“That’s fine. How did you pick your name?”
“What makes you think Zodiac isn’t my real name?”
“Your birth name was Garth, wasn’t it?”
Zodiac chuckled. “Do I look like a redneck?”
“Of course not. It’s not like I said your name was Cletus.”
Zodiac went still and frowned at me. “That’s my birth name.”
“No,” I gasped.
“No,” he said and smiled. “It’s Michael, like my dad and his dad. I had a sister named Michelle and one named Michaela. I didnotcome from creative people.”
“I’m sorry your family sucked,” I whispered and stroked his cheek. “I wish you had a loving mom and dad and lots of cool siblings.”
“Fuck those things. My life is perfect. If I grew up pampered like you did, I wouldn’t have half of what I do now.”
“But you would have been loved better,” I said softly.
“Love is overrated.”
“Are you afraid to love Wilbur?”
“Fear is pointless. I choose to deal with whatever is happening.”
“You will love him, right?”
“Sure.”
“I hope he has your eyes,” I said and closed mine. “And your dick size. Boys with big dicks are more confident.”
Zodiac was so quiet that I opened my eyes. He was frowning at the ceiling. I guess all the baby talk had made him feel weird. Leaving him to work out his foster kid issues, I rolled onto my stomach and stretched out.
My pussy felt beat up like it had survived a tango with an anaconda. The rest of my body was relaxed from my many orgasms. I was a little hungry, but not enough to get up and seek out food.
I thought about Sutter resting for the night back home. I suspected my dad would bunk on the basement couch to keep an eye on his grandkid.
I wished I were home with my people, but I also didn’t want to leave Zodiac’s side. If only I could somehow fit the stubborn bastard into my life, I’d have everything I needed.
ZODIAC
I hadn’t crashed this fucking early since I was a kid. My normal routine was to go to bed just before dawn and get up at noon. I never slept more than necessary to get through the day. I wasn’t someone who lounged in bed.
However, a properly fucked Elle had fallen asleep not long after disengaging from my dick. She collapsed on her belly and didn’t move for so long that I found myself yawning. I figured I might as well sleep when she did since she was bound to wake me up early.
Before crashing, I debated whether to turn off my phone’s sound. I never went silent. I’d interrupt any activity to check my texts—eating, fucking, getting stitches from the club’s doctor.
I studied Elle’s face lit by the moonlight streaming through the window. She was so damn beautiful. Everything about her face and body clicked just right for me. I wanted her to feel safe and comfortable here.
Besides, Elle was carrying my son and needed rest to keep him healthy. That’s why I chose to turn off the phone’s sound.
Hours later, I awoke pissed at the sound of someone knocking at my front door. Yanking on my jeans, I didn’t have time to check my messages. Elle bounced up in bed, resting on her hands and knees like a startled dog.
“Go back to sleep,” I said as I walked out of the room and grabbed a gun.
The security feed revealed York and Ojai outside. I let them in and walked back to my bedroom to shut the door. Elle stared at me like she was still half asleep.
