Wolf: SBMC Maryland, стр. 21

“Even when you’re alone?” I raise an eyebrow. I want him to say the wrong thing so I can tell him to fuck off.

“Especially then, sweetheart. I got this, I promise,” Denton, the prospect reassures me once more. Hands land on my waist, pulling me back into a solid body. I immediately know it’s Wolf.

“Let the man do his job. He knows what he’s doin’. We’ve all got pictures of Tom so we know who to watch out for. Anything that doesn’t sit right with Denton, he will call us,” he says softly, his breath tickling my skin. I’m nervous. I’m on edge. I don’t like not being there. I want to be there, to see her, to watch her, to protect her. I can’t do this.

“I need to go. I need to see her,” I say trying to pull out of his arms. He doesn’t let me, not that I thought he would.

“She’s gonna be fine. We need to talk anyway.”

“One thing and you call?” I ask looking back up at Denton. He nods his head and places his hand over his heart like that makes me feel any better. I sigh and nod my head, letting my body relax into Wolf’s hold.

“Get over there then. Gator will be up there in the mornin’ to relieve you,” Sly adds as I watch the man walk away. My stomach is in knots. I don’t like this at all.

“Are you sur-“

“He’s got this,” Sly cuts me off, looking back over at me. I nod my head and see the sincerity in his eyes.

“Come on. We’re orderin’ in,” Gauge says as he leads us all inside. Wolf doesn’t stop in the main room like the rest of them. He walks us down the hall toward his room before he nudges me inside. When the door clicks behind us, I lose it. Spinning around, I swing at him. My fist collides with his jaw, his head snapping to the side. I almost regret doing it but who the hell does he think he is?

“I’m only gonna warn you once, sweetheart. You hit me again, I will hit back.”

“Thought you didn’t hit women?” I ask taunting him.

“Things change,” he hisses as he wipes the blood from his lip.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Why not? You need help and I like you. Seems like a win win to me,” he says shrugging his shoulders and grabbing his cigarettes. He offers me one which I take before he steps into my space and lights it before his.

“You don’t risk your friends for someone you like,” I state the obvious.

“They aren’t friends. They’re family. My brothers and they would do anything for me, just like I would them.” Something swells in my chest. Maybe it’s because he has people to lean on and I don’t. I don’t know what it is, but I love that he has them. I run my hand through my hair, tugging at the tangles when he turns and sits on the bed. He doesn’t speak, just sits there smoking.

“I like it,” I say softly.

“Like what?”

“That you guys all have each other’s backs.”

“We got yours now too,” he says surely.

“At what cost?” Wolf chuckles and motions for me to come sit next to him. I walk over and slowly sit when he turns to face me.

“I don’t know the answer to that, Krista. I’m in a world of shit right now. I claimed you and there ain’t no turnin’ back on that. You belong to me, but I know you don’t want that. You got your freedom; I’ll give you that much.” Yeah, that really cleared it all up. Not. I’m still as confused as ever.

“I don’t get it. I have my freedom, but I belong to you? That doesn’t make any kind of sense.”

“It does. You’re mine. You belong to me.”

“Like your girlfriend?” He shakes his head slowly.

“We don’t just have girlfriends, Krista.”

“Then what? Like your wife? I’m not marrying you, you idiot! What the hell, Wolf?” I stand from the bed quickly, bringing my cigarette back to my lips as he laughs.

“Doesn’t matter if we’re married. In the eyes of this club, that’s basically what they see when I claimed you.” Smoke billows out of his mouth as he stares at me uncaring of what any of this means.

“This is stupid. Go tell them no. Tell them I said no!”

“Can’t do that.”

“Oh for Christ’s sake! So what? Now I have to do what you say? That isn’t happening,” I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest. Wolf shoves off the bed and stalks toward me, taking my cigarette from between my lips.

“I just said I am givin’ you your freedom. You will live here, eat here, sleep here. Whatever else you wanna do is up to you.” He moves past me, placing the cigarettes in the ashtray. When I spin to face him, he grabs me and pulls me into his arms. His lips are close to mine, the scent of tobacco on his breath.

“I’m not living here.”

“Yeah, you are. If Tom finds you, do you think he won’t try and hurt you?”

“I know he would,” I say breathlessly. This man, this long haired tatted up man is slowly making me lose my senses.

“Then it’s settled. I won’t touch you if you don’t want me to,” he says keeping his eyes on my lips. Do I want him to? Without overthinking it, I lean into him and kiss him first. Explosions rocket through my body. Being with Wolf is like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It doesn’t matter that we don’t know each other well. All that matters is what I feel when I’m with him. He walks us backwards toward the bed, my heart pounding in my chest. The feel of his hands as they slide under my shirt cause me to moan. He groans right back but as soon as my legs hit the bed, the door flies open.

“Wolf!”