Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
TORCH
I just needed to get her home. I had to get her home. Had to. She’d be safer inside. I had more weapons there.
I hadn’t lied when I said I was okay. I was doing a lot better than I thought I would when I’d seen the brief look of fear tightening her expression. At least I didn’t pick her up over my shoulder and run for the car before locking her in while I hunted the fucker down.
From our surveillance, I knew all his friends’ faces.
My brothers and I had memorized them.
They were on my phone in a private file, and I went over them each night while she slept, reminding myself who I had to protect her from.
She would stay safe.
Pulling into the drive, I parked, turned off the car, and jumped out. In a rush, I was at her side and helping her out.
Gentle . I had to be gentle.
I got her inside and shut the door, locking it.
“What’s goin’ on?” Death called, coming from the kitchen.
“Wrenley thought she saw one of them near the movies,” I told him.
“I was probably mistaken. He was there one second and gone the next.”
Death and I shared a look. We had to be sure none of them were in our territory. We already had most of their phones tapped, and nothing about Wrenley had come up so far. But now there could be.
“Who, kid?” Death asked.
“Mitch.”
Death tipped his chin up at me. He’d go see Tech at the compound to check if anything popped up on their feed while I continued to watch over things here. We didn’t like to share any names over our own phone lines in case the cop, Harred Plank, had somehow managed to get through Tech’s safeguards and was listening in. Plank had been trying to find something on the club for a while now and was pissed that no matter how hard he dug, there was nothing. We did a good job at covering our tracks. The cop would keep trying, though, since he suspected us of taking out one of his people.
We had killed him, but the cunt deserved it for harming and tormenting Death’s sister and touching Raya. He’d also dealt tainted drugs to kids on the streets.
Officer Jones, Plank’s partner, was another story. He supported our club and how we ran things. He’d even helped us out when he could. He didn’t like or trust his partner and had told us that Plank wasn’t the only dirty cop involved with the drug trade.
“Darlin’.” Death turned to Raya, who was leaning against the doorframe. “I’m headin’ out for a while. Be back soon. If it’s longer than a couple of hours, I’ll call you.”
She walked to him. “No problem, Leland.”
I glanced away and down to Wrenley. She stood quietly looking up at me. She was worried, and my gut twisted that I added to her concern. It was why I’d try to control the burning rage under my skin to hunt.
My obsession was my priority. Wrenley’s safety overcame the hunger for their blood on my hands.
“Later,” Death called before he walked out the front door.
My brother had also just put his woman’s care in my hands. I needed to keep them in the same room until he returned.
“Leland and I were just about to eat a late lunch. You two hungry?”
Food was the last thing on my mind.
“Meet you in the kitchen,” I told them and quickly grazed Wrenley’s cheek with my fingers before I went out the front door for a perimeter check. I’d then go in and secure the house. Harley would let me know if anyone dared come close to the backyard.
Once I got inside, I locked the front door and checked all the windows before making my way into the kitchen. For now, I’d leave Harley out back so he could be my alarm.
Wrenley smiled and blushed at her sister until their attention moved to me as I entered.
I stopped and cocked my head. Her blush reminded me of the one at the movies.
Was now a good time for her to tell me?
“Why—”
“Nothing,” she shouted, cutting me off.
My blood slowed, my shoulders relaxed a fraction, and my lips tugged up. Her embarrassment was cute and funny. It made me lighter. Like the stress wanted to melt away. I could stay focused on the task of protecting them while enjoying watching Wrenley.
“Is it worse than you wantin’ me to sleep in your bed?” I asked.
The blush spread, and she groaned, burying her face in her hands while Raya threw her head back and laughed.
That told me it was.
Could she have been talking about sex with her sister?
Was she wanting to have it with me?
Fuck.
I shouldn’t think about that.
My cock started to fatten from the thought of being inside?—
The temperature in the room intensified.
“Checkin’ on Harley,” I said and quickly exited out the back door.
Harley and the cool breeze were a good distraction.
Fucking focus, you fool.
She was at risk.
No one would touch her.
“No one,” I muttered to Harley as I crouched to pet him.
It was nearing ten when we entered Wrenley’s bedroom. Death had come back earlier with no news. But we weren’t letting our guard down. While Wrenley didn’t want to admit she’d really seen someone, I believed she had. Knowing one of them got to see her made me want to find him and gouge the fucker’s eyes out.
Until I could take care of the problem, I was happy to be Wrenley’s constant protection.
Even after things were sorted, I wanted to be around her.
I wanted to keep staying here in her house, room, and—my heart thumped hard—bed.
I’d yet to sleep, but at least I was used to going without. Though with Death back, I’d grab an hour or two.
In her bed.
Where she wanted me.
My dick throbbed as my gut flip-flopped.
When we entered her bedroom, Wrenley blew out a breath and tucked some of her partly dry hair behind her ear.
“Well, I’m, um, just going to the bathroom.” She nodded, turning back around. With her hand on the handle, she added, “Make yourself comfortable in the bed. Unless you need the bathroom, then I won’t be long, and you can take a turn.”
She was talking fast. Nervous? Sometimes it was hard to tell, or it was more that I wasn’t confident in reading the cues right. But I was learning quickly when it came to my obsession, which made me think I was correct.
I hummed under my breath, and she exited, closing the door after herself.
I glanced to my cut hanging over the closet door and then to the mattress on the floor before I wiped my palms down the tracksuit pants I wore. Did I remove all my clothes? Maybe I just needed to take off my bottoms, leaving me in a tee and boxers? I hated sleeping in clothes, but I could do a tee. I’d done it for the last few weeks and had handled it all right.
I scrubbed my hands at my hips.
Blood pumped fast in my veins, and it felt like it was all draining down to my dick.
Fuck.
What did I do?
This was Wrenley.
My Wrenley.
My obsession.
Addiction.
I had to get this right.
Should I go ask Death?
Grumbling under my breath, I rubbed the heel of my palm into my eye socket.
I wasn’t asking Death.
This was Wrenley. She told me to get comfortable.
I slipped out of my tracksuit pants and the tee, and I got in under her covers in my boxers. The cool sheets felt fucking fantastic against my hot skin.
The door opened, and I looked over, my gut sparking at the sight of Wrenley in a tank top and sleep shorts. Her cheeks were already shining red as she closed the door, turned out the light, and made a dash to the bed. Her side dipped slightly when she climbed in.
“I guess you didn’t need to use the bathroom.” She laughed. “Unless you do, and I just turned off the light on you.”
“I’m good,” I said, rolling to my side her way.
There was a gap in the blinds that let the moonlight spill in so I could make her out. It lit up her side of the bed and left me in the darkness. I couldn’t help thinking how appropriate that was.
She wouldn’t be able to see me.
But I got to watch when she turned her head my way, trying to see me.
She rolled to her side, blinking slowly and then squinting.
My lips twitched.
Christ, she was cute.
My ears all but rang with how fast and loud my heart raced as I lifted my hand to press a finger to her mouth. She jumped a little but smiled against my digit. Her hands reached up and wound around my wrist.
My beautiful Wrenley kissed against my finger.
Swallowing thickly, I asked, “Can I kiss you?”
“Anytime, Torch. Anywhere. I promise.”
Dick jerked. Heart thumped.
Fuck me.
I threaded my fingers into her curls, cupped the back of her head, and dragged her close.
Our lips touched.
Once. Twice.
I flicked my tongue out against her top lip. She parted on a soft gasp, and I took the chance to tangle our tongues together.
If I weren’t already addicted to all of her, I would be now for her kisses.
The sounds she made. The way she glided her palm up and down my arm. All of this shot my cock to hard and aching.
“Torch,” she breathed against my lips and hiked her leg up over mine before she shifted closer.
I fought to not grind my cock into her.
My body had never been this needy for someone.
Wrenley rolled into me. I groaned into the wild kiss when she rocked against my hardness.
Shit.
Fuck.
The urge to come grew, and I wasn’t about to lose myself in my boxers.
Trailing my lips down her neck, I sucked and nipped at her skin.
Fuck me, she tasted good.
She smelled even better.
“Torch,” she whimpered. “Is-is this too much for you?”
“No. Never,” I got out. Tone low, rough, filled with want for her.
She rocked into me.
I knew what she needed, and I needed to give her what she wanted.
“Can I touch you?”
She swallowed and pulled her head back, trying to see me. “Um, you already are?”
More . I had to give her more. I had to please her. I wanted to make her quiver for me.
I rolled to my back, taking her with me. She let out a quiet cry of surprise but then sat up over me. Smiling down at me, she pressed her hands to my chest.
When I ran my finger up over her shorts where her clit was, Wrenley bit down on her bottom lip.
“Wanna touch you here, Wrenley.”
She nodded once, lifting off me enough for me to get my hand down the front of her shorts to her heat and wetness.
Christ. She was wet for me.
For me.
As I circled her nub with my thumb, I rubbed a couple of fingers up and down her hole.
I wanted to beat my damn chest when she moaned, whimpered, and panted.
“Torch, yes,” she said, pressing her pussy down on my fingers.
I gave them to her, pushing them up through her juices and inside her. In and out, I fucked her with my fingers.
My mouth watered, wanting to lick and suck at her. One day, I’d get the chance to taste her there.
My obsession was letting me touch her.
She was stunning with her eyes closed. Her lips parted as she breathed heavier from the desire I gave her.
She whimpered and dropped her heated gaze to me.
“Torch,” she whispered.
Yeah, it’s me touching you, my pretty addiction.
My cock throbbed and leaked into my underwear, but I ignored it.
This was all about her.
Her pleasure was mine. She was taking it from me.
My gaze lowered to her breasts gently swaying under her top with her movements as she rode and rocked over my fingers. I took my free hand from her waist and swallowed the nerves as I cupped one. The perfect handful.
“Yes, Torch,” she encouraged.
Fuck me .
I wanted to watch her, touch her, kiss her, fuck her, lick her, bite her all at the same time. But I also liked what we were doing.
Besides, I didn’t want to consume her to a point I’d scare her off.
Somehow, a part of her, whether you’d call it her essence or soul or something, had crawled inside me that cold night when I’d heard her screams and stayed.
Was a part of me in her?
My hand gently squeezed and rolled her tit before I pinched at her nipple, drawing a sharp gasp that turned into a low moan.
I’d easily go up in flames for her.
Just like I’d burn the world to keep her safe.
She rocked her hips faster. I circled and pressed my thumb to her clit more firmly and shoved my fingers deep, moving them, rubbing them in her.
She shattered on a cry of my name, and Christ, I wanted to beat my fucking chest.
Instead, I waited until I’d drawn her climax out and removed my hand. I shoved my fingers straight into my mouth and groaned around the taste of her release.
Her eyesight must have adjusted to the dark because her cheeks heated, and she bit her bottom lip while she watched me.
I licked them clean and pulled my digits free when Wrenley started to move down my body.
My cock jerked.
But this wasn’t about me.
Reaching under her arms, I lifted and placed her on the bed before I rolled her so she faced away from me. There, I scooted in close and wrapped an arm around her waist, snuggling in.
I pressed my nose into her hair at the back of her head. “This good?”
“What about you? I’d like to?—”
“Another time. I wanted this to be for you.”
To show I cared. To cherish your body like it deserves.
“But….” She pushed her ass against my hard dick as she grabbed my hand, wrapping both of hers around it before she brought it up to hug to her chest.
My gut flip-flopped.
Sweet.
My sweet Wrenley.
After kissing her neck, I rested my head on the pillow and said, “Next time.”
“Promise?” she asked, and her tone told me she seemed a little peeved she wasn’t getting me off.
“Promise,” I told her.
I couldn’t deny anything she asked.