Page 72 of Beautifully Wounded

“I noticed that fucker had gone quiet.”

“Quiet is an understatement. He’s been offering to fucking clean and wash my clothes like I can somehow save him from his fate.”

I chuckle. “Stupid fucker.”

“So what did he do, aside from the whole thing with Darla in your room?”

Releasing JD’s shoulder, I take another long drag, holding the toxic smoke in my lungs as I answer. “I tasked him to watch my fucking door while I hung with Smitty. The fucker was too busy railing a Doxy outside my door to notice Charity fucking leaving to find me.”

“Oh, shit.” JD’s brows shoot high.

“Yeah. Oh, fucking shit.” I nod. “Told the fucker he was out and haven’t seen him since.”

JD chuckles. “Explains why he’s been hiding.”

“Hmmmm,” I mutter, turning back to my door to see if, by some miracle, Abbey has decided to come out from hiding too.

“So you’ve claimed her?” JD asks, and I turn back to see he’s watching my door as well.

“Apparently,” I mutter.

“You don’t sound happy about that.” JD Points out, and I fucking sigh, pressing the smoke to my lips for one last hit before dropping it to the ground and stubbing it out with the weight of my boot.

“I just didn’t expect…” I trail off, frowning.

What the fuck didn’t I expect? To be attracted to her. To want to do things to her I know she’s not ready for? To protect her from the entire fucking world, even every bastard in this club?

“Bro. What’s got you so fucking twisted up?” JD asks, and I lock my gaze with his, knowing if I want to say any of these thoughts out loud, he’s the only one I’d trust with them.

“She has me riled up,” I admit, and his brows shoot high.

“As in… a good way?”

“As in, I want to rip her fucking clothes off and devour her,” I snap between clenched teeth, barely able to keep my clipped tone quiet.

“Fuuuuck. That’s new.”

“Yeah, no fucking shit,” I mutter, looking back at the gathered men already blind drunk, trying to play poker off Nola’s naked body as she giggles.

“What’s it been? Three years since you’ve been interested in pussy.”

A low growl rumbles in my chest as I shoot a death glare at my best mate. “Don’t refer to her as pussy.”

His brows fucking disappear under his shaggy brown hair.

“Fuck. This is more than getting laid.”

That’s what I’m fucking worried about.

I spin, giving the pissheads my back as I stare at my closed door. “It’s wrong, right?” I ask. “She’s so fucking young. Naïve. And so fucking damaged.”

Taking a step back so he’s still facing our club brothers, but so he can see my face too, JD shakes his head. “Tell me about her.”

“What? Why?”

“Just fucking do it,” JD snaps, and a grin tugs at my lips.

“Fine. When she’s not terrified, or walking around like a numb zombie, she’s kinda sassy. Quick-witted. I can tell she’s smart, too. I can see there’s this whole other side to her that I haven’t met, but I just fucking know will blow my fucking mind. Which makes no fucking sense, since I really don’t know her.” I shrug, dropping my gaze to the ground. “She’s strong, though. She’s been through something, man.” I glance up at JD, shaking my head. “Something really fucking bad, and she’s been trying to get by, biding her time until she could escape, but I can see that whatever she’s running from, it’ll never leave her.”

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