Chapter Thirteen
He doesn’t come back to the room that night.
I wake up early, have breakfast, and write Dex a note.
After I’m showered and dressed, I’m about to leave the clubhouse when I see the girls. Jess, Mary, Allie and a couple I’ve never met before. A beautiful woman who looks to be in her forties stares at me, and I have a feeling that this is Jim’s wife. The Queen Bee of Wind Dragons. She walks over to me, and I muster up a smile.
“You’ve been causing quite a commotion around here, I see,” she says giving me a once over. She has very light hair, and very dark eyes, the contrast quite attractive.
“Faye,” I introduce, offering her my hand.
“Cindy,” she says, shaking my hand with a tight grip. “Don’t hurt him.”
“Nice to meet you,” I tell her, thinking I’m pretty sure it’s the other way around, but whatever. I nod and smile, saying hello to the other girls then getting the hell out of there.
I don’t belong here.
I smile when I see the fence opened and no one else around. As I drive off in my little car, I feel something.
Regret.
I ignore the shit out of it.
When I turn and see a bike riding next to me I curse. It’s Vinnie—the poor guy must have being told to babysit me once again. I try to lose him to no avail. Sighing, I turn into shopping center car park. I get out and wave at him before walking to into a store that sells baby items. I look over the little baby clothes, so tiny and cute. Buying a few unisex outfits, I leave the store and head into another one. I buy some clothes I can wear as I get bigger, loose tops and stretchy dresses and pants. My phone starts to ring.
Dex.
I hit ignore and continue on my shopping expedition. After my phone rings for the fifth time, I put it on silent. There is nothing I want to say to him right now. When I walk past the cinema, I decide to go in and watch a movie. Anything to take my mind off the fact that at some point today, I’m going to have to return to the compound. Whether I want to or not. Dex will bring me back if Vinnie doesn’t. Choosing a vampire movie, I get some popcorn and water and choose a seat in the middle of the cinema. Halfway through the movie, someone sits next to me. I don’t need to turn to know who it is. His cologne is a dead giveaway, along with the way my body responds by merely being in his presence. He doesn’t say anything, and I don’t feel his gaze on me. He just sits there in silence, watching the second half of the movie. I try to concentrate on the screen in front of me, but my mind is now solely on Dexter Black. What is going to come out of that mouth of his now? Did he sleep with someone last night? Allie? Do I have the right to be upset? Probably not. He made me no promises.
What seems like hours later, the credits run and the lights turn back on. I peek a look at him, to find him staring back at me with a gentle look on his handsome face. Running a hand along the stubble on his jaw, he flashes me an apologetic smile.
But he isn’t going to charm his way out of this one.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, breaking the silence. Everyone else stands to leave the cinema, shuffling around us.
“You were gone when I woke up,” is all he says.
I grit my teeth. “I’m allowed to go wherever I want Dex.”
“Look, Faye,” he says, looking back at the screen. “There’s some shit going on right now with another MC. I just want to make sure you’re safe, that’s all.”
“I get that. I do. But you don’t need to be an a*shole too,” I reply in a voice devoid of emotion.
“Babe everyone knows you’re mine. You’re mine to take care of. I brought you here,” he says, cupping my chin in his hand. “Tracker should have known better than to touch you.”
“So you don’t want me but no one else can have me either?” I ask, our eyes connected.
His swim with indecision.
Mine swim with hope.
“Wanting you isn’t the issue, trust me on that,” he finally says, giving me a sad smile.
“Then what is it?” I dare to ask.
I squeeze my eyes shut as his lips touch my forehead. “You know what you want, and you won’t accept any less. Truth?”
I nod my head.
He pulls back and his eyes cloud over. “When I come to you, I need to know that I can give you everything you deserve.”
“It didn’t stop you from having me before,” I point out.
He grins crookedly. “That was one night, this is a little more permanent.”
“How permanent?” I ask, drawing each word out.
Now he smiles. “Ball and chain permanent.”
Wait, what?
He stands and offers me his hand, pulling me up when I place it in his. “Let’s get you home.”
“I’m still pissed at you,” I tell him as he picks up my shopping bags from the seat next to me.
“I wouldn’t expect any less,” he replies, sounding amused as hell.
“Where did you go last night?” I ask him as he walks to his car. “Where’s your bike?”
“You’re pregnant, no bike for you. And I went out, but I didn’t f*ck anyone,” he says bluntly, opening the car door with a press of a button.
“Where did you go then?” I ask when we’re seated.
“Babe,” he says, lip twitching.
“Don’t you babe me, you jerk,” I growl, narrowing my eyes on him.
“You know I don’t think anyone’s ever spoken to me this way,” he muses, not sounding like it’s a bad thing.
“Well you better get used to it,” I add, flashing him a fake smile.
“You were always a feisty one, even as a kid,” he says. “Even your crazy mum wouldn’t break your spirit.”
I think about defending my mum, but then don’t bother. What he says is true. “I used to try to follow you around.”
He huffs. “I remember. You tried to make me eat a cupcake you’d made. It was all squashed, and I’m pretty sure you’d dropped it on the floor!”
My shoulders shake with my laughter. “What do you mean tried? You ate that damn cupcake and loved it!”
He scoffs. “What was I supposed to say? No? You with your huge hazel eyes and auburn ringlets, I don’t think anyone could say no to you.”
“Big bad biker afraid of some puppy dog eyes?”
“Yours,” I think I hear him mutter under his breath.
Whoa.
“Then you started dating Eric...” he says, looking straight ahead at the road. He drums his fingers on the steering wheel in beat with a made up rhythm.
“Yeah, and that ended well. How did you know I was pissed at him when we slept together?” I ask him, remembering the comment he made about wanting a taste of wild.
“My mum rings me all the time,” is all he says. His mum is a gossip, I’d always known that. “She said Eric was upset.”
I scoff. “I’ll bet. Eric and I were just together because it was convenient. I guess he just realized it before me since he started screwing around.”
“And I’m sure he will regret it when he realises what a great woman he lost,” he says simply. “But it’s too late for him.”
“Does he know?” I ask, wringing my hands.
“Yeah, I told him. I also told him to leave you the hell alone. I got you the new sim card and phone too, it has my number programmed. And all the brother’s too. Just in case.”
“God, you’re bossy.”
“You love it,” he replies. “I probably should warn you.”
“What?” I ask warily, my head snapping to him.
“Brothers are having a party tonight,” he says, looking at me with a grin.
“How is that different from every other night?” I ask, thinking about how they all hang out, drink, and hook up every night.
“Doesn’t matter, you and I are staying in the room. I bought a few things for us to check out,” he says.
“Like what?” I ask, getting excited.
“Be patient.”
“Fine. Oh and one more thing Dex,” I say.
“What’s that?”
“Talk to me like you did last night again, and I’m gone.”
He nods once, slowly. His eyes harden at my threat, but he manages to hide his anger. “Noted. I lose my temper sometimes, but I’ll always make it up to you.”
“Is that your apology?” I ask. It might need a little work.
He grins and says, “I guess it was.”
“Now take me home and feed me,” I demand.
He laughs and does as he’s told.