Page 3 of The Club Princess

I can feel the heat of Gage pressing into my back. “So far, it’s my only present today. It’s special to me.”

Dodge glances over my shoulder warily. He nods, grabbing his beer and stepping away. We both know his old lady remembered my birthday and got me a present. Either way, it was nice to be thought of.

Gage growls low, moving to grab it from my hands, but I scurry away from him as he follows.

“What is that? What did he get you?”

Walking into the kitchen, I throw the towel on the counter and turn to face him. “I didn’t exactly have time to open it!”

“Then hand it over.” Gage steps closer, his eyes clouding with fury and something unmistakably darker.

I hold the envelope closer. “No, it’s mine.” I sound like a child, but it is mine. And I want it, no matter how small it is. Somebody thought about me on my birthday, and I want to savor it.

“Mik, I swear. Something serious is going down. It’s why we dropped the ball. I’m sorry.” Gage runs a hand through his dark hair, pushing it off his forehead. I love it when he keeps it longer.

I frown. “What happened?”

He stares at me, his lips thinning. I wait momentarily before huffing out a humorless laugh and shaking my head. “Of course. You won’t even share why. You andPresident Shawcan go fuck yourselves.”

“You know–”

I take off to my bedroom, not wanting to hear his excuses anymore. I hear the scruffing of his boots against the tile as he hurries to follow me.

“Mikayla!” He growls. The low tone has a sliver of fear coursing through me.

I sneak a glance as I run up the stairs, gripping the railing to propel me forward. When I see he’s practically on my ass, I screech and miss the last steps, tumbling to the hallway floor leading to the bedrooms.

His hands grip my waist, flipping me over and onto my back as he crashes his body over me. Snatching the envelope from my hand, he tosses it over his shoulder and gathers my wrists, slamming them on the floor.

“Why are you acting like this?!” Gage grits through his teeth. His nostrils are flared, his eyes dilated with the adrenaline of the chase.

I try to buck him off, but he just uses the movement to press his knee between my legs. He moves his body further between them, settling his hips and pushing my thighs open.

“Get off! I just want to be left alone like I always am.” I hiss.

His face softens. “I said sorry, Mik.”

“Okay? And I don’t forgive you. I don’t have to just because you apologized.”

Gage squeezes my wrists, his anger coming back. “Fine. Then what the fuck was tonight? You just throwing a party? Inviting strangers into our home.”

I snort. “Ourhome, sure. What does it matter who I invite?”

“And that fucking loser who had his eyes all over you. What was your plan for that? Just gonna give your virginity away to scum like him?”

It takes a moment for his words to process, and I can’t stop the grin that stretches across my face. “Who says I’m still a virgin?”

Gage flinches, his gaze roaming over my face, looking for a lie. “What the fuck…”

I arch an eyebrow. “Was I supposed to save it for something? Someone? Use me as a bargaining chip to forge an alliance with another club?” I'm taunting him now. They would never do that to me, nor would they need to. The closest club was almost another state over; we mostly only got nomads rolling through.

He lets go, rolling off and sitting next to me. I slowly get up, resting my head on my raised knees.

“We would never do that, Mik.” His voice is low, and I close my eyes to avoid the hurt I’m sure is shining in his.

“I know.”

He sighs, moving closer, and his arm wraps around my shoulder. “How can we make this up to you?”

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