The rumble of a motorcycle has me ripping the covers off me, stumbling out of bed because there’s only one person I know who owns a bike, well, besides Jolie’s man, Rage. I can only hope it’s Bennett. The only thing I don’t know is why he would choose to be here at seven o’clock in the morning.
I don’t bother to brush my teeth or my hair. The only thing I’m focusing on is seeing Bennett, regardless of what I may look like or that I’m only in a flimsy nightgown. I fling open the front door, prepared to fly down the stairs when I see Bennett at the bottom, foot on the first step, eyes zeroed in on me.
“What are you doing here, and so early?” I ask. He’s in a white cotton shirt, well-worn jeans, his club cut, and by the way, Bennett can still look sexy as hell in jeans and a shirt.
“Mornin’, butterfly. Bringin’ you coffee and takin’ you to school,” Bennett says like we’re having a casual conversation.
“Good morning, and you are?” He holds up the coffee and bag in his hand. Now I’m wondering how he was able to manage that while riding a bike.
“Yep, not too thrilled knowing you’re waiting at a bus stop when it’s dark in the morning and then walkin’ home from the Inn at night. Not happenin’, Shila, not when I can do something about it.” he says while walking up the stairs, which takes him no time at all. Apparently, take-charge Bennett has entered the building.
“Well, okay, thank you for everything.” He’s a step down from me, which still doesn’t put us at eye level. Bennett has a good foot of height on me.
“You’re welcome. Sleep good?” he asks, placing a kiss on my lips. It’s nothing like I really want, way too fast in the moment, and is over before it really began.
“Best I have in a long time. You?” I walk backwards into my place, not wanting to miss a moment with him.
“Wasn’t too bad.” Bennett’s eyes leave mine and move down the length of my body, zeroing in on my breasts.
“Bennett.” His name leaves my breath on a whisper.
“Yeah, butterfly. I see that look, watching you come alive from my gaze alone, but until we’re rock fuckin’ steady, keepin’ my hands to myself.”
“There you go again, being a fun sucker.” I’m not going to change, though, not yet at least. If he wants to play this game, well, I’m going to up the ante.
9
SHADOW
“Fuck,” I say out loud to no one in particular because Shila left me with my dick so hard, it has zipper imprints permanently etched into it. Her answering the door in a white nearly see-through nightgown didn’t hide shit in the tits department. I could see her pebbled nipples, and the sun shining through the back showed me the apex of her thighs. This waiting on her to be on the same page is hard as shit. Having to jack off morning, noon, and night is gonna bring me nothing but even more calluses.
I sit down on the couch, annoyed that she’s basically living a shell of herself. I mean, damn, even the couch is fuckin’ uncomfortable. After I drop Shila off at school, I’ll be having a talk with Shovel, Razor, and Rage. I don’t see me leaving Louisiana anytime soon, and I for damn sure don’t see Shila doing that either. Where Shila is, that’s where I’ll always be. There ain’t one person that will take me away from her ever again.
“Sorry that took so long. Are you sure you don’t mind taking me to school?” Shila walks out in a pair of blue scrubs, hair pulled back in a braid that’s over her shoulder, not a stitch of makeup on and zero traces of crying, thank fucking God.
“Got nothin’ but time, butterfly.” I stand up and stride towards her, my hands banding around her hips, pulling her closer to me.
“I can’t relate,” she grumbles.
“You’re about done, aren’t you?” I already know the answer. I didn’t use the club to pull everything I could on Shila. If I hadn’t been pissed at the world, you know the saying young, dumb, and full of cum, I’d have put my head on straight and tracked her ass down years ago, hired the best detective money could buy, or hell, used the club after I became a member.
“Two more months until I graduate. The fun doesn’t start then. I’m hoping to establish some clients, then maybe I’ll either go back to school for a business degree if it’s necessary. I may not need it. I’ll bank as much cash as I can and open up my own shop.” Yep, this girl has shit in motion. Little does Shila know she’s about to have a whole club behind her.