Page 39 of Scorched King

But she could be taken frommeif I didn’t get my head on straight. And I wasn’t thinking of Bear this time. Every selfish minute I stayed close to her put her in more danger.

I had to find this traitor fast before everything spiraled again. He was a wild card the club couldn’t afford. He’d turned on us once, which led me to believe it would happen again and what then? I’d lost one woman because of my belief I could keep her safe, and I had no right risking another.

Finally her door opened. I watched her exit the apartment and lock the door behind her before heading to the stairs and my truck. She smiled nervously at me and I somehow managed to smile back even with the sinking pit in my stomach.

I was going to have to hurt her again and I didn’t look forward to that. So much so that my stomach twisted in pain. I’d already spent over a month without her, and that had been the longest hell of my life in a very long time. I slammed my hand against the steering wheel again.

“Fuck.”

Why did everything about her have to remind me of the past? I mean, what was even the point of getting the club cleaned up and on a road that helped people instead of hurting them if I couldn’t enjoy the fucking rewards?

I refused to actually answer that question because there was no rational thought processing going on tonight. Sasha made me crazy in every way possible.

Before I could get too deep down that rabbit hole, she pulled the truck door open and stuck her head inside. “Everything okay?” I could see the fear in her eyes as she waited for my answer. She was expecting the pain I would dole out as much as I knew it had to happen. But not right now. This was neither the time nor the place to be an asshole. I needed her settled and comfortable first.Then I’d see about what moves I could make to keep her away from me.

“Sure, babe. We’re all good.” I kept my voice as light as possible considering it felt like the words were strained right out of the blender of my throat.

She didn’t look convinced, but she let it go and hopped into the truck. When she closed the door, I could smell the strong, sweet scent of vanilla and cherry soap she’d used to clean herself. I closed my eyes and inhaled deep and let that sink into my bones. She’d washed that sweet cum from her fingers when it should have been mine to lick—or coat my dick.

I blinked. Wait? What? Did my brain seriously only give me five seconds of determination before I broke again?

“We going home now?” she asked.

My stomach clenched at her choice of words. Yeah I was taking her home. “Yeah, but you should have texted me so I could carry your extra bag down.”

She shot me a smirk. “It’s one tiny bag, with wheels on it. I didn’t need your help.” I felt the admonishment in that statement all the way to my soul. So she had— “Besides, I prefer to carry my unmentionables on my own.”

My head jerked in her direction. “Excuse me?” I choked.

She ignored me and simply stared straight ahead out the window as if she hadn’t said a word let alone the fact that she’d packed and carried down her own toy bag. I bit back a groan as I turned back to the front and started up the truck. Fuck me if I wasn’t going to be jacking off all night to the image she’d just put in myhead of her playing with that sweet pussy right under my own roof.

Fuuuuucccccck.

It was set then. My days were numbered. Because this woman was definitely going to be the death of me.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Bear

I glanced through the window when bright headlights swept through the darkened room where I sat with some of the club guys for our weekly poker game.

“Looks like JD’s back,” Tel said around the cigar stuffed in his mouth. Cigars and cards might be cliché, but with the poker club gone, this was our best escape.

“Where’d he go?” Cash asked, looking out the window that faced the direction of JD’s cabin.

“None of our fucking business,” Axel grumbled. “Pay attention to your goddamned cards.”

I kept my mouth shut, but I noted that he and Sasha had been gone for a long time. I also noticed that JD opened her door for her and led her into his place with his hand at the small of her back.

For someone who claimed he had no intention of getting involved with her, he sure couldn’t keep his hands to himself.

Hell, I’d been seconds away from finally making a move on her during our movie when he cock-blocked me with that apartment bullshit. Clearly, I’d waited too long. But we’d spent most of the day surrounded by people and it wasn’t until then we were finally somewhat alone.

Besides, it still felt wrong making a move on her in my prez’s home. For the first time in forever, I was thinking I needed to get my own place. Preferably off the compound and away from prying eyes. Then maybe Sasha and I could finally embark on a normal relationship.

If JD was serious about letting her go…

“Hey, are you in or out?” Axel kicked my shoe underneath the table, pulling my attention away from JD’s cabin.

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