Page 13 of Ashes’ Addiction

“No. Not now.” She looked at the bag on the bed and wondered what he’d brought her. She wondered if she’d angered the other woman by freaking out earlier. Not the screaming, but when she’d shut down while the other woman tried to talk to her.

Inside the bag she found a couple pair of leggings, a few t-shirts, as well as a brand-new package of panties. They weren’t the style she would have chosen, but they were the right size, and at this point she didn’t care. Everything Sparrow had gotten her earlier was so big she felt like it was going to fall off her at any moment. Nothing had, at least not yet, but she had been more than grateful the sweatpants he’d gotten her had a drawstring at the waist.

“I’ll wait if you want to change,” Ashes said motioning to the bag. “If you’re good the way you are, we can head down now.” He didn’t seem to care that all she wore was his t-shirt and undies which felt like they would fall off at any moment.

“I’ll be right out.” She took the entire bag with her as she turned and retreated back into the restroom.

Chapter Thirteen

Ashes kept an eye on Miranda. She’d seemed all right when they’d come down for dinner and nothing changed, even though there had been an almost steady stream of people stopping by their table. There had been no sign of her withdrawing into herself or that she was overwhelmed. He had to wonder what had triggered her before. Not that he would ask, at least not now.

By the time they finished eating, most of his brothers had come by to at least meet her. That was something he’d let Bulldog know needed to happen, and sooner rather than later, when he’d left Miranda in the room to borrow clothes from Winter. Winter was the one person who had noticeably kept her distance, at least it was noticeable to Ashes.

He looked at Miranda, watching her and thinking how pretty she was. Not that pretty was more than the surface, but she looked far better than the filthy waif he’d found this morning. She had healthy color in her cheeks and while she appeared wary, she didn’t look or act like she was afraid of them.

“What?” she asked, noticing he was watching her. She looked down at herself as if trying to figure out what was wrong that had drawn his attention.

“Nothing, just thinking. Are you okay? You want something to drink?” He motioned toward the bar. “You done and ready to call it a night?”

She eyed the bar. “Do they have a blender back there?” Her gaze never left the bar area.

“I don’t know.” Ashes frowned. He twisted around, caught Billy’s attention, and waved him to approach.

“What can I do for you?” the prospect asked as he got near.

“Is there a blender back there?” Ashes motioned toward the bar area.

“I think so.” Billy tilted his head to one side. “Fuck it. Let me go check. What do you want if there is one?” He looked at Miranda.

“A strawberry margarita,” she said.

“Salt or sugar on the rim?”

“Salt.”

“And if there’s no blender, what can I get you?”

She wrinkled her nose and pushed her puckered lips off to one side as she thought about it. “I don’t know, how about I tell you I like cherry and lime and I’m not huge on tasting the liquor. Can you make me something from that?”

Billy sent her a wink. “I can work with that. Give me a hot minute and I’ll be back with something for you.” Ashes scowled after him as he left. What the hell did the prospect think he was doing, flirting with his woman like that?

His woman. Where the fuck had that thought come from? He turned back to Miranda and watched her for a moment. Despite everything she’d been through, she seemed surprisingly comfortable here. Around men who didn’t fit into normal society, well, some of them probably could, if they tried. But the real kicker was they didn’t want to, and that not fitting in with the corporate drones, the millions with dead souls who got up every morning and went through their routine and never missed what they didn’t have—that was the difference between the Sons and the rest of the world. They didn’t care. It wasn’t a world where everyone fit, but so far, it looked like Miranda fit in just fine.

Before Billy came back with Miranda’s drink, Winter appeared beside their table, a laptop tucked under her arm.

“Ashes said you need clothes. I can get some things for you, but I thought you might like to pick them out,” Winter said. “We can take that table and do a little shopping. You’ll be able to see everyone, including Ashes. What do you say?”

“I-I don’t know. I don’t know if I should.” Miranda turned wide eyes to Ashes. “I don’t have any money.”

“Don’t worry about that, she’s got my card.” Ashes gave her a gentle smile.

Miranda shook her head. “I don’t know how long I’ll be here. I don’t want to order something then be gone when it arrives.” She lowered her gaze to the table.

“Tiny Warrior?” he spoke softly, then waited for Miranda to look up. “We’re not going to kick you out. You need something to wear. Go order clothes. If things change and you’re not here when they arrive, we’ll get them to you.”

She stared at him for a moment, then opened her mouth. Ashes held up one hand to stop her. “If you say anything about paying me back, you and I are going to have words. Just accept it.”

She watched him a little longer, then nodded. “When my drink gets here—”