Chapter 18 - Zombie
ZOMBIE
The moment I woke up this morning, I had one job: Follow up with Morris Baker to ensure that he was meeting with Michael Martin tonight.
Not only was their meeting important because it would keep Michael occupied, but it would also prove Baker’s loyalty to the Kings.
Clearly, I failed at said job since I’m staring at a very pissed off Martin.
“I should’ve known you were behind the last-minute request for a meeting,” Martin says, his tone filled with barely contained rage. “Particularly since the last time the man and I spoke, he was out of the country and unsure when he’d return.”
“I warned you what would happen if you continued with the sale.”
His eyes flash with anger, and he opens his mouth to argue, but Lucy beats him to it as she shoves me again. This time, I move enough for her to interact with the man.
“Why are you here, Michael?” she asks.
There’s no mistaking the rigid set of his shoulders as he smiles. “For our date, of course.” His tone is about a thousand times more friendly toward her than it was with me, but I still hear his aggravation.
“I distinctly remember telling you no when you asked me out,” she says calmly.
“You did,” he says, confirming that he recalls their conversation in the zoo parking lot. “But we both know you only said no because Zombie was there. That’s why I sent the flowers, to let you know that I understood.”
I don’t bother to hide my snort of derision. “You’re delusional.”
“And you’re a felon who can’t be the man a woman like Lucy needs,” he counters, his control slipping, and his gaze never leaving her face. “Isn’t that right, darling?”
Darling?
Lucy, God bless her soul, laughs outright. “Michael, I’m not your darling, and I said no to a date because I’m not interested in you like that. Now, please respect that and leave.”
I fully expect him to argue with her, to try and convince her to change her mind, but he doesn’t. No, instead, his fake smile widens. It doesn’t reach his eyes, though, and my muscles tense to an almost painful degree when I recognize the rage he’s trying so hard to hide.
“I’ll respect your decision,” he assures her. “I apologize for the misunderstanding.”
Without another word, he turns on his heel and makes his way to the limo parked at the curb. When Lucy makes no move to close the door, I do it for her and engage the deadbolt.
“I’d completely forgotten about the flowers,” she admits. “Tossed them in the trash the next day and put the whole thing out of my mind.”
Lucy tips her head back to look me in the eyes, and I hate that the green depths seem duller than they were before Martin showed up.
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“No?” She turns and heads toward the couch, but I stop her before she can sit.
“No.” Threading my fingers through hers, I lead her to her bedroom.
“I’m the one who put the moves on him, Zombie,” she says. “It’s my fault that he thinks I wan—”
“Shut up,” I snap, but there’s no heat in my tone.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I don’t care if the two of you fucked every day for months.
You told him you didn’t want to go on a date, and that’s all that matters.
One yes or twenty doesn’t lessen your ability or take away your right to say ‘no’ whenever you want.
No means no whether you’re talking about sex or a date or, hell, even a peck on the cheek. It’s that simple.”
A ghost of a smile tugs at her lips, and my heart swells.
Dammit, I’m gone for this woman.
“Still, I should’ve at least text or called him after I got the flowers and reinforced the fact that I’m not interested in him like that.”
“Like that?” I ask.
“Well, he is one of the top donors at the zoo. His money and what it can do for my animals is of great interest to me. I know that sounds cold, but it’s the truth.”
“Doesn’t sound cold,” I say. “Sounds like what it is… business.” Moving to her closet, I open the door and begin to go through her clothes. “Now, whaddya say we get the fuck outta here?”
“I say yes.” Lucy gets to her feet and moves to stand next to me. “What are you looking for? I’m already dressed.”
I glance at her, letting my gaze soak up the way her leggings hug her curves, the way her hoodie hides the perfection I know is beneath the material. “You are dressed,” I stupidly confirm.
“Then what are you looking for?”
“I’ll know it when I see it.”
Returning my attention to her wardrobe, I scan each article of clothing, one by one. When I see a long-sleeved black top with an exposed back, I hand it to her. “Go put this and a pair of jeans on.”
“Why can’t I wear what I have on?” she asks with a frown.
“I’ll make you a deal,” I begin. “After you change, if you want to put your comfy clothes back on, you can.”
“That makes no sense,” she quips, but she grabs a pair of jeans and red lace thong with a matching bra from her dresser and carries those and the top to the bathroom. “Care to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope.”
“You’re not having me get all dolled up so you can take me out to the middle of nowhere and bludgeon me to death, are you?”
“What?” I snap, quickly joining her in the bathroom. My mouth goes bone dry at her reflection in the mirror as she slides the bra straps up her arms. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.”
“So, no bludgeoning?”
I close the distance between us and inhale her intoxicating scent as she pulls the bra into place.
Next, she sheds her leggings, and I grab the thong from the counter before she can.
“Definitely no bludgeoning,” I say, and I drag the panties up her legs, letting my fingers trail along her skin softly.
Lucy whimpers when I graze her ass cheeks. “Are you sure we have to leave?”
“Yes, but if you’re good, we can end the night at the zoo.” I smack her ass. “Now, finish up before I change my mind and fuck you from behind right here.”
Without waiting for a response, I turn and leave her to do as she’s told. Don’t get me wrong, I want her like I want my next breath, but good things come to those who wait.
Ten minutes later, she steps out of the bathroom, and my already hard dick jerks in my jeans, begging to be freed.
Goddamn, the things she does to me. Her hair is curled in loose waves and hangs past her shoulders, and her makeup is understated yet sexy as hell.
The shirt drapes off her shoulder, exposing the red bra strap, and her jeans are tight in all the right places.
“Turn around,” I demand.
Lucy does, and my knees threaten to buckle.
The racerback of her bra is an intricate lace, and the shirt swoops all the way down to the waistband of her jeans.
Her skin is smooth, and a tattoo I didn’t notice before graces her shoulder blade.
I trace the ink, and goosebumps break out across her back.
“A pair of lungs probably seems silly to you,” she says quietly.
“What do they mean?” I ask.
“They symbolize life and death.” Lucy shrugs. “I’ve always been an adrenaline junkie, and I love to be in dangerous situations so I can feel that rush, but I’m not so naive that I don’t understand that those same dangerous situations can be fatal.”
“That’s not silly.”
“There’s also what I do for a living,” she continues. “Sometimes, the animal’s lives depend on me. Their trust in me can be the difference between life and death.”
“I repeat, not silly.” I place a kiss on her bare shoulder. “It’s beautiful.”
Lucy spins to face me. “You think so?”
“I do.”
She grins, and I swear the room lights up. After taking a deep breath, she asks, “So, should we go?”
I chuckle. “Yeah. Get some shoes, and we’ll get outta here.”
“We flying somewhere?”
I help Lucy out of her truck and close the passenger door.
I really wanted to get her on the back of my bike, but she chose a pair of strappy red heels to wear.
It took some convincing, but I managed to get her to hand over her keys, and now we’re standing outside the clubhouse.
Of course, I drove in through the back gate, so to her it just looks like an airport.
“No,” I reply. “We’re at the clubhouse.”
She jerks her gaze to mine excitedly. “The clubhouse? As in, I’m going to meet your brothers?”
I grin. “Yeah, babydoll. That okay?”
“I didn’t… You always…” She shakes her head and sighs. “Yeah, it’s okay.”
“You didn’t and I always what?” I prod.
“I didn’t see this coming. You always come to me.” Lucy bites her bottom lip for a moment as if she has more to say, and the action is adorable, although I’m not a fan of her obvious discomfort.
“Spit it out,” I encourage.
“It’s just… You said all the right things earlier, but I guess I wasn’t sure if you meant them. I mean, I didn’t know if you’d really let me in.”
I tug her into my chest and wrap my arms around her. “You’re mine, Lucy. And I’m yours, but I’m a package deal. I want you to be in my life, all aspects of my life.” She nods against me, and I pull back to kiss her forehead. “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
We enter the clubhouse through an entrance that only patched members have the access code to, and Lucy immediately darts her gaze around the space. I try to see my home through her eyes and realize that an airport hangar isn’t exactly a welcoming environment.
“It gets better, I promise.”
“Better? This is awesome!”
The wing we’re walking through is where the suites for the officers are located, and I point out my room as we pass it.
Music filters through from the common room, and nerves plague me the closer we get.
All I can think is that I hope she likes everyone.
I know they’ll love her, but my brothers and our lifestyle can be a bit much for an outsider.
“Wow,” she breathes when we enter the common room. “I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, my defenses rising.
“For starters, it’s huge,” she replies. “Like elephant enclosure huge.” I laugh at her description, and she gasps as she points toward the far corner. “Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?”