Prue nodded. “Okay.”
“What are your intentions?” Tate asked, stopping Prue from moving away.
“Excuse me?”
“We’re all in lockdown because of you. I want to know what your game is.” Tate was glaring at his woman.
Glancing around he saw Eva looked annoyed while Tiny was making his way toward them.
“Tate, baby, not here,” Murphy said.
He saw her hesitate, but Prue finally spoke up.
“First of all, you’re Tiny’s daughter. Eva is his woman. She knows why I’m here. Both of them know why I’m here. You got a problem then take it up with them. If you still want to be a bitch, I’ll show what it’s like to take an ass whooping because I learned from the best.” Prue took a step closer getting up close to Tate.
“Who did you learn from? I’m Tiny’s daughter. He’s the best.”
“He’s a leader, but I learned from an experienced fighter. You want to fuck with me let’s do this, but lose the kid. I don’t fight mothers with kids on their hip.” Prue wasn’t backing down.
This was the first time a woman had stood up to Tate.
Tiny looked impressed. “Tate, honey, your ass has been handed to you. Back down, and her presence here has nothing to do with you. You’re going to get along just fine.” He tapped Prue on the back, and Tate backed down.
The two women stared at each other a long time.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Tate said.
“And you. I hope we can be friends.” Prue shook Tate’s hand before moving around. Zero introduced her to Rose and Hardy then to Blaine and his woman and kid. They were at the clubhouse over three hours before he finally got her to his room.
“Wow, you’ve inherited a lot of family.”
“It’s the club,” he said, opening his door.
“They’re your family. They all care about you. I think they’re a little pissed at you for taking matters into your own hands.” She shrugged, entering his bedroom behind him. “This is your room?”
“All the guys have their own room. The sweet-butts usually share, but when the family is in, they’re sent to a section of the house away from the men. They do mingle when needed.” Zero closed the door behind them. The temptation to lock the door was there, but he ignored it and watched her look around his room. She tugged the pants up, wriggling her ass. His gaze landed on her rounded curves.
“I can’t believe you handed it to Tate. She’s a bitch and puts a lot of people through their paces.”
She moved toward the picture of the two of them with Trevor on top of his drawer. “She’s used to being the alpha. I bet she’s pissed at being in lockdown and all because of me. She doesn’t know what’s going on?”
“It’s up to Tiny and Murphy to make her aware of what’s going on.”
Prue shrugged. “I would have whooped her ass if she didn’t back down. I’m not going to have a bitch in my face. I didn’t take it in school, and I’m not taking it now.”
“You earned a lot of respect down there.”
“Tate’s a woman. I imagine Tiny won’t let any guy hurt his little girl even if she does need it.” She sat down on the edge of his bed. “This is a nice room. Don’t you have a house or anything?”
“No, this is my home. I’ve never needed a house.”
“Where will I sleep?” she asked.
Moving to sit beside her, Zero enjoyed the heat of her closeness. “We’ve shared a bed before. I really need to hold you right now, Prue. I need to know you’re going to be okay.”
“You presume too much. I’m not that easy.” She nudged his shoulder, chuckling. “Of course I’m fine with it.”
He followed the direction of her gaze. She was looking at the picture of the three of them.
“I really do miss him,” she said.
“I do as well. It’s not the same without him.” Zero rubbed his hands together wanting more than anything to hold her close.
“What do you think he’d say to us now?” she asked, leaning back on the bed to look up at the ceiling. The way she lay exposed a strip of her stomach. Why did that strip of skin seem more tempting than anything else he had the pleasure of seeing?
“He’d be pissed at putting you in danger. Trevor was a lot of things, but he loved you, Prue. He did everything he could to protect you.”
He heard her sigh. Leaning back beside her, he was shocked when a few seconds passed and she curled up against him. “I wish he was here.”
At that moment, Zero was really pleased he wasn’t.
****
Later that night Prue sat around with the women of The Skulls, eating one of the nicest pies she’d ever tasted in her life. It was a meat filled pie, and she’d piled her plate high with mashed potatoes, vegetables, and drowned the plate with gravy. After the crap food at the hospital, she was starving.
She dove in as the men ate and drank, playing pool or shooting darts. Every time she looked toward Zero he was staring back at her. Each time she caught his gaze she felt an answering pulse between her thighs. What was going on?
“Zero keeps staring at you as if he wants to eat you,” Sandy said, leaning in close to whisper against her ear.
“What?” She jerked away from the other woman. Zero wanted to eat her?
Looking toward him, he was talking with Steven. No, he didn’t want to eat her. He was putting up with her because of Trevor.
“I’ve seen that look on Zero’s face before. He’s wondering what you look like naked.”
“We’re friends.” Tucking some hair behind her ear, Prue continued to eat her food. Her appetite wasn’t so ravenous anymore.
“He wants more.”
She shook her head turning to Sandy. “No, he doesn’t. We’ve been friends all of our lives. It’s not going to change overnight.”
“Maybe not tonight, but I bet you, you snuggle up close and you’ll feel his need nestled against your ass.” Sandy stood, going to the bar.
Prue watched the other woman pour herself a drink while talking with Stink. She saw the way the other man looked at Sandy.
“Sandy used to be a sweet-butt,” Eva said, leaning in close.
“What?”
“She’s fucked half of the club. Something happened a year ago, and she’s now the club doctor and she doesn’t need to put out for the men.” Eva was eating from her own plate. Tiny took a seat beside her, wrapping his arm around his wife. “I’m eating here.”
“Keep eating, baby. I’m not doing anything to stop you.”
Eva rolled her eyes and finished off her plateful of food.
For the next hour Prue listened to the women talk. Kelsey was expecting her first child with Killer. It was early days, and the woman was nervous. Angel wanted another child, but Lash refused to put her through another birth yet. Tate remained silent throughout it all.
When she finished her dinner, Prue made her way into the kitchen. She wanted the silence and started washing the dishes.
“I want to know what’s going on,” Tate said, moving into the kitchen.
Letting out a sigh, Prue took her time cleaning the plates. Grabbing a towel, she dried her hands and turned toward Tate. When was this bitch going to learn to back the fuck down? “Why don’t you ask your dad or even your man?”
“They’re not telling me anything. I want to know what’s going on.”
“You’re used to getting what you want?” She knew their friendship was going to be stretched to the limit. Tate was a strong woman, but so was she. Their personalities were going to clash. Prue wondered how they were both going to get along. The other women clearly gave into Tate. She wasn’t going to do it. Tate was going to learn the hard way.
“Yes.” Tate pushed the word out through gritted teeth.
“I’m not part of the club, and I’m not going to piss men off because you want the truth. Ask them. Don’t come to me.” Prue folded her arms underneath her breasts, waiting for Tate to make the next move. It was like being back in the playground.
Murphy entered the room. “Go to our room, Tate,” he said.
“You’re keeping me in the dark.” Tate turned to her man looking hurt.
“For once, realize I’m doing you a favor. Get to our room now.”
She watched Tate hesitate. Finally, she turned away and left the room.
“If she caught Kelsey or Angel on their own she would know everything that’s going on,” Murphy said, shaking his head.
“Why are you keeping her in the dark?” Prue asked.
“There’s shit she doesn’t need to know. You’re the first woman who has stood up to her. I appreciate it.” He left the room.
Zero appeared next. His lifted his arms up holding onto the doorframe. “You turn me on talking shit to Tate.”
Heat filled her cheeks. Laughing, she approached him. “I’ve got a lot more ways of turning men on.” She reached out touching his chest.
Something changed between them. The smile on his lips dropped as did his gaze. He was looking at her lips then at her breasts.
“I’m calling it a night,” she said, brushing past him. He caught her arm, and she looked down at the floor. Not tonight, she couldn’t handle this change tonight. Listening to the women talk and have them tell all secrets she knew he had a thing for Sophia.
“Don’t go.” He didn’t pull her arm closer.
This is your choice.
Sandy’s words came back to her.
No, she wasn’t going to be a means to an end. If Zero wanted her then it was going to take some time. She wouldn’t be second best for any man.
Pulling on her arm, she took several steps away. “Good night.”
She left him alone, making her way upstairs to their room. Closing the door, she leaned heavily against it. Her heart was racing, and her pussy was on fire, burning with need.
Think about Alan.
This was the first time Zero had ever shown any kind of attraction to her. Was it because she was sharing a bed with him?
Crap.
Her thoughts were all over the place and not making any sense at all.
Leaving the door, she went to the closet and pulled out one of his shirts. All of her clothes were still at home. She would need to stop by and collect some things. There was no way she would be spending however long it took for Alan to be caught wearing other people’s clothes.
She took out one of his shirts then headed into the bathroom. After a quick shower she dried her body, combed her hair, then used his toothbrush to clean her teeth. The bathroom door opened. Zero stood without a shirt.
Ink covered his body. Crossing her legs, she stared at her reflection and continued to brush her teeth. He wasn’t sex on legs, and she didn’t want anything to do with him. Zero was her brother’s best friend, and they were friends. Nothing was going to happen. She tried to convince herself not to be attracted to him. Nothing was working.
“That’s my shirt and my toothbrush.”
“You didn’t grab any of my stuff. I’ve got nothing here.” She finished her teeth and gave him her full attention. He was climbing into the shower, showing his perfectly sculptured ass.
She wondered what it would be like to sink her nails into his flesh as he rode her hard. Maybe she should flick his butt with a towel to teach him a lesson. Prue decided against it. His ass was a delight, and she didn’t want to ruin it by marking him.
“Fine, we’ll go tomorrow. Stop checking out my ass.”
Angered at how right he was about her checking out his ass, she flushed the toilet, smiling as he screamed at the sudden hit of cold water washing over him.
“Bitch, I’ll get you for that,” he said.
“Yeah, yeah.” She wasn’t afraid of Zero.
Settling into bed, she rolled to her side, punched the pillow and tried to get comfortable on the new bed. She heard Zero singing in the shower and grimaced. He was many things, but a singer wasn’t one of them. She didn’t see chart success in his future.
His scent surrounded her. The bed smelled like him. It was strong and had an answering pulse in her veins.
Wrapping the blanket around her, she got comfortable as Zero entered the room.
He flicked the lock on the door then climbed in behind her. She didn’t argue. Rolling over, she lifted her leg and felt how very naked he actually he was. Jerking away, she glared at him. “Put some shorts on at least.”
“This is my bed. I sleep naked in it. Get used to it.” He smiled sweetly at her.
“You’re being an asshole,” she said.
“No, I’m being comfortable.”
Smiling back at him, she leaned over his chest to turn the lamp off that he must have put on. “Be careful in the morning. I don’t always see well. My glasses are in the bathroom, and I can crush a ball if I’m not careful.” She flicked the light off, settling back into bed.
His heat made it hard for her to relax again.
Zero was naked, sleeping beside her. He wasn’t asleep yet.
“He’s out there somewhere,” she said, thoughts returning to Alan. “He’s thinking of ways of hurting us.”
“Me. Alan wants to hurt me, no one else.” His arm moved across her stomach. He dragged her close, and he settled his nose against her neck. “You smell good.”
“Don’t do that,” she said. But Prue didn’t pull away.
She felt the length of his cock against her ass. Sandy was right. He was rock hard. Rolling her eyes, she settled on her pillow listening to him breathing.
“We’ll take care of everything, Prue. There’s nothing we can do until he wants us to know.” He kissed her neck, sighing. “I’m pleased to have you back.”
“I can feel it.”
“We’ll talk about it some other time. Let me hold you for now and have this with you.”
She wanted to argue but saw no use in it. Her body was alight with need for him.
Zero was unlike all of the men she’d been with before.
“I wish Trevor was with us.”
“Right now, I don’t.” He kissed her neck.
Prue smiled at his response. She felt alive from his kisses alone.
****
Butch walked out of the clubhouse, opening and closing the small gate. He needed to see Cheryl one last time. After tonight he wasn’t going to risk seeing her with the danger of Alan watching. The last couple of days he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. Her face would find its way into his thoughts, and then a need to be with her would consume him.
Walking down the street, he took his time getting into town. He made his way toward the back heading to the church. The door was open again, and he took a seat. Cheryl was nowhere to be seen. Sitting down, he watched the front of the church wanting to see her.