My outrage and anger completely deflate.
“I can still go to work?”
The incredulous look he gives me has me giggling. His entire body softens and his hands slide up my sides, pulling me until I’m laid out on his chest again. I feel the words just as much as hear them, “Of course you can go to work. Someone will be keeping an eye on Bunz Out and I’ll need to talk to Lara about her security system. I don’t want to lock you in some gilded cage, Angel. I want you to fly, to be happy, but I also want you safe.”
I kiss his chest and nod. “Okay,” I whisper and his arms tighten around me.
Just as I’m about to kiss him, really kiss him, my stomach makes a sound that should never be heard in mixed company. My entire upper body gets hot, and I try to slide off the side of his body while visualizing myself turning into mercury.
He won’t let me though and holds me in place while barking out a laugh. Then he’s up and so am I, in his arms.
“How about some food after I get you cleaned up?”
“I feel like food won’t happen if I let you in the shower with me,” I tell him while eyeing him suspiciously.
“No funny business,” he smirks, “this time.”
My head tips back and laughter fills the bathroom, along with the sound of the shower turning on, again. He stays true to his word and there’s no funny business in the shower. Well, he doesn’t fuck me. But he touches me and I’m basically a ball of need by the time he’s helping me get dressed. He has to do most of the work considering I’m pouting too hard.
“How did my clothes get here?” I suddenly ask. Why did I not ask right away? Why didn’t I even notice at first?
“I had Opal and a brother go and pack up some stuff for you.” Turner says the words like they should be obvious. He looks at me after pulling one of his shirts down over my head. “There’s a bag of clothes for you, shower things, and whatever else Opal thought you would need immediately. I thought you might want to be able to change after last night.”
This man.
The way he cares has tears pricking the backs of my eyes.
I drape my arms over his shoulders and tip up on my toes. He meets me half-way and the kiss we share is sweet and filled with gratitude I’m not sure I know how to express. When he smiles against my mouth like he can feel the way my heart leans toward him, I figure he understands.
“Come on, Angel,” he murmurs against my lips, “let’s get you fed.”
With a deep breath, I let him lead me out of his room.
CHAPTER 16
SNAKE
I keep my hand on the small of my woman’s back as I lead her toward the kitchen and dining area on the backside of the warehouse. She’s already walked through the huge rooms to get to the back where we had family day, but she’s never been in the thick of dinner at the compound.
It can be a lot.
“Graycie-girl,” I murmur, “almost everyone will be here for dinner. We are most nights, but also everyone wants to meet you. Officially.”
Her steps come to a stop, and she blinks up at me. “Officially?”
I use my thumb to smooth out the little lines between her eyes from her eyebrows furrowing. “Yeah,” I rasp, “because I’ve claimed you. Officially. They wanted to meet you before because you’re Opal’s best friend and new to town, but this is different. You’re the Vice President’s Old Lady.”
Her lips part, still a little swollen from me kissing her. The emotions that flit across her hazel eyes have me grinning.
“Opal told me about Old Ladies and the hierarchy and a little about club life,” her words are soft, unsure at first, but they gain speed. She clears her throat and glances away, a blush creeping up her neck. “And club whores.”
The words land between us like grenades. My movements are fast as I push her up against the wall with my hand around her throat in a very loose hold, just enough to keep her in place. But my Graycie doesn’t look at me with fear. Her eyes glaze over with lust, and my cock immediately springs to attention.
Fuck.
“I’m not going to lie to you, Angel. I fucked Sindi and Clarice, who are both club whores here. I’ve never been a fucking monk. But I wasn’t going through women like water, especially the last few years. It was getting old. I wanted something real, but never really thought I would find it.” A smile curls my lips as she blinks up at me. “Then you walked out the back door of the clubhouse, and everything shifted.”
“If they fuck with me, I won’t back down,” she warns me and she sure as fuck isn’t helping with my dick problem. I’m fucking throbs at seeing the fire in her eyes.