ZERO(The Skulls, 6)(18)

Entering the clubhouse he walked up to his room and came up short as Sophia was sitting beside his door. Her knees were drawn up against her chest as she rocked to whatever beat she was listening to. Stepping beside her, he waited for her to get up.

She tugged the ear buds out, getting to her feet.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. She was a beautiful woman.

She’s not yours.

For some reason the words didn’t affect him. Staring into her eyes, he knew she wasn’t ever going to be his, and for once he accepted it.

“Nash told me you were on your way back.” She looked down at her feet.

Reaching out, he tilted her head back, looking into her eyes. Sophia went tense but didn’t pull away. “Why are you here?”

“You tried to kiss me last night,” she said, biting her lip.

“If it wasn’t for the gunshots I would have.” He ran his thumb along her bottom lip.

Sophia drew away from him. “I love Nash. I will always love Nash.”

“I know that.”

She finally looked up at him. “He told me you’ve got a thing. Nash told me to be careful around you. I stay away, but you’re always there. I’m not trying to hurt you. You’re a nice man, Zero, but you’re not the man I want. I care about you like a friend. Your touch, however, does nothing for me.” She pressed a hand to her heart. “I can never be in love with you. Nash owns my heart.”

Each word she spoke hurt, but it didn’t feel like the end of the world. Prue’s face entered his mind, calming him.

“You don’t need to say anything more,” he said.

“No, I need to. This is never going to happen. I love Nash. I’m the mother of his daughter.” She pressed a hand to her stomach. “I’m going to be giving him another child very soon.” He watched her swallow, tears in her eyes. “Find the woman meant for you. Don’t wait for me. Stop wanting me. I’m never going to be yours to have.”

She took another step back.

“I will,” he said.

“Good.” She took several steps away, turned around and left him alone.

Entering his room he saw Nash was sitting on his bed. “What the fuck do you want?” Zero asked. “Your woman has just told me how it’s going to be.”

“Are you going to listen this time?” Nash asked. He looked hurt, depressed even.

“Yeah, I’ll listen. Sophia is in love with you, and I shouldn’t have tried to think of having anything more. I’m sorry.” He tugged his jacket off throwing it on the nearest chair.

“I’ve watched you for a long time. I know you want her, and denying yourself must be fucking hard. I know I wanted her for a long time before I took her,” Nash said.

“Look, you don’t need to do—”

Nash wouldn’t let him finish.

“Sophia is mine. You tried to kiss her last night, and I heard what you said. You would have succeeded in kissing her.” Nash stood. “I’ve fucked up in the past, but that gives you no right to try and steal my woman. While we were in Piston County Sophia and I talked about you. She promised she wasn’t trying to lure you in or give you the wrong impression.” Nash stopped, laughing. “She really thought you were friends. She didn’t see your desire or what you wanted to do to her.” Zero was slammed against the wall with Nash’s arm over his windpipe. “I will not lose her to you. Get over your fucking crush, and get over her. She’s not leaving me, and I won’t let her leave.”

He didn’t fight Nash’s hold. Zero knew he crossed the line, and if anyone tried to do this with his woman, he’d have flipped long ago. Nash had shown a great deal of patience and restraint.

“Next time I won’t hold myself away from the fight,” Nash said, referring to the night before when Zero needed to rid himself of the anger. “It will be you and me.”

“I get it. Do you want to cut my junk off as well?” Zero asked. “I’ve got shit to do, and this is boring me.”

Nash jerked back then slammed his fist into Zero’s jaw. Collapsing on the ground he heard the other man leave his bedroom.

Without saying a word, Zero stayed on the floor until he could focus on something. When he could, he got to his feet and walked into the bathroom. He was going to have a nice bruise on his face in the next few hours.

****

Steven was sweet. He didn’t know what to say, and the conversation tended to be about nothing at all. They talked about everything and nothing.

“Have you never talked to a woman before?” she asked, smiling. Prue was charmed by his attempt to keep her company. Within a few minutes of being alone with him, she’d relaxed. He didn’t scare her, which made a change from how she’d been feeling recently.