Rock's Redemption(Insurgents MC Romance Book 8)(23)

She pushed herself up and leaned against the headboard, then wrapped her  arms around her knees that were pulled close to her chest. Her gaze  locked with his. "Not now," she said softly. "Tonight, I want to pretend  that everything is wonderful and nothing bad ever happens to anyone."

He watched her as her face flushed and she buried her head between her  knees. It took everything he had not to reach out and stroke her hair,  then press her close to him and soothe away the bad memories she had  locked in her mind.

She lifted her head, a warm smile lighting her face. "Do you have food around this place? I'm starving."

"Yeah. We got some food downstairs. You like barbecue?"

"Yes. I'm so hungry I could eat anything."

"You lost a lot of weight since I last saw you. You didn't need to."

She pressed her lips together and looked away. "Frederick liked me very thin. He controlled what I ate and how much."

He walked over to the other side of the bed and sat on the edge of it. "Why did you let him control you like that?"

She pulled her hair into a ponytail and stretched out her legs. "I don't  want you to think Frederick's a monster. He isn't. He's just used to  being in control. It's his personality. He came into my life when there  was nothing but chaos, and I yearned for someone to take over and tell  me what to do. It really can make things simple when you let go …  at  least it did for me."

"Were you happy with him?"

Her brows knitted together as she paused before answering. "I wouldn't  say I was happy, but I was safe and knew things in my life were taken  care of. It's kind of hard to explain. Frederick cherished me and I  pleased him. It was a give and take." Her stomach growled and she  blushed, her hand flying to her belly.                       
       
           



       

He laughed. "Let's go down and get you some food. You definitely need  some fattening up." He stood up and wanted to give her his hand to help  her up, but he knew if he did, he'd never let go. He stood aside as she  passed through the door.

She followed him into the kitchen and stood behind him as he rummaged  through the refrigerator, her creamy vanilla scent coiling around his  dick as want ribboned through him. "Here's the pork. I can nuke it.  Coleslaw. And some kickass potato salad. Pickles, tomatoes, and cheddar  cheese slices. Perfect." He brought his armload of goodies to the  kitchen island.

"Is there any lettuce? I can make great salads." Her eyes sparkled like a  dew-misted meadow in summer. As long as he lived, her gaze would always  pull him in.

"We got lettuce. Look in the vegetable bin." A familiar easiness settled  between them as he assembled the pulled pork sandwiches and she made a  salad for them. He liked the feeling of being with her, acting like they  were two people who didn't have the history they did between them. He  could get used to this with her. Fuck no. Remember how she ripped out  your heart. So you're having a domestic moment with the girl you crushed  on all through high school. So the fuck what? You're acting like a  goddamned pussy.

"These carrots are so sweet. Here, taste them." She placed her finger on  his lips and put the chunk of carrot in his mouth, her finger lingering  inside. He closed his mouth and sucked it, a jolt of lust zapping his  cock like lightning. "Good, huh?" She slid her finger out. "Did you guys  get these at a farmer's market? I'm positive they didn't come from the  grocery store."

I want to fuck you so bad, chérie. I don't give a shit about the damn  carrots. You're the only thing I want to taste. "I don't know where they  came from."

She smiled at him and ran her hand lightly down his arm. "Us being  together like this is nice, isn't it? It makes me remember how good life  can be."

His gaze followed her hand, wishing like hell it would go lower to palm  his throbbing dick. Damn, she's killing me. He lifted one shoulder. "I  guess."

Her laugh surrounded him and slid down his body, landing on his pulsing shaft.

"You done with the salad?" She nodded. "Let's eat in the great room." He  carried out the food and she followed him, the salad bowl secure in her  hands. He set everything down on the table and plopped on the chair.  She joined him and ordered a glass of wine when Blade came over to give  Rock a beer.

She ate two sandwiches, and he loved looking at her as she took dainty  bites. He used to love watching her eat because she did it so  delicately. He'd forgotten about that until right then. He had to admit  being with her was comfortable as hell. It soothed an ache in him he'd  had since he'd left home, but he didn't trust her. He couldn't let  himself be lured in by good memories.

Be careful with this one. Don't let her burn you again. Keep your  distance. She's keeping shit from you. Something's not right. I can  sense it.

As he placed a forkful of salad in his mouth, he smelled Wendy's fresh  scent before she stood behind him and draped her arms around his neck.  Leaning down close to him, she breathed in his ear, "You wanna have some  fun later on?"

He craned his neck to see her and noticed Clotille giving the club girl a  hard look. A deep, satisfying feeling filled him when he realized she  was jealous of Wendy. Rock grasped the club girl's hands and said softly  in her ear, "Not tonight. Another time."

Wendy's eyes darted from Clotille back to Rock's hands on hers. She  pressed closer to him, her low-cut top displaying her breasts. "Who's  she?"

"A friend from back home. We got shit to catch up on."

A slow smile spread over her face. "Oh. I got ya. When you're done  catching up, let me know." She kissed his cheek and then ambled away,  her hips swaying seductively in her short dress.

Rock turned his attention back to his food, mindful of Clotille's change in demeanor.

"She certainly isn't shy, is she?" she muttered under her breath.

"She's a club girl so they act differently, you know? No worries. I'm here with you."

She shoved back in her chair and laughed dryly. "Don't mind me. You're a  free agent." He nodded. "I know that. I can catch up with her another  time." He smiled inwardly as she sneaked peeks at Wendy, sitting on  Wheelie's lap a couple tables away from them.

As they finished their meal in silence, a series of beeps emitted from her phone, and she kept ignoring them.                       
       
           



       

"I think someone's trying to get a hold of you." Rock pointed to her phone as it danced on the table.

"You think?" Clotille leaned back and crossed her arms.

She's still fuckin' pissed about Wendy. Damn, that's a surprise. "You gonna pick up?"

"No. It's Frederick. He's been texting and calling me nonstop since I  turned my phone back on after Miss Hospitality moved on to another one  of your club friends."

"That's what she's here for. You don't need to worry about her. You  could spin circles around her." He winked and threw her one of the  crooked smiles that made women flush with desire. Redness crept up her  neck. The fuckin' smile does it every damn time. "Don't you want to see  what he wants?"

She shook her head. "I know he's anxious that I may be hurt or in trouble." She drummed her fingers on the table.

"Then why don't you answer it and tell him you're okay?" Rock wanted to  throw the beeping phone across the room and place his hands over her  nervous fingers.

"I'm not ready to talk to him."

"Text him."

"He'll drive me crazy with questions."

"Don't answer ‘em. Tell him you're fine. That's it. It's not so hard."

She smiled at him. "I'm glad to be here with you right now. It just feels good, you know?"

It feels fuckin' awesome, but I can't be drawn back into her fucked-up world. "Sure. You wanna go back up to my room?"

"Do you have any Cajun music?"

He nodded and couldn't help grinning when he saw her eyes light up as  she clapped her hands together. "Let's go up. I'll bring some brandy."

In his room, he poured brandy for both of them and kicked off his boots.  "Get comfortable." He sank down in the easy chair by the window.

"I didn't really bring that much," she said as she took off her heels.  "I'll have to head into town tomorrow and buy a few things."

He went over to his dresser and pulled out a T-shirt. "Put this on."

She unfolded it and a menacing grim reaper grinned ghoulishly at her. "That'll give me nightmares."

"It's an Avenged Sevenfold shirt. I saw them in Denver last year. It was  a kickass concert. You want another one? I got a ton, but most of them  have skulls, images of blood, or guns on ‘em."