Chapter 8
Chet
I hissed when William’s palm smoothed lotion over my backside. He’d only give me five spanks, but my ass was tender and sore. I would probably have bruises there later since I bruised so damn easily.
William rarely dished out physical punishments. Hell, he rarely delivered punishments of any kind. But when he did, he made sure he got his point across. I certainly wouldn’t be trying to hide how I was feeling from him again… at least, not any time soon.
“Just a little more,” William murmured. He wasn’t much of a talker…
unless he was with me. With everyone else, he was standoffish and rude, only speaking when absolutely necessary.
I’d questioned him about it once, asked him why he talked to me but barely talked to others, and he’d only told me it was because I was different, then kissed the top of my head.
Once he’d smoothed the lotion onto my sore behind, cooling the heated flesh, he fixed my jeans back into place.
I buried my face in the pillow, tired and worn out after being punished.
It always took so much out of me because I hated punishments.
But I’d also known better than to try to hide from William, so really, I’d brought this onto myself.
“Malik just texted. He and Rurik are back with your milkshake and fries.” He kissed the back of my neck, making me shiver. “I’ll be right back. Do not move.”
“Yes, sir,” I mumbled, my voice muffled by the pillow.
I heard the door quietly close behind William, and then, I was alone in the room. I sighed and gingerly rolled onto my back, staring up at the ceiling.
I didn’t understand why William wouldn’t leave and take us somewhere safer.
Sure, I knew he wasn’t one to run from his problems, but Hyram had a point.
We weren’t safe here. Not now. And while I knew William and I could both handle ourselves, that didn’t mean we couldn’t still be cautious and safe, to get away for a little while so the Savage Dreams MC could cool down a bit.
And to think, all this bullshit started because of a fucking territory dispute. The area we took over was unclaimed, but the fucking SDMC president was an asshole that thought we should have asked him before moving in next door, essentially.
Fuck him and his egotistical bullshit.
“Get out of your head, baby,” William said as he walked through the door.
I blinked, watching as he nudged the door shut with his boot.
In one hand, he was holding a large vanilla milkshake, and in the other, he was holding a basket of fries.
My stomach growled, and I quickly sat up, taking the fries when he offered them to me.
He set the milkshake on the nightstand, then settled behind me on the bed, tugging me to rest between his spread thighs.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?”
I sighed. “Why won’t you go to the mother charter?”
William grunted, then rested his chin on my shoulder.
He was quiet for so long, I thought he wasn’t going to answer me.
I munched on my fries, trying to come to terms with him not opening up to me.
But then, he finally said, “Because it doesn’t matter where we go, Chet.
The Savage Dreams will follow. And running also puts you at risk, which I will not do.
You are safest here, and I will always do what keeps you safest.”
I sighed, turning so I faced him. He balanced my fries when I almost tipped them. “I’m not fragile, Will.”
His eyes softened, and he cupped the side of my neck, brushing his thumb along my jaw.
“I know you’re not, baby. If anyone knows how fucking strong you are, trust me, it’s me.
But that won’t ever stop me from trying to protect you.
I will always protect you. This entire club can burn to ashes, but as long as you’re okay, I don’t give a fuck about the rest of it. ”
I hated that I swooned at his words. I shouldn’t have because this club was my family.
They’d given me a place to belong. Had welcomed me into their fold without blinking an eye.
They weren’t even bothered by my sometimes-bratty attitude and the way I kinda liked to be babied by my husband.
I was who I was, and they accepted me at face value.
But for so much of my life, I’d wanted someone like William to come along, sweep me off my feet, and not give a fuck about the rest of the world—only me. And I was so greedy for the way this man loved me.
“That’s so fucked up,” I whispered before stuffing a greasy, salty fry into my mouth.
William’s lips quirked just the tiniest bit at the corners. “And you like it. So what’s that make you?”
I snorted. “Just as fucked up as you, I guess.”
William shook his head and grabbed my milkshake, placing the straw at my lips. “Shut up and drink this so we can deal with your upset stomach later.”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
His lips didn’t even budge, but I saw the smile in his eyes.