Master (Chaos Bleeds Book 8) (27 page)

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The following night Spider stared at his reflection, and winced. He hated wearing formal wear, and a tuxedo was too fucking tight. Spider had already booked a seat at the French restaurant in the city, and they had told him there was a dress code. He’d even gone to find Paris an appropriate dress for the night. It was a long black evening gown that molded to her curves, and he’d even gone the extra bit and given her some jewelry.

“Wow,” Butler said, leaning against his doorframe.

“If you’re only going to say some wise-ass shit, I suggest you fucking leave,” he said.

Butler held his hands up. “You look dashing. Paris is a lucky woman.”

Staring at his brother, Spider finished his tie, and sighed, taking a step back. “I look like a fucking penguin.”

“A dashing penguin. You really did go the extra mile.”

“I wanted Paris to have an experience she’d never forget. The first time I spoke to her, I scared her.”

“How did you scare her?”

“I was hanging around the back of the club, and I talked, she didn’t know I was there. I looked like a creepy stalker.”

He fisted his hands and turned to look at Butler.

“You look a lot better than some kind of stalker.”

“I don’t want to show her up tonight.”

“You’re nervous?”

“I’m fucking terrified. I’ve fucked up every single way imaginable with this woman. I don’t want to do that again.”

“Then relax. Take a deep breath, and just chill,” Butler said. “Paris is a good woman. You’ll do right by her.”

“You think so? I think I’ve been fucking up at every turn.”

“We all fuck up in our lives, and you’re being given a second chance to turn all of this around.”

Spider nodded. “I’m not expecting sex either. It’s too soon.”

“Then beat off in your own hand when you get home. None of us are going to hold this against you. You and Paris, it’s a special circumstance.”

“You’re not going to rib me for being pussy-whipped.”

Butler shook his head. “The club is in agreement about this. You and Paris have been through so much. None of us are going to pressure you into taking the next step.”

“Wow, you guys are being mature?”

“Blame Devil. I think Lexie had a talk with him. No, we’re to be nice, and considerate to you, and to Paris’s feelings. It helps that we all like her. She’s a keeper, Spider, and she’ll be one hell of an old lady.”

Spider took a deep breath. “I’m fucking nervous.”

“Don’t be a pussy.”

“I thought I was going to get special treatment.”

“You will, but not for being a pussy. Our girl is waiting for you.” Jessica, Brianna, Mia, and Judi had offered to stay with Paris to help get her ready.

“Okay, I’m going to go and get her.”

Grabbing his keys and wallet, he saw a condom wrapper peeking out, and he threw it into the trash can. He didn’t need a condom tonight. He was going to enjoy this date with her, and not even worry about later tonight.

Spider intended to be a gentleman for a long time yet.

Leaving his room, he walked down the long staircase, and paused as he saw Mandy making her way up them. She was wearing latex gloves and an apron.

“Spider, you look rather dashing tonight.”

“Thank you. Where are you going?”

“Devil asked me to clean out the loft space. They’re thinking of building up with the club getting bigger, and he interviewed a couple of guys as a prospects. There’s some junk, and he’s given me the job of going through it. Hey, Butler.”

“Hey.”

Mandy passed them, humming as she did. Spider saw Butler staring at her ass. He waited for Mandy to be out of earshot before he said anything. “Why don’t you tap that?”

“She doesn’t even know I exist.”

“So, make her see you exist.”

“Devil has a ban on fucking the cleaners. Mia also asked that none of us harass Mandy.”

“Harassing and taking an interest are two different things.”

“Tell that to Mia, and to Devil. Besides, I’m an ex-addict. I don’t have much to offer her.”

“Stop that shit about being an addict. Look at Dick, and he’s a fucking prick when he starts. If he can find love, then why not you?”

“Hey, I heard that, and I have a lovely personality,” Dick said, coming downstairs.

“Where’s Martha?”

“Having drinks with her friend, Lynne. I’m going to go and pick her up. It has been a while since they had a chance to chat. See, I have a personality of a saint,” Dick said.

“Yeah, that’s because you’re in a good mood, and constantly getting your dick sucked.”

“There’s nothing wrong with enjoying getting your dick sucked.”

“Being an ex-addict, did it hold you back from Martha?” Spider asked.

“It didn’t hold me back. She knew about it already. Be open about it, and don’t try to hide shit. What I’ve come to see with Martha, I keep secrets, she gets pissed. I don’t, I get my dick sucked.”

“So charming,” Spider said.

“No problems. Enjoy your date tonight, and give Paris a hug from me.” Dick left them alone, and he was humming as he went past as well.

“I don’t think I like this relaxed attitude that everyone seems to have.”

“You and me both,” Butler said. “I don’t want to deal with another enemy though. Another one pops up, and I’m on the road with the Nomads. People can fuck off if they think for a second that I’m going to allow that kind of shit.”

Spider wasn’t afraid of dealing with the enemy, but he’d rather not have to. He rather looked forward to the coming years of being able to relax, and enjoy the carefree attitude of going all legit. He was tired of being on the road during the long drives of transporting coke or guns. Being out of that business was more than good for him.

Several brothers stopped him on the way out, to wish him luck.

He accepted their lucks, and hoped he could give Paris a good night. It would be the first time they were together, alone, on a date. A lot of pressure but he was more than happy to deal with it.

Shaking Butler’s hand, he made his way out into the freezing cold, and started up his car. It was cold, but not snowing, not yet. Once snow hit, getting out was going to be tough.

Driving toward Paris, he kept consoling himself that he was doing the right thing. That he was good enough for Paris, and Andrew wasn’t going to take any more time away from them.

Parking outside her house, he turned the ignition off, and climbed out.

Going to her front door, he knocked, and waited.

Paris opened the front door, and words left him. Her hair was bound in a loose, looped braid at the back of her head. The black gown molded to her curves in ways that he hadn’t imagined correctly. Her tits were pushed up, showing the mounding tops, and large cleavage. She looked … stunning. The diamond earrings and necklace only added to her class.

“Hey,” she said. “Is it too much?”

“It’s perfect. You look like a dream. A vision.”

She reached out, grabbing her jacket. “Are we ready to go?” she asked.

Jessica, Mia, Brianna, and Judi came into view behind her. They were smiling at him, looking a little scary as they did.

“Yes, I’m ready to go. I’ll have her back before midnight.”

“Okay. We look forward to it.”

Paris put on a jacket and followed him out. “Do I need to get my purse?” she asked.

“Not a chance. Tonight is all on me.”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

“I want it to be. Please, let me do this one romantic thing for you.”

“Okay.” He helped her toward the passenger side of the car, and opened the door, letting her inside. “I’m really nervous, and a little excited.”

“Me too. My hands are sweating.” He held them out for her to touch. “It’s cold out, and I’m sweating.”

“We can make this good for both of us.”

“Yes, we can.”

Closing the door, he rounded the car.

You can do this, Spider.

You love her, and you want to be everything for her.

Climbing behind the wheel, he started the car up, and pulled away from the curb.

“The dress is really beautiful. Thank you.”

“You look amazing in it.

“Thank you. I was worried it might not fit, but it did, perfectly.”

She rested her hands on her knees, and Spider took one, locking their fingers together. “So, any thoughts on what you want to be?”

“When I grow up?”

“I’d say you’re already a grown up, but what do I know?”

She chuckled. “Thank you. I don’t know. I was talking to Natalie, but it’s kind of hard to get her advice. She knew from a young age she wanted to be a designer. She’s amazing, too. I don’t know what I want to be.”

“You like writing, though.”

“Yeah, I did like writing, and it kind of disappeared with looking after Celia, and then with work. It’s not really inspiring taking your clothes off for a room full of men you don’t know.”

Spider smiled. “You captivated me.”

“As much as I hated it, I’m pleased I did it.”

“Why?”

“It got me to you, and for me, that is better than anything else. If I hadn’t been stripping, you wouldn’t have known I existed.”

“And now we’re here, heading toward our first official date.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll soon see.”

The drive to the restaurant was fun, and he listened to her talk about college, and the future. Once they were outside the restaurant Paris paused. “Wow.”

“Come on.”

“This is really fancy.”

“I know, and it’s all for you.” He got out of the car, and rounded to her side, taking hold of her hand. Spider handed the valet the keys, and he escorted her toward the maître d’, who seated them in quick time.

He caught the arm of the maître d’ as he was about to pull Paris’s seat out for her. “I’ll do that, thank you.”

Paris smirked, and he smiled with her as he held her seat. She lowered herself down, and he helped her under the table. Kissing her shoulder, he rounded and thanked the man. They were handed some menus, and Spider ordered some water for himself, as did Paris. He had called ahead to make sure they were both allowed to order non-alcoholic drinks. When they were alone, he reached across the table to take her hand. “This is really fancy.”

“I know. Do you think we stick out like sore thumbs?”

She looked around the room, and turned her attention back to him. “Nah, I think we blend in. How did you find this place?”

“Snake told me about it. He brings Jessica here on really special dates. He told me the food was delicious, which for Snake is saying something. He’s not into French food.”

“Well, I can’t wait to try it. So tell me, Spider, what’s new with you?”

“You want me to talk about me?”

“Yeah, I want to know what you’ve been doing.”

“Did you know we bought a derelict old apartment building?”

“Yeah, Lexie was telling me about you refurbishing it or something.”

“We’re working from the ground up. The structure is still intact, and the foundations. It needs some love and care.”

“That love and care falls to you?”

“Before becoming a Chaos Bleed, I was in construction. I know what to do, and this week I’m looking for a group of builders who are not only good, but are reliable, and ones that I can trust without fear of them ruining the building.”

“Putting more work into Piston County?”

“We’re not going anywhere, and the club intends to invest its future there as well.”

“I’d like to see these apartments, if that’s okay.”

“I’ll take you soon.”

Their drinks arrived, and he watched as Paris took a sip of hers. “How did it go with Lola?”

She scrunched up her nose. “Not good. She’s keeping a wide berth with technology. Her mother wondered if I would be willing to have her come stay with me for a few weeks. Lola had a bit of a breakdown. One of the kids in the library handed Lola a cell phone they had found, and it scared her. It sent her into a panic attack so bad that they had to call the doctors to sedate her. Lola called me not long after her mother, and asked if she could come and stay with me.”

“She okay?”

“She will be. I talked to her about it, and she seemed kind of excited, and said she could talk to someone else about how to set it up. I don’t know. I think if we got her involved in the clothing, trying stuff on, it might inspire her a little more. What do you think?”

“I think that anything that allows Lola to heal will be a good thing, and I’m standing beside you a hundred percent to help you.”

She gave him a full beaming smile. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.”

The date went without a hitch. They enjoyed some wonderful steak with some creamy potatoes that Spider couldn’t remember the name of, nor pronounce. The dessert was a chocolate mousse, which was divine.