“Getting there. At least I’m back on my bike,” he says as he looks down at me and smiles.
“Well, guys, there is food inside. Why don’t you take the lead?”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” the other guy says as he starts making his way inside.
“I need a word with you later.” Tom also turns and makes his way inside. “So, when are you going to introduce your friend, Hunter?” Tom asks just as we enter the lounge area, the other guy already disappearing through the doors that lead to the back and the kitchen.
“You don’t need to know her.” At Hunter’s comment, I stop and glare up at him just as Tom bursts out laughing as he also walks through the door to the back.
“That was rude, don’t you think?” I say softly for no one to hear us. Hunter shrugs nonchalantly, which annoys me. How dare he think that he can hide me away from other people? Pulling my hand away, I cross my arms over my chest and stop, facing him. He stops and then turns to look at me.
“What?” he asks with a raised brow.
“Just because I’m with you does not mean I can’t talk to other men, so don’t get all high and mighty.”
“They are bikers. You are not using my kutte, so they will think you are easy,” he explains, which has me sighing in irritation.
“I don’t need you to protect me. I can protect myself from unwanted advances.”
“Duly noted, but I warn you, if anyone gets too close, they will have me to talk to.” Irritating man. I have lived all this time by myself, never having any problems with unwanted attention except for my ex, and I have been fine in defending myself. Why would he think I have become useless all of a sudden?
“No matter what you think, you don’t own me,” I state, which has him scowling as he looks at me. “You might be my mate as you say and want to protect me from Jason, but you can see that I’m not defenceless and can also take care of myself when needed.”
“And why would you want to even have to if there is no need?” His hands are now crossed over his chest in annoyance, showing off his bulging muscles. His nose flares slightly as he breaths in irritation, his beautiful eyes angry. “I am your man, here to protect and care for you from anyone or anything. It is not possible for me to just stand by and see another man hitting on my woman.”
“I’m not asking you too, but when it is necessary. These guys were harmless.”
“They’re bikers, and you are in our club, where free women usually frequent. You’re not using our kutte, which doesn’t set you apart from the other women. It would be understandable for human men to hit on you, as they won’t scent that you belong to me. I was just preventing any future conflict. Now Tom knows that you are mine, and I don’t share what is mine.” Put like that, it makes sense, and I realize that I’m in a world completely different from whatever I would normally be used to, but it’s difficult for me after being committed by force for years to doing what someone else wants me to do.
“I understand,” I murmur as I sigh.
“I will get you your own kutte. When any bikers come calling, they will know that you’re not one of the Blossoms,” Hunter says, now running his fingers through his hair and then wincing when they reach the back of his neck.
“Who are these Blossoms you talk about?” I suspect they might be women who hang around the biker clubs, but I need to make sure, and if he thinks that he will be fraternizing with any of them while he puts down the law about any other men hitting on me, he doesn’t know me too well. I see him tensing before he shrugs.
“Blossoms are just women who hang around. They help with cleaning the place and stuff.” I know he’s being purposefully vague, which I don’t like.
“What stuff?”
“They prepared the food today; they also help some of the brothers with stuff.”
I take a step closer to him, which now has us a foot apart. “Have these women helped you with stuff, Hunter?”
He grunts, his jaw set in anger. I can see a vein in his neck pounding to the rhythm of his heartbeat.
“In the past,” he states.
“Are they going to continue helping you with stuff?” I don’t like the idea of having any women close who can be a temptation.
“I have you now, Dakota. I won’t need help from anyone else.”
“How do I know that? They’re always around, free to help you with anything you need, and I know what that means, just so you know.”
Hunter places his hands on my upper arms and pulls me towards him, crushing my breasts against his chest. “You will see. I only have eyes for you. There is no other woman who could possibly take my attention from you.” He lowers his head and takes my lips in a blistering kiss. No matter how much I want to resist, I just can’t. This man is like my kryptonite; one look, one touch, and I forget everything.
When we finally break apart, my heart is racing, and I wish we were in our bedroom so that we could get naked. “You make me forget everything when you touch me. That’s unfair,” I mutter.
“It’s good, and you take every thought out of my mind too, so, Dakota, don’t think it’s only you.” I find myself smiling. How is it possible that this man can make me forget everything from one minute to the other? “Now let’s go eat, woman. I need to keep my strength up,” he says as he slaps me lightly on the bum, making me jump in surprise.