Page 10 of Buried

Fuck me, she looked even sexier in my clothes.

Mel was currently holding Tristan’s attention, and I was thankful that Adelaide didn’t even give him a second glance as she strode toward me, meaning that I didn’t have to feel all of that fucking anger and jealousy. I hated it when she looked at him, and even more, I hated the guilt that flashed in her eyes every time she did.

I might have been a bit more understanding about the entire situation if he had at least tried to understand her, but henevertried. Fuck, even Joey eventually got the memo with her but not Tristan.

Adelaide was fragile. No matter how much of a strong front she put up, Adelaide was just a broken woman begging to be loved properly.

My hands landed on her hips when she got close enough to me, and I drew her between my legs as I settled my hands on her ass, squeezing lightly.

Fuck, I loved this ass of hers, and the more weight she gained, the bigger her perfect ass got.

“How’s your face feel?” I softly asked as I reached up to gently run my fingertips over her bruises.

She shrugged. “Kind of used to the pain by now, so I’m fine.”

I clenched my jaw at the reminder that she was so fucking used to physical pain that it didn’t even bother her anymore. It shouldn’t be like that. It should haveneverbeen like that.

Darlin, you’ll never have to worry about pain like that ever again, I silently promised her. I was here to protect her now. I’d never let another son of a bitch touch her again—not if I could help it.

“Mel!” Gregory shouted, making Mel jump in fright, snapping her eyes over to my sergeant at arms. I smoothed my hands up Adelaide’s back, calming her when she tensed in my arms in response to the sudden, loud noise. “Quit fucking around and serve drinks like you’re supposed to,” he snarled at her.

“Hey, watch how the fuck you talk to her,” Adelaide snapped at him, her eyes sparking fire. I gently squeezed her waist, hoping to calm her down some. Adelaide was naturally protective over other women, which was understandable. And I would alwaysback her up. “Do you treat all fucking women like shit?” she demanded to know.

I ran my eyes over her face at her words. What the fuck had Gregory done that she hadn’t told me about? “Girly, I get that you’re River’s woman, but you don’t get to pop off at the mouth anytime you feel like it,” he snapped back at her.

Actually, she fucking did. And as long as she was being reasonable, I would always back her up in whatever the fuck she did or wanted. Old ladies were meant to support their old men, but good old men supported their old ladies, too.

“I knew there was a fucking reason I haven’t liked you since I stepped foot in this fucking clubhouse,” she sneered back at him.

I slid my hands down and gripped her ass, drawing those beautiful eyes of hers to me. “What the fuck did he do, darlin’?” I asked her, drawing her furious eyes to me.

“He’s just been warning me about my mouth since I stepped in here, and he seems to have a real fucking shitty view on women,” she snarled. I knew she wasn’t angry with me, but I squeezed her ass again as a quiet reminder that I wasn’t the one she was pissed at. Her eyes softened slightly, but her jaw was still clenched.

“She’s going to smart off at the wrong person one day, Prez,” Gregory stated, but it sounded more like a threat.

And that shit would get his ass killed.

I bristled and narrowed my eyes at him. “Was that a fucking threat?” I snarled as I stood up from my barstool, keeping Adelaide close to me.

Gregory put his hands up in a surrendering gesture, but I didn’t miss the heated glare he sent in Adelaide’s direction before he walked away, his steps quick and angry.

Clenching my jaw, I nodded once at Tristan when he turned to look at me. I needed to get Adelaide home. Today had been enough for her, and right then, I didn’t fucking trust Gregory. I wanted her far away from him.

“Sam will make sure you and your club get settled in for the night,” I informed Tristan. His eyes flickered to Adelaide, but I was sure to keep her attention focused on me. I hated it when she tore herself down, and every time she looked at him, that was exactly what she did. “Enjoy the drinks, and have fun with the women. I’m taking Adelaide home, and I probably won’t be back here at the clubhouse until sometime in the morning once she wakes up for the day.”

Tristan nodded in understanding, for once staying silent. I placed my hand on the small of Adelaide’s back, leading her out to my bike, not giving her a chance to look at Tristan. I brushed my lips to her temple when we stepped outside. Her body sagged, the weight of being in Tristan’s presence lifting from her shoulders.

“Live for me,” I whispered in her ear.

She turned to me and pressed her hand over my chest, looking up at me with those beautiful, brown eyes. “Stay with me,” she said in return, her voice just as quiet as mine.

I leaned down and brushed my lips with hers. “For as long as you’ll have me,” I promised.

Chapter Six

Adelaide

My stomach was churning when I woke up the next morning. Oh, God, it was going to be one of those days. I had thought that the days of morning sickness and nausea were behind me.

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