost inside his own head.
“I won’t.” I didn’t know what else to say, but instead of pressing the issue right now, I erased the small space between us, pulled my hands from his and wrapped them around his waist. His skin was warm against mine and all I wanted to do was climb his large form and wrap every part of me around him. “Do you want me to make you some breakfast?”
“No.” His expression flattened and for a moment I feared he was going to push me away, more so mentally than physically. “But I do want to eat somethin’.” The quick arrowing of his brow told me everything.
“I think we should wait another day or so.”
“I’ve waited long enough, woman.” He untangled my hands and practically dragged me toward the bed, pinning me beneath him with a knee on either side of my waist once I was flat on my back. Then he reached down the side and grabbed the shackle connected to his headboard, restraining my left wrist before moving to the right. They were leather manacles with a fleece lining, preventing any sort of damage when I tugged against them. “I’ll leave your legs unbound because I want them wrapped around me.” I tested the restraints, and of course, there was no way of escaping.
Not that I wanted to.
8
I had no right to tell her she couldn’t do something. But jealousy struck me as soon as I saw a man’s name flash across her phone, and even though she said he was just a friend, I struggled to contain the baser emotion.
“I like you like this,” I said, staring at the way her nipples tightened with my perusal, and the way she couldn’t stop shifting on the bed. I wanted to lick, suck, and bite every inch of her creamy flesh.
I wanted to worship her.
I wanted to devour her.
I wanted to climb inside her and never leave.
“Are you just going to stand there or are you going to make a move, big man?” Her teeth toyed with the corner of her bottom lip and I wanted to snatch it back with my own.
