“Why do you justify men hurting you?”
“I’m not. I mean, I know it sounds like it, but I don’t mean to. I need this job.” She blew out a breath. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Why?”
“Because … I don’t know. You’re a guy, and it’s different in this world for you. I’m a woman.”
“You’re playing the sexist card?”
“Were you hoping I’d play the ‘you’re a criminal card’ and say you’ve never done an honest day’s work in your life?” she asked. “I know for a fact you’re a hard worker.”
“Oh, yeah, and what makes you think that?” he asked.
“Your hands.”
He glanced down at his hands gripping the steering wheel. “My hands?”
“Yeah. Someone who doesn’t work hard has smooth, baby-soft hands. You have calloused hands. I don’t know what you do, but you work hard. I’m not going to insult you, Brick.”
“But you want to play the sex card?”
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
He stared out of the window.
She chuckled.
“What?” he asked.
“I had no idea what it would take to get you to be quiet.”
“There are a lot more fun ways to get me to be quiet and have you screaming for more.” He chanced a look at her and saw her face had flamed.
“You can’t say stuff like that,” she said.
“Why not?”
“Because…”
“You don’t have a reason, and I want you to know that this changes nothing. You’re still mine, Callie.”
“But are you mine?” she asked.
“Always.”
He pulled into the clubhouse parking lot and went to the first available spot. After climbing out, he went straight to Callie’s side, helping her and grabbing her case. Then, with several of the guys and club pussy mingling outside, he guided her up to the main building.
Lord waited inside.
The smirk on his face made him want to put his punch it off. Instead, he offered a tight smile and an even glare.
“I didn’t think it could be true.” Ally, Lord’s old lady, broke through the tension. The other woman rushed forward. “I’m Ally. When Lord said that Brick had a woman and was bringing her here, I was so excited. Brick doesn’t like me very much, but I think we’re going to get along really well.”
“Ally, baby, let Brick get her settled.”
“Oh, right. We’ll talk soon.”
Callie offered a tight smile and followed Brick through the main clubroom, going toward the stairs.
“Who was that?” Callie asked.
“That was Lord’s old lady. Whatever you do, don’t insult her. She never used to talk so much, but since they’ve gotten married and had a kid, well, things have been, how do I say this, chatty. She won’t shut up.”
“She has a child?”
He nodded.
“Oh.”
“We all live like civilized people here. We’re not heathens.”
“Right. Right. I’m sorry. This is all a little surreal. I guess your place looks kind of normal.”
He snorted. “What did you think? We’d have sacrificial virgins, or drugs spread out across the table?”
“I don’t know. You hear so much bad news about biker gangs. I judged you before knowing anything. I’m sorry,” she said.
He stopped outside his door and placed a finger beneath her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “Don’t be sorry.”
“I … I don’t want you to hate me.”
“That is never going to be possible.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “I like you way too much.” He flicked his tongue across her lips and she opened up.
Brick had no choice but to pull back. With her in his room, sleeping in his bed, this was going to prove to be stressful for him. He would need to show some restraint, even though all he wanted to do was fuck her hard and fast. She needed time to recover.
Once inside, he stepped back to allow her space to enter.
“You need to rest. I’ve got a couple of errands to run. Do you want some food?”
“No, I’m not hungry.”
“I’ll bring some back when I’ve finished. This is your home now,” he said.
“Brick, I can’t stay here. I’ve got a life and plans.”
“We’ll talk.”
She didn’t need to think about the future right now. She just needed to accept him and their time together.
Callie may not know it yet, but he owned her. She belonged to him, and there was nowhere else for her to go.
He pressed a kiss to her head, then showed her the en-suite bathroom. A couple of rooms on the floor beneath them had to share one. There was no way he was going to let anyone see her naked. That privilege would be for him and him alone.
“I’ll be back.”
“What are you going to do?” she asked.
“Some club errands. I’ll be back before you know it.”
He kissed her head again and headed out of the room. Leaving her was so fucking hard. Walking downstairs, he saw Lord was already waiting for him.
“Ally wants to meet her. She’s really excited.”
“Soon,” he said.
“We going to fuck this guy up?”