Page 28 of Free

“And? That gives you the right to attack her?” he asks this time. She doesn’t look like she wants to answer that question, and honestly, I don’t care if she does. “Addison, go get dressed,” he orders over his shoulder. I walk around the crowd that’s gathered and out into the main room. A few of the guys look my way, but for the most part, everyone is busy doing their own thing.

I walk down the hall and back into the room, grabbing my clothes before heading to the bathroom. I start the shower and then look in the mirror at what she did to me. I could feel her claw at my skin, but damn, it looks bad. Angry, bloody red streaks rip across my cheek. I shake my head and pull the shirt off before climbing into the shower. I wash away the night’s sweat and reminders of what I did. I should feel ashamed and yet I don’t. I feel empowered. He was right. I was in charge. I didn’t have to do anything I didn’t want to do, and I chose who I was doing it with. He didn’t stop me from using him.

Once I’m clean, I climb out and dry off before dressing in the clothes he got me. Then, I check my face in the mirror once more. I grab the small towel and bring it up, dabbing at the scratches and wincing when the fabric sticks.

“She shouldn’t have done that,” I hear Free’s voice behind me. I turn to see him standing in the doorway, and I shrug.

“Not a big deal.”

“It is a big deal to me. She shouldn’t have touched you, Addison.” There’s a low growl in his tone that makes me take a step back. He eyes me up and down before stepping into the bathroom and crowding my space. His hand comes up to cup my cheek, and that’s how he stands there holding me.

“What are you doing?” I ask him.

“Somethin’ stupid,” he answers before leaning in and kissing me. It’s a kiss to rival all other kisses. It’s a kiss that would make you forget you’ve ever been kissed before. His tongue slides past my lips and slips across mine. I moan into his mouth before he deepens the kiss. I reach up and grab him around the back of the neck, wanting him, needing him closer to me. I don’t know if this is the after-effect of the drugs or if there’s something wrong with me, but I need it.

We kiss like this for a long time until he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine. He’s out of breath, and so am I.

“You need to eat. I wanna take you out,” he finally says.

“But you said I couldn’t leave.”

“With me, you can. You wanna go out with me, Addison?” he asks, and it sounds so innocent. I should tell him to fuck off, that he’s the one keeping me trapped in this place to begin with. I should remind him about the sensor on my ankle keeping me held prisoner in the clubhouse. But I don’t. Instead, I nod my stupid head and agree to go out with him.

Chapter 14

Free

She agreed to eat with me after Nails ruined her breakfast. I know why she did it, too. She’s always had a thing for me, and I’ve never made a move on her. She isn’t my type and never will be. Of course, I’ve fucked a few girls who weren’t my type before just to get off, but that’s it. I don’t make it a point to fuck every one of the club girls just because they’re there. That’s not the kind of guy I am.

Addison though? She shocked me last night, begging for me. None of the others have done that. None of them even looked my way when the drugs were running through their systems. And yet she did. And now that’s changed things. At least for me, it has.

Ignoring the urge to ask her about it, I pass her a helmet and help her get it settled on her head.

“You ever been on a bike?” I ask her. She shakes her head.

“No. This will be the first time,” she replies. I nod my head and climb on before reaching for her and helping her on. I know I shouldn’t be on the bike with my bad arm, but there’s no other way I’d want to take her out.

Addison climbs on and settles in behind me, her arms wrapping around my waist without me having to tell her. I smile to myself at that before revving the bike.

I take off with her holding tightly to me and round the corner to head to the main road. Once we’re riding for a few minutes, she relaxes into me a little more. I take it easy on her, not taking the curves too fast, as I head to the local diner. When we arrive, I pull in and kill the engine. Addison climbs off and whines a little when she takes the helmet off.

“That’s it?” she asks me as I smile at her.

“We’re here.”

“I thought it would take longer. I was just getting used to it.”

“I’ll take you the long way back home. You like it?”

“I was starting to,” she says.

“Good. I’ll take you out on the bike more often.”

“Thought you said the sensor would go off if I left?”

“I shut it off before we left. I’ll turn it back on when we get back,” I tell her. She nods her head as if she understands, and it makes me wonder if she does. I lead her inside and to a back table before taking our seats and ordering.

She’s quiet, too quiet. And I want her to talk. I want to hear what she has to say.

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