I let my attention wander from Pop to the men surrounding me. They’re all silent and respectful enough. Despite the bored looks and tired eyes, they remain silent and keep their focus on Pop. Off in the distance stands Alexandra. Her eyes travel through the crowd with a sense of wonderment on her face. After all of the change she’s endured the last few days, it’s a wonder she can stand there with such a look of both curiosity and confidence.
Over the years, we’ve done our fair share of recon missions through the club. Everything from pulling hookers out of crack dens to helping a brother out of a sticky situation he’s found himself in. My brothers are always grateful for the assist, but the bitches we help usually act so fucking entitled that it’s almost not even worth it if I don’t get my dick sucked afterward. I mean, Christ. We’ve had our fair share of divas over the years.
But looking at Alexandra as she looks over the club with such intensity, and not an ounce of detest, makes me wonder what else is going on inside of her head. Finally, her eyes land on mine. She flinches in surprise then her expression warms. I can’t quite figure her out, but I’m going to try. She’s not someone I should be fucking around with, I already know that. And I don’t want to fuck anything up. She is family, after all. But damned if I’m not fucking baffled by her behavior. Her eyes widen and her plush lips part. Dick-sucking lips if I’d ever seen ‘em. Her eyes dart around before coming back to me.
A faint smile covers her face as she mouths the words that will be etched into my mind for months to come. She says, “Thank you,” like I’ve done something for her. The show of appreciation takes me aback, forcing me to break the stare for a moment before I regain focus on her face. And I can’t look away. Women don’t thank me much, even after I’ve fucked them just the way they want it. They don’t thank me when I do nice shit for them. But this chick thanks me in a way I’d have expected the least and I can’t look away until Ma exits the bathroom, walks up to her, and starts chatting her up. I force myself to go back to paying attention to Pop, but the only thing I can think about is this stupid girl and her gratitude. It makes me feel like I’ve done something worth doing, which I haven’t experienced in a long time. And I’m not sure I’m going to recover if she keeps appreciating shit.
Chapter 13
Ryan’s POV
FUCKING DUKE. HE thinks he’s paying me back or some shit. We go back all the way to elementary school. He was my brother even before we shared a patch. We’ve been through some shit, he and I. I got his back in anything. Anything but this.
“Princess wants to have fun,” he says, leading Cub down the hall with one arm slung over her shoulders and a “fuck you” grin on his face. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve heard him call her Princess, both to her face and when she’s not around, it still grates on me. I know damn well he doesn’t have a thing for her. His dick’s too wrapped up in wishing Nic would acknowledge his existence to develop any fucking feelings for Alex.
This chick—Mary, Melanie, Ellen, fuck if I know—continues to rub herself up against my dick. I’m barely at half-mast. The frustration builds inside, making me restless. Alex moves to pass me, her arm dangling at her side. Unable to help myself, I reach out and hook my index finger around her pinky. She’s so soft. Everything about her is soft, even the sass she throws on the rare occasion that she speaks to others. She doesn’t know I see her, but I do.
A rush of excitement builds in my gut, making me gasp. This chick—the one who’s sucking so hard on my fucking neck, I think she’s going to leave a bruise—takes it as a sign that she’s doing something right, and she runs a hand down my stomach and cups my dick.
Despite our connection, she continues to create a distance between us. It’s probably karma or some shit. I’m a dick to her, and she leaves me. But all I can do is stand here like a fucking tool, latching onto her pinky for dear life. Ever since I met her, that’s how I’ve been feeling. I’m off balance, and the club’s figured it out. I try to play it off, like I’m not desperate to get into her pussy or something, but they know better.