Page 51 of Bullet

I countered with a step of my own. “You can’t run from this.”

“You’re making me crazy.”

“I’m making you admit you want the same thing I do. I’ve had a taste, and do you know what you taste like? You taste like mine, Stormy.”

She hesitated to speak for a moment. “And what does Bristol taste like?” She backed against the wall of the church.

“Bristol doesn’t have anything to do with you and me.” I crowded her space, resting my hands against the bricks.

“Bullet, she’s my best friend. I feel like I’m betraying her.”

“I’m not possessive over her or any of my girls.” I stared hard into her eyes. “My hands are going to be the only ones touching you.”

“What if I want to be the only one touching you?” she whispered. “I know what it feels like to see you touching someone else.” A sad smile found her lips. “I’d belong to you, but you’d never belong just to me.”

I growled and curled my hand into a fist.

“Bristol warned me. I get it. I feel it, too. You’re hard to resist. But we’ve been together for two days, and I’ve seen you with two other women. I’m not angry. But I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t jealous. It would hurt to have to share you.”

I heard her words. I wasn’t going to manipulate her into bed by promising monogamy. “You and me, it doesn’t have to be complicated.”

She swallowed hard. “But we are. I’m in a mess. Be honest, there’s no future for us. We’d have a moment, but one that will make it harder for me to leave, and I can’t stay.”

We stared at each other until I finally nodded and backed away from her.

“Thank you.” She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek.

Even after she walked away, her scent lingered. A dark need simmered in a once black hole of emotion. I didn’t get jealous, especially over pussy, but she was right. We weren’t simple, and my reactions to her were getting complicated.

We had more issues than my business. I couldn’t ignore my responsibilities. Even if I wasn’t fucking Bristol, the girls had twenty-four access to me.

Stormy had made it clear. Our situation was temporary. Once I’d eliminated Barras, she’d bounce.

I wanted time with her, wanted to figure out why she’d gotten under my skin, and wanted to get under hers. But she wasn’t a woman you fucked on the side. She’d be someone’s old lady. Bedded then wedded to a faithful man.

That wasn’t me. I lit a cigarette and made my way to the barrel.

“I didn’t want to interrupt,” Torch said and smiled. “Let’s take a walk.”

I nodded, and we moved away from where we could be overheard.

“Alex is arranging a meeting. Tomorrow night at his club.” Torch chuckled. “I have to let you in on a little secret. Ever heard of a place called High Protocol?”

“Strip club?” I asked.

“A little darker than that. High Protocol is an exclusive dungeon. BDSM. I’m talking next level wealthy. Membership will run you five figures a year.”

I whistled as we rounded the backside of the property. “Is that where we’ll find Barras?”

“Dude, it’s where you’ll find me and Gabi a couple nights a week. Gabi works for Alex outside the club, but my membership is part of my compensation package. I’ve had a side hustle for a couple of years. You’d be surprised what these rich fuckers will pay for a metal bedframe rigged with restraints.”

I laughed. “I know you like inflicting pain.” We’d been beating the shit out of each other in the basement for years.

“Alex wants to meet tomorrow night at the club.” Torch slid his hands into his pockets. “You can trust him. There’s security in the club, but the men we’re meeting aren’t typically in the business of sharing information, especially when it comes to their family.”

“Have you talked to Blade?”

“Yes, but we can’t march an entourage of Hellers through Protocol. You gotta blend in. Gabi and I will be there. She can help Stormy. Your girl will need to ditch the jeans and T-shirts for leather and skin. No cuts. No guns. No Jazzy.” Torch groaned. “I love that girl, but submissive isn’t in her vocabulary. Not that there aren’t Dommes in the club, but they aren’t breaking balls unless their sub is into it. I figured you’d want Rogue with us, but you know how Jazzy is. Can’t leave her out of a battle.”

---