“Ugh, yeah. I think so.”
She grabs my hand and pulls me up. We make it through the hallway, and she opens a bedroom door and helps me through it. I fall on the bed, on my stomach.
“What happened just then with Reaper?” I mumble as my eyes close and exhaustion hits me.
“Even though the women are sweet butts, they are still under the MC’s protection.”
“Sweet butts,” I repeat through a smile. “That’s a funny name.”
“They do anything the guys need them to, and the MC gives them a roof over their head and food.”
One eye cracks open. “So they have to have sex with them?”
“Oh, no,” she says with a scrunched-up face. “The women want to. They aren’t being forced to do anything, and you can pay your way by helping with cooking and cleaning.”
“Thanks, Elena,” I mumble. “Thank you for everything.”
* * *
My eyesopen to the twinge of pain of my full bladder. Feeling as though it might burst, I sit up in bed. My hand goes to my head as I groan, knowing I shouldn’t have had those shots when I rarely drink alcohol. I stand with a hunched back and walk with one arm low so I don’t trip over and one arm held out in front so I don’t walk into the wall. My body is still sore, but not as much as it was this morning.
I touch a smooth surface, sliding my fingers across the wall until I grasp the door handle and open it. The music is still on, but it isn’t as loud as it was before. A faint light shines from the hallway leading downstairs.
After relieving myself, I throw some water on my face. My hands fall on either side of the sink. This is the reason I don’t drink, but I welcomed the few hours of distraction. I think Beau has scarred me forever.
When I reach the bedroom, I open the door, though I swear I left it open. I blame the alcohol. When I walk in, it’s as dark as it was before, so I reach out again, trying not to run into anything. When my hands meet the bed, I lie down, and a small moan escapes my lips when I breathe in. Whatever that smell is, it smells so good, and I nuzzle into the pillow and sigh.
FOUR
IN HIS ARMS
Ava
My body shifts from the heat under me. My hand moves, and my head burrows in, trying to get comfortable, but I’m lying on something hard. There’s a distinct, soothing beating sound,thump,thump,thump. I open my eyes to a bright light and squint before gazing down. My heart stops. It just stops. I gasp loudly and yank my body off of him and crawl backward. Then I’m falling, and I land on the floor with a thud.
His head turns while his sleepy eyes follow my movements. He blinks a few times as if checking that I’m there, then they widen.
“What are you doing in my bed?” I ask, my voice raised.
He sits up lazily, scratching the back of his head. “You mean, what areyoudoing inmybed?” he asks, his voice thick with sleep.
My gaze darts around the room, and the realization makes my stomach sink. “I’m so sorry. I must have mistaken your room for mine last night.” A blush burns my cheeks.
“That’s the first time I’ve had a woman apologize for waking up in my bed.”
In my head, I’m praying,Please, God, make me disappear!
His eyes flick to my cheek, and if it wasn’t for his shoulders stiffening ever so slightly, I would have missed that he saw my bruises, but I’m grateful when he says nothing about it.
“Did you know you snore?”
My eyes meet his and narrow. “I do not.”
“Yeah, you do. I should know. You slept on top of me for most of the night.”
My head falls back with a groan, and I use the edge of the bed to help myself get up. “Well...” I say awkwardly. “I’m sorry again.” I walk to the door.
“Ava,” he says in a deep, husky tone.
