Shadow Chapter #2
Wrath’s explanation barely finished flowing from his mouth before I was standing.
“We’re not sleeping with Cambria! And I would never fool around with her and use her like she’s a bunny or a hanger.
She deserves better than that. As for sticking close, of course, we are.
She’s in a strange place, and we’re the only two she knows even a little.
She’s been stressed about coming here. There won’t be any hard feelings when she leaves.
” My stomach rolled when I mentioned her leaving.
Wrath shifted his gaze from me to Ryder. “What about you?”
“The same things that Shadow said. I’m not having sex with Cambria.
I’m trying to make her feel safe. Her entire world has been turned upside down.
As for no hard feelings when she leaves, I will say this.
I find her fascinating and gorgeous. I wouldn’t be opposed if something were to come out of being with her.
If she and I ended up together, I wouldn’t hate it, and I would do right by her. ”
As his words sank in, my anger rose to meet them and then rushed past. I wasn’t capable of keeping my mouth shut. I pivoted to face Ryder. He saw me move and did the same.
“You need to stay the fuck away from her. She doesn’t need you putting your moves on her.
You said you’d do right by her. How? By giving her a trinket when you dump her?
Or telling her that you’re just not good enough for her, so you’re letting her go?
Or by sleeping with her, yet still fucking any other bitch who catches your fancy? ” I barked.
“No, that’s not what I meant! And who are you to tell me to stay away from her?
You’re not better than me. Hell, you’re worse because you put her in this dangerous spot with your digging.
And if she gave me the green light, I wouldn’t need any other bitches.
I can be monogamous for the right woman,” he snarled. He took a step closer to me.
We were almost nose-to-nose, both glaring at each other. I knew I was barely holding back from taking a swing at him. Based on his scowl, Ryder was ready to punch me, too.
A sharp, ear-wincing whistle caused both of us to flinch and look at the source.
Wrath was standing with his arms crossed over his meaty chest. He wasn’t smiling.
Smoke and Rage had moved and were standing near us.
It became clear why they were here. Wrath had guessed our interest in Cambria and wanted muscle in case it got out of hand.
Wrath was tough and could fight, but if it became two against one, it might be tough to come out on top, even though he had been a Navy SEAL.
“Sit your asses down before I sit them down,” Wrath snapped.
Neither Ryder nor I wanted to be the first to back away, but after a few tense seconds, we eased apart. Cautiously, I retook my seat, never taking my gaze off Ryder.
“Christ, tell me I wasn’t like that,” our president muttered to the room in general.
“Worse,” Smoke and Rage said at the same time.
“Fuck. Alright, let’s try this again. To recap, neither of you has made a move on Cambria.
There’s no sex happening between any of you.
However, neither of you would be opposed to getting involved with her, and it would be for more than just getting your cocks wet and then done.
And the thought of anyone else thinking the same way about her pisses you off enough to fight your brothers. Did I miss anything?” Wrath asked.
He had been brief yet spot-on. Both of us nodded. I’d turned my head enough to see Wrath and still keep Ryder in my peripheral vision. That was how I knew he nodded, too.
“I’m not saying you can’t pursue anything with her, if it’s with the intention of making it more than a sexual conquest. She’s Brae’s friend.
Using her as a disposable lay is an insult I won’t tolerate, and neither will Rage nor Brae.
You wouldn’t want one of us to do that to your sister or close female friend.
Now, I’ve got to ask something, and I need you both to think before you answer, and to be totally honest with yourself and us.
” Wrath paused before continuing. He gave us a good fifteen seconds before he hit us with his question.
“Do either of you see yourself capable of developing lasting feelings for Cambria? And at this moment, do either of you feel consumed by thoughts of her to the point you find yourself daydreaming and dreaming about her at night? Does the mere thought of her have you so charged that you almost can’t stand it?
Do you want to spend every spare second with her?
Are you terrified someone will claim her out from underneath you?
Do you feel the need to beat every man who even shakes her hand or says hello to her, and warn them away from her?
Does she make you feel like electricity is running through your body?
Has your response to her so far been more than you’ve ever felt with any woman?
I want you to think those over, and then I want Ryder to answer first,” Pres concluded.
It was like he had been in my head, picking those out of my brain.
I didn’t have to think much about what he asked.
My answer to all of them was yes. It took restraint not to tell Ryder to hurry the hell up.
He was mulling it over. His face gave nothing away as far as what he concluded.
It felt like I waited an hour, though it was more like a couple of minutes.
I knew Ryder was done when he shifted in his chair and cleared his throat before saying anything.
“Wrath, I find Cambria physically attractive. I’d have to be blind not to.
However, she’s more than just a beautiful woman.
She’s smart, funny, and she can hold a conversation.
You know how rare that is in the women we meet.
Based on that, yes, given time, I do believe it’s possible to develop feelings for her.
Do I think about her a lot? Yes, but I’m not consumed like you mentioned, though that might develop.
There are definite physical signs that she gets to me.
I haven’t experienced the electricity you mentioned, but again, it could develop.
I like the time I spend with her. However, I also want time away.
I’m not thrilled about other guys making a play for her, but I don’t need to beat them simply for looking at, speaking to, or touching her.
As for the last part about feeling more for her than any other woman I’ve ever known, I don’t know. ”
Each of his answers made me want to tell him to stay away from her. He wasn’t serious about her and never would be. When Ryder finished, I saw Wrath simply nod before shifting his gaze to me and speaking.
“Shadow, your turn. I know that this is harder for you. You like to remain in the shadows, observing and rarely sharing, but I need you to be honest.”
“I plan to do that, Pres. First, of course, Cambria is physically beautiful and alluring. I’m a man with eyes.
But her beauty and body are only a part of her.
It might be what initially caught my eye, but it’s not what makes her what she is to me.
As Ryder said, she’s smart, we have common interests, we can talk for hours on various subjects, and you know, I’m not much of a talker.
She makes me laugh, sometimes frustrated, but never bored.
I keep wanting to learn more and more about her.
I believe I’ve already developed lasting feelings for her in several ways.
“I think about her constantly. She’s the first thought when I wake up and the last when I fall asleep.
I have to concentrate to keep my mind off her during the day when I should be doing other things.
I worry about her. The thought of her being out of my sight and something happening to her drives me wild.
I dream about her. As for the electricity you mentioned, it’s electricity, fire, and lightning combined, and it shoots throughout my body.
I’m content to simply be with her in the same room, even if we never say a word.
I could do it for hours without feeling that I’m missing anything or anyone.
If she prefers being in the light, then I’ll go there with her.
“As for other men showing interest in her in any way, I want to be civilized about it, but the urge to beat the hell out of them and tell them she’s mine is intense.
Lastly, without a doubt, I feel more for her than any woman, ever.
And it shocks the fuck out of me that I’m saying this after only meeting her forty-eight hours ago.
But truthfully, it started the moment I came across her trail, and she flagged in my system.
And no, it’s not merely because she intrigued me that way, though it is part of it.
I can’t fully put into words what she does to me and makes me want to be. ”
There was utter silence after I finished. I tried to guess what Wrath thought, but he wore his somber face. Ryder gave me an incredulous stare. Smoke seemed surprised. Rage wore what I took to be a satisfied look. It was Ryder, though, who broke the silence. He addressed me.
“Shadow, goddamn, how can you feel and think all those things and not explode? Jesus, compared to you, I have barely a passing crush on Cambria. And honestly, I don’t see myself ever being the way you described with anyone.
As much as I like her, I won’t experience those things with her.
If you are like this now, and it’ll grow, then I’m clearly not right for her.
I’d never use her, but I can’t give her all that,” Ryder admitted.
I wasn’t given time to enjoy him bowing out.
“Man, in all the years I’ve known you, that’s the most I’ve ever heard you say,” Smoke stated.
“You’re vulnerable, Shadow, which I’ve never seen.
Even as a kid on the street, you never showed this depth of exposure.
You’ve always been closed off. And I understood, after what you experienced, that it might be hard for you to express yourself or even deal with emotions.
I knew that when I brought you home to live with us,” Rage added.
When Rage was done giving me a proud look, I shifted my gaze back to Wrath, waiting for his feedback.
He made me wait almost a minute, which was excruciating.
Even though Ryder had backed out of the competition to win Cambria, which is how I saw it, I wanted to know what Wrath thought.
Not only was he my president and club brother, but he was the closest thing I had to a blood brother.
He and Rage saved my life when they took me in.
It was doubtful I’d be here today if it weren’t for them.
“Shadow, brother, you’re so open right now.
I’ve never known you to be this exposed, even when we were growing up—Dad’s right.
You had a wall around you even then, but we didn’t care.
Over time, we knew how you felt about us, then about the club, and now about our friends and families.
You didn’t have to say the words. But wow, you can say them. And I’ve got to say this.
“Dad and I are the only men with old ladies in this club. We’ve tried to put into words what Jalisa and Betty mean to us.
What you just said was exactly what we feel.
The way you’re talking and your feelings about Cambria are what we have for our women.
It hits like lightning and takes you over, but you don’t ever want it to stop.
You want it forever. It’s clear. Shadow is more than likely falling in love with Cambria.
Ryder, you could care for her, but that’s all.
“The only question is, can she develop these same emotions and passion for Shadow? The only way to know is to give it time. I need to say this, Shadow. If she ends up not wanting to be with you, then you have to walk away, no matter how much it hurts. You can’t force someone to want and love you.
That’s not who we are. You need to be prepared for that, but I say go for it and see what happens.
You’ll never regret it, no matter the outcome. ”
I sat there, letting what Wrath said sink in.
There were more words along the same line from Rage, and then murmurs from Smoke and Ryder.
I know I answered them, but I couldn’t tell you what I said.
All I was able to do was think about what to do to win Cambria’s heart.
I had no clue how long it would take me to do it.