“Hey there, handsome,” Emerson said. “Figured you’d be outta here by now.”
“Nah… I’m gonna stick around for a bit.”
“Well, it’s about time. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me,” she laughed.
When Cassidy placed our beers on the counter, Wren quickly picked up the bottle and began to nervously pick at the label, avoiding eye contact with me entirely.
“Want a beer?” Cassidy asked Emerson.
“Definitely.” Wren snuck a glance over in our direction just as Emerson reached up and tugged at the end of my beard and said, “This thing is getting out of hand. It’s time for a trim.”
“Not happening.”
“Listen to your little sister. No girl is going to want to curl up to that thing at night,” she said, giving it one last pull.
Wren’s eyes shot over to me, and she asked, “Sister?”
I was just about to answer her when Clutch interrupted, “Stitch, Cotton wants to see you in his office.”
Looking over to Wren, I asked “You gonna be okay with them for a bit?”
“Sure. I’ll be fine. It’ll give me a chance to talk to your sister,” she said sarcastically.
“Talk all you want, darlin’,” I told her just before I placed my hands around her hips, pulling her close as I claimed her mouth. She moaned into the kiss while her hands swept across the back of my neck, tangling the tips of her fingers in my hair. The taste of the beer still clung to her lips as I deepened the kiss, and when her tongue met mine, it sent a shock straight to my cock, making it difficult to restrain my need for her. I’d never known anyone like her. With a simple touch, she had me twisted in knots, and I wanted nothing more than to stay right there in her arms. Reluctantly, I pulled back, forcing myself to release her before I lost complete control and said, “Don’t let these hellions get you into any trouble while I’m gone.”
“I think I can handle it,” she answered playfully.
“I’m sure you can.”
Chapter 11
Wren
“Holy smokes! I’m gonna need a cold shower after watching that,” Cassidy said laughing. “Damn. I really, really need to get laid.”
I smiled, thinking I could use a cold shower myself. That kiss had my head spinning, making me almost forget about my earlier bout of jealousy. I was surprised how quickly the green eyed monster had taken ahold of me, making me act like a complete idiot. Giving a woman the evil eye for putting her hands on Griffin. I’ve never been a jealous person. It was totally unlike me and finding out she was his sister, only made me feel worse.
“I’m sure you can find somebody around here who will help you out with that,” Henley said rolling her eyes. “You get all the action a girl needs just standing behind this counter.”
“I wish…. That kiss was the most action I’ve seen in weeks. It’s getting to be depressing,” Cassidy pouted. “The guys don’t even look in my direction anymore. It’s like I’ve grown a third eye or something.”
“Don’t be so dramatic, Cass. Besides, we all know there’s only one of them you really care about anyway. You could give two shits about the others,” Henley fussed as she took another drink of her beer.
“Yeah, well… he doesn’t even acknowledge my existence anymore. I don’t get it. All the guys are watching over the women, making sure they’re safe and all that bullshit. Who’s watching out for me? Certainly not him! His sorry ass is completely ignoring me. Hell, he won’t even look at me,” she replied sarcastically. I had no idea who she was talking about, but it was obvious that his lack of attention was hurting her. Quickly changing the subject, she said, “You know what? I think we need something stronger to drink. Let’s do some shots!”
“I’m in,” Emerson said, sitting down on the stool next to me. “I could use a few. My thesis paper just about did me in, and I’m pretty sure the professor is going to rip it to shreds since I’ve missed so many days of class.”
“Sounds like a great excuse to get plastered. What about you, Wren? You in?” Cassidy asked.
“Sure. Why not?” I told her, knowing I could only have a couple or they’d end up scraping me up off the floor.
It was like we had our own personal bartender as Cassidy lined the shot glasses along the counter and poured us each a full shot of tequila. She reached for the salt and limes and placed them in front of us. Then, she lifted her glass and said, “Here’s to the men that drive us insane. May their tattoos fade, their muscles deflate, and their balls shrivel up!”
“You’re a nut, Cassidy,” I laughed. “An absolute nut!” I was so glad that she’d been able to take the night off and just hang out with us tonight. She was absolutely hilarious.
We spent the next forty-five minutes laughing and drinking as they gave me a rundown of everything that goes on at the club. I had no idea that there was so much involved with being in a club like this.
“Just remember – club business is just something you don’t talk about. It’s the guys’ way of protecting us,” Cassidy explained.
“Club business? What business?” I asked.
“It’s best to just stay out of it, Wren. Trust me. I learned it the hard way,” Henley laughed. “Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it.”
“It’s pretty awesome to have so many people that are willing to be there when you need them. When you become an Old Lady, you’re part of the family. They’ll do anything for you and your son,” Cassidy explained.
“I don’t know if I’d ever be able to get used to the whole Old Lady thing,” I admitted.
“If it’s right, you’ll think it’s the best thing that ever happened to you,” Henley said smiling.
“I’ll take your word for it,” I said laughing.
Each of them had their own wild story to tell about the club, and my cheeks were actually getting sore from laughing. I liked being here with them, and I was beginning to understand why they chose to be involved with the club. It was awesome. Even the men were nice, trying to make me feel at home with them. I was actually looking forward to coming back.
“I wanna know about you and Sti-itch,” Henley slurred.
“Umm, well… I like his lips,” I giggled. Leaning closer to her, I said, “And those eyes…God, I love the way that man looks at me, like he could devour my body and soul one minute, but cherish my very existence the next.”
“Oh yeah, I don’t think any of us missed that panty-melting stare he was giving you from across the bar earlier. It was… wow,” Henley snickered.
“Hey! That’s my brother you’re talking about, hooker,” Emerson grumbled as she took another shot of tequila.
“That doesn’t mean he isn’t hot, smartass. You should be proud,” Henley told her. Quickly turning back to me, she continued her inquisition, “Wren darling, you aren’t telling us anything we don’t already know. We want details. We wanna know how you, Ms. Refined and Red Wine, ended up with our Mr. Badass?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet,” I explained. “He just kind of happened.”
“Girl, a man like Stitch doesn’t just happen,” Cassidy weighed in. “He’s there for a reason.”
“Yeah… that’s because he’s a bad… ass. He’s the freaking club Enforcer. Enough said,” Henley told us, throwing her hands up in the air. “And, he’s hot. You can never go wrong with that.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What’s an Enforcer?” I asked.
“It’s one of the positions in the club,” Cassidy started. She was interrupted when Henley said, “He’s like…you know… the Enforcer. He serves and protects his brothers,” Henley explained, sounding more intoxicated by the minute. “Like Batman protecting Gotham City from evil.”
“Batman? Really Henley?” Emerson said, shaking her head in disbelief. “Dear lord, do not let Griff hear you refer to him as Batman.”
“What? It’s a compliment. Batman is a total badass,” Henley said defensively, slightly swaying from side to side as she took another shot.
“Henley, what are you twelve?” Cassidy asked, rolling her eyes. As she poured us all another round of shots, she said, “You’ve got to get out more, girl.”
I was just about to grab my drink when Stitch walked up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. The warmth of his breath sent goosebumps down my spine when he whispered, “You know if you have many more of those, I’ll be carrying you out of here over my shoulder.”
I leaned into him, resting myself against his chest with the back of my head on his shoulder, and teased, “Is that a bad thing?”
The bristles of his beard tickled against my neck when he said, “Not at all. Looking forward to it.”
“Well, that’s good, because I stopped counting after the third shot,” I laughed.
“She’s a total lightweight,” Henley chuckled, barely able to keep her eyes open. “She’s only had three. I’m on number six.”