9. Zeiden
NINE
zeiden
The loud banging on my door had me bolting upright and the body next to me shrieking in surprise.
“Fuck. What?” I hollered at the door.
“Breakfast. The girls have been up and made a breakfast fit for our little kingdom, so come on out sleeping beauty. And bring this wonder chick that kept you locked away all night.”
I threw a pillow at the door.
“X, you’re a real prick, you know that?”
I heard a chuckle but there was no more pounding on the door.
“Breakfast sounds really good right now,” said Daisy as she stretched, letting the blankets fall around her waist.
Why the fuck was my cock already aching to be inside her again? We needed to give her a damn break. But a man only had so much control, so I leaned into her, kissed her lips, and cupped those fucking perfect breasts.
“You are perfect, my little dove.”
She arched into my touch, but I didn’t go any further.
“Come on and get some breakfast. You need to keep your strength up.” I pulled her into my lap and watched as she winced a bit.
“Sorry. Was I too rough? I really tried to be controlled. I wanted to be gentle.”
She grabbed my face between her hands.
“It was amazing. More than amazing. Like, I didn’t know it would be like that or I would have thrown myself at you the second I saw you. It’s more like, uh, three times? And that piercing. I have to ask. What made you do that?”
The few times that anyone had seen my Jacobs ladder, no one gave two shits why I would have done it other than assuming I was some man whore.
“I don’t just go around fucking everyone I meet, if that’s what you want to know,” I said, and instantly I was trying to remove myself from the bed. But the damn woman shifted herself to straddle my lap and grabbed hold of my shoulders.
“Zeiden, that’s not what I meant. I just… It can’t feel great to have that done. I sure as hell can attest to the fact that it makes sex with you mind blowing, but what goes through a man’s head when he decides to pierce his junk? I can tell you no one I know would ever do it.”
My hands rested against the bare skin of her hips as I contemplated how much of myself to expose. But why lie?
“Control. I did it to prove to myself that I was above the corruption. That I could control my own body. My own pain. My own urges. It takes six months to a year for each piercing to heal, and I’ve done one every few years, proving that I don’t need a woman and I sure as hell don’t fear pain.”
Daisy’s stare was far too intense at that moment, but instead of shying away from her, I welcomed it. I couldn’t define why she undid me and yet cracked my fortress. What was it with her?
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done what I did to you. I have more control than that. There is just something about you. I needed you. I needed to imprint myself on your body so you’d never forget me.”
Fuck. Now I did look away. What the hell was just spilling out of me? This time she was the one tugging at my chin, making me face her.
“Don’t you dare look away from me, Zeiden… Well, what is your last name? It doesn’t matter really. I shouldn’t have trusted you, but something about you speaks to my soul. You fill the emptiness, and that’s damn scary. It’s scary to think that even after everything with my family, something or someone could still break me.”
Break her? “More like break me, little dove. I could have a million more piercings. Hell, I don’t even think getting tats hurts all that much, not compared to the idea of losing you. And what’s fucked about that is that I just met you.”
I pulled her into me, just holding her. Hugging her. When was the last time I’d hugged someone? My mother when she took her last breaths? I’d been maybe five then. No one except maybe Miss Winnie had hugged me since. Sure, X and Cas and I might have hugged it out once in our darkest hours in those early years, but this?
For the very first time in my life, when I breathed in, my lungs seemed to know no limits and they took advantage of filling up with air that smelled of Daisy.
“Come on, Daisy. Let me feed you and let your pussy have a bit of a break. But make no mistake. I won’t be letting you go now. Controlled as I am, I no longer have the ability to let you go.”
The way her arms tightened around my neck as we just sat there in an odd and comfortable silence said it all.
“My father. He’s a dangerous man, Zeiden. I- I don’t want you getting hurt.”
It wasn’t a joke, I was certain of that, but it was no less funny to me.
“Okay. But be aware that I might be more dangerous than he is. Welcome to hell. When he sees me, he’ll question everything he’s ever known. But tell me something. You mentioned your father lost his brother? Specifically through a gang. What gang?”
She sat back so I could see her face again. She seemed to be thinking.
“I think I heard him say something about a snake. Cobra? Rattlesnake? Viper? Is that a snake?”
My hands found calm in tracing little lines over her lower back.
“Viper. The three main gangs are Vipers, Ravens, and Spectors. There are several smaller operations, but for the most part, they have allegiances to one of the main three.”
She looked so innocent right now. How strange that she fell into my arms.
“Right. Okay. Vipers, I guess. I dunno. He doesn’t talk much about it. But he does speak out a lot about gang violence and wanting to stop it.” She lowered her voice a few octaves as if mimicking him when she said, “Take back our city.”
I heard her, but my mind was already looking for patterns. Looking for connections. I could feel the answer, but it still wasn’t clear yet.
“Speaking of my dad. I… well, my uncle’s funeral is in a couple of days. I actually did like him. He was always good to me, not like my dad. Want to come with me?”
“Another dead uncle or is this the one involved with the Vipers?” I asked. Where did this piece fit?
“Another. The last uncle I had, I think. He was a detective. I heard my dad say once that my uncle got on the wrong side of a gang and he wasn’t going to let this slide. I don’t know.”
Detective?
Her stomach rumbled.
“Right. Okay. Well, I think it’s time to get you fed.”
I reached over the side of the bed where I saw one hoodie. I pulled it over her head and watched as her adorable little innocent eyes peeked out from under it as she slipped her arms into the too-long sleeves.
“Wait here,” I said and moved her to sit on the bed next to where I had just been.
I grabbed a pair of shorts from the closet as I headed to the door.
“Zeid, where are you going?”
I held up a finger and opened the door.
“Cali or Rylee, who has an extra pair of shorts or something that my, uh…” What was I supposed to call her? “Friend could borrow?”
I watched as X and Cas watched me from the barstools at the island. Rylee licked her fingers and hopped up.
“I got you. Be right back.”
She was already disappearing into her and Cas’s room. This place wasn’t well stocked. A few things here and there just in case, but for me? I didn’t have just-in-case female clothes because I didn’t have a woman. Until now.
“Here you go, Zeiden. They’re leggings. Sort of one size fits all.” Rylee tried to look over my shoulder but I blocked the door. “Whatever. Just tell her if she needs anything else, I am happy to share.”
I took the leggings and closed the door in Rylee’s smiling face. Fuck, this was going to be hard. I’d never once, and I mean never, had a girl in my place. If I had allowed myself so much as a slip, it was where I could get away and leave things mess free. No attachments. I’d watched too many women be used or use others.
I’d watched what Rylee’s presence had done to Cas over the years.
My first girl? Fuck. How long had it taken me to get over her? You couldn’t be double-crossed if you didn’t let someone in. So what the hell was I doing with Daisy?
I turned around and took in her small frame drowning in my hoodie on the bed.
I had no fucking idea. That’s what I was doing.