“You’ve had that kind of relationship, right? Where you’re dating to get to know one another. Yet, I assume you're single. So, tell me how dating someone the way you said worked out for you?” She frowns, and then there’s a look that slithers across her face that doesn’t sit well with me at all. There’s a story there and I vow to find out what it is.
Gwen shrugs. “I’ve dated. Only one has been what I’d call serious.”
“Since you’re here with me, I’m going to say it didn’t end well. Want to tell me what happened?”
“There’s nothing to say really. I thought he was a great guy. He did everything he could to feed that perception. I discovered he was anything but great—unless it was lying. He’s really,really, good at that.”
“What did he lie about?”
“A better question would be what didn’t he lie about?”
I study her, leaning my head to the side. I see anger simmering on the surface, but her eyes are what give away how much it hurt her. “He hurt you?” My simple question comes out in a growl. The idea of someone harming Gwen fills me with so much anger, I’m having trouble getting control and holding it back.
“Not the way you’re thinking, but there are more ways to hurt a woman than physically, and some can be a lot more scarring,” she says so quietly that the words come out seeped in pain. Then, she gives a self-deprecating chuckle that sounds cold to my ears. “I’m being dumb. Honestly, it’s not a big thing. If anything, it’s just cliché. He cheated on me with the woman I thought was my best friend. I came home early from work and found them together in our bed.”
“I give you my word, honey. I’d never do that shit to you.”
She looks up at me with a smile. “It’s kind of easy to say that, but kind of hard to make someone believe it—especially when we don’t even know one another.”
“Gwen, I stayed with my ex for years knowing it was over, knowing she was fucking other men, and putting up with all her bullshit. Not once did I cheat. If you want proof, the two of us will get in the car right now. I’ll drive you straight to the club, and you can ask Animal if I ever fucked around on Dee. He’ll tell you. I don’t have a damn thing to hide, honey.”
“Animal? How did you guys come up with these names?”
I laugh. “Road names just kind of happen. Storm is our Road Captain. He got his name because I swear every single time we’regoing to get bad weather, he knows. The bastard says he can smell it in the air. I have no idea, but he legitimately knows a week in advance and is more accurate than any weatherman.”
She giggles and surprises me by asking for more. “Tell me about the others.”
“Well, Rocky is our club enforcer. He’s in charge of security and overseeing alliance meetings and that kind of thing,” I explain, skating over Rocky’s more unsavory responsibilities. “Sometimes that requires brute force, and Rocky is built like a tank, so …”
“Rocky as in Sylvester Stallone,” she fills in.
“Yeah,” I admit, loving the grin on her face. It lights up her gorgeous eyes. “Knife works with Rocky on security and shit. He loves to collect knives, so …”
“Well, that one is a little disappointing,” she complains, and I laugh at the cute pout on her face.
“Okay, then, how about Pie?”
“Let me guess, he has a pudgy belly and loves chocolate pie? Or maybe peanut butter?”
“Nope,” I reply, doing my best to hold back my laughter.
“No?”
“He likes pussy. The man has an addiction to it. If he could get away with it, he’d be muff-diving twenty-four-seven.”
“Oh my God,” she whispers, sounding scandalized, looking around to see if anyone is overhearing what we’re talking about. “I can’t believe you said that,” she chastises, her face heated and shiny red as she chokes on a laugh.
“You asked me to tell you,” I point out, enjoying her blush. I’m wondering how easily I can make her blush when she’s in my bed. That’s a game I’m definitely down for.
“I did,” she agrees. “How did Animal get his name?”
“When you piss him off, he literally sounds like a rabid dog snarling,” I tell her.
“I want to hear,” she snickers.
“I can arrange that,” I purr.
“And your name …Horse.”
