Chapter 4 Smoke
four
Smoke
"How do you do it?"
Ace watches the roll of the slot machine far too closely, like he can memorize the pattern they land. "How do I do what?"
"How do you let Penny near other guys?" My brows pinch together as I sit in front of my untouched machine. I've already lost two hundred bucks, but what happened earlier feels like of much bigger loss. "How do you not... scare her?"
I think that's what I've done to Bunny. I got too lost in my head, too caught up in the moment. If it weren't for the realization that any of the security staff could see Bunny in a way that would make me want to slit their throats, I would've lost myself in her even more.
My brother has far more experience with women than I do. Sure, he hasn't met any of them that brought out his ugly side as Penny does, but he's been with her for a handful of weeks now. When he's not here with me, he's with her and her daughter.
"Oh, uh..." He drags his eyes toward me and grimaces. "Wait, why are we talking about this?" His brows suddenly shoot up. "Fuck, did you finally meet someone?"
My frown grows, and my ears heat up instantly. "Just answer the question."
No longer interested in his machine, he leans back and lets out a low chuckle. "Penny's not scared of me because she loves me. Plus..." He starts grinning, and I suddenly find him punchable. "I think she likes it when I get a little jealous. When I pounce, she gets wild with it."
His words catch me off guard. While I have no doubt what I had clawing at my chest earlier was jealousy, the concept of someone liking that doesn't make much sense.
"Bunny—"
"Bunny?" Ace gasps and giggles as he claps his hands like a damn seal. "No fucking way. We're talking about the chick who scares you, that Bunny?"
She doesn't scare me. Maybe intimidates me a little, but I'm not about to tell him that.
My glare doesn't affect him in the slightest.
"Oh, man. That chick is going to eat you alive. You need to start smaller if you're trying to jump into the dating game. Work your way up to her level. I mean, have you seen that woman?"
I don't know whether to be insulted by him or disgusted by the thought of looking at anyone but Bunny.
God, is it really that unbelievable? We are dating. Kind of. I think.
Hard to tell if we're still anything after she ran off like that.
"I don't want any other woman, though." Admitting the words out loud, I flush at his snort and immediately hit his arm. "You think she's out of my league then?"
I already know the answer, and my scowl only grows when he looks me up and down and squints. Such an asshole.
"I mean, maybe? Your nose is a little crooked from how many times you've broken it. Could be the beard. Please, trust me, don't think about shaving it."
"I hate you."
He grins, his eyes twinkling. "You're a terrible liar.
Always have been." Rolling his shoulders, he frowns as he watches his money trickle away before letting the machine roll again.
"Don't think I'm the best person to tell you if you're attractive to her or not.
Why not just ask her? She looks pretty willing to tell you if she likes what she sees or not. "
That's the problem, though. If I ask her and she says exactly what I think she will, I'm fucked.
Because of her, I know what it's like to enjoy touching a woman.
Kissing one. So if she doesn't like what she sees and wants nothing else to do with me once we're done here, what in the hell am I going to do?
Last night, I shamelessly fisted my cock to the few kisses we've shared, to that feel of her melting against my front. Even worse, I didn't even last more than a couple of pumps.
"Do I want to know what you're thinking?"
Thumping my head back against the seat, I don't bother holding back my frustrated curse. "Nope."
I'd consider asking any of the other club members for advice, but there aren't too many of them tied down.
Losing once more, he sighs heavily before abandoning his machine. "Well, stop thinking about that and help me pick out a new game. I need to feel like a winner again before it gets too late."
Maybe if we hunker down at a table, I can distract myself long enough to stop thinking about her. To find some relief and think about something else for once.
The thought's too hopeful, and I'm a fool for thinking I can last long without her crossing my mind again.
Once it's time to meet up with Bunny, Ace gets all cheeky when I tell him that I've promised her a ride home. He cracks a joke about getting past first base.
I don't even know what that means.
"We could ride together." Using the kind of smirk he knows I hate, he bumps my hip with his elbow. "Now this is a sight I've got to see."
If I want to get another goodnight kiss out of Bunny, in hopes of making the air a little lighter between us, there's no way in hell I'm going to allow my brother to meddle and stop it from happening.
"Fuck off." Shooing him toward the entrance of the casino, I can't deny the way my skin burns when he claps me on the shoulder. He's the younger one out of the two of us, so why in the hell does he seem so proud?
Thankfully, he takes the hint and heads out first.
Moving as casually as I can, there's no denying the way I try to search for Bunny. Hoping to catch her before she clocks out, even if it's just as an excuse to walk alongside her, disappointment hits me when I don't hear her intoxicating giggles.
Not seeing her anywhere on the floor, I assume she's getting dressed. Heading to the same spot right next to the door, I wait for her. Seeing people go in and out reassures me that she's not alone.
I don't think she'd take too kindly to me suggesting that she let me watch over her when she's most defenseless. I don't think any of the other women would appreciate it, either.
Running a hand down my face, I groan inwardly.
Now that I think about it, I could stand in a room full of naked women and wouldn't feel a single thing.
All I've got to do is think about Bunny struggling to untie that corset and her blinking those long eyelashes as she asks for help to make me curse under my breath.
Is that going to be tonight's fantasy? From the pulse kicking between my thighs, I already have my answer.
Being left alone with her is a bad idea altogether, I think. Yet, it's all I want.
"Smoke?"
Suddenly, the source of my torturous thoughts stands there, her clothing draped over her arm, her heels hanging from her fingers.
It's not the cozy outfit that's caught my attention, but my cut wrapped around her body as if it belongs there.
Hell, who am I kidding? She's swallowed up in it.
I'm going to need to get her a smaller one eventually.
But for now, I'm going to enjoy seeing her wear something that's mine.
Clearing my throat, I tear my eyes away before I say something stupid. Offering my arm up, I'm returning my gaze when she doesn't accept. Not at first, anyway.
She stares at my arm, her brows pinching together.
Off the clock, she doesn't even try to plant a smile on her lips.
Something else crosses her expression, but it passes by so quickly that I can't wrap my mind around it.
In a matter of seconds, she's wrapping her hand around my arm and letting me guide her.
She's still upset about earlier. I should apologize, maybe even explain myself. Even if it reveals just how greedy I am, she deserves the truth.
Her fingers squeeze my arm, and her mouth pinches into a firm line.
"I think this was a bad idea." The words leave her softly, and I almost stumble over my boots. "Maybe we shouldn't do this."
What? Shit. I scared her enough that she doesn't want me anymore?
Does she want to ask someone else?
Already this deep into helping her, how am I supposed to just forget about everything we've done? We haven't spent enough time together. I'll need an eternity to make myself pretend I don't need her.
What do I say?
Tell her that you don't want to play pretend. Tell her that you'll stop running away.
"Bunny..." Croaking her name, my tongue feels like it's tied in a permanent knot. So big that it's clogging up my throat, too.
She doesn't speak anymore, letting the silence creep in.
Heading outside, feeling like I'm walking aimlessly, I'm surprised to see Ace is still here. He's standing in front of his bike, his phone pressed to his ear. From here, I can hear his anger.
Something's wrong. It's a momentary distraction of her words. One for both of us.
Bunny feels my arm stiffen up, and her silence is broken when she glances up at me. "Is everything okay?"
Ace doesn't lose his cool very often, so the answer is an obvious no, but I don't know enough details. "I don't know."
Turns out, everything is not okay at all. Not in the fucking slightest.
The last thing I expected to come out to was my bike, with the front tire slashed and a deep cut into the paint running the length of it.
It's really hard to keep my anger in check. You don't touch another man's bike. Feels like the number one rule has been broken here, and I've already gotten an idea of who would want to do it.
"Why in the fuck did they have to slash mine, too?" Ace curses and kicks the ground as he ends his call, most likely with someone at the warehouse. "Now I have to tell her I'm going to be home late. Fuck."
Bunny flinches at my brother's sudden rage, and I feel the sudden loss of her heat when she pulls away. She can see the damage, too.
Her chest swells with a breath, and her expression turns into one I've yet to see. One I already hate.
"This is all my fault." Sounding so quiet, so meek, she wraps her arms around herself. "If I hadn't asked for your help, this wouldn't have happened."
I can't have her blaming herself. No chance. Her pinched brows and sad frown are going on the list of reasons why I'm going to fuck up her stalker. No, this is unforgivable. I'm going to end up killing him.
Moving toward her, I'm reaching out without thinking. Caressing her arms, I feel the goosebumps that already form. "This isn't your fault."
It's the truth. I knew something was bound to happen; I just didn't think the guy would have the balls to direct his anger at me. Dragging her off was the straw that broke the camel's back.
"Devil's going to bring a trailer for us. Little shit thought it was hilarious." Ace huffs and checks his bike for further damage. He groans as he runs his hand over the seat and takes in the few stab marks. I'm surprised he doesn't drop to his knees by this point and shed a few tears.
If I'd mentioned I considered one of the security members of doing it, particularly Andy, I have no doubt that Ace would talk with his fists before his words to find out who did it. That's the kind of chaos that would have Dante kicking our asses for not going through him first.
If it were the guy I'd threatened, then Dante would kill us for hurting an innocent. Though this would be a decent reason to break a few fingers.
Not knowing who did it makes this even more frustrating. Still, I need to keep my cool as best as I can.
Mine looks worse than his, and I'm handling it far better. Then again, Bunny is making it easier not to raise hell. Then again, I am already planning a murder in my head.
Makes me wonder if the stalker has an issue with Steelwood or just us.
We have made ourselves cozy here over the last year.
Made our own rules and practically stole from other players by cheating.
There's plenty of crimes happening beneath the surface, but not everyone likes us hanging around as much as we do.
"You're off tomorrow, right?" Sliding my touch higher, I don't miss the way she chews on her lip before nodding. "I won't be able to get you home for a minute. I can drop you off once our ride pops up, or..."
She wouldn't want to go to the warehouse, would she?
It's safe there, and only someone with a death wish would try to make their way inside.
I need to talk to Hex about the cameras.
If it is someone on the security team, they'll have touched the footage.
Our hacker might be able to get the raw stuff.
I'd like to have Bunny with me when I figure out which one of these assholes fucked with us.
Letting out a sigh, she squirms and hugs my cut closer to her body.
"If they're brave enough to do this to you, I'd hate to think what they'd be willing to do to me.
What if they do know where I live?" She shivers and leans into me when I give her another reassuring squeeze. "I don't want to be alone, Smoke."
Earlier, she mentioned wanting to end this. Maybe because nothing was happening, she thought this was a waste of time. Now it looks like I've been given a chance to prove otherwise to her.