“I need to get myself another drink.” He stood and went into his study to gain control. After putting the glass down he sat on his couch and counted to ten. When he opened his eyes, he saw the picture of his mother and father together, taunting him.
In that split second, he hated his parents for leaving him, not only for leaving him but leaving him without any knowledge of what to do about his growing feelings.
There was no way Ursula could accept him being part of a club who believed they were possessive towards their woman. The little joke of them being the Owners would send her away.
“If I’m not possessive what the hell is happening to me?”
****
“He’s in denial,” Cadeon said. Lucas watched his friend and boss disappear into his study. Sean sat back while Tate and Kevin took long drinks of their beer.
“What do you expect us to do? He’s clearly denying any knowledge of how he feels.” Lucas ran a hand over his face, glancing at the woman in question. She truly was a peach, a beautiful woman who’d made his friend happy.
“The problem you have with Stephen is he doesn’t believe. Where most of us have felt possessive towards all the women in our lives, he hasn’t. He shared his women with men who weren’t inclined our way. I know he’s never loved a woman enough to stay with her for longer than a couple of months. They come and go. Ursula is the first woman that I know of to live in the same house as him,” Cadeon said.
“Stephen doesn’t believe in any of it?”
“Nope. Up until I met Ursula I was starting to think it wasn’t in him. The way he treated women would shock the very foundations of what Possession and Ravage stand for. I think he needs a wake-up call.” Cadeon sat forward. Lucas listened to the other man, intrigued about what he was saying. He’d not known Stephen long, but he liked the man even if he was moody at times. Who wouldn’t be? Lucas knew the kind of stress Stephen was under.
“What do you suggest?” Sean asked.
“I think he needs to know what it feels like when a man comes onto his girl. Lucas and Sean are the only two unattached males here. I’d ask James if he were here, but he’s not.”
“You’re asking us to break the code of the club? I’m already on a warning, Cadeon. I’m not going to get my ass sent to hell just because Knox won’t admit to his own male instincts,” Sean said.
“I’ll guarantee you won’t have a problem with the club. Just do this, Sean. He needs to know what is going on inside him.”
Lucas stared at Ursula. He didn’t want to go through with it, but he understood Cadeon’s reasoning. After several moments, he stood and walked over to her. She looked up at him with a smile.
“Hi, I’m Lucas Sanchez, one of Stephen’s friends.” He held his hand out to her. She shook his hand. Sean joined him.
Chapter Eleven
Ursula shook the hands of both men. She recognised them from when they’d been at Stephen house when she was still his employee.
“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Ursula Mills. Where is Stephen? Has he hidden away being moody?” she asked. She thought she’d done a great job of the get-together. When he’d asked her to organise and host it for him several months ago she hadn’t thought how important it was to her for it to be perfect.
“He’s in his office. We wanted to talk to the woman who has taken her place in his life.” Lucas leaned in close placing a hand at the back of the wall. She frowned at his closeness but didn’t say anything.
“Yeah, tell us about yourself.”
She smiled at both men. They were clearly trying to get to know the woman their friend was with.
“Okay, you want to know about me?”
They nodded. “I met Stephen during my interview. He’d lost his last housekeeper, I think through an argument about his life or something. We met, we hit off, and he hired me. I’ve been cleaning and cooking his house ever since.”
“Is that all you are? A cleaner?” Lucas asked. He reached out to stroke her hair. She pulled away from him. The only man who could touch her was Stephen. She didn’t like the thought of another’s touch.
“I’m more than a cleaner. If you don’t like the fact I’m Stephen’s girlfriend, then tell him you don’t like his choice.” She moved away from them feeling hurt. Why was she hurt when she knew his friends wouldn’t like her? They only saw a gold-digger. She walked into the kitchen in time to see two of the male waiters kissing passionately.
A gasp escaped her, and they broke apart offering excuses.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m going to get some fresh air,” she said. The passionate display by the two men in the kitchen reminded her of the way Stephen took her in the same room. The frozen night gripped her. She liked being cold as it would dampen her arousal for the older man currently sulking in his study.