Ugly Beast’s room was exactly like her own. The bed was made, and not a wrinkle in sight. He had three chests of drawers along each wall, and a closet door was open.
She left his room, not wanting to invade his privacy. She knew what it was like to have men randomly come in and trash her bedroom.
Her father had often made his men do searches of the house, which included trashing the place. Some of the maids had tried to rat on them, and she’d never seen them again.
She walked downstairs and went straight to the garden. Stepping out onto the back porch, she saw a small barbeque to her left, and across the garden, his pool.
It looked amazing.
She inhaled deeply, feeling that sense of freedom that had never been hers.
Even to inhale air, someone had been watching, assessing, reporting back to her father as if she was some kind of child.
Hands clenched at her side, she took a step into the garden, then another. She walked toward the pool in the back. A few leaves had fallen from the surrounding trees.
She sat down at the edge of the pool, putting her hand into the water as she felt the cool liquid as she ran her fingers up down.
Kicking off her sneakers, she removed her jeans and folded them up, placing them beside her. She lowered her feet into the water, and watched. There was nowhere for her to be. No fear of someone spotting her.
She was alone and free. Smiling, she kicked her feet out, and then lowered them back in.
Being married to Ugly Beast wouldn’t be so bad.
“Here you are.”
She jumped and quickly stood when she caught sight of Raven.
“Wow, chick, don’t look so panicked. I was knocking on the door for a lifetime.”
“Don’t you have a meeting with the club?” she asked. Her hands were shaking and she was trying to calm down her nerves, but nothing was happening.
“That shit ended a short time ago. Don’t look at me like I’m going to shoot you. I wanted to hang out. Ugly Beast has some errands to run. I’m bored, and I figured you’d enjoy my lovely company.”
“I would.”
“Go back to putting your feet in the water. I’ll join you.”
Right there in front of her, without even trying to be modest, Raven shoved down her jeans, showing off her smooth legs and the thong that sat between her ass cheeks.
Abriana averted her gaze and slowly sat back down on the edge of the pool. She gripped the ledge tightly, trying to find her composure once more but failing. She hated being this weak and allowing people to see it.
Raven let out a sigh, putting her feet into the water. “This reminds me of a time at the beach. We were all on a club run, and we needed to make a stop for the night at the beach. It was so fucking busy during the day. Not a drop of sand could be seen because of all the bodies. Anyway, I rolled up my jeans, removed my boots and socks, and ah, the pleasure.”
“I’ve never been to the beach.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it’s the truth. My family didn’t see a point in a vacation. I was used to staying at home.”
“Is it true you were homeschooled?”
“Yes.” She nibbled her lip. “Our purity was important to our fathers.”
“I hate fuckers like that. It’s just a piece of flesh.” Raven shook her head. “I think every woman should have a voice in how their first time should go.”
“Are you a virgin?”
Raven burst out laughing. “Me? Hell, no. I lost mine back when I was sixteen, in the back of a truck.”
“How old are you now?”
“Twenty-five. You?”
“I’m nineteen.”
“Holy shit. I had no idea you were so young.”
“Does my age bother you?”
“Nah, it just makes me sad that for a teenage girl, you don’t know how to have fun. When’s your birthday?”
She gave her the date.
“Six months from now.” She watched as Raven flicked her legs back and forth. “You know, I think I should make it my personal mission to help you have a normal teenage experience.”
“Normal?”
“Yes. Staying out late. Going to the movies. Getting drunk. We should totally have a girls’ night.”
“I don’t think that would be allowed.”
“Has Ugly Beast told you that you can’t do something?”
“No.”
“Tell you what, let me handle this.” Raven pulled out her cell phone.
Abriana looked over the woman’s shoulder as she tapped Ugly Beast’s name on the screen.
“Hey, big guy. You’re going to have to stay at the clubhouse. I’m going to show your wife how to have a good time, you cradle-snatcher you.”
She didn’t hear what Ugly Beast had to say, and with Raven’s smile, she didn’t know if it was good or bad. With the cackle she unleashed, she was going to say bad.
“Yeah, yeah, you’ll thank me some day.” Raven hung up. “Come on, it’s time for us to party.”