ZODIAC
I didn’t self-sabotage. When I wanted something, I stayed focused until I claimed the prize. For months, I had wanted this woman to share my interest.
Now, Elle was in my place and talking about riding my dick. She said she had feelings for me. No other man had gotten her riled up like I did. We would forever be linked by the kid growing in her belly. Everything I wanted was right before me.
So why the fuck was I agitated rather than celebrating?
I thought maybe I didn’t like having her in danger. But she was staying the night. I’d keep her safe and escort her back home tomorrow. Problem solved.
Was I bothered by having someone in my space? The only people allowed in here were the weekly maid service and my guys if they needed to crash after a party. I had never brought a woman for sex to my place. Maybe I was hung up on that shit.
Except I’d imagined Elle here plenty of times. Then, what was my problem?
Elle looked sexy as hell in her simple blue T-shirt and black sweatpants. She owned a “girl next door” beauty. I never had a type when it came to women. If someone asked me what my favorite kind of woman was, I’d say the slutty ones. Yet, everything about Elle felt right.
Despite wanting to settle down and enjoy her company, I kept waiting for the trick behind her sudden appearance at my door. Elle’s hot and cold behavior didn’t help. I knew she wasn’t any better at relationships than I was, but whenever she turned cold, I prepared to cut her loose.
Right now, she sat next to me on the couch, looking tasty enough to lick. Her gaze focused on the TV. She never seemed bored during the game. I even caught her eye rolling at a few bad pitches.
A knock at the door had Elle on her feet. I tugged her back onto the couch while I went to answer. The guy at the door handed me the almond milk from the store and tortilla chips and spinach dip from our clubhouse’s restaurant downstairs.
“Thank you,” Elle said as she opened the container and smiled at the chips and dip. “I’ve been super into spinach lately.”
When she offered me a chip, I shook my head. Her gaze focused on my face for a long, unblinking moment.
“Are you angry?”
“If I were angry, you’d know it.”
“Are you bored?”
“No.”
What’s your expression mean?”
“I don’t trust you.”
“I shouldn’t have surprised you with this visit. I didn’t really consider how rude it would be for me to show up unannounced. No one mentioned that you might feel put out. I guess we all forgot you had feelings.”
“Next time you want your pussy pounded, text me and I’ll drive up to see you. Baton Rouge isn’t safe.”
“Will it be safe for the baby?”
“Sure. He’ll be in the apartment with the nanny.”
Elle never took the bait when I mentioned the custody or nanny shit. She just kept nodding as if she was absolutely cool with my bullshit.
“You should buy a house,” Elle told me after eating a chip and moaning approvingly. “Something big with lots of security. That way, Wilbur and the nanny will have space to spread out.”
“Is this what you eat when you’re at home?”
“Only in the last month. Does it bother you?”
“No, I’ve just wondered about you.”
“Because I’m special,” Elle said and smirked. “I wonder about you, too. What’s your favorite color?”
“Black.”
“What’s your favorite food?”
“Bread.”
“What’s your favorite music?”
“I like a band called Death.”
“I’m unfamiliar with their music.”
“You won’t like it.”
“No, probably not. Does that bother you?”
“I don’t care what music you like.”
“What do you care about?”
“That you don’t get murdered.”
“Aww, I care about that, too,” she murmured and patted my hand. “We’re so similar.”
Grinning at her tone, I asked, “Is it important that we’re similar?”
“No. I just want to know you.”
“Because I’m the guy you have a crush on?”
“Because you and I made a baby,” she clarified and then shrugged. “Yeah, and I have a crush on you.”
“I don’t talk about this shit with people.”
“No one asks me questions about my favorite stuff. My friends already know me. With Ivy, we spent time together and learned about each other. You and I don’t have that luxury.”
Elle’s words made me wish we shared a zip code.
Except if she were in Baton Rouge, my enemies would know she was important to me.
The reason the Void went after Exile’s family was that I had no one worth attacking.
Once people knew Elle was carrying my kid, she’d have a massive target painted on her back.
After finishing half of the chips and dip, Elle curled up on the end of the couch and acted sleepy.
“Were you planning to watch sports all day?” she asked.
“I’d normally head downstairs to the clubhouse soon.”
“Can I come with you?”
Losing my temper, I asked, “What part of you being in danger are you not fucking following?”
“You’ll be with me. Wait, are you not a badass?”
“Great, so now you want me to act as your human shield?”
“Of course. If you end up killed protecting Wilbur and me, I won’t have to deal with the custody battle.”
“You’re fucking hilarious.”
“Sometimes, I’m quite funny, yes.”
Elle stood up and walked to the bathroom. I took her food and shoved it into the fridge before returning to the couch.
Texting York, I informed him that I wouldn’t be at the clubhouse tonight. I also warned him that Elle and Sabrina Reed were in town.
“Be on the lookout for trouble,” I told my road captain.
Elle finished in the bathroom and sat closer to me. Her gaze was warm and inviting. Having never seen her look at me this way, I was a little freaked out.
“What does the expression on your face mean?” I asked, feeling suspicious.
“I was really nervous about coming here, but you’ve been so sweet. I’m feeling relieved now.”
“I like sarcasm, too. But I think it would help if one of us played this thing straight.”
“Okay, then,” Elle said and turned around on the couch to sit on her knees.
Her fingers caressed my lips while she wore a soft smile.
“I was thinking that I’m glad you’re the one I made this baby with.
Even with us living so far apart and you being a huge asshole, I feel good about you being my kid’s dad. ”
“Why?”
“I think you’re a magnificent man.”
Immediately distrustful, I muttered, “In what way?”
“Your insecurity is adorable,” she mocked and patted my thigh in a sexy way.
“Number one, you’re handsome, which bodes well for our son being good-looking.
Number two, you’re smart, which is helpful since I would hate for Wilbur to be a dummy with a genius brother.
Number three, you’re strong, which will make our son feel safe.
But most important, I’m happy because you’re the guy I’m attracted to, and I usually find men sexually uninteresting. ”
“Why do you think your pussy is so dry toward men?”
“Maybe there’s no reason. Or maybe it’s that my dad is special, and I knew other men wouldn’t be.”
Elle sat next to me and kissed my forehead. I waited for her to expect something from me. When she focused on the game, I tried to imagine having a casual relationship with this woman. We could be friends with benefits. Or raise the kid from two different towns and enjoy occasional hookups.
Things could work out as long as my enemies never learned of her value to me.