Corrupting Cinderella (6 page)

My woman talking filthy does stuff to me. But this is serious, and we need to work through it. Plus, I’m pretty sure she will knee me in the balls if I try to get sweet with her right now. Just a feeling.

“How would you like to sit around all night making polite chitchat with some guy
I
used to fuck?”

“I wouldn’t.” Even the suggestion makes me seethe until I remember her husband is dead. Damn, I’ve been an asshole. “What do you want me to do, Hope? Should I ban every club girl I’ve been with?” It’s a real possibility. The guys will probably slit my throat, but Hope’s right. I can’t put her through another night of bullshit. The girls will be taken in by other charters. New ones will always find their way here one way or another. Fuck. I thrust my fingers through my hair. She’s got me so damn torqued up again.

“Oh yeah. So everyone can hate me and think I really am a stuck-up bitch? Don’t you dare send your little muffler bunny fan club away.”

Heh. I’m amused at her use of “muffler bunny” and assume she picked that up from Trinity. Without another word, Hope drops her arms to her side and marches into the bathroom. I use the time to pace because I’m pretty sure when she comes out she’s going to ask me to take her home.

Instead, she surprises me by coming out dressed for bed. She shoots me a glare, walks over to her side, and crawls in.

Yeah, definitely no birthday sex. But at least she’s staying.

Not sure what else to say, I step into the hallway to clear my head. Catching sight of Z, I lift my chin and he strides over.

“Why aren’t you with Hope?”

“Giving her a minute.”

“How pissed is she?”

“Very.”

“Sorry.”

“No. It’s on me. Where’s Peach?”

He jerks his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of his room. “Not worth the trouble. A little hard to hold a conversation with her.”

I snort, because the idea of Z wanting to “hold a conversation” with any woman seems so unlikely.

“Give her a break. It’s hard to talk with a dick in your mouth.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Very funny, asshole. Since when do you talk to a fuck-and-go?”

He shrugs. “Maybe I want a slice of what you’ve found.”

Hope was right to accuse me of being territorial. “You stay away from what I’ve found.”

He smirks but doesn’t respond.

“You know she’s going to tell her friend Lilly about this, right?” I ask, just because I feel like being a dick.

His gaze darts to mine like he never considered the possibility, then he tries to act casual. “Nah, that was a one-off. She made that clear.”

I raise an eyebrow, encouraging him to continue. Usually Z’s the one to explain there would be no repeat performances.

“I could definitely hold a conversation with her. Fucking ah-maa-zing tits too.” Looking down at the ground, he shakes his head. “But, way too smart for me.”

I leave Z to work out whatever he’s got going through his head. I guess we’re all going through our midlife crises a little early. Maybe if we’re real lucky, our periods will sync up or some shit.

Hope’s curled on her side when I return. Her breathing is steady, but I don’t think she’s asleep. Even so, I’m careful not to touch her when I slide into bed. I settle on my back and stare up at the ceiling. Party noises still filter in through the thick door.

Suddenly, Hope turns over and curls into my side. Relief grips me so strong I almost don’t know how to react. I hook my arm around her, and she snuggles in closer.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for. It’s my fuck up, baby doll.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing here.”

Here
could mean many things. In my life. In my bed. In my clubhouse. In this relationship. All those things. I don’t know which one she means, so I wait for her continue.

When she finally opens her mouth, she doesn’t give me words. A slick, hot trail teases over my chest, circling my nipple. I groan, but don’t move. She buries her face in my neck, and I wonder if she’s trying to scent another woman on me.

“I was in the hall talking to Z,” I reveal.

It’s so dark I can’t see her expression, but she pulls back. She shifts again and trails her tongue down my chest, then lower, tracing my abs as she goes. Another groan slips out as I sense where she’s headed. She pauses at my boxer briefs. Not knowing where we stood, I didn’t think crawling into bed without covering my jewels was a great idea. She cups my rapidly growing erection, squeezing me through the material. I bump my hips up and she tugs them off, freeing me.

Without warning, her warm, wet mouth closes over my dick.

“Fuck!”

She takes me deep and quick. Something’s not right. Oh, it feels fantastic, but there’s a desperate edge to her movements that sets sirens piercing through my thick skull.

“Stop. Stop, baby doll.” As she moves faster, I suck air in through my teeth. Tunneling my fingers through her hair, I still her movements and pull her up to me. My cock curses at the loss of her sweet mouth. I roll us, pin her down, and kiss her. We’re a frantic tumble of lips, tongues, and teeth. Somehow I work her shirt off. Then her shorts get tossed to the floor, and I reach out to grab a condom from the nightstand. She stops me with a hand on my outstretched arm.

“You don’t need it.”

It would be cruel of her to tease me at this point. “You sure?”

She hums against my neck. “I’m sure. Happy birthday.”

Fuck, yes. Happy birthday indeed. All her sweetness belongs to me. As I slide into my luscious girl, we are nothing but slick, hot skin on skin. I have to take a moment to enjoy her fluttering around me. So damn tight. Every bit of her is mine.

“This what I’ve wanted all night long, baby doll.”

Warms shivers of pleasure sweep through me as she runs her nails lightly up and down my back, then traces down my arms. “Me too.”

“This is all I ever want,” I admit. Somehow in the dark it’s a lot easier to spill these secrets.

“I know.”

Slow strokes. Enjoying every bare inch with nothing between us. Fucking fantastic. I burrow my arms under her, keeping her close. Her legs hug my hips, her heels resting on my ass. Love it. Faster now. Savoring every glide and thrust against her silky heat. I press my lips against her neck, kiss my way to her ear, and gently bite the soft lobe.

“Can you feel that, baby doll?” I whisper against her neck.

I feel her face pull into a smile, and her tight little pussy squeezes down on my cock even harder.

“I feel you.”

No. She’s not getting it. I have to get it out this time. She has to know—now.

“No. Can you feel my
heart
…I love you so much.”

This is why I needed to say it in the dark. If she isn’t feeling the same, it’s gonna cut through me. A sharp intake of breath. She strokes one hand along my cheek and coos in my ear. “Rochlan—you have no idea—I love you too.”

The sweetest words she’s ever spoken. I brush my lips back and forth over hers, in a silent thank you.

Best birthday ever.

CHAPTER FOUR

The clubhouse is much quieter the next morning when Rock takes my hand and leads me downstairs. I’m a little overwhelmed. We fought. We made up. For a while I didn’t think I’d be able to get the images of him and other women out of my mind. Picturing him fucking the skanks that hung out in his club or the strippers that worked for him tormented me relentlessly. The irrational and out of control feelings kept me on edge. Worrying about the past served no useful purpose—the logical part of my brain knew that. I also can’t deny that Rock has been straight with me all along. He’s never hidden his past with the club girls or dancers from me. But knowing and having it thrown in your face were two different things. I couldn’t blame him for the actions of others, though—that certainly wasn’t fair.

Besides, he
loves
me. No matter what happens, I’ll cherish his words forever. I never, ever thought I would be this lucky to find love again. Shivers work through me when I remember the intensity of his voice as he whispered those words in my ear. His love is a precious gift that I won’t allow anyone to tarnish with their ugly words.

Murmurs reach my ears before I actually see anyone. The front door shuts, and everything is quiet until we enter.

“Hey, prez,” Wrath says in a hushed tone when he spots us. Trinity is tucked up against him on the couch, using his thigh as a pillow while she sleeps. Rock nods, and I wiggle my fingers as a hello.

Rock throws himself onto the couch next to Wrath and tugs me down with him. He arranges my legs over his lap and leans in, pressing his lips to my ear. “Are you okay with sitting on my lap?”

Shame prickles at me for the words I flung at him last night. I turn and kiss along his jaw until I reach his ear. “Nowhere else I want to be. I’m sorry I said that, I—”

He captures my lips in a kiss, cutting me off. Wrath sighs audibly next to us. Rock presses his forehead to mine for a moment before turning to his friend.

“You’re up early.”

Wrath’s massive shoulders lift in a tight shrug.

“She okay?” He jerks his chin at Trinity. The corner of his mouth tips up in a knowing smile. Wrath’s arm is curled around her, resting on her hip.

Snatching his arm away, Wrath stretches it out over the back of the couch and Rock snickers.

“I didn’t get any ass last night, thanks to you,” he grumbles.

Rock snorts. “Yeah, it’s all my fault you’re such a prick.”

I’m staying out of this one. Although he’s nice to look at, Wrath’s personality designates him completely unfuckable as far as I’m concerned. Inwardly I cackle that he didn’t get any last night.

Z pounds down the stairs next. “Morning, fuckers. Oh, hey, Hope. I’m surprised you’re still here.”

Rock grunts at him and possibly calls him an asshole under his breath.

Unruffled, Z spins a chair around in front of us. He straddles it, draping his arms over the back. Today he’s wearing short sleeves, and I study his inked arms a bit. Rock notices my interest in his friend and pinches my thigh. I had to sit through his ex-whatever doing a special birthday strip show for him and get bitched out by one of his muffler bunnies last night, but I can’t look at his friend’s arms?

Whatever.

I bat my lashes at Z, and he smirks.

“Where’s Peach?” Wrath asks.

“Upstairs.”

“You nail her?”

I feel Rock shaking his head behind me.

Z shrugs before answering Wrath’s question. “She’s a shit lay. Mosta them strippers and porn stars are. They act like they’re doing ya a favor and just lay there. Fuckin boring.”

I snort, then break out into a full-on giggle. “But, you still did her anyway?” I ask.

“Well, yeah. Of course.” He flashes another smile at me, and I notice he’s got these adorable cheek dimples. “It’s my duty to fuck as many women as possible.”

Maybe he said it to shock me, but it only makes me laugh harder. “You and Lilly really are kindred spirits.”

The silly smile on his face falters. “What?”

“She has a similar theory on dating.” His uncertain expression says he wants more information but doesn’t want to ask in front of the guys.

Inga joins us next, ending the “strippers are a lousy lay” conversation. Pity.

“Fuuuck.” She throws herself on the couch next to Trinity, jostling the poor girl awake. The two sort of glare at each other for a second.

When Trinity realizes she’s been using Wrath’s thigh as a pillow and that we’ve all witnessed it, I swear she turns a little green.

“Morning, Trinny,” Rock greets her with a slow grin.

She mumbles something that resembles good morning and takes off down the hall. Wrath gets up and follows her. I swing my gaze to Z, silently begging him not to go anywhere and leave us alone with Inga. I get a wink in response. Planting her hands in the couch cushions, Inga does this weird slide/crawl down the couch, giving me an eyeful of cleavage in the process. Rock’s playing with my hair, tucking wild strands behind my ear and tracing his fingers down my neck. It tickles, and I giggle.

Something sad passes over Inga’s face, which nags at me. After last night, I’m feeling a lot more secure about my position in Rock’s life. With that in mind, it’s easier to recognize having this PDA moment in front of her might be a little rude, even though she once told me she had no interest in Rock romantically. Last night it seemed she came up here with some sort of expectations, and I ruined that for her. Not my fault, but I still have the twinge of guilt.

Wrath comes back wearing a dejected expression and glares at Inga before sitting back down. Trinity follows and sits on the arm of the couch next to Rock. Basically, she’s as far away from Wrath as she can get and still be part of the group conversation. I swivel in Rock’s lap so I can see her.