CHAPTER 2
SPOOK
Jesus! She’s goddamn gorgeous, is my first thought when I get a good look at Honor. Like a cross between a hippy and a fairy, with her light blonde hair, big blue eyes, and pale skin. That she’s related to Axle and Angel is clear right off the bat. That Mason claims her right away is a shock.
My boys don’t like many people, especially women.
I’m not sure why. Possibly, because they didn’t have contact with many until recently.
Still, they’ve never warmed to anyone as quickly as they do to Honor.
It took the boys a few weeks to warm up to Angel.
Even Tru and Janis, who are good with the boys.
But never have they immediately taken to anyone except Honor.
Not that I can blame them. Not only is she gorgeous, but she also exudes the kind of goodness I’d forgotten exists in the world.
Not that I’m looking for a relationship.
No matter how stunning she is, or how much my boys gravitate towards her, I especially don’t want to start something with someone who’s related to one of my brothers.
And I damn sure don’t want some soft woman I’m not sure can handle the hardness that comes with being part of a one-percent motorcycle club.
Nope. I need to keep my lust and rock-hard cock in my pants. I’m not an idiot. I know she feels the same instant attraction I do. The way her cheeks flush and how she won’t meet my eyes are dead giveaways.
Then there’s the ten-year age gap. Another reason not to venture into anything with this woman. Admittedly, to most people ten years isn’t a huge gap. But when you’ve seen and done the things I have, those ten years may as well be twenty.
It doesn’t escape me that I’m listing all the cons while lusting after the daughter of one of my brothers. I’m not even going to try to look for the plus points.
That’s not to say I won’t enjoy the view while she’s visiting. Because I will.
So, fucking much.
All these thoughts run through my head right up until Axle goes and introduces Honor to Maverick.
Possessiveness like I’ve never felt streaks through me, and I can’t suppress the growl that escapes me or the glare I aim at my best friend.
All my good intentions of keeping my hands to myself disappear in a puff of smoke the second Maverick greets her with his usual, charming grin. And he knows it. The fuckhead.
He knows me so well. I may as well piss on her leg when I crowd her and growl. Jesus Christ, I fucking growl. At my best friend.
Maverick smirks at me.
Fuck me. I’m so screwed.
***
I leave the boys with Honor and walk to the bar where Maverick is eyeing me with unholy glee in his eyes. The fuckhead. Sometimes it sucks to have a best friend who knows you so well.
Taking the beer that Muppet hands me with a nod of thanks. I turn and lean against the edge of the bar, folding my arms as I keep an eye on Mason, Reed, and Honor.
“You should ask Honor to be your nanny,” Maverick says.
Side-eying him I ignore his suggestion. He’s a pushy fucker though so I know he won’t stop. “The boys like her and she’s here for a bit. Fuck’s sake, you like her.”
“No.” I turn and stare at my friend.
“Why not?” he demands.
“She’s too soft for this life and she’s here to get to know Axle and Angel.”
Mamba scoffs. I turn and glare at him, but as usual, he’s got his head buried in a computer.
“You got something to say?” I growl.
He lifts his head and smirks, “Nope. I think I’ll let you make a fool out of yourself on this one.”
Straightening I demand, “What does that mean?”
He shrugs, closing the laptop, he slides from his stool. “You’ll see.”
Turning back to Maverick, my eyes catch Jake’s. He’s looking amused, I raise my brows. “She’s not as soft as you think. But I’m with your computer brother on this. I think I’ll sit back and watch.”
They’re all pissing me off. Maverick with his pushing.
Mamba with intel he isn’t sharing. It isn’t lost on me that I can find out whatever I want with just a call.
For some reason, I don’t want to do that.
Learning information the old-fashioned way is sometimes better.
I want her to tell me. This push and pull feeling I’ve got when it comes to her is driving me nuts. I need to get a grip.
It’s only been a few hours since we met, and she’s already turning me inside out.
“What about you?” I turn to Axle who until now hasn’t said a word. “Would you be happy to have your daughter in this life?”
Axle takes a swig of his beer, lowering his arm, he eyes me steadily, “Not really my choice VP. She’s an adult and can make her own decisions.
Would I like her to have a reason to stay here?
Fuck yeah, I would. But it’s not my right.
” He hesitates and scratches at his cheek.
“That being said, my brothers are some of the best men that I know, and I think she could do a lot worse. Is she cut out for this life?” He shrugs.
“I don’t know. That would be up to her. But if she’s anything like her mother, then she’s a fighter and she’ll thrive. ”
He stops for a minute, and we watch as Angel and Honor lean towards each other as they discuss something.
Reed has given up on playing and has curled up on Angel’s lap much the same way that Mason is in Honor’s.
Not sure what it is about these women that they’ve enthralled my boys. Axel’s voice intrudes on my thoughts.
“You’ll be a lucky man if she’s half the woman her mother is… but it’s your decision on whether you’ve got the balls to put up with a strong, take-no-shit woman.”
With that little bombshell, he drains his beer, places the empty on the bar, and saunters toward Angel. Taking a seat on the chair behind her, she instantly leans against him.
Honor smiles up at Axle when he says something to her. If it wasn’t for the tension in her shoulders, you’d think she was completely at ease amongst strangers. She’s not, but she’s good at pretending she is. I’m sure meeting everyone like this is stressful as fuck.
I rub at my chest when Mason curls closer and his thumb goes into his mouth, his other arm reaching up and rubbing a lock of Honor’s hair.
“I know I give you a hard time, brother,” Maverick murmurs. “Don’t lose out on something great because you’re scared. I saw the way you looked at her. Haven’t seen that look since we were in high school and I asked Mae out before you could.”
“You were such a dick back then.” I laugh softly at the memory.
“Still am.” He grins at me. “Wasn’t being one this time, though. Think about it. She’ll be good for the boys. I can tell that already. They’ve been content since she got here. This may not go anywhere. Whatever this is could fizzle out before it starts.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I admit. “What happens to the boys then?”
Maverick shakes his head as if he’s a little disappointed in me.
“Brother, you’ve seen what these women are made of.
Even if she wasn’t brought up by Angel, I very much doubt that she’s all that different.
You can see from the way she is with your sons.
Do you honestly think she’ll forget the boys if you two don’t work out? I very much doubt it.”
“I’ll think about it,” I promise. And I will. For now, though, I’ll spend time with her and see where her head is at. If she is still here in a week and the boys are still fixed on her… I’ll make my move.
“Don’t wait too long, brother. She’s been noticed.” Maverick nods toward BB and Petit, who stop and introduce themselves. I growl.
Maverick laughs, clapping my back as he walks toward the rapidly growing crowd around Honor. Although I’m not sure if it’s Honor or the food Lala brought with her.
I last another second before I move as close to Honor as I can get, taking Mason from her and glaring at every brother who comes close. While she greets Lala and Maverick does his charming, I hug Mason close, take my phone from my pocket, and find the group text thread.
Me: She’s mine motherfuckers. Hands off.
Pres: You sure about that? I reckon your sons will have something to say about that.
Me: They’re my sons. They’ll learn to share.
BB: Took you long enough to make your claim brother. I’m not sure though. I think I can take you. I’ll add my hat in the ring.
Petit: I don’t accept his claim. I think she’ll go for my accent.
Me: Fuck off both of you. I’ll demote you back to prospects. And BB, you couldn’t take me if I had one hand tied behind my back.
That brings up a long line of laughing emojis and shit talk. They know it’s an empty threat, as it would have to be voted on by all brothers.
Maverick, Axle, and Roman are laughing out loud as they read the thread.
“What’s so funny?” Tru wants to know.
“Club business,” Roman tells her with a wink.
She rolls her eyes. “Club business, schmivhness. I bet they’re discussing the sizes of their dicks,” she says to Honor.
Honor stares at her for a beat, then bursts out into a loud belly laugh, “You just say whatever’s on your mind, huh?”
The sound of her laughter hits me low in the gut and fills me with a feeling that’s warm… and dangerous to my heart.
“Sure,” Tru shrugs. “Less misunderstandings then.”
I bite back a chuckle. I’m not sure any of us expected the change that would happen in the club when Axle found Angel.
I can’t say I hate it. Tru and Janis are wild, but they aren’t bitches.
They’re straightforward and they say it like it is, much like their mother and aunt.
As far as I’m concerned, that isn’t a bad thing.
“Food’s ready,” Lala calls from the kitchen.
There’s mayhem as the brothers rush toward the kitchen. Another welcome change. Lala turns up more often than not and takes over the clubhouse kitchen, feeding the brothers and treating them like long-lost sons. Not even the whores cross her.
I look down at Honor, who is watching the chaos with a small smile on her face. I wonder what she’s thinking. We’re close enough that when I inhale, her vanilla scent wraps around me. My cock twitches. Jesus Christ, I really need to get a grip. I’m like a fucking, horny teenager.
Needing a distraction, I look down at Mason. He's content and Reed seems comfortable with Angel, so I don’t say anything when she takes him with her to the kitchen. Axle knows the drill. I’ve never had to worry about the boys when it comes to my brothers helping out.
I dip my head and ask, “You okay, Honor?”
She tilts her head up at me, blue eyes soft, and a smile curling her lips. “This is not what I expected when Jake told me you all were an MC.”
Frowning, I look around the clubhouse, trying to see it from her eyes. Ours is a little different to most I’ve been in, but that’s because Maverick is a rich fucker who doesn’t mind sharing that wealth.
We have comfortable couches scattered around, a massive TV and gaming console, as well as pool tables, a dart board, and a fully finished bar at one side as you walk in.
The kitchen and dining area are through an arch at the far side of the clubhouse.
Our outdoor area is off it, making barbecue days easier for whoever is catering.
The kitchen is a fully equipped, industrial kitchen.
There are several tables, all seating ten comfortably, but more leaves can be added to extend that by a further six people.
I suppose it’s not what most expect from a one-percent motorcycle club.
I’m not sure what she was expecting to find, so I ask, “What were you expecting?”
“Um...” Her cheeks flush, and she lowers her eyes. “Beer stains, smoke, loud rock music, scantily clad women, empty bottles lying around.”
Fuck, she’s too cute for words. She’s not wrong in that assumption, though.
There are clubs that are like that. Neither Maverick, nor I would have stood for it.
For those brothers who didn’t have homes built, this was their home, and we expected it to be treated as such.
That’s not to say that on party weekends all she described didn’t happen, because it did.
But we had the prospects clean, and Maverick had a cleaning company come in once a week.
Reaching out, I run a finger down her flushed cheek. She lifts her eyes to mine.
“I’m not going to lie. On party weekends, it’s a little like that. But otherwise, this is the brothers’ home. We expect them to treat it with the respect they’d give their own homes.”
Mason stirs in my arms. He’ll be waking soon and wanting something to eat. I take Honor’s hand, threading my fingers through hers. Her fingers curl around mine like they belong there. I tug her toward the kitchen.
“Come on. Let’s get you something to eat.”
“Okay. I’m not saying no to whatever food Lala’s brought with her.” She squeezes my hand. “It smells delicious.”
Fuck me. I’m done for. That little squeeze does more for me than anything else she could have done. I’m not sure if she realizes that since she arrived, she’s trusted me.
From the way she looked towards me for assurance earlier, and now holding my hand when I’m basically a stranger, does strange things to my heart.
I’m not sure what it says about us, but I want to see where it goes.
I’m willing to give her a week to get comfortable here, spend time with Axle and Angel.
And if I ignore the way I’m lying to myself then well, that’s only for me to know.
It doesn’t take more than ten minutes before I break the decision of giving her a week.