Chapter TwelveAinsley
Laying in Reese’s arms felt more right than anything I’d ever experienced. I felt safe and desired and beautiful. When I turned on my side, he spooned me just like the heroes always did in my favorite romance novels. His big body pressed into mine, a wall of solid muscle and strength.
Whatever else I’d expected, it wasn’t this explosive passion. He chinned some of my hair aside and nuzzled my neck. Goosebumps rose along my skin. I shivered, sighing dreamily. He splayed his huge hand over my belly, and I knew he was thinking about the baby.
“I don’t have a doctor yet,” I said, giddy and lost in a haze. “I wasn’t sure who to ask since Roman takes care of everything. If I went to my regular doctor, she’d rat me out. We can always choose one together, Reese.”
Sighing, he moved his hand away and gently pushed me out of his arms.
“Get dressed, Ainsley. We aren’t a couple. We’re having a kid together. That’s it.”
“What?”
Reese got to his feet. It dawned on me that he was fully dressed. He hadn’t even removed his boots, while I’d shed my clothes with abandon. He tossed my jeans and underwear at me.
“Put your fucking clothes on and go . Give me your number so I can unblock you.”
“You don’t have my number anymore?”
He shrugged. “I deleted it.”
“I see.”
That cut me deeply. He’d wanted to erase me from his life with such totality that he didn’t even want my number in his contact list. Swallowing, I glanced around.
Reese’s bedroom was rugged but surprisingly comfortable, despite its rough masculinity. The large, industrial-style window framed a view of the river, breathtaking even from my spot on the bed.
The walls were made of exposed brick, and their deep red and brown hues gave the space a gritty, lived-in feel. His steel-framed bed sat against one wall, the dark leather headboard worn from years of use. The bedding was simple but comfortable—a thick, slightly rumpled black and gray comforter, and an extra throw blanket, stitched with the club’s emblem. I couldn’t see the sheets since he hadn’t bothered to pull the covers down.
A heavy wooden dresser held a few personal items—a flask, a collection of lighters, and several photos. Motorcycle helmets, a leather jacket, and a pair of well-worn boots rested near the doorway.
Reese’s voice broke into my contemplation. “Call me tomorrow and we’ll meet one day next week.”
“But—”
“I’ll ask the chick I’m fucking if she knows of an obstetrician.”
Since Roman’s accident, I’d cried buckets. I didn’t have any tears left in me. Even if Reese was a motherfucker.
He thrust his fingers through his hair. “Don’t fucking look at me like that. I didn’t make you any promises.”
I got to my feet and pulled on my panties. “I didn’t ask for any, so fuck you.” I jerked on my jeans, then looked around for my wedges. “I’ll find my own fucking doctor, dickhead. Don’t ask that bitch anything on my account.”
“That’s nice. You don’t even know the woman.”
“I know you . She has to be a bitch since you’re the fucking cunt.”
A dark look settled into his face. Not caring, I flipped him off and opened my mouth to call him whatever name popped into my head.
Before I could, Nova barged in. “How could you, Ainsley?” she cried, red-faced and furious; bruises and cuts marred her face. “I’m suffering and you’re in here fucking.” She raised her cell phone and snapped a photo, then showed it to me. “This is the memento of where your loyalties lay. I’ll look at it for the rest of my life and know the truth. You aren’t a real friend! If you were, you would’ve saved me from having to watch Louisiana leave with her .”
“How the fuck do you know what a real friend is since you’ve never shown yourself as one?” I snarled, fed up with her even more than I was Reese.
She took a step toward me, but Reese inserted himself between us.
“Jinx is Louisiana’s wife, Nova. Obviously, he’s chosen her. You set yourself up for this bullshit by bringing your ass to the club. What the fuck you aren’t doing is blaming Ainsley and you’re sure the fuck not running up on her.”
Folding her arms, she lifted her chin and ignored Reese. “Take me home, Ainsley. I’m not spending the night at your place. You’re too much of a pathetic cunt for my company. I hope you choke on your vomit.”
Reese frowned and looked at me. “You’re sick?”
“Thanks to your cum,” Nova said viciously. “Which you completely deserve. How the fuck do you fuck once and end up with a baby in your belly, stupid?”
“Nova, I’m losing fucking patience with you,” Reese snarled.
“As if I give a fuck!”
“You fucking should. There’s only one cunt in here.” Reese glared at me again. “And I’m looking at her, Nova. You’re pathetic, needy, desperate, and whiny. I wouldn’t fuck you with another motherfucker’s cock. I can’t imagine what Louisiana saw in you.”
“It isn’t what he saw,” Nova said coldly. “It’s what he felt and what I gave him. Young pussy and good head.” She smiled at me, then winked at Reese. “Try it for yourself and find out.”
“I’d prefer hacking my cock off with a slipknot than putting it anywhere near you. Listen well. If you keep fucking with Ainsley, you’ll also be dead.”
His strident defense unwillingly impressed me. I wished I could’ve pushed away my amazement and appreciation, but it settled into me and wouldn’t let go.
“Reese?” One of the guys who’d been outside when we arrived peeked in. His gaze fell on Nova and relief flooded him. “We’ve been searching all over for her.”
“I’m beating the fuck out of you,” Reese barked. “No one comes upstairs unless they are with a member.”
“I’m sorry,” the guy said. “We were helping Louisiana with Jinx because she was still fighting him so bad. We had to get her in the back of the van because he didn’t want her to jump out of a car or off his bike.” He pointed at Nova. “In the midst of that, she disappeared.”
Reese stormed to him and knocked him on the side of his head. “One of you should’ve kept eyes on her at all times! I don’t give a fuck what the fuck else you have to do. You don’t allow a strange bitch to be alone in the fucking club.”
“I’m sorry!”
“You sure the fuck are, Chi Chi.”
“Razor and them are on the way back.” He gave Reese a pleading look. I almost felt sorry for him. “Don’t tell him about my mistake. He said if I fucked up one more time, that was my ass.”
Not caring to hearing about their club business, I spied my wedges, so I scooped them up, sat on the edge of Reese’s bed and started putting them on. Nova took a step toward me, but Reese snatched her and shoved her away.
We both blinked at him.
“I was just going to apologize to her,” she said, staring at him.
“You’re not doing anything except staying the fuck away from her.”
“You don’t have any say,” she told him. “She’s my best friend.”
“I’d hate to see your fucking enemies,” I grouched. “You don’t get to shit on me, then fucking apologize because you’ve gotten over your anger. Nor do you get to run to that fuckhead maniac and have him beat the shit out of me because you’re his daughter until he decides you’re his fucking punching bag!”
Nova paled. I didn’t give a fuck. I was so done with her.
“I’ll take you to the fucking clubhouse gates since you came with me. Boom Boom isn’t there, so I’m safe. But lose my fucking number. Don’t call me.”
“The next time he’ll kill us.”
I jumped to my feet. “Simple,” I said with a stomp of my foot to emphasize my point. “Don’t tell him that our friendship is over.”
“He asked me about you after our argument at your place, Ains. I swear I was respecting your wishes, then he wanted to know why you hadn’t been around and why I wasn’t at the house helping you with Roman.”
Reese snatched a set of keys from his nightstand. “Come on. I’ll escort you to the clubhouse so you can drop her off.”
We both looked at him.
“We have to leave. Razor will arrive soon.”
“Razor?” I asked.
“My president,” Reese answered. “I don’t feel like explaining why you two are here. No, fuck. I couldn’t explain it, so don’t fucking argue. Get your shit and let’s roll out.”
I didn’t want to meet his president either. Everything was in such an upheaval, I still didn’t know who knew my actual identity. Roman was somewhere, though I didn’t know his exact location. Besides, if I got into trouble, it wasn’t as if he could hop on his bike and ride to me.
“Whatever,” I spat and stormed past that motherfucker and that bitch AKA my baby daddy and my former friend.