He shrugs. “I’ve been where you are. Someone helped me out, and it changed my life. It seems only right to return the favor.” I look at him, eyes narrow, still unconvinced. “I suppose if that isn’t reason enough for you, then I’ll admit that I also want to know what you know. You’ve been within my enemy’s inner circle. I want you to share everything you know about the Iron Vultures with me.”
Now that I can believe.
“Okay. In exchange for a place to live and your protection from Zeke, I’ll tell you everything I know about the Iron Vultures, though I’ll tell you now it’s not much. I’ll also work to pay my way. I can tend bar, wash dishes, or do anything else you need. I’m no freeloader,” I insist.
Rex’s eyebrow quirks up, a small sign of surprise on his otherwise stoic face. “Alright. Deal.”
I reach out my hand for him to shake, and he does so, his hand warm and his grip firm. As our hands touch, I feel a tingle of electricity, and I pull back quickly, as if shocked. I shouldn’t be crushing on a guy right now after everything that’s happened tonight. Especially since he’s probably too old for me, he has to be in his early forties. To him, I must seem like a scared little girl that he’s just helping out, nothing more. Even so, I can’t help but find myself attracted to Rex. Perhaps it’s just because he saved me—some sort of damsel in distress response. However, anyone with a pulse would admit that he’s stupidly hot.
“You can stay at my place for now. I’ll speak to our Prez tomorrow about something more permanent, should you wish to stay a while.”
“You aren’t the president?” I ask, surprised. “I thought since you had a key…”
He chuckles slightly. “No. I’m not the Prez, I’m the VP. My best friend Cole is the president. He’s away on business currently, so he’s left me in charge.”
“Do you need his permission for me to stay?” I ask, panicking that I’ll be kicked out.
He shakes his head. “No. But if I did, I know he’d approve. We’re not in the habit of letting innocent women be raped and murdered by thugs.” He says this with such anger directed at Zeke that I flinch at the stark, harsh words, even though he’s right. That’s the fate that awaits me if I leave here and Zeke finds me. Surely that’s the only reason he’s looking for me, because I ran from him, and he wants to finish the job.
“I can see about getting your belongings back, too,” Rex says.
“Thank you. There’s no need. I don’t have much, nothing that’s worth risking a shootout over,” I insist. It’s true. I don’t earn enough money to buy anything other than food. My apartment came furnished, and I didn’t have spare cash to buy anything nice to make it my own. It’s simply a place to sleep, not a home.
Rex shoots me another look I can’t quite read. I hope it isn’t pity. I tilt my chin up to look him in the eye, unashamed. I may have nothing, but I have my pride. “Well, you’re gonna need something to wear,” he points out.
Shit. I hadn’t thought of that.How am I going to pay for new clothes?
Rex answers my unspoken question. “I can speak to some of the old ladies and club girls, and they’ll happily donate some items—might not be to your taste, but it’ll do until you get yourself sorted. I can lend you some cash to buy anything else you need.”
Perhaps he knew I wouldn’t accept money unless it was a loan I needed to repay, or his generosity only went so far, but I’m glad he didn’t offer to pay for it outright.
“Thank you. For everything,” I reply, genuinely. I don’t like being in someone’s debt, but even though we’ve just met, I trust Rex.
Chapter 3
Rex
Lena has been living at my place for two days, and it’s already driving me wild. Every time I see her, it takes all of my self-control not to grab her and kiss her, to ravage her the way I crave. Of course, I noticed her beauty the moment she came rushing at me into the road. Her shapely thighs and round ass in those lace panties were enough to make any man stop, but I also wanted to protect her. She was so scared. Once I got her out of harm’s way, a feistier side that I didn’t expect to see came out, and I was intrigued.
Since she’s been staying at mine, my attraction to her has only grown. My senses are filled with her, and it’s driving me crazy since I can’t make a move. After all, she’s here for protection against her would-be rapist. I doubt she’s interested in hooking up with me, not to mention the fact that she probably thinks I’m too old for her. She probably sees me as a father figure. I can’t believe she’s only nineteen. She looks and acts much more mature. I know every creepy old dude who’s attracted to a younger woman says that, but it’s true. From the little she’s told me about her past, I know she grew up in foster care, which means she didn’t ever truly get to be a kid. I should know, I’m an ex-foster kid too, though I wasn’t in the system as long as she was.
True to her word, Lena has insisted on earning her keep, so my house is spotless. When my roommates and best friends, Cole, Judge, and Doc, return from their trip, they won’t recognize the place. A small part of me is grateful for the alone time with Lena. I know they’re gonna be as into her as I am. Butas much as I’m happy to share women with them, I want Lena to myself for now.
It’s safe to say I’m hooked.
Tank’s old lady, Amanda, was only too happy to take Lena under her wing and donate some clothes for her to wear. She drops around most days for a coffee and a chat with Lena. I love watching how Lena brightens in her presence, laughing and smiling. She always seems tense around me, like she’s ready to run at the slightest movement. I guess, given what she had to put up with working at the Iron Vultures clubhouse, and what that asshole Zeke almost did to her, she’s probably scared of men. I can’t blame her.
Thankfully, the bruises on her arms and neck are fading. Every time I saw them, I wanted to get on my bike and ride over to beat Zeke to a pulp. If the guys were here, I’d do it, but as it stands, Cole left me in charge, and we’re already on the verge of an all-out war with the Iron Vultures, so I can’t risk escalating the situation. Lena always flinches when she sees my murderous expression when I think of what he tried to do, and I feel guilty. I don’t want to scare her—quite the opposite. But I don’t know how to be gentle. I’m gruff, abrupt, and a little bit too grumpy, or so I’ve been told. I keep fucking it up when I try to talk to her.
I’m getting ready to go to the clubhouse. As usual, I can’t get Lena out of my head, and I frustratedly stroke my cock in the shower to thoughts of her hot body, imagining what it would be like to taste her, to caress those perfect curves, to be inside her. My hand is moving faster when suddenly there’s a knock at my door. Groaning I turn off the water and get out, wrapping a towel around my waist, my cock still semi-hard, before heading to answer it. Leah stands there looking devastating in a simple yet classic black dress that hugs her figure. Her blonde hair is loose and still a little damp. She’s also put on heavier makeup fora change, with kohl highlighting her green eyes, and her pouty lips are stained a berry shade. Her eyes widen as she notices I’m only wearing a towel, and I don’t think I’m imagining the look of desire that crosses her face.
“Oh, sorry, is this a bad time?” she asks, her cheeks flushing.
“Not at all, what’s up?”
“I was wondering if maybe I could come to the bar with you tonight, I’m feeling a bit cooped up.”
It’s a fair request—one that I’m not surprised by, given how she’s dressed to go out and the fact that she hasn’t left the house much since she got here. She needed time to process what happened, and I didn’t know how the rest of the club would react to someone who was affiliated with our enemy being here.
