CHAPTER SIX
DREAD
The sun has set, and the moon is high in the sky by the time we make it to the compound.
I jerk my chin up at Lid, the slack-jaw prospect manning the gate.
His gaze darts from Honey on the back of my bike to me, a questioning look in his eyes.
He can wonder all he wants. She’s none of his fucking business.
She ticks all my boxes. Smart. Beautiful. And curves that have my hands itching to touch her.
Coasting into my usual space, I climb off my bike and watch as Honey unfastens the helmet. I’d bought the thing for Sarah, hoping one day she’d be the woman on the back of my bike. But seeing it on Honey, I’m starting to realize I’d gotten it for the wrong woman.
Honey catches the look on my face as she hands it to me. “What?”
Grinning, I shake my head. “Nothin’, baby. Just thinking you look good on the back of my bike.” She’d look even better bent over the seat with her jeans around her ankles and that perfect peach-shaped ass out while I pound that pussy. My cock twitches behind my zipper.
Honey’s brows pull together, but there’s a smile on her face. “Thanks? I think?”
I adjust myself in my jeans and clear my throat as I hang the helmet on the handlebars. “Just stating the facts.
“Careful of the pipes.” I dip my head at the danger as I offer her my hand and help her down.
“Holy smokes.” Her eyes are big as she takes in our little slice of heaven. “This place is beautiful.”
I look around, trying to picture the two-story western Saloon that serves as our clubhouse and the private beach from Honey’s perspective.
“This place was a movie prop in the ‘70s. Chief’s old man bought it when it went into foreclosure a few decades ago. He had a thing for those old cowboy movies.” I smile thinking of all the stories Shade, Chief’s grandfather, has told us over the years. “He never changed a single thing.”
Her eyes light up. “Any movies I would know?”
I grin and shake my head. “I doubt it. Mostly low-budget shit.”
“Well. It’s still pretty cool.” She smiles.
“It is.” I look towards the clubhouse door, then back to her. “You ready to go in?”
Honey takes a deep breath and lets it out, like she’s gathering all her courage.
“Ready,” she says, grabbing hold of my hand.
I give it a reassuring squeeze. She doesn’t have anything to worry about. Everyone will love her. And with it being a family night, I don’t have to worry about her seeing anything that might send her running for the hills. She’s definitely not ready for that yet.
With Honey’s hand in mine, I lead her into the clubhouse.
Inside, the place is packed. My brothers are scattered around the room. Some playing pool, some darts. Others are camped out on the big sofa in the TV room.
Cora and the other ol’ ladies have gone all out this year. Christmas decorations cover every surface—lights, tinsel, and a massive tree in the corner that nearly touches the ceiling.
The smell of pine mingles with the scent of beer, weed, and whatever the fuck the women have been cooking all day.
“Wow,” Honey breathes beside me. “You guys really go all out for Christmas.”
I chuckle, pulling her closer to my side. “The ol’ ladies do. We just stay the fuck out of their way.”
Her brow furrows. “Old ladies?”
“Our women. Wives and girlfriends.”
She nods, her eyes still taking in the room. I watch her face, trying to gauge if she’s uncomfortable. But all I see is curiosity and maybe a little excitement.
Good.
I take her over to the bar and motion for the prospect.
Havoc comes over, his green eyes flicking curiously to Honey. “What can I get you?”
“Beer,” I tell him, then look down at Honey. “What do you want, baby?”
She bites her lip. Fuck, I want to do that. “I don’t know. What do you have?”
“Got anything fruity for the lady?” I ask Havoc.
He nods. “We got that White Claw the ol’ ladies like.”
“Perfect,” Honey smiles.
Havoc hands a Corona to me and a White Claw to Honey. I watch as she takes a sip and smiles. “This is good.”
I grin, drop a kiss on her lips, then lick my own, tasting the drink on her lips. “I’ll stick with my beer.”
She smiles, and I decide I want to keep that look on her face.
As I glance around the room, I spot the ol’ ladies sitting at their designated booth by the pool table.
“C’mon.” I put my arm over her shoulders and weave us around people in the room, to the table the ol’ ladies have dubbed theirs for eternity.
The women’s eyes go wide as we approach. I’m sure the last thing they expected was for me to show up with a date. Especially considering I’ve been a miserable fuck the last few weeks over Sarah.
“Ladies,” I nod, pulling Honey closer. “This is Honey. She moved in next door to me yesterday.”
Mac, Rage’s old lady, is the first to recover from her shock. Her blue eyes twinkle with mischief as she shifts the baby in her arms. “Well, hello there. I’m Mac. And this handsome little man is Saint.”
The baby gurgles, drool sliding down his chin.
I watch as Honey’s entire face softens. “Oh my goodness, he’s adorable.”
Mac’s eyes move to me.
Oh boy.
“You guys sure don’t waste time when you see what you want, do ya?”
I roll my eyes, then turn to the Prez’s ol’ lady.
“This is Cora,” I nod to Chief’s fiancée. “That’s Memphis, Killer’s woman. And this is Beck, Cora’s son.”
Cora smiles warmly, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “Sit with us, hon. These boys are about to get into their usual bullshit anyway.”
She’s right. My brothers are already eyeing me from across the room, no doubt ready to give me shit for bringing Honey.
Honey looks up at me, a question in her eyes.
“Go ahead,” I tell her. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
“You sure?” She seems uncertain, and I find it fucking adorable that she doesn’t want to leave my side.
“Yeah, baby. These ladies will take good care of you.”
Memphis pats the seat beside her. “Come on, sit. We don’t bite.” She pauses, a wicked grin spreading across her face. “Unless you’re into that sort of thing.”
Honey laughs, the sound doing strange things to my chest.
“DREAD!” Reign shouts from across the room.
I look over to see him, Morpheus, Zero, Chilly, and Vex standing around a high-top table with beers in their hands. Morph motions me to come over.
“Go on,” Cora says, waving me away. “We’ll keep her company.”
I look at Honey, and she smiles, telling me it’s fine. Then, not giving a fuck that everyone is watching, I press my lips to hers.
Whistles ring out around the room, and I smile against her mouth.
“People are staring, aren’t they?” she whispers.
“Yep.” I pull back and smirk at the crimson hue on her cheeks.
Fuck. She’s too damn cute.
I watch Honey slide into the booth next to Memphis, then head over to where my brothers are waiting.
Once I’m close, Morpheus gives me a playful punch in the shoulder. “So you brought the MILF to the party.”
Reign, Zero, and Chilly laugh.
I look over my shoulder at Honey, smiling and chatting with the ol’ ladies, then turn back to my brothers and shrug.
Vex’s brows snap together. “Neighbor?” He looks over at Honey before turning back to me. “What happened to Mac’s friend you were hung up on?”
I take a sip of my beer, wondering where the fuck he’s been the last few weeks. “Sarah’s with someone else now.”
“So you and the single mom? Never would have guessed it,” Reign says, with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“It’s not like that.” Is it?
“Oh shit,” Morpheus grins. “You like her.”
“Fuck off.”
“No,” Morph insists, setting down his beer and leaning closer. His eyes rake across my face like he’s looking for something, then suddenly his brows shoot up to his hairline. “Oh fuck. You do. You like her—like her.”
“Get the fuck out of here.” I shift my stance as I think about what I know so far about Honey and her kids, which isn’t much. And yet, somehow I just fucking know—
I feel my brows hit my hairline.
Oh, fuck me running.
It hits me like a lightning rod. I do like her. And it’s a hell of a lot more than just wanting to stick my dick in her.
I look over my shoulder to where she’s seated with the ladies. She must feel me staring because she turns and our eyes meet. Her eyes are shining, and a soft smile lights up her face.
Fuck. Me.
MINE.
The word echoes in my head on a loop.
Son of a bitch. I’ve got the hots for my sexy little neighbor.
“Earth to Dread,” Zero waves his hand in front of my face. “You still with us, brother?”
I blink, turning back to them. “Yeah. What?”
The guys exchange a look and bust out laughing.
“What?” I demand.
“Nothing,” Morpheus says, not even trying to hide the smirk on his face.
Bastard.
“I just haven’t seen you look at a woman like that... well, ever.”
“Like what?”
“Like she’s the fucking sun and you’ve been in the dark your whole life,” Chilly says, surprising me with his poetic bullshit.
I roll my eyes. “You’ve been hanging out with Devil too much. Starting to sound like a fucking Hallmark card.”
Chilly just grins and shrugs.
“So,” Morpheus continues. “Tell us about her.”
I take a swig of my beer, thinking about what I learned about her at dinner. “She’s a teacher. Got two boys, which I told you about earlier.”
“And the baby daddy?” Vex asks, his eyes darting over to where Honey sits.
“Some fucking loser who knocked her up when she was sixteen.” I’m still not sure I’m not going to beat his ass for that. The jury’s definitely still out on that one.
“Sixteen?” Zero’s eyes narrow. “How old was he?”
“Twenty-five.” My jaw clenches just saying it.
“Fucking pedo,” Reign spits.
“Yeah,” I agree. “He’s a real piece of fucking work.”
It’s not lost on me that I’m at least ten years older than Honey.
“Where’s he now?” Morpheus asks.
“According to her, he’s moving to Daytona. But he was at her place earlier, picking up the kids for the weekend.”
“You meet him?” Vex’s hand unconsciously moves to the knife he keeps at his hip.
I nod. “Fucking prick called her a whore. Right in front of me.”
Chilly shakes his head. “It’s one thing to hate your baby-momma, but to talk shit on her turf? Naw, dude. That’s just wrong. Especially, with their kids there.”
“Boys didn’t hear, but yeah. I agree.” I take another pull of my beer. “There’s a custody order. She’s worried about losing her kids if she pisses him off too much.”
Morpheus nods thoughtfully. “We could disappear his ass.”
“Always ready to kill someone.” I shake my head.
Morph snorts. “Like you’ve got room to talk.”
“Facts.” Reign adds.
I shrug my shoulders. I mean, only those who need killin’. “She’s been through the wringer.”
“And you’re what? Her knight in shining leather?” Reign smirks.
I flip him off. “Fuck you, Irish.”
He laughs. “Just saying, brother. You barely know this chick, and you’re already jumping to white knight for her.”
“It’s not like that,” I insist, though I’m not sure it isn’t that exactly.
Zero’s eyes suddenly widen. “Oh shit.”
“What?” I ask, turning to follow his gaze.
“Sarah just walked in.”
Motherfucker.
Sure enough, Sarah is standing in the doorway with her new guy. He’s tall and lanky, with dark curly hair and a sweater that probably cost more than my boots. Fucking yuppie.
“You good?” Morpheus asks, his voice low.
I drag my eyes away from Sarah and shrug. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Morpheus doesn’t look convinced.
“Seriously,” I hold his stare. “It’s fine.”
And the weird thing is, I mean it. Looking at Sarah now, I don’t feel the sting I usually do.
Maybe it’s because Honey’s here.
Maybe it’s because I’ve finally accepted that Sarah was never meant to be mine. Either way, I’m not about to let it ruin my night.