“It’s settled. Get shit done,” he commands and slams the gavel down, officially ending this session of church.
“Chicago, Saint?” Sinner mutters coming up beside me as we tread down the hall.
The walls have various club photos lining the way, leading straight to the kitchen. We left Jude in there, and I’m betting she’s either still in the same spot or sitting outside.
My boots feel heavy hitting the stained concrete, the alcohol stupor still not completely lifted. It doesn’t stop my brother from talking though. “It’s cold as fuck up there. We ride at night, and our dicks will freeze off. We got it easy, sticking to Texas.”
“Don’t care, just tired of being cooped up.”
He chews the inside of his cheek and says, “Why don’t we take Jude somewhere for the night? We can drop her back off tomorrow and then take care of club business. We have enough time.”
“She’s staying? You asked her already?”
We hadn’t actually gotten to speak the words aloud, but he knows what I meant by telling him to figure shit out. She has to stay here for good if my idea works and he needs to get on the ball about it. If she commits, then I’ll have her and Sinner for good, which is exactly what I want. If he thinks taking her out of town for the night will help steer her in our favor, then I’m all for it.
“Well, no,” he admits, appearing a bit sheepish. “But she hasn’t asked to leave yet.”
“So, you’re finally giving in? She told me the first night about how she’d flirt with you and shit, but you’d shoot her down each time. You’re stronger than me; I’d have been all up in her pussy before she could even blink.”
“I figured you’d gut her if you did find out and sleeping with her would’ve made it harder to leave her behind when it was time. I already struggled when I couldn’t go check on her when I felt like it. I didn’t think this would be the outcome, to be honest.”
“Thought about it,” I admit, shrugging it off. “I needed to be around her to see why you even gave a fuck in the first place. It’s different; you caring about her like this. I wouldn’t just randomly kill someone you care for in spite. I have my reasons for doing the shit I do.”
“I know that. At first, it was the guilt for killing her mother, eating at me. Then I started looking forward to seeing her whenever I could. I guess it grew from there without me even realizing it. One day she was cute but annoying, the next I couldn’t get her out of my head.”
“You should’ve spoken to me sooner. After everything we’ve been through, I don’t get that part. That’s what bothered me the most, not finding out from you telling me directly and from the very beginning.”
“I’m aware of that now, but you’ve been kind of stir-crazy lately. I’m not making this your fault, don’t get me wrong. I’m being real about it all. Whenever I’d think of telling you about her, I’d picture you in a rage, sacrificing her or scaring her. She’s not like us; she’s never been through the shit we have been. You and me, we’re not exactly normal.”
I reply, cocking a blond eyebrow up in his direction, a bit wounded by his preconception. “You of all people know I only do that to bad souls. I would’ve killed her mother from what I’ve heard of her. Then maybe just fucked baby and left her alone after. Hard to say. She’s more my type then yours, anyhow.”
He gives in after a few beats. “I was judging you like everyone else.”
Sighing, I nod, because I’d already figured that much out. Hiding her like I’d torture the bitch or something. Nineteen years by my side and yet he forgets one of the most important things about my heritage.
The sacrifice of bad souls is to pay tribute and give respect to my ancestors that’ve long passed. Do I enjoy the kill when it happens? Of course, I do.
It doesn’t mean I go on a rampage slaughtering innocents for shits and giggles. I’m not a fucking psychopath. If I was, I wouldn’t love him so damn much, that’s for sure. And, I wouldn’t give two shits about keeping Jude with us.
“Forgive me,” he finally whispers, saying the words I needed to hear.
Grabbing his forearms, I stare into his pebble-shaded irises, the one’s I’ve come to seek in comfort. “You don’t have to ask, Sin; you’ve already been forgiven.”
He swallows roughly, watching me with so much sadness in his eyes. I can see the boy that I saved that day inside him still. He fights those demons his father planted down deep to this day. I’ll never let them hurt him again. As long as I breathe, I will be his savior.
Leaning in, I gently graze his nose with mine. A breath escapes me, being so close to him. I want to take his mouth desperately, but he doesn’t like it unless we’re behind locked doors. I have to respect that; our relationship is a step out of the ordinary when it comes to club life.
Moving to the side, I caress his earlobe with my nose next and rasp the same promise I’ve made to him over and over, “I will always fight for you.” With my entire being, the statement is true.
His knuckles push into my stomach briefly as he releases a deep breath, and then his fingertips are up, gripping my chin. He draws my face to his, brushing a hard kiss against my mouth. It takes everything in me not to slam him against the hallway wall and rip his clothes off.
I settle for a moment of my tongue twisting with his. The need built up inside me pours from the very depths of my soul into him. His teeth graze over my lips as he pulls away, leaving behind goosebumps in his wake. It’s everything I’ve come to look forward to when we touch like this; it’s what my body’s learned to crave more and more.
The pad of his thumb trails over my lower lip wet from his mouth, his shadowy gaze trained to the spot full of heat. A noise in the other room breaks the spell, and with a blink, he’s backing up, putting space between us. “I couldn’t stop myself,” he confesses, shaking his head and spins to walk away.
Catching his arm, I stall him briefly, not ready to put an end to what we’ve just shared. “I didn’t want you to.”
With that, I release him, and we finish our search for Jude. He claims I have him, but there’s a twisting in my stomach telling me that I need to own her heart to have him forever. I’ll let him fall for her too, as long as she falls for us both. One thing is for certain, he’ll never completely be hers, not while my heart’s still beating.
Saint and Sinner’s handsome, scruffy faces finally appear after about an hour. I’ve had time to wake up and even miss them. It seems silly and too soon, but it’s true. I’ve begun to enjoy every moment that I’m around them now that Saint isn’t angry anymore.
What time frame is normal to know how you feel about someone? My mind and body are all for Sinner and Saint. However, I don’t know if it’s foolish to listen and go with my feelings or to hold back. Sinner says that I’m naïve, but is that a bad thing when it comes to love? It took merely one day with each of them to know my life would never be the same.
It has to mean something, right? Every hour that passes, I find myself enraptured with them even more. It’s my own type of madness, being torn between two men at the same time. Do I absolutely have to choose only one? Because as of right now, I want them both, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
“Hi,” I greet, sipping some of the strong black coffee I’d made earlier. This stuff is awesome.
“That smells good,” Saint comments, his tired gaze looking as if he could use some extra sleep or a giant cup of coffee.
“It’s strong and very yummy. There’s more if you want some.”
“It’s chocolate chicory coffee baby girl. Gotta have that sort of shit with a compound full of men.” He winks, planting his body in the spot beside me. He twists until I’m positioned between his legs and presses a kiss to my temple.
It’s become sort of a habit of his to leave behind sweet kisses on my face. It makes me feel kind of cherished, especially after he bit me, and I freaked. I think I’m figuring Saint out though. He loves strongly and in return his anger is an ev
en more powerful force to reckon with. As long as I know that much about him, I can relax. He won’t hurt me because I won’t hurt him.
Sinner sits on the other side of me and winces as he does, his inky eyebrows downturned with the frown on his lips. I can’t help myself and show my worry. “How’s your cut?” I wish I could do something to help.
“Hurts, but I’ll survive.” He sends me a sweet grin. It’s so unlike the grouch I’ve grown used to visiting me out at my mom’s trailer. If I think I have it bad for him now, a little more of this side of him, and I’ll be done for before I take my next breath.
“Do we need to change the bandage or anything?”
He lifts his shirt up enough for me to see the clean dressing, “I did after I took a shower this morning. Not much I can do with it; the stiches have to do their job.” He fixes his shirt, and I’m disappointed to watch the sexy strip of his stomach disappear. “We want to take you for a ride, but I’m not so sure that Saint’s boxers and T-shirts would be good to ride in. Let alone the flip-flops.”
“I guess it’s too hot to just stick me in a leather jacket, huh?”
His inquisitive gaze scans over me, and I dip my head, looking over my makeshift outfit of borrowed clothes. I’m dressed like a total bum, but it’s comfortable. And besides that, the only people I have to impress are sitting right next to me.
“Not to mention if she doesn’t get a bra soon, I’m gonna lose my shit—having to watch her titties bounce each time she fucking moves,” Saint gripes as his hands fist tightly, glancing at my chest. They relax after a moment, and my lips turn up into an amused smile. He’s never one to hold back on what he’s thinking. Some may find it intimidating; I think it’s charming.
I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling ready to burst. My eyebrow shoots up, teasing him. “Like you’ve never seen a naked woman before.”
“Oh, I’ve seen plenty, baby girl; make no mistake about that. None of them quite measure up to you, however.” He flashes his perfect, white teeth with his flirtatious grin. I don’t know how it could be possible, but that look makes him even more freaking gorgeous.
It seems like the more sinister they are, the sexier they are as well. He reminds me of the big bad wolf, and I’m Little Red Riding Hood, just waiting to be devoured. Only, in this case, I’m between two wolves. If only Red had known what she was missing with only one chasing her.
My cheeks warm, loving his compliment. Men don’t ever talk to me like he does, and it makes me hold my breath, just waiting to hear what he has to say. It’s either some sort of whispered threat or sexual innuendo it seems, and I’ve found that I’m growing used to it the more I’m around him. I wonder what his reaction would be if I were so brazen in return? Could I make him suck in a breath at my thoughts as well?
“We need to get you some clothes.” Sinner finishes his earlier observation, ignoring Saint. “I’m going to check if any of the girls around here have something that’ll fit you. What size pants and shirt do you wear?” He’s always attempting to think of everything.
Saint interrupts before I have a chance to open my mouth. “You’re not supposed to ask women that shit. I read about it somewhere, I remember. Same goes for their age and weight. Don’t do it, man.”
A snort leaves Sinner. “Fine. I’ll figure it out, then.” His finger tucks my hair behind my ear, and the movement makes my heart flutter. His touch is electric. “When’s your birthday, sweetheart?”
It’s the last thing I was expecting him to say and the pet name has me racking my brain like I don’t know my own birthday or something. “It’s in two months.” Not sure the exact date at the moment because the only thing I care about is staring at his perfect mouth whenever he speaks. He could be speaking Chinese, and it wouldn’t faze me, just as long as I could sit here and stare.
“You’ll be nineteen?” He tucks my hair back on the other side as well, and my legs damn near fall open, wanting his attention between them too. I’ll welcome his touch anywhere.
Nodding, my stomach seizes, preparing for the spiel about how I’m too young for either of them and so on...
“Good.” He breathes out a sigh of relief. “You’re not as young as I thought. I thought you’d barely hit eighteen.”
“Nope.” I smile, relieved as well he didn’t go into a lecture about the age gap, and his finger caresses my jaw before falling away. I almost let the daddy retort slip, to egg him on further, but hold myself back. It makes him uncomfortable even though Saint seems to enjoy it.
“Saint will keep you company.” He waves to the man who’s most likely going to get me in trouble at some point—in the most devious ways, I’m sure. “I’m going to check around for clothes and boots.”
“I wear a size seven and a half for shoes.” I’d tell him my other sizes as well, but I don’t want to prove Saint’s article wrong. Some women really don’t care about telling people their size, weight, and age.
“Noted. I’ll be back.” He stands, and Saint runs his palm up and down my spine, the rhythm warm and relaxing. I could probably fall asleep if he were to do this while lying down.
“So where are we going?” My attention gravitates to the striking man left beside me. His chin’s still red from my teeth, but I kind of like it. He’s wearing my mark, and that makes my stomach spin in satisfaction.
“It’s a surprise.” He chortles, sharing another glimpse of his bright white teeth.
Gah, it’s so sexy, having men who take care of their bodies, such as Saint and Sinner. I mentioned wanting to lick Sinner before; well, I definitely want to lick Saint as well. And preferably every square inch of him if he’ll let me.
“Sounds like fun.”
“How, if I haven’t told you anything about it, yet? We could be stealing you away to never let you go again.”
“Considering I’ve never been anywhere else besides my hometown and here, it sounds pretty awesome. Besides, you two are anything but boring, so I know I’ll most likely love it. Steal me away.”
“Jesus, baby.” His head shakes and his eyes the colors of raindrops, lose a bit of their teasing glint. “We’ll take you places; I promise.” He utters it with so much sincerity that I can’t help but wish it comes true. “You’ll have a good time; we’ll make sure of it.”
“Saint?” I briefly pause, conjuring up the nerve to say what I’m thinking as easily as he does. “Can I ask you something?”
He grunts but continues to rub circles on my back so I guess that’s not necessarily a no, per se.
“Why are you letting me stay here with you and Sinner?”
“’Cause, you may not realize it now, but Sin wants you.”
“But you don’t?” I meet his gaze, inquisitive. I’m attempting to understand where exactly I fit into this dynamic. I don’t want them to get tired of me and leave me in their rearview mirrors.
“Of course, I do. Maybe not in the same capacity as Sinner, but you serve a purpose for both of us. I’m sure with a little more time, I’ll want you the same amount, if not more than my brother.” His answer’s brutally honest, and I have a lot of respect for it. I appreciate that he’s not one to sugarcoat things for me but be open about them when I need him to be.
“What’s my purpose?” Not that I’m too excited to hear it if I’m only here for sex, but I have to find out. I need to know where I stand and what to expect being intertwined with the two of them.
“It’s too soon to get into all this. For now, I want you to learn to relax and enjoy the ride. Don’t worry yourself sick about our feelings. We want you with us, so you’re here.”
“I don’t want to go back home,” I admit, barely loud enough for him to overhear. There’s nothing left there for me. I didn’t want to say the words out loud, but they’re the truth.
“Then I guess that’s gonna work out just fine for us, baby girl. ‘Cause, trust me, we’re not ready to take you back yet.”
Remembering home has me thinki
ng of everything else too, such as my puny job manning the library desk. “I have to work the day after tomorrow.” Not that I want to. I love working, but this trip is far more entertaining than being stuck there.
“So, quit.” He shrugs as if it’s no big deal which, to him, I suppose it isn’t. I doubt he’s ever even worked a normal job. He strikes me as the type to get bored and tell everyone to go to Hell.
I could easily quit; it’s not like I have many hours, but what would I do when he and Sinner get sick of me and take me back home? I don’t want to go back to no job and no way to survive. I have to be responsible because I’ve learned that no one else will be for me and I have goals I want to reach.
“I can’t.” Shaking my head, I plant my elbows on the table and my chin in my hands with a sigh.
“What are you so scared of, baby?” His lips trail over my neck, placing a few random chaste kisses along my throat. His lips and short, blond scruff against my skin are distracting in a wonderful way.
“Well...I guess that I won’t have anything to go back to when it’s time for me to return to reality.”
“Why would you even have to go back? To work at your shit job, or hang out in your trailer all alone?”
It’s like he echoes my thoughts exactly.
He backs away just a touch, his penetrating gaze serious as he continues, “Or maybe you wanna go back because me and Sin aren’t what you thought we’d be? Baby, we don’t take any shit, neither of us. We won’t let anything happen to you either if that’s what you’re worried about.”
I wished for those very words last night while I was lying in bed next to Sinner and then again this morning when I woke up snuggled between two warm bodies. But now that I have them the rational side of my brain is pumping the brakes on my newfound adventure. I crave the fun of course, but I need some sort of assurance on things as well. I don’t want to get hurt by Saint, Sinner, or both. There’s no doubt in my mind that they’re more than capable of demolishing my heart if they chose to.
It’s like he can feel my mind fighting me on what to do, jerking in multiple directions at once and turns my face toward his. Saint leans in until our lips are nearly touching, his breath just a touch away from me to taste. He murmurs, “Not everything has to be complicated, baby girl. Sometimes what you see is exactly what you get,” he finishes, and his lips meet mine.
Baby - eBook Page 11
