She’s shorter than me, her head coming up to my chest, and I imagine pulling her into my arms. Just for a moment. The idea sends heat zipping through every inch of my body, and I have to bite back the groan of need that warms me.
“For?” I arch a brow at her, pinning her with a stare.
“I… Nothing,” she tells me then, tipping her chin back, but those eyes, they hold mine with confidence.
Her fire is slowly flicking to life, and I want to see when the inferno blazes through her. As I stare down at her, I realise just how much I want to make her explode.
“You should be at the bar,” I tell her. “I don’t pay you to hide out in the back.”
“I’m not hiding. I came back here to freshen up,” she bites out, gesturing with her hand towards the toilets.
I’ve made sure the girls have dressing rooms and a shower room with toilets where they can go if they need to catch their breath, top up makeup, or change their clothes.
When Miren turns back to me, she looks up, and her lips purse. Frustration dances in her eyes like a flame as she narrows them at me.Challenge me, wee fox.
“I know I’m here because you wanted to show the goodness in your heart, but you don’t have to treat me like a bother each time you come close to me.” Her tone is filled with annoyance, but mingled in with that is hurt. Her expression is pained, and I wonder if I really affect her as much as she does me.
“You are a stranger,” I tell her. Tamping down my desire, I focus on who she is, what she’s doing here. “The moment I know fer a fact I can trust ye, then I’ll treat ye like family. Until then.” I pause as I reach for her chin and grip it between my thumb and forefinger. “You’ll be treated any feckin’ way I want to treat you. Am I clear?”
Miren pulls away, and I immediately miss her soft skin under my fingertips.
“Then I’ll leave,” she says as she swans by me, and I grip her arm, stopping her in her tracks.
“You will not go anywhere,” I tell her. “Those feckers are out lookin’ for you. If you’re willing to lose yer life because you want to act like a feckin’ child, then I’ll let you go. I’ll drive you out into the city centre myself. But I’ve a feelin’ that’s not who you are.”
She looks at me for a long moment, then she whispers, “I don’t want to die.”
Five words that grip my heart in my chest. The ache is unreal. I’ve never connected with anyone. Granted, I chat to the brothers and the girls who work at the club, but a deeper, truer connection has always evaded me.
“Then do yer job, listen when I tell you to do somethin’, and come to terms with the fact that this may be yer home fer a wee while.”
I release her, turn on my heel, and make my way to the office. The moment I’m inside the room with the door shut behind me, I pinch the bridge of my nose. My hand is still hot, zingin’ with heat where I touched her.
And I wonder what it would be like to have her naked, writhin’ beneath me as she takes my cock. To hear her whispers and whimpers, her moans, and to hear her beg for more. But right now, I need to focus on work. Not the pretty wee fox who’s burrowed her way into my head.
ELEVEN
MIREN
There’sa party at the clubhouse tonight with the bikers, along with some of the girls from the club and a few hangers-on. Callia pulled me aside earlier and told me about the girls who would attend the parties to entertain the guys. There are a few club members who are single, and they’re the focus for these girls.
I didn’t think anything of it. They wouldn’t bother me much, but then as I was getting ready, I realised she probably told me because they would flirt with Rebel. Callia’s crush on him is evident, at least to me it is.
The two of them—Rebel and Callia—seem oblivious to each other. Unless they’re hiding from it. The thought brings Monster to mind, and as much as I try to fight the images of him, I can’t. He’s focused on me because I’m still a stranger to him. I understand that his trust isn’t something he can give freely. He found me in his enemy’s home. But deep down, I want him to like me.
Shaking my head, I glance in the mirror and expertly line my eyes with the dark Kohl pencil. The black makes my eyes pop; the blue prominent tonight.
As I straighten, I spin around, taking in my reflection. The sleek black dress Callia loaned me fits like a glove. Luckily, we’re the same size, and I’m able to borrow outfits from her. I’ve managed to order a few things, but I didn’t focus on party dresses. Which brings me to Callia’s dress. It’s short, shorter than I would usually wear, but I think it looks good.
With a smile, I head out after slipping on the heels she’s loaned me. Downstairs, the music blares through the speakers, along with the voices that filter up to where I am. I’m about to make my way down the stairs, but my arm is gripped by a strong, firm hand.
I glance over my shoulder to find Monster glaring at me. “What the feck are you wearin’?” he asks through his teeth.
The man is seething. He’s practically expelling steam from his ears. I bite back a laugh as I picture it in my mind.
“A dress,” I respond to him, which I realise may not be the best idea since he’s not in a good mood. But I’m so tired of him ordering me around when he has no claim over me. We’re not together. If I want to dress in a sexy outfit, and perhaps find someone who wants me, then so be it. He can’t stop me.
“You’ll go back to yer room and put some jeans on,” he orders, his fingers still gripping me harshly. “Do it. Now.”