Cambria Chapter 10
Another two fruitless days without progress. Despite the work Crusher, Shadow, Wire, and I did, none of us had succeeded in discovering how my true identity was leaked. We’d been over all of Shadow’s footsteps and nothing. We went through mine, and the same thing.
Meanwhile, the news was spreading on the dark web, and those who were the fanatical followers of Garen continued to spew their venom and threats at me. I knew I shouldn’t read it. Shadow told me not to, but it was impossible. God, the vileness they supported made me sick to my stomach.
I’d distracted myself as much as I could with my real work.
I finished off another redesign of an updated network for one of my longtime clients.
She was delighted with it and sang my praises, which made me feel good.
She was good about spreading the word about my work.
If I were lucky, I’d get another referral out of this.
I didn’t advertise anymore. My growth was due to word of mouth.
I’d talked to Brae on the phone this afternoon.
She was anxious to know how I was doing.
Things had been busy, so I hadn’t told her about Shadow and me.
When I did, she almost burst my eardrum with the squeal she let loose.
She grilled me to be sure I wasn’t lying.
When I convinced her it was real, she gloated about how she knew there were bikers out there who would make me fall for them.
She was anxious to come for a visit or have us go to Hunters Creek.
I wanted the same thing. I missed her. I was able to give her an update on Mora.
I’d begun gathering actual proof. When it was all compiled, I’d send it to her in electronic and physical formats.
However, all that was to be forgotten for the night.
It was Friday. We were at the clubhouse.
I was anxious to see if the woman who chased Shadow last week would be here.
If she were, then I planned to have that conversation with her.
I wasn’t usually one to get physical with people, but I knew how to throw a punch and defend myself.
After what happened with Garen, I ensured that.
But if I hadn’t, Jalisa had checked with me to be sure.
She’d been prepared to teach me. I hugged her when she offered. It was great to have more friends.
Shadow cautioned me not to be disappointed if she didn’t come.
I told him I was prepared. To give myself even more confidence, I dressed up more than usual.
Jalisa had helped me put this outfit together.
The maroon leather pants were mine. My top half was covered, or partially covered, by a cream-colored corset top she lent me.
Her pants were too short for me, even though we both had curves.
This time, I wore my black strappy three-inch heels.
Unlike many shoes like this, this pair had a thicker heel piece, making them easy to walk in. No danger of me falling on my ass.
My hair was in a messy bun on top of my head.
I planned not to give the woman a weapon to use against me.
My jewelry wasn’t anything large or flashy, for the same reason.
But with my makeup, I’d gone very dark and glam.
The whistles and the way Shadow couldn’t keep his hands off me the moment he saw how I was dressed told me I’d hit the mark.
His request to blow off the clubhouse was denied.
I wanted this to be over as soon as possible.
I swore if she wasn’t there, and after an hour with everyone, I’d come back to his place.
That was another change. On Thursday, he came into the guesthouse and told me I was moving. He said it was ridiculous for his woman to stay in it when he had a house, and I was needed by his side. I’d relented. It didn’t take much to get my possessions packed and then shifted over.
Walking into the clubhouse, I automatically surveyed my surroundings even though it was too early for the bunnies and hangers to be here.
It was eight-thirty. All the guys were there and having fun.
Some played darts, watched the big screen, or played pool.
Greetings were shouted and returned. I smiled when Ryder came up and put his arm around my neck. He placed a chaste kiss on my cheek.
“How is it you keep getting more beautiful every time I see you? Don’t tell me this guy is putting that smile on your face,” he teased.
“Don’t be jealous, Ryder. Those personal ads will be posted soon, then you’ll have women fighting to be with you,” Crusher yelled at him.
“Personal ads?” I asked, totally confused.
Shadow snickered as Ryder groaned and muttered.
“Please, God, no. We’re not doing that. Can you imagine what kind of women we’ll get?”
“Hey, don’t forget, there will be men too. Not everyone is into strictly the ladies,” Forge said.
Whoa, did that mean Forge was gay? Not that there was anything wrong with it.
I just hadn’t known. Catching my startled look, Forge winked but didn’t elaborate.
Now I was dying to know if he or anyone else was gay or bisexual.
Shadow had told me about some of the couplings and trios in their friends’ clubs.
“Okay, tell us. Who’s writing up your ads, and where are you placing them? When did you decide to do this?” Betty asked.
“We were talking a while back about how some of us want to be like Rage and Wrath. We’re not enjoying the standard different woman every night scenario.
But where can we go to meet women? We don’t want to use online dating sites.
At the bar, we’ll meet the same people who come here.
And the ones who hang here aren’t the right kind.
Someone joked about the old personal ads that were in newspapers.
It grew from there. We thought we’d each write our own.
As for where to post, we haven’t decided yet,” Chains explained.
I exchanged a look with her and Jalisa. I nibbled on my bottom lip. Should I say something? Jalisa beat me to it.
“Listen, don’t take this the wrong way, but you need to let us read through what you plan to post. To get the right person, it has to stick with them. You don’t want it to attract more of the same,” Jalisa told them.
“That’s right. No skanks allowed,” Betty added.
The look on her face made us laugh, and then we shared our backgrounds and dating horrors.
There were some wild stories. We talked about possible places to post the ads.
Time flew, and then, as if a switch was flipped, the door opened.
I checked the clock over the bar. It was ten-fifteen, and in walked not only the three bunnies but six other women.
I scanned them and tensed up when I spotted the woman I was going to speak to.
She was checking out the room. I knew the moment she spotted Shadow. At this moment, we weren’t next to each other. He’d excused himself to go to the bathroom, and then, upon his return, he got caught by Nomad. A determined, avaricious expression came over her face.
I was across the room at the pool table with Jalisa.
She and I were competing to see who was the better pool player.
Before he went to the bathroom, Shadow, Ryder, Wrath, Eagle, and Fury had been watching and giving us ongoing commentary.
They cracked us up. However, with the entry of the hangers and bunnies, the wisecracks stopped.
Everyone had heard that I was planning to lay down the law with the one woman, and any others who happened to overhear it, all the better.
Shadow’s eyes met mine from across the room.
He nodded and winked. I blew him a kiss.
The woman was bearing down on him. I started to work my way over to them.
I sped up when I saw she had reached him.
Nomad moved a couple of steps closer to them and listened unabashedly.
Shadow frowned and was talking to her, shaking his head.
She attempted to place her hands on his chest, but he pushed them away.
I was three feet away when their voices became audible.
The common room was unnaturally quiet, but the woman didn’t notice.
“Shadow, I don’t understand why you keep telling me no. We were good together, but it can be even better. Since that night, I have come here exclusively for you. Why are you lying about having an old lady? I know you don’t have one,” she said snidely.
His right eyebrow hiked up. “Oh, really? And how do you know I don’t?”
I hung back to see what she would say.
“The girls you have here, the ones you call club bunnies, told us that only Wrath and Rage have old ladies. After last weekend, I asked Silk who had them again. She said those two. She said there hasn’t been a woman running around here with a property cut with your name on it.
Why are you lying to me?” Her voice rose at the end, indicating she was becoming upset. It was time to clarify things for her.
I eased past her and pressed myself to Shadow’s side. His arm raised when I got close, so his arm ended up around my shoulders. His smile was dazzling and sexy when he peered down at me.
“Hello, my dark angel. I missed you,” he purred.
My body woke up, and jolts of awareness shot through me. I had to remind my body that this wasn’t the time for this.
“Hello, my darksome night. I missed you more,” I replied.
My voice was sultry. His arm tightened a smidge.
I had on my heels, which gave me enough height that all I had to do to reach his mouth was press up on my tiptoes.
He immediately lowered his head. I grasped him behind the neck with one hand and held him in place as I took his mouth the way he did mine most of the time.
It was not a PG kiss. There was tongue and teeth involved.
By the time we stopped and parted, we were both breathing heavily, and our bodies were ready for sex.
I knew that if mine was this intensely needy, his must be, too.
Then, I slid my gaze around, and it landed on the hanger.
I smirked. “He most certainly has a woman. I might not have a property cut, but I’m one hundred percent his.
And Shadow is one hundred percent mine. I’d appreciate it if you’d adhere to the rules.
I know that you were told them after you began coming here.
A strict rule is that there are no hands to be placed on or propositioning of men in committed relationships.
Last weekend, you didn’t know about me. I can partially forgive that.
But you broke another rule when you continued harassing him after he told you he wasn’t interested and had me. ”
“You’ve never been here before last weekend. I would’ve noticed. Silk said she has no idea who you are. What’s your name?” she snapped.
“Silk hasn’t met me. None of the bunnies or hangers like you have. As for my name, it’s Cambria. What’s yours?” I countered.
She hesitated a moment, then answered me. “It’s Eliza. And I have the prior claim to Shadow. He and I started a relationship months ago. I don’t know what he’s telling you, but you need to get away from him.”
Her tone told me she believed she had the right to do it. Eliza moved closer. Shadow put up his hand.
“I don’t know where the hell you come off claiming we’re in any kind of relationship, or that I’m yours.
Yes, much to my regret, I did allow you to give me a blow job one night while I diddled you off, but I haven’t touched you since.
It was a tension release. And if you’re coming here as a hanger, you know the score. It’s only sex.
“Silk is mistaken, but it isn’t her fault.
I haven’t made the announcement yet. I was waiting for Cambria’s property cut to come, which I ordered a few days ago.
I wanted to surprise her when I presented it to her and the club.
Cambria is my old lady, and I don’t step out on her.
” He finished off with a slight growl to his voice.
This announcement caused a stir in the other hangers and the bunnies.
Shock, regret, and even anger were evident on their faces.
My stomach fluttered at the news that Shadow was claiming me officially.
Overcome with joy, I twisted until I fully faced him, placing Eliza at my back.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hopped.
Shadow knew what I wanted. His hands caught my ass cheeks and held me as I wrapped my legs around him.
“Hell, yeah!”
“You go, Cambria.”
“Show them who has him.”
Those were shouted along with claps and whistles.
I attacked his lips. This kiss was even hotter than the prior one.
I ached between my legs. My nipples were rock hard.
I thrust my tongue in his mouth, toyed with his tongue, and bit his lips.
I writhed against his hard body. Shadow’s hands were kneading my ass, and his tongue and teeth weren’t passive.
I reluctantly parted our mouths. “Shadow, I need to finish educating, then I want you to take me home and make love to me all night,” I whispered.
He growled, then whispered back, “Twilight, I’ll gladly make love to you all night and every night for the rest of our lives. Finish this up.”
Shadow lowered me to my feet after patting my ass. I took a moment to compose myself before I turned to face Eliza. She was so red in the face, I wondered if she was about to stroke out. Fire blazed in her eyes, too.
“I believe that proves who I am and who Shadow wants. This is your only warning, Eliza. Stay away from him and all the other claimed men. And if the single guys say no, then accept it and back off. This applies to everyone, bunnies or hangers who choose to come here. Violate it again, and next time you’ll face the bunny bonfire. Don’t force me to go that far.”
A frustrated shriek came out of her throat. “You think you’re something, but I’m warning you. Shadow will be mine. He’ll get bored with you, and when he does, I’ll be the one there to console and fuck him. He’ll forget your name,” she hissed.
My arm was in motion before my brain knew it.
I lashed out and punched Eliza in the gut.
When she gasped and bent over, clutching her stomach, I added to it by thrusting my knee up in her face.
Her howl of pain as her nose broke didn’t bother me.
I would’ve done more, but Shadow wrapped me in his arms.
“That’s enough. She’s been warned and has a big reminder. Eliza, I will never be with you or anyone else. Stay away from me. It’s for your own good.”
Without another word or waiting to see if she would leave, Shadow swept me toward the door.
Everyone was calling out to wish us a good night.
I was complimented on my moves and assured that they’d ensure she was escorted off the compound.
As soon as we were outside, I pushed all thoughts of her away.
My only job was to focus on the man holding me. I would claim him just as he did me.