Page 4 of Giving It to the Man-Whore

“You and Pea don’t have a conventional marriage.”

She folded her arms and leaned on the counter. “Pea and I have had a very … complicated relationship.”

“But we’re working on it,” Pea said, drawing their attention toward the door.

Mel saw Pea glaring at Ricky.

“What are you doing here?” Pea asked, not looking toward her.

“Your wife looked ill, and I was passing through.” He shrugged. “Nothing going on here, Pea. I assure you. Your wife is the only person I know that has yet to flinch from my presence.”

“It’s quite sad, actually. I told him I had no friends,” Mel said, and burst out laughing.

Slowly, she watched as Pea relaxed, moving to stand behind her. “Are you okay?”

His touch made her ache all over. Never had he had such an effect on her. It was instant, startling, and made her want him there and then.

Instead, she grabbed another cracker. Her hand shook a little, but the men were giving each other a death glare. The tension was making her uncomfortable. When it got too bad lately, she’d start throwing up. Right now, she wasn’t ready to admit she was pregnant to anyone but her sister.

“He was curious about our marriage. You know, you being a man-whore and me just being a whore,” she said.

Pea finally looked down at her, and she hoped he read what she was trying to say.

Please, don’t do that. Don’t be that jealous guy. Nothing is happening here.

They both had a past. She wasn’t rushing to the clubhouse to fuck up every single woman he’d been with.

No, she was the good wife now. Staying at home, waiting for him, and getting fucking pregnant!

Life sucked.

****

Pea didn’t like seeing Big Ricky in his kitchen, drinking his coffee, or talking to his wife. Gripping Mel’s shoulder, he gave her a squeeze and headed toward the kettle, pouring himself a drink, and turning to look at the larger man.

He was deadly. Pea knew all about the shit that Big Ricky had done. That kind of man he didn’t want in his home near Mel.

She didn’t have a clue what kind of man was sitting opposite her.

The mafia was an entirely different ballgame than anything he was used to. This man had tortured men until they begged for death, keeping them alive until only he was ready. Pea had seen some of the shit he’d done, and he didn’t want that shit coming to his home.

The Lorenzo family always got cocky. It was what they were known for. The man in front of him cleaned up that mess.

There was nothing to stop the Lorenzo family’s enemies from coming to this town and killing anyone associated with him. Mel belonged to him. She was club property. His property, and there was no way in hell that he was going to let anything happen to her.

She was his wife.

He’d vowed to protect her, and by doing that, it was getting rid of this fucker for good.

“I better be going,” Ricky said. “It was lovely to talk with you, and to have a nice conversation.”

“You, too, Ricky.” Mel got up and saw him to the door. Pea didn’t say a word but followed her. “Have you ever thought of asking her on a date?”

This made him frown.

Ricky looked back at Mel.

“Prue. Ask her if she’d like to have dinner or something. She’s not seeing anyone. I don’t think she’s ever seen anyone at all.”

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