Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Stella
“Are you sure about this?” I ask, staring at the doors of the clubhouse. I’ll never know how I allowed Angel to talk me into coming here.
I’m not even sure I know what made me show him the ultrasound image.
But the look on Angel’s face after he saw it, melted the barrier that I’ve been trying desperately to keep in place between us.
Sure, some would think it’s only because of the baby that he’s acting this way; however, I know better.
Angel’s not one for lying. He doesn’t say anything he doesn’t mean, and I think that’s what scares me more than anything.
I’ve been at his mercy for far longer than anyone knows.
Mainly since I first met Angel years ago when Asher joined the club, something about him drew me to him. But I knew he didn’t see me.
“Yeah, baby,” Angel chuckles, “come on let’s get inside. I know your brother wants to see you.”
“That’s what I was afraid of,” I mumble and lick my bottom lip nervously.
“Stella.” Squatting down, Angel gets eye level with me and reaches out to stroke the back of his fingers along my cheek.
“The past is done and over with. He’s trying to get past it, but he can’t do it without your help.
Let it go, Love. It’s time to heal from that day.
You’re with me and he knows it. Hellhound knows I’m gonna protect you and that I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe. ”
My heart skips a beat then another as Angel shreds any part of the wall I’d been building that could still be in place.
“Fine,” I whisper, holding his gaze only to roll my eyes at the smile that forms on his kissable lips. “Don’t give me that look. I’ll go back home.”
“No, you won’t,” he snorts, cocking his head slightly and leans in to capture my mouth in a mouthwatering kiss that leaves me aching for more.
“Whatever,” I mutter and lean my head back with a sigh. “Let’s get this over with. I’m sure he’s got something to say about me being pregnant.”
Angel stands and steps back enough for me to climb out. Taking my hand, he pulls me into his side as he shuts my door. “You’re gonna be fine, Stella,” he murmurs reassuringly and presses a kiss to my temple.
“Yeah, and Jack the Ripper wasn’t a serial killer,” I mutter as I let him guide me away from my car and to the clubhouse. My entire body nearly shaking with nerves.
“Baby, no reason to get sarcastic on me,” he grunts, shaking his head. I tilt my head back enough to meet his gaze only to find him staring at me in amusement. I give him a roll of my eyes making him chuckle more. “Keep looking cute, Stella, and I’ll end up fuckin’ you again.”
I clench my thighs together at the mere mention of him doing so.
The image of him hovering over me, taking me, giving me such pleasure only he can give.
The very fact my body still aches in a good way for him should speak volumes in itself.
Angel has a way in bed. There’s only one word to describe him—insatiable. I can’t get enough of him either.
That doesn’t mean I’m not scared out of my mind of the two of us being together.
Of him in general. Not in a scary way, but because my heart belongs to the very man who he is.
Sometimes over the years since I got back from Ireland, the times I’ve seen him, I’ve noticed the dark glimmer in his eyes.
One of sadness. My brother once told me like us, a lot of his brothers have lost so much.
I didn’t really get it until Ivy, Sutton, and Isabelle brought me into their fold, and Ivy explained how Reaper and Angel lost their entire family.
Sutton told me about Tombstone’s wife he lost. Isabelle’s situation is even more mind-boggling, but I’m happy for her.
She’s finally with the brothers who thought they lost their sister for good.
Everything happens for a reason; I remember my own mom telling me when I was just a girl. She said, ‘No matter the future or the past, it’s the present that counts. You make the best of the here and now because in the end everything has a purpose in the tomorrow.’
Angel gives me a squeeze, pulling me out of my thoughts as he opens the door. I release a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding until I step through the threshold.
We barely step inside when Asher—well, Hellhound to everyone, but I can never see him as anything but who he really is to me.
He’s always been Asher. Growing up, I used to call him Ashy since I couldn’t pronounce my R’s right.
Asher would even help me with my words teaching me alongside our parents.
Never has he been anything but a big brother to me and yet I screwed up so long.
Angel pulls me tighter to him as Asher comes closer. With him standing just in front of me, I notice the swirls in his dark eyes.
“Is it true?” he asks, crossing his arms, seeming all the bigger—like the big bad wolf.
“Brother, back up some and quit with the intimidation bullshit,” Angel mutters. “She don’t need you getting in her face.”
Butterflies flutter around in my stomach making me all the more nervous about what’s between us.
If there’s one thing I know about the men like Angel and my brother, they’re not liars.
They’re also very protective of those they care for or see as family.
Lastly, when they say something, they mean every word and don’t go back on it.
It’s how they are and there’s nothing that will or could change that.
My brother looks from me to Angel then back to me once more, his eyes swirling with emotions.
From the looks of his features I can tell he’s clenching his jaw, probably grinding his back teeth.
It’s what he’s always done, even years ago.
Without taking his gaze off me, Asher . .
. well, Hellhound, steps back a pace or two and points a finger at me.
“Don’t know whatever the hell is going on between the two of you.” He motions between Angel and me. “But I’ll tell you right fuckin’ now, Stella, I’m not letting you run away. Not when we’re all each other has left.”
“But you have Isabelle and the club,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
“Doesn’t matter.” He narrows his gaze to little slits. “We’re family and I don’t want to go another year . . . two years or even more without you in my everyday life.”
Tears well in my eyes, threatening to spill. God, why do I have to be emotional? I’m not one for crying. I hate it. It makes me feel weak and shows me as some vulnerable weakling.
“How about you all leave the women to talk and come into church?” Reaper asks, eyeing me closely before looking to his brothers.
“We’ve got shit to talk about.” Behind him Scythe and Styxx make their way to the doors leading to the room they all meet.
I never understood the term of church. I mean why?
But it’s never been my place to ask. Maybe I will one day.
“Be there in a minute,” Angel says, pulling me closer.
“Go ahead,” I murmur, needing a moment away from him anyway. Both him and Asher. My emotions are all over the place, and I need to just breathe for a moment without the male testosterone overwhelming me.
“Stella.” There’s a slight warning in his voice that sends a chill down my spine. Like he seems to know I’m dealing with inner turmoil.
“Seriously, Angel, go ahead. I’ll be here. I’m not going to run off and hide. I’ll hang out with Isabelle and the rest of the girls until you’re done.” Hopefully, the smile I give him reassures him that I’ll be okay. At least for the time being.
“We’ll discuss this later,” he grunts, leaning down to press his forehead to mine . . . audience be damned.
With a scorching kiss that leaves my toes curling and me wanting to wrap myself around him like he were a tree branch, he releases me to go deal with club business.
I avoid my brother’s gaze as he follows, leaving me along with Isabelle.
“Come on, let’s go find the rest of the girls,” Isabelle says, hooking her arm with mine. “You can tell us how things came about with you and Angel.”
“Great,” I mumble, making her giggle.
Together we walk down the hall to Ivy and Reaper’s room. Inside I nearly stumble at the sight of Juniper and the angry glint in her eye. She quickly hides it, though, as the rest start in on me demanding to know about Angel and me.
“I guess we’ll have to be pregnant together,” Sutton comments, cocking her head to the side slightly. “Well that makes three of us being pregnant at the same time.”
“Oh God, this is going to be interesting.” Josephine snickers and leans back against the bed, holding one of the twins. “Just think, within the next three months, three more babies will be here. Sutton and Tombstone’s kid, Isabelle and Hellhound’s, and Stella’s with Angel. This is great.”
“Yeah, just great,” Juniper sneers. “What? Do we have to get knocked up in order to be with one of these men?” The look she gives me is one of hatred. “Is that how you got Angel?”
“That’s uncalled for, Juniper,” Ivy snaps. “Apologize to Stella.”
“Why?” Juniper snaps back. “Why do I need to apologize for questioning her on how she trapped a man knowing good and well he didn’t want her? I’m betting that baby isn’t even his.”
“And how would you know?” I stiffen, not about to allow her to accuse me of something I didn’t do. “You are so hard up trying to get with him and everyone else that none of them even want to touch your ass.”
“Says the woman who pouts at the sight of a man talking to a woman, one who can give him what he wants,” Juniper says, eyeing me up and down.
“Juniper, I think you need to leave before someone hears you talking smack about Stella,” Ivy states firmly. “When you calm down and get your head right, we’ll talk. But when we do, you’ll be apologizing.”
“That won’t happen,” Juniper spits, giving me one last look, and storms past, making sure to slam her shoulder into mine as she goes past.
I turn and watch her as she stomps away before looking at the others, furrowing my brow. I don’t know what that was about, but I’ve got a feeling it’s not over. Juniper is mad, and I know she’s going to take it out on me.