Astrid Chapter
Astrid:
My stomach was tied in knots. For the hundredth time, I asked myself why I let Haven talk me into coming to the Punishers’ compound to spend the day.
She lured me there with promises of swimming and a relaxing cookout.
Even if it was only the first weekend of June, the weather had been unseasonably hot already.
The thought of a refreshing swim sounded amazing.
Plus, I enjoyed spending time with Haven.
We’d been texting and talking daily on the phone since Tuesday’s dinner.
We’d laughed and talked about how Georgia acted toward Mayhem.
Haven thought the waitress’s behavior was bold.
However, when she snickered and said that it wasn’t unusual for women to throw themselves like that and worse at the guys, I wanted to cry.
If women were always acting like that, how did a man resist?
Although the way Tinker acted around Haven, I wasn’t sure if he even knew other women existed. His love for her was evident.
I agreed to come not only because Haven asked, but also because I wanted to spend time with her.
The other reason was that I hoped to get to know the other old ladies better.
Haven assured me that they were a fantastic bunch of women and welcomed new friends.
I was tired of not having friends. The ones I had in the Navy were off doing their duty and didn’t have time for me.
I understood that their lives were busy, and it was often the case that when you left a duty station, friendships formed there would fade away.
Driving up to the gate of the Iron Punishers’ compound, I recalled the other time I’d been here.
The day I prevented that bastard Rick from raping Haven.
I hoped he was in the fires of hell, reaping what he sowed, and that he suffered before he went.
No one confirmed that the club had killed him, but I read between the lines and had no qualms about what they did.
I rolled down my window and pressed a button on a post. It was set up to resemble what you’d see at a gated community.
Either you entered a code or used the button to have someone let you inside.
The tall block wall surrounding it shouted security.
If that wasn’t enough, the razor wire along the top did.
Many people might be intimidated by it, but to me, it reminded me of being on a base.
As crazy as it was, it comforted me and shouted home to me.
“Come on in,” a male voice said through the speaker.
I didn’t even have to say a word. Glancing at the box, I noticed a camera inside.
Clearly, someone had seen me and knew I was expected.
I waited until the gate opened far enough to allow my car through.
When I got past it, I didn’t have far to go.
The first building on the right was the large one they called their clubhouse.
Off to the right of it and slightly forward was the swimming pool and a children’s playground.
Outside the clubhouse, there were several motorcycles.
I chose to park down from the last one in the line.
If they wanted me to move it, I would. Haven had said to come here and she’d meet me there.
Before getting out of the car, I sent off a quick text to let her know I had arrived. Her response came within moments.
Me: I’m here.
Haven: Good. Go inside the clubhouse. I’ll be there in five minutes or less. You’ll see me coming.
Me: Take your time.
Haven: (thumbs up).
I took my time getting out of the car. Opening the door to the backseat, I was bent over, pulling out the box I brought with me, when a deep voice caused me to jump. I bumped my head on the ceiling of the car. Twisting around, I found myself staring into Mayhem’s blue eyes.
“Are you alright? I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said.
As he spoke, his hands came out, and he wrapped them around my arms, gently tugging me toward him. Not knowing what else to do, I allowed him to move me. I straightened. I sucked in my breath when one hand came up to rub the top of my head.
“Does it hurt?” Mayhem asked.
“I, uhm, no, I’m fine,” I finally muttered after I gathered my addled thoughts to realize what he was asking. Get a hold of yourself, Astrid. He’s just a man. Quit acting like an idiot, I chided myself.
“Here, move back and I’ll get that for you,” he said as he steered me to the side.
When Mayhem bent to get the box, I was treated to a close-up view of his ass in jeans that molded his lower body to perfection.
My mouth watered, and I had to fight not to reach out and squeeze his ass cheek.
A man having an ass like that should be a crime.
Somehow, I was able to keep my tongue in my mouth, and I hoped to maintain a calm expression by the time he straightened with the box.
“Thank you, but I can carry that. You have better things to do than tote my stuff around,” I said, stretching my arms out to take the box.
“Carrying this for you is the priority for me. From the smell of it, this goes in the kitchen. It smells delicious. I hope you know, you didn’t need to bring anything, but whatever you brought, I’m eating.
Did you make it?” He pushed the door of the car shut with his hip. I had no choice but to follow him.
“I did. Haven said not to worry. There would be plenty of food. And I know Annie is the queen of cooking along with her husband, Gareth, but I felt weird coming empty-handed. It’s nothing fancy.
Spicy cowboy beans, corn bread, and since that ice cream the other night, I’ve been craving pineapple constantly. I made a pineapple pudding cake.”
“Damn, let’s forget taking this inside. If we veer off to the left and keep going, we’ll get to my house. Let’s just hide this here, and we can feast on this alone. No one needs to know you ever brought anything,” he teased.
I laughed, but he shook his head and glanced over at me, frowning. “Don’t laugh at me, woman. I’m serious. You don’t know how these animals are. They’ll lap it up in seconds. And if I don’t get to have some of everything, I’ll have to bust some heads.”
I laughed harder as we entered the clubhouse.
Mayhem did allow me to get the door for him.
Opening it, the wave of voices washed over us.
As we entered, I was greeted by some of the club.
I’d met all of them before, but I was still trying to place names to faces as hellos and welcomes were yelled out.
I smiled and waved at them. Mayhem kept walking, so I followed him.
As he passed people, necks craned to see inside the box.
One guy stepped into Mayhem’s path and looked into the box. “Whatcha got there, Mayhem?” he asked.
“Nonya,” Mayhem immediately replied.
It was one of the twins. I couldn’t see the name on his cut to know if it was Romulus or Remus. Whichever one it was, he frowned. “Nonya?”
“Yeah, as in none of your business. Nonya for short. This is mine. Don’t get any ideas, Remus. I won’t be sharing. Astrid brought this for me.”
Remus gave him an astonished look. “What do you mean it’s all for you? Man, let me see what’s in there. It smells great.” His hand came up to the edge of the box. Suddenly, Mayhem slapped his brother’s hand, causing Remus to jerk back.
“I said no. I know how you animals are. You’ll lap it up, and I won’t get any. If you behave, I might let some of you have a bite, but that’s a maybe. I’d better not catch you sneaking into this.”
I chuckled. “Mayhem, you’re being ridiculous. How do you even know it’s any good? You’re defending stuff that may taste like crap.”
“I know it is because you made it. Nothing made by those hands could be terrible. And they’ll have plenty of other stuff to eat. I told you we should’ve taken this to my house,” he grumbled.
His attitude drew more of his brothers to crowd around us.
They tried to take the box away from him and engaged in a lively debate about ownership.
Mayhem claimed that since it was in his hands, the nine-tenths ownership rule applied.
They had me laughing so hard at their antics that I had tears in my eyes.
I caught the wink Mayhem sent my way when the guys weren’t looking. He was enjoying riling them up.
I had no idea how long it would’ve lasted if Haven, Annie, and Troian hadn’t walked up. Haven put her arm around me and gave me a squeeze and a smile of welcome. The other two women smiled at me.
“What are you guys doing? Trying to scare Astrid off?” Annie chided.
“No, I’m trying to defend the food she brought. It’s mine and these ingrates are trying to take it,” Mayhem explained.
“You didn’t need to bring anything,” Haven said.
“I know, but it didn’t feel right. I told Mayhem to share, but that he might be defending something awful. I know Annie and her husband are professional cooks, so I hope it’s edible.”
“Okay, I’m putting an end to that worry. Get me a spoon or fork. I’m tasting it all,” Mayhem said.
His brothers gave him a hard time. By then, we’d made it to the bar.
He set the box down, and out of nowhere, someone produced a spoon.
Mayhem dove into the box, bringing out each item and putting them on the bar top.
When they were laid out, he opened the corners of them.
I held my breath as he took a bite of the beans.
He chewed for a moment, then groaned. Without a word, he took a second bite of them and then a piece of corn bread. His eyes closed.
I was taking this as a good sign. When he got to the cake, Mayhem slowly raised it to his mouth.
He was staring at me as he did. Mayhem was eating, but the move came across as sexual, and I wanted his mouth to be closing around something on my body, not a spoonful of cake.
His moan and the way he licked his lips made my panties damp. His smile heated my blood.
“It’s great, isn’t it?” Remus prodded.