Chapter 13
APRIL
Three days back at school with Fool shadowing me, and I’m about to snap at him.
Well, not exactly at him, but at the girls who stare or try to talk to him, as if I weren’t even there.
It’s amusing how he responds, giving them blank looks and telling them to go away.
You’d think the girls would give it up, but they haven’t.
They want his attention, and I can’t blame them.
He’s hot. Not just hot, more like he’s gruff and edgy, with that bad-boy persona.
Over the weekend, the guys did indeed help me with my paper.
Rimfire even said he’d write it for me if I wanted him to, but I told him I could do it myself.
He seemed a little disappointed by my refusal.
The insight they’d been able to give me about running a business was clear and precise.
I don’t think even my professor could teach me what they did.
Not only does the club run a mortuary business where they also create custom coffins, but they also have a bar called ‘Prowlers’ and a garage that builds custom vehicles.
Cars, bikes, trucks. You name it, they do it.
You wouldn’t think they have a multi-million-dollar enterprise, however, that’s exactly what their club has built over the decades since it started.
The way they explained things seemed so simple and easy, but I knew it was nothing of the sort.
Cannon told me how his grandfather and the rest of the founding members started with just the club’s mortuary business, and when they split, they expanded it and started other chapters of the Grave Prowlers.
By sharing all of this, Cannon made me feel accepted, because I know from being around the guys in the Devils Riot MC that not everyone is privy to that kind of information.
Because of them, I’d been able to write my paper with ease and get it knocked out. Ten pages seemed to fly by, and when I added my references, I simply listed them. I thought it through well, so if my professor has an issue with it, then oh well, and he can take a hike.
Packing up my things from my last class of the day, I’m ready to get out of here and head back to my apartment. Usually, Kayla, Mercy, and I have a dinner date on FaceTime, but Kayla messaged earlier that she would have to bail tonight. She didn’t give a reason other than that something came up.
I understand things happen, and I truly get it. I know better than anyone that things come up or that you just need a reason to take a moment. Not that I know whether that’s the case, but she’s never bailed before, so it makes me wonder what’s up.
“I never took you for a biker slut. Maybe I should have treated you like one. If I had, who knows, you might have been more willing to play the game.”
I startle at Samuel’s voice, but I do my best to ignore him.
“No wonder she wouldn’t spread for us. She’s already spreading her legs for a group of bikers,” another of his friends snickers.
In the past few days, they haven’t bothered me with Fool being so close, but it seems they’ve found a way to do it. Or I’ve given them the opportunity by taking my time gathering my stuff.
Ignoring their words, I stand from my seat and head for the exit. The sooner I get to Fool, the safer I’ll be and the safer I’ll feel.
“You know, April, those types of guys will use you up, get their fill, and toss you to the side soon enough,” Samuel calls after me. “I just want you to play with me. I wouldn’t toss you out like they would if you went along with it.”
I don’t want his words to affect me, but I dig in deep. Not because of what he’s implying, but the opposite. Will Fool toss me aside because I won’t have sex? It’s not that I don’t want to; boy, do I ever. He’s the first guy I’ve even considered doing other things with.
Each night we’ve slept in the same bed, and it’s been him holding me, us kissing and making out, though he never pushes for more, not even when I could feel his thickness pressing into me.
Behind me, I can still hear them as they follow, but the minute I push through the door, my heart lurches as I see all the girls surrounding Fool. He doesn’t seem to be enjoying the swarm of women, but Hazard’s with him, and he seems to be eating it up.
Fool’s eyes lock on mine, and I drop my gaze first, shake my head, and keep moving, holding my notebook close to my chest. When he catches up to me, his hand grips my bicep, stopping me.
“What’s wrong?” he demands, stepping in front of me. When I don’t answer or look at him, he grips my chin and forces my head up. “Talk to me, April. Tell me what’s going on.”
I suck in a shaky breath and divert my gaze as I ask, “Why are you doing this?”
“Look at me, baby,” he demands, calling me ‘baby’ when he usually calls me ‘sweets’.
The way the simple endearment rolls off his tongue turns the lurch in my chest into an ache.
I like when he calls me ‘sweets’, but the way he says ‘baby’ so soft and gentle feels even better. “What are you asking me?”
“Why are you so sweet to me? You could have any woman in your bed you want, someone who will give you what you want, and yet you’re here.
You don’t push me, but I know you want more.
I mean, guys always want sex, and yet you’ve slept next to me for the past eight nights and haven’t even tried.
Is it a test? Once you get it, you’ll toss me to the side for something new—”
“I’m gonna stop you right fuckin’ there,” Fool growls, stepping deeper into my space. One arm wraps around my waist, the other sinking into my hair, holding tight.
My arms have nowhere to go because he’s holding me so tight. All I can do is stare at him and see the rage clear as day in his emerald eyes.
“I’m not sure what the hell happened to make you doubt what’s going on here, but I’m gonna find out.
I’ll clear something up for you right here and now.
You’re not a one-and-done, April. I’ve never thought of you that way, and I wouldn’t.
I’m not in this just to fuck you. Do I want to sink into you and fuck you senseless?
Fuck yeah, I do. But I won’t force myself on you.
I’m not going to throw you away, either.
I can live with a hard-on and blue balls until you’re ready. ”
“And if I’m not ready until I’m married?” I blurt.
“Then I’d better put a ring on your finger soon, because I’ve spent the past week with you every damn day and I’ve learned one thing I know for certain.
No woman has meant more to me than you do, April.
You gotta understand what’s happening here.
I can sleep next to you without nightmares.
I can go to bed without fearing I’ll wake up screaming, because I’ve got you to hold close.
I haven’t wanted that in my entire life.
Not even with my ex did I want that, and I planned to marry her. ”
He hadn’t mentioned his ex since the day he took me to the clubhouse.
“You want to wait to be married? Fine with me. That means I’ll be the only damn one who gets inside you, ‘cause I’m telling you, baby, you’re mine, and I’m not going to fuck it up by fucking you once and tossing you away.
I’m not going to let others put thoughts of doubt in your head, and we’ll talk about that after I get you back to the apartment, but first, I’m gonna make something clear, here and now. ”
Before I can ask what he’s going to make clear, his mouth crashes down on mine. Not the gentle kisses we’ve shared before, but something possessive, claiming. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, and I melt against him, forgetting we’re in the middle of campus.
When he breaks the kiss, he rests his forehead against mine as we both try to steady our breathing. “That’s how I feel about you. And if you need me to prove it every damn day, I’ll gladly do just that to show not only you but everyone around you.”
My knees feel weak as he takes my hand, lacing our fingers together.
“Now, let’s get you home so you can tell me in private what the hell happened,” he says, letting me go, then taking my bag and books and tucking me to his side.
“You ready to tell me what happened earlier?” Fool asks, retaking his seat on my couch and pulling me to his side.
Sighing, I curl deeper into him. Since the kiss he laid on me and what he said, I’ve been thinking about it all. His words swirl around in my head on repeat. He sleeps next to me. He doesn’t wake screaming. I’m who he wants. I’m meant for him.
It’s all sweet, and I love he says I mean something to him, but it still scares me.
“Samuel got to me,” I admit.
Fool tenses and tightens his arm around me. “What did that fucker say to you?”
“I really don’t want to repeat it.” I didn’t. It’s stupid, and I know I shouldn’t have let his words get to me, but I did. Just not in the way Samuel wanted them to, well, maybe it was somewhat. I don’t know.
“Sweets, you gotta know, you’re safe with me. Safe to tell me this type of shit.”
“I know.” I tilt my head back to glance up at him. “I shouldn’t have let it get to me. But I guess, in a way, what he said was already in the back of my head, and when I stepped out of the building, it freaked me out because I knew he was right, in a way.”
“What did he say?” I don’t miss the alert tone in his voice.
“Said he didn’t take me for being a biker slut and that guys like you will eventually toss me to the side after you get your fill. That I should’ve just played with him because then I wouldn’t have to worry about getting tossed aside.” Those weren’t his exact words, but it’s the gist of it.
“I’m gonna kill that fucker,” he growls, tightening his arm around me, his eyes flashing with the same rage I’d seen earlier.
“I’d really prefer you not kill anyone,” I mumble.
Fool shifts, grips my hips, and lifts me up and over his lap so I’m straddling him. I have to admit I like it when he puts me on his lap like this. It’s nice and means I have his full attention.
Granted, even when we were at the clubhouse, he had me on his lap more often than not.
“If I kill that fucker, you won’t even know it,” he says, sliding his hands along either side of my waist. “I’m not and never will be talking about the club’s logistics, but you’re not blind or stupid by any means, so you get it.
Like the DRMC, we’re not exactly playing by the rules. We’re one percenters.”
“I know your hands aren’t clean.” He’s right. I’m not stupid, and though I’ve never known what the DRMC got up to, I know they handle business however they see fit.
“Right, so you know how this works. You’re mine, meaning I’ll give you everything you want, except for that. It’s to keep you safe if something were to happen to me.”
This is something I’d seen between Twister and Izzy, Horse and Kenny, and even the others who have ol’ ladies. It’s no secret that the club sometimes involves Brass’s and Burner’s old ladies for a woman’s ‘touch’.
“I understand how your world works, Beck,” I whisper, sliding my hands up and curling them around his neck. “I get there are things I’m not privy to, and I won’t push.”
“Good.” He nods and grips my hips tighter.
“What you need to know is that you’ll always have all of me.
I won’t bullshit you or blow smoke up your ass for no damn reason.
I meant what I said earlier. You’re it for me.
You want to wait ‘til you’re married for me to be inside you, then that’s what we’re doing, but you can count on that ring being on your finger sooner than later. ”
I swallow anxiously as my chest tightens. “You’d marry me just for sex?”
“No,” he grumbles, eyes darkening. “I’d marry you because I know exactly what I want.
I’ve seen enough evil in the world to recognize the light when I see it.
That brightness inside you, I want it all for myself.
But marrying me means you don’t move back to Franklin.
You’ll be moving into a place with me near the clubhouse.
I’ve already claimed you. You’re my ol’ lady to the club. ”
Well, I didn’t realize he’d already claimed me. This is news to me. I figured they knew we were seeing each other.
“I didn’t know that,” I whisper.
“Yeah, baby, I did that. But even if I hadn’t, those men would’ve been all over you, protecting your ass, ‘cause they see what I do in you. I’m just glad it’s me who got to you first. So you pick the date, and we’ll get hitched.
You don’t want all that fancy shit? I’ll take you straight to a courthouse and marry you.
You want a big-ass wedding? We’ll do that.
You want to get hitched and then have a party?
Then that’s what we’ll do. But know this, April, you’re mine in every way there is. ”
He barely finishes his sentence before my mouth is on his, and we’re making out like two teenagers who can’t keep their hands off each other. His mouth takes control as he shifts us again. My back is against the couch, and he’s over me, grinding himself into my denim-covered sweet spot.
Nothing else enters my mind but this moment, and I suppose it’s the same for him, because neither of us hears the door open until it slams shut and Hazard curses.
“Fuckin’ hell. You knew I was coming and would crash on the couch tonight instead of going back to the clubhouse.”
Fool breaks his mouth and glances over at his brother. “Don’t you know how to knock?”
“I did, then I didn’t.” Hazard shrugs, grinning. “Can you not fuck where I’m sleeping? Besides, we got shit to discuss.”
“Fucker,” Fool growls, making me giggle.
Fool glances back down at me and gives me an annoyed look, though I know it’s not meant for me. “Name the day and time, sweets, and we’re doing it.”
I suck in a breath, knowing exactly what he means. He intends to marry me, not just because he wants sex, but because he wants me for me.
“Friday,” I blurt out without thinking.
He grins and nods. “Friday it is,” he agrees. Then he pulls me back up to a sitting position, curls me back into his side, and kisses the side of my head before whispering, “You won’t regret it, April. I promise you, I’ll make sure you never regret being mine.”