“Thanks,” she whispered.
“Anytime.” He winked.
Her full lips quirked upward at the corners and she ducked her head.
The combination of shyness mixed with worldly knowledge made his cock twitch. Where others saw scars, he saw a survivor. The desire to know her story deepened. He tossed back another shot to loosen up. She made him nervous. It’d been a long time since he gave a fuck what any woman thought. “You enjoying your first night out with the Dueling Devils?” Monster asked.
“I don’t know. We barely made it through the door. Only thing I’ve seen so far is the game room.”
“We need to remedy that and show her around,” Chase suggested. She plunked her bottle down on the bar. “But first, I need to take care of a little business. Can I trust you to keep an eye on her?”
“I’m not a child,” Symone drawled.
“No, but you’re new to our world and it’s like a sweet fragrance everyone wants to smell.”
“Not on my watch,” Monster said.
“That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” Chase jumped up and patted him on the shoulder. “Be back in a bit.” She disappeared into the crowd.
“Sorry, you’re stuck with me.”
Symone snickered. “It’s okay. I’m pretty sure Chase does as she pleases, so it’s not like you could stop or predict her next move.”
“You already picked up on that, huh?” He smirked.
She snorted and covered her mouth with her hands.
The sudden fear in her eyes slayed him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“That you think I’m funny?”
“No, that I forgot myself?”
“I’m not following you.”
“A lady should always put her best face forward.”
“No.” He gently grasped her hand and pulled it down from her face. “You do whatever the fuck makes you happy. Don’t hide from me or anyone else.”
Her eyes widened.
“I don’t know where you’re from, or what you’ve been through and I won’t ask because that’s none of my business. But I will tell you this. You are free to be yourself here, whatever that means. Once you’re under our protection, no one is going to fuck with you. I promise you that.”
She nodded but remained tucked back into her shell, like a turtle.
The silence stretched between them. He threw back another shot. “How about I give you that tour Chase mentioned?”
“Please.”
“Baby, you don’t ever have to say please to me. All you have to do is ask and if I can do it, I will.”
“Why?” she whispered. Her brow furrowed and her thin eyebrows sloped down, almost meeting. The expression wrinkled her button nose.
Fucking adorable. What the hell am I doing using words like that? He shrugged. “I’m still trying to figure that out. That okay with you?”
She bit her bottom lip. “I’m not sure yet.”