Chapter Eight
Rose woke with Brick’s cock buried inside her. When she experimentally wiggled, he groaned behind her. He had one arm and leg thrown over her body. She still marveled at the perfect way their bodies fit. Brick pulled his prick out of her, then kissed the nape of her neck.
“Morning, sweetheart,” he murmured sleepily in her ear.
“Hey,” she answered.
Rose could get used to this, to waking up next to Brick’s solid and warm body. If she was honest, she wanted more mornings like this. A couple of weeks had passed since Brick took her to that Mexican restaurant and she laid her fears bare before him. Stefan and Rose were adjusting nicely to their new life.
Everything at work was going swell. She loved working at the café with Nancy. Rent and food were practically free since she lived with Brick at the MC clubhouse, and most of her salary went to her savings account. She had no fears about being able to put Stefan in school. As for Brick and her, things couldn’t be better.
“Brick,” she said as he wrapped his arms tighter around her body.
“Hmm?” Brick asked, sliding his cock between her legs again.
She groaned. “We can’t. I’ll be late for work, and you’ll be late for your meeting. I can’t give King another reason to hate me,” she pointed out.
The President of the Ruthless Reapers MC had only traded a few curt words with her, but he avoided her if possible. Rose couldn’t blame him. Ever since Brick killed off Dragon and his crew, she knew the MCs frequently butted heads. Brick did his best to avoid talking about the conflict, but she could still hear the other MC men talking.
Trigger and the other two MC guys that Dragon landed in the hospital had finally been discharged from the hospital. They were eager to hit back at the Black Dogs and rode with Brick whenever there was a potential fight. Guilt filled her each time her man and his crew rode out.
This was all on her, Rose knew. The Black Dogs MC was still looking for Donny. Brick suspected her brother had already skipped town, so the rival MC’s closest target was her and Stefan.
Brick snorted, finally awake. “King doesn’t hate you.”
“This is all my fault,” she said, twisting in his arms. Brick loosened his hold so she could turn and face him. “I heard the others talking. This meeting is about the Black Dogs MC, isn’t it?”
“Rat sent a crew to steal one of our shipments,” he admitted. “But we won’t stay idle. We’ll get them back, and how many times have I told you? None of this is your fault.”
“But—” Rose began.
Brick put a finger to her lips. “But nothing,” he said firmly. “The Black Dogs MC are scum. They were just waiting for an excuse to start a war with us. They used Donny as a spark. You and Stefan happened to be caught in all this mess.”
“Thank you for coming to my defense every single time,” she said with a smile.
“Leave the Black Dogs to me,” he said, pressing a kiss to her mouth. “Now since we’re in a hurry, why don’t we shower together to save water and time?”
Rose grinned. She couldn’t say no to that. After an invigorating shower, Rose bathed then fed Stefan in the kitchen. Brick and Rose usually ate with the other members of the MC. Some of Brick’s MC brothers might be apprehensive of her presence, but Stefan was an attention hogger who could make anyone smile, even the grumpiest biker.
After eating, Rose took her car and drove Stefan to the daycare center. Prudence tagged along with her. Brick and a few of his guys had given her car a tune-up and now it ran like a dream.
“So, how are things going with you and Brick?” Prudence asked her. The other woman begged her to stop at a nearby donut shop. They got a dozen, and Prudence ate while she drove.
“Good, I think,” Rose admitted.
She hesitated, then told Prudence about her guilt. Prudence and Rose had grown close over the past few weeks. Rose hadn’t had time for friends or much of a social life before Brick rescued her, so having a close confidante took getting used to. She liked Prudence. The red-haired woman didn’t take any bullshit from anyone, even King or her father, who was the President of another MC the Reapers were allied with.
Prudence scoffed. “Nonsense. Brick is right. None of this is your fault. Even before you came along, the Reapers and Black Dogs were already butting heads. The Black Dogs MC is a menace. They kill without remorse and trample on those they deem weak.”
“Your husband thinks I’m partly responsible,” she pointed out.
“Don’t worry about King. It takes a while for him to warm up to newcomers.” Prudence let out a laugh that made her feel a little better. “Brick didn’t approve of me either, when King brought me to the clubhouse.”
Prudence had mentioned this before, but Rose couldn’t quite believe her. “What did you do to change Brick’s mind?” she asked her out of curiosity.
“When Brick realized I wasn’t planning on going anywhere and that I’d do anything for King, he decided it was better if we became friends,” Prudence said, finishing a glazed donut.
They arrived at their destination. After dropping the kids off, Prudence said she needed to talk to Nancy. Once they arrived at the café, Rose went to work helping Nancy open up. Prudence and Nancy talked about club business on the side while Rose welcomed the first customer of the day with a smile. Prudence eventually left, but before she did, she made Rose promise they would meet up for drinks later tonight. She said she found a prospect willing to watch their kids.
“All right, I could use a drink or two,” she admitted. She didn’t think Brick would mind either. After his meeting, he had another important delivery job to supervise.
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