Page 80 of Wolf

The red liquid swirls as I take a sip. It’s nothing like the beer I tried before, and I decide I like the tart taste as I settle into the cushions.

“You were at Wolf’s earlier,” Toni says.

I don’t sense any hostility from her, so I shrug and say, “Yeah.”

She eyes me for a minute before saying, “You’re different.”

If I had a dollar for every time someone said that I’d be as rich as those televangelists Daddy hates on television.

There’s no disputing the point though, so I shrug again.

“Look,” she says. “Wolf’s not…he’s not the type to settle down.”

Averting my gaze, I damn the flush staining my cheeks. He never made any promises, but I hoped his statement about not needing a harem meant more.

However, at this point, I don’t even know what I want. Even if he were the type to settle down, is that what I need? To be with a grumpy MC biker who himself confessed to being a murderer.

With a sigh, I mumble, “Maybe I’m just using him for…you know…sex.”

She smiles and I can’t help my smirk. This inspires laughter and I slurp the last of my drink while she collects herself before saying, “Can I have another?”

Chapter 23

Lilli

A few hours later, I’m in Toni’s room. She loaned me a pair of shorts, and a tight tank with the MC logo stretched over my boobs.

I declined the heels she offered and now she’s curling my hair. Twisting this way and that before the mirror, I say, “Will you teach me how to do my makeup?”

Toni smiles and reaches for the hairspray. After inhaling a cloud of chemicals, she says, “Sure. Although you have gorgeous skin and pretty, dark eyes. You don’t need much.”

Pleasure suffuses my face at her words, and she laughs. “You’re too nice for this place, angel but maybe you’re good for that grumpy bastard.”

Nodding solemnly, I agree. “He is grumpy.”

Chuckling, she tugs on my hair, and I turn in the chair as she says, “They’re all grumpy assholes.”

“How long have you been here?” I ask curiously as she pulls out a brush and studies my face.

“Seven years. Ran away when I was sixteen. Ended up here eventually.”

“Why? What about your parents?”

Her eyes flicker and she drops her gaze. After a moment, I whisper, “Sorry.”

Straightening her shoulders, she shakes her head. “It’s fine. My stepdad was a mean son of a bitch and Mom didn’t have the guts to stand up to him. Made sense to move on.”

“Oh,” I say. Our lives were no doubt different but still, achingly the same. I always thought it was Daddy who made up our punishments. Now I wonder if it wasn’t Mama who wielded that whip even if she wasn’t the one holding it.

Toni taps my shoulder, and I look up, meeting Wolf’s eyes in the mirror. His frown is fierce, but his voice is soft as he says, “Come.”

Standing slowly, I walk toward him. Was there ever a more beautiful specimen than this man gazing at me so fiercely?

His eyes trace over me, starting with my mouth, and down the line of my neck. His nostrils flare when he reaches the MC shirt I wear or is it my boobs heaving at his perusal?

Down my legs, he goes before coming back to my face. When he holds out his hand, I take it gladly, shivering at the contact. Even his hands are strong, the calluses on his fingers brushing against my sensitive skin, but he’s gentle as he pulls me into his arms and lifts my chin.

He searches my gaze before dropping his lips to mine. It’s over before it starts, but I rub my lips together, shivering when he groans.

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