“Prospects take advantage sometimes,” he replied simply.
“So, they’re good for business,” I mumbled.
Gunner chuckled. “She’s quick.”
Maddox shot him a glare as he gave me a squeeze of reassurance. “Don’t worry about them. Let’s just enjoy our night, yeah?”
I brushed off the feeling of dread in my belly and nodded. “Yeah,” I agreed.
Chapter 17
MADDOX
“She looks like she’s having fun,” Gunner noted, his eyes on Francesca as she talked to Wren and Emmie.
“Yep.” I nodded tensely. Gun was one of my best friends but even having his eyes on her didn’t sit right.
“You got rid of the cherries,” he noted dryly.
“They were being disrespectful to Francesca,” I replied, anger darkening my tone. The look Stephanie had been giving her was still burned in my brain. I’d not only kicked her out for the night, I’d banned her from the club for good. No one treated my woman that way.
“Then I’m glad they’re gone.” He shrugged, taking a sip of his beer. “Not like I dip my dick there anyway. She doing all right?” he asked.
My gaze remained locked on my girl, her gorgeous grin lighting up the room as she laughed at something Emmie said. “She still has nightmares. I know with everything that happened, it'll haunt her, but yeah, I think she’s better. It’s gonna take time.”
The last few days with her had been close to perfect. The only thing that would make things better would be when I could get inside her. I hoped like hell that would be happening really fucking soon.
“Have you told her?”
My body tensed at his words. He was the only one who knew the circumstances of how I’d met Francesca. “No.”
“Man.” The warning was clear in his tone.
“She barely trusts me as it is, Gun. I’m not gonna go and make that worse,” I argued.
He slapped me on the back. “It’s your call, brother. I think you know how I feel about it.”
I nodded, watching him recede into the crowd. I knew his opinion. Hell, I even knew he was right. I still wasn’t going to listen. Not now, not yet. I needed Francesca to trust me. I needed her to love me as insanely as I loved her. Then I’d tell her.
I saw her yawn, trying to cover it up as she continued to watch my sister and our friends. My gut warmed at the sight of her enjoying my family and the club, but it was time to get my girl home.
“Ready, baby?” I asked her, drawing up beside her and pulling her close.
She pouted adorably. “But I’m having fun.”
I grinned. “I’m glad. But it’s late and you still need your rest.”
“Let’s get together this week,” Gracie put in. “You can come by the house. “
“We’ll have dinner or something,” Emmie said. Gracie and Em had been roommates for years and had a place not far from mine.
“That sounds good,” Francesca agreed, sliding her hand into mine. “I don’t have a phone yet, so I guess just talk to Mad.”
“We’ll get you one this week,” I assured her. “But if you’re out of my sight, you’re gonna have eyes on you,” I warned her. There was no way she’d be going anywhere without protection.
She nodded in understanding, waving goodbye to the girls as I shot a two-finger salute to my crew and led her out to my bike.
She wrapped her arms around me as I started the engine, my now ever-present hard-on making me grit my teeth. She had no idea the effect she had on me. Just knowing she was nearby had my blood heating, my cock hardening. I’d never wanted a woman the way I did her. And the thing of it was, I wanted her but I also genuinely liked being with her. It was natural in a way I hadn’t experienced before. It was as though she was meant to be in my life. And I wanted her there permanently. It was fast, but I was damn sure.
