Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TORCH
T he beat to my heart was already erratic when my eyes sprung open, so I knew something had set it off. Straining, I listened as my hand wound around the hilt of the knife concealed under my leg in the bed and pulled it free.
Footsteps approached Wrenley’s room.
How the fuck had I fallen asleep?
When did I go under?
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Jumping up, I stalked toward the door as those heavy steps grew close.
Her door slowly opened.
A male hand reached in.
I grabbed it, spun them, and had the tip of my knife touching his throat in seconds.
A gun cocked.
“You wanna let my man go, brother? Then I won’t have to shoot you.”
Blinking, I dropped my hold on Gun and stepped back as Saint lowered his gun.
“What in the world?”
I shifted to see Wrenley sitting on her bed with a book in hand. She placed it on the covers as she said, “One second, you were asleep. The next, you were up and walking toward the door silently , then grabbing Gun and…. Sorry, but that was like it was out of a movie.”
My lips twitched from the excitement in her voice. However, I turned back to Gun. “Sorry,” I offered.
“Now that my heart isn’t in my ass, it’s fine, brother. We didn’t know you were in here.” Gun glanced from me to Wrenley over and over.
“Oh, I forgot to text Raya.” She pushed the blankets off her bare legs to get out of bed.
My body heated.
Her legs were beautiful. Like all of her was. I wished I’d noticed them last night, but she had been in leggings and a sweater. Now she wore shorts and a tee that revealed her silky skin.
But… I wasn’t the only one in the room seeing this.
Slowly, I moved my gaze to Gun and Saint.
Gun was talking to Wrenley about something until Saint grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him out the door.
“We’ll see you both in the kitchen shortly,” he called before shutting the door.
Wrenley snorted. “What was that about?”
Saint was protecting his man.
Not that I would have hurt them. At least, I didn’t think I would. No, I wouldn’t. I was sure. At least I think I was.
They were my brothers and Wrenley’s friends. Plus, they dated each other. I didn’t need to worry about them desiring what was mine. They wouldn’t.
She wasn’t mine, though.
I couldn’t have her.
Realizing she waited for an answer while I stared at her, I rubbed the back of my neck and shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
“Well, since you’re awake, let’s go get some breakfast.”
There was a new spark to my Wrenley. Was it because she didn’t have a nightmare? Other than a few little noises, she hadn’t made a peep, and I would have woken if she had.
I still couldn’t believe I fell asleep.
“Unless you’re still tired… we could get back into bed.”
My cock throbbed.
Shit.
“Breakfast.” I went back over to my clothes and dressed quickly. I didn’t want her to wait for me. When I turned back around, Wrenley had slipped on the sweater from the night before. However, her legs were still on display. But knowing she was comfortable around me to show them shot warmth to my heart, and so I ignored the unease in my gut over other people seeing them too.
She smiled, and my heart jumped.
So pretty.
“You slept well?” I asked.
Her gaze changed. It softened, as did her lips.
My chest expanded.
Christ, I was lucky to be in her presence.
“I did. Best night’s sleep in a long time.”
Her gaze widened a little when I grinned. “I’m glad.” And I hoped it was because I was there. I’d fight her nightmares for her if I could.
Heat hit her cheeks, and it was on the tip of my tongue to ask why, until her stomach growled. She straightened out her sweater and cleared her throat. “Right, um, yeah. Let’s go eat.” As we made our way out, she asked, “What do you like for breakfast? We have cereal, toast, or I could cook some eggs and bacon. Coffee is a must, but we also have juice.”
“I’ll have whatever you are.” I wasn’t picky. I grabbed whatever I saw in the kitchen at the compound. Dusty, and now a couple of other old ladies, kept it well stocked with ready meals or they were in there most of the time cooking something fresh. On the nights I stayed there, I always liked the smell of the common room when I got down in the mornings because the smell from the kitchen had already filled it. Though, I always fed Harley first before myself. Tech was doing it for me while I wasn’t around. Harley liked him, and Tech wasn’t worried about Harley eating his face off. At least I didn’t think he was. He never said.
“Okay, we’ll figure it out together.”
Together.
I liked that word.
Entering the kitchen, Wrenley called, “Morning,” to Death, Raya, Gun, and Saint as I followed Wrenley around the counter to the pantry. “Okay, do any of these cereals tickle your fancy?” She pointed to the top shelf.
“Ah, Wren,” Raya called.
Wrenley turned while I read all the boxes. I really would just have whatever she ate. I wasn’t fussy about food.
“Sorry, I forgot to text you last night. I found Torch on his nightly guard job and told him I’d prefer it if he stayed in the house.”
“Oh, okay. That’s fine.”
“He’s staying on a mattress in my room,” she added.
“What about Harley, brother?” Death asked. His tone sounded lighter. Why?
Turning, I went to tell him about Tech, but Wrenley had taken hold of my wrist with a gasp. “We have to go get him. He can stay here. We have plenty of room in the backyard for him to play around in.”
Her hand was warm on my skin. Gentle and soothing.
My gut flip-flopped pleasantly that she willingly touched my tainted flesh.
Someone cleared their throat.
Wrenley went to pull her hand away, but I quickly took it and placed it back around my wrist.
I met her gaze, saw her cheeks were flushed again, and told her, “We can bring Harley here.”
We.
She would be with me on the trip to the compound and back again.
Then I’d be in her room again tonight.
Hell, I felt spoiled from having so much of her time.
“Okay,” she replied.
“And that’s totally fine with me,” Raya added teasingly.
“Oops, sorry.” Wrenley laughed. She glanced back to me and rolled her eyes. After a squeeze to my wrist, she let go, and the cold seeped in. “I think I’ll have toast with jelly and a coffee. What about you?”
“Same.”
“How do you have your coffee?”
She was going to make me a mug. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had done that for me. “Cream and two sugars.” I watched her move around the kitchen and strike up a conversation with Gun, who she’d become close friends with.
I could watch her all day. I already had.
Someone stepped up to my side.
“You good?” Death asked.
Nodding, I didn’t look away as I said, “Yeah.”
Saint got close too.
I turned to him. “Sorry again for putting my hands on Gun.”
“I get why it happened. You didn’t expect us to rock up. Gun wanted to see if Wrenley was free to hang at the compound for a while. Keep her busy.”
And her mind off those…. Don’t go there . I couldn’t think of it. If I did, I’d want to walk out of the house to hunt them down.
Stretching out my neck, I placed my gaze back on Wrenley as she laughed at something Gun said.
“Brother, is Wren yours?” I heard Saint’s low tone, but I couldn’t answer him.
She was mine. She would always be mine.
But I couldn’t claim her like he did Gun. Like Death did Raya. I wouldn’t do that to her.
“I’m only askin’, Torch, because I see the way she looks at you.”
“Saint,” Death warned.
But it was too late.
I’d heard and given Saint my full attention. “What way?”
I didn’t see anything unusual. She looked at everyone with kind eyes and a sweet smile.
Saint glanced from Death to me. He shrugged. “I see she’s interested in you, brother. But I wanted you to know about it so you can be careful with her heart if you’re not gonna take her as yours.”
Take her as mine.
She already was.
But could what he said be real?
Could she honestly want something with me?
Could she want my touch in those ways?
I rubbed at my chest as I went back to watching her. She caught me, and her head tipped to the side. Worry entered her eyes when she saw my hand pushing and pressing against the crazed organ that felt like it wanted to burst out of my chest.
No.
Fuck no.
Why would she want that? Want me? She shouldn’t. She deserved better.
She didn’t want me. Saint was wrong. She was being nice to me because I was a part of the club.
Tension tightened my shoulders.
A hand landed on one, and Death drew me into another room. He gently shook me before dropping his hand. “Don’t brush away what Saint said and think he’s wrong. He might not be. Wrenley knows everythin’, Torch. Remember that. You might just have the chance for a damn good future if you open up to the possibility that someone can care for you as you are.”
Slam, slam, slam went my heart.
“Wren,” we heard Raya call before Wrenley appeared in the doorway.
“Is everything all right?” she asked, looking between us.
“Yeah, kid. Just talkin’ club stuff.”
“Oh,” she said. Her concern shone on me. “Torch?”
I swallowed thickly, studying her.
Nodding, I said to reassure her, “Breakfast. Then we can get Harley.”
“It’s ready.” But she didn’t move.
Death did. He went back into the kitchen.
I started that way but stopped beside her when she called my name.
We were close. I dropped my gaze to her.
“Are you okay?”
She was worried about me.
Christ.
Sweet, soft, and gentle.
She was a damn treasure. I’d found the prefect treasure.
Could I honestly be that damn lucky to keep her? Hold her close, please her, pleasure her?
With a tight swallow, I slowly reached up and silently cursed my shaky hand, which only stopped trembling when I cupped the side of her neck.
She didn’t pull away. She leaned into it.
Fuck me.
Fuck me.
Fuck me.
I brushed a thumb over her fast pulse.
“I’m okay.”
Her hand wound around my wrist. “Good.” She graced me with another beautiful smile. “Then let’s eat. I can’t wait to see Harley again.”
Nodding, I dropped my arm, and her hand fell away before she all but skipped back into the kitchen.
She was happy.
Happier than I’d seen her since I’d had my eyes on her.
It couldn’t be because of me.
Could it?
My body warmed. I’d let that thought sink in. I’d allow myself to believe it was from me because it’d be a real honor that she acted in such ways over my presence.