Wizard (Hounds of Hellfire MC #4)

Chapter 6

6

THEA

I should have protested more, but something about Baylor being all growly and possessive made me more agreeable than I should have been. Probably because it made him even sexier than usual. Which was saying a lot since he was the hottest guy I’d ever met, and I’d been around many male cover models that readers swooned over.

And if that wasn’t enough to sway me, the swarm of butterflies in my belly at being told we were happening would’ve gotten me to agree.

As he backed his truck out of my driveway, I grumbled, “Maybe I was wrong.”

“About what?”

I crossed my arms over my chest with a huff. “I thought that you reading my books was a really good thing…until you acted like one of my heroes, right down to what he’d say in a situation like this.”

“You tellin' me that I’m better than the book boyfriends you write?” he asked, smirking.

I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t say better .”

“Mm-hmm,” he hummed, the earlier tension gone from his muscular frame.

“Ugh, you’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” I muttered. “Even though it is not at all what I said.”

“But it’s what I heard,” he teased.

I tore my gaze away from the flexing of his forearms as he gripped the steering wheel, mentally cursing the fact that I found it so distracting. “You’re awfully happy for a guy who was incredibly pissed off only ten minutes ago.”

“Got every reason to be thrilled as fuck right now, baby.” He dropped his hand to my thigh and gave it a comforting squeeze. “Gonna have you nearby around the clock, just like I’ve wanted for the past month.”

“Except I still have a serious problem—my stalker,” I reminded him.

“Like I told you, the club will take care of him. You don’t need to worry about it anymore.”

I had no doubt that he meant what he said. Violet had been deliberately vague about how she and Echo had met, but she’d let it slip once that he had been in her building to look into her creepy neighbor. Since that guy had disappeared, I could only assume that my friend had been right about her impression of him. And that the Hounds of Hellfire had taken care of the situation, whatever it was.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Baylor had left his hand on my thigh, so he gave it another squeeze. “You have no need to thank me, baby. I’m the kind of man who takes care of what’s his. And you are most definitely mine.”

I barely resisted pressing my thighs together to ease the ache in my core, only because with his hand where it was, he’d know exactly what I was trying to do. “Seriously, you need to stop it with those one-liners that would make perfect teasers for my books.”

He winked at me with a deep chuckle. “Can’t help it if I’m one of your heroes come to life. And even if I could, I wouldn’t.”

“How come?”

“It took a lot of effort to get you to agree to our first date. So I’m gonna take every advantage I can get when it comes to you, baby,” he explained, his dark eyes turning serious.

“There is just going to be no resisting you if you insist on keeping that up,” I mumbled, turning to stare out the passenger side window for the rest of the drive. The last thing I wanted was to arrive at the Hounds of Hellfire clubhouse for the first time with drenched panties.

He laughed again at my reaction but didn’t say anything else until we pulled through the gates of the compound and parked.

While Baylor got my suitcase out of the back of the extended cab, I climbed out of the passenger seat. Glaring at me after he rounded the truck, he growled, “Next time, wait for me. I’ll get your door.”

That confirmed it. He was like my biker kryptonite, impossible to resist. I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be long before I didn’t have to worry about being a virgin romance author anymore. Not when I wanted to throw myself at Baylor every time he said something like that. Which was often.

“Will do.”

I was very aware of the heat of his palm on my lower back as he led me inside the clubhouse. My gaze scanned the space, my lips curving into a grin when I realized it looked similar enough to the ones I had read—and written—about to feel comfortable to me. Then I spotted Violet and Echo at the far end of the bar, and their familiar faces eased my remaining nervousness.

Violet rushed over, her eyes filled with concern. Assuming her distress was twofold, I assured, “Don’t worry. I’m not mad that you told Echo what’s going on. And Baylor said he’ll take care of my stalker, so there’s no need to be freaked out. He’s only known about the guy for like half an hour and already knows more than I do about the situation. He’s got it under control.”

“I’m sure he does,” Echo agreed, wrapping his arm around Violet’s shoulders.

Baylor mimicked his club brother’s action, tugging me against his side. “Damn straight.”

Violet rolled her eyes. “Want me to show you around while Wizard takes your stuff to his room?”

My breath caught in my throat at the realization that I wouldn’t just be staying at the clubhouse while Baylor dealt with my stalker. I’d be sleeping in his room. With him, most likely.

Nodding, I murmured, “Um…yeah, that would be great.”

“I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” Hefting my suitcase higher, he added, “It’s been a while since we polished off those burgers. Need some fuel while I dig into this problem.”

Violet crooked her arm through mine. “You have perfect timing. Ink made his mama’s famous sauce and homemade pasta.”

“Guess I’m treating you to your favorite meal sooner than we planned, baby.” Baylor winked at me before walking away.

“Aw, you forgot to tell me that your second date was going to be Italian.” Violet led me past the row of stools lining the bar and through a door that led to a huge kitchen. Several guys were seated at the tables but only two women, who both stood and hurried over to us.

“You must be Thea. I’m Courtney, Blaze’s old lady,” the one with black hair said as the guy she’d been sitting next to gave me a chin lift.

“And I’m Stella,” the honey blonde added, jerking her thumb toward the other guy with dark hair. “King’s old lady.”

“Nice to meet you both,” I replied, wondering how they already knew who I was.

By the time Violet and Echo finished introducing me to the other Hounds in the kitchen—Ink, Ace, Kevlar, and Edge—Baylor joined us.

“You need us?” King asked him.

“After I take care of my woman,” he replied.

Their byplay was brief and cryptic, but it was just enough for me to guess that his club president had already heard about my stalker. Although I was tempted to ask about it, I remembered what he’d told me about club business and always being honest with me. If I was going to be in a relationship with Baylor, I needed to fit into his world. Which meant trusting him to tell me what I needed to know…and that anything he kept secret wouldn’t hurt me. So I kept my questions to myself while we enjoyed the best spaghetti I’d ever tasted.

“Thanks, Ink. That was delicious.”

He waved off my gratitude. “Glad you enjoyed it, but the compliments really should go to my mamma . I just used her recipe.”

“C’mon, baby.” Baylor tugged me away from his club brother. “Gotta get you up to my room before I meet with the prez.”

Since I was curious about his room, I didn’t argue. When we got there, I was a little surprised by what I found. “No wall of monitors for when you do your tech stuff?”

“Not in here,” he said as he closed the door behind us.

My suitcase was next to the open closet door, and there was another that was closed. “En suite bathroom?”

“Yup, one of the perks of needing to be around twenty-four seven sometimes. I don’t have to share a shower with any of the other guys.”

“Nice.” I pointed at the small fridge, sink, and stovetop. “You even have a kitchenette.”

He patted his abs. “Gotta have fuel nearby to keep me going.”

“Makes sense.”

He strode over to the closet and grabbed a big T-shirt that he handed to me. “My club business shouldn’t take too long. Go ahead and get ready for bed. You can wear this.”

“Bed?” I echoed, my brows drawing together. “It’s only eight.”

“You had a big day, baby. I bet you’re more tired than you realize.”

Thinking about the high of having my first date with him and the low of finding that note in the flowers on my doorstep, I had to agree. “You’re probably right.”

“I usually am,” he murmured before giving me a quick kiss and walking out the door, locking it behind him.