Page 29 of Pike

“Life isn’t fair, Jailbait. You, of all people, know that.”

“Why can’t I just find a place?”

“Because you won’t have the same level of protection at a new place as you would here or at my place.”

“What do you have? High-tech security and shit?” I joke, but his face doesn’t change. “You do?” I ask, scrunching up my nose.

“Yeah, I do. No one will get in there without us knowin’ about it. It’s safe and away from Blake. You’re not ready to stay with me, so this is the best option I have.”

“But you never took a woman there?”

“No one.”

“Then why me?”

“I told you, you’re mine. I don’t plan on lettin’ you go anytime soon, so get used to it,” he tells me. I shake my head, unsure about all of this. I don’t know if I should agree to this, but I do. I nod my head as he smirks at me.

“Fine. You win.”

“I always win, baby.”

“Yeah, I bet you do,” I mumble. His lips claim mine quickly, taking what he needs from me. He doesn’t stop until I’m breathless.

“What are you two doin’?” I pull back and look up when Free walks in.

“Workin’ out her livin’ details.”

“You stayin’ here, Jailbait?” he asks me. I shake my head.

“I’m not ready for all that.”

“Where are you stayin’?”

“My place,” Pike chimes in. Free looks from me to him like he’s grown two heads.

“You don’t let anyone stay there.”

“I do now.”

“Wait, you don’t even let the guys go there?” I ask, not sure I heard him correctly.

“No.”

“Why?”

“I just don’t. It’s my space,” he tells me. I don’t question him further; I just nod my head.

“We need to get her shit from that asshole’s place,” Pike tells Free.

“We can do that. If he’s there, even better,” Free smiles.

“I don’t have much,” I confess, which isn’t a lie. Blake didn’t let me have a lot. He kept what I did have to a minimum.

“Don’t need it anyway. The place is fully furnished.”

“Thank you for this, Pike.” I look up at him and see the smile on his face. It must make him happy because he’s smiled a lot more lately.

“Told you you’re mine. I take care of what’s mine,” he says once more. I nod when he leans down and presses his lips to the top of my head.

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