Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Now she had an army behind her.
8
MAREN
Iwoke slowly, stretching beneath sheets that smelled faintly like Lucas. I kept my eyes closed and let the memory of last night wash over me. The feel of his mouth on me, how much I’d enjoyed following his lead, and the satisfaction in his eyes when he learned it was my first time.
When I shifted, I expected to brush against solid heat, but the space beside me was empty. His side of the bed was cool to the touch.
When I realized he hadn’t just slipped out a minute ago, my eyes snapped open.
The confidence I’d been feeling after last night was quickly replaced by concern. I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d left because I did something wrong, or if he regretted touching me.
Last night had been incredible for me, but maybe he thought it was a mistake now. That could be why he’d just made me come with his mouth and told me to go to sleep.
Pushing myself upright, I clutched the blanket to my chest as I glanced around the quiet room. Then I finally saw the folded slip of paper resting on the nightstand.
My fingers trembled when I reached for the note and unfolded it.
Left on club business. Stay at the clubhouse.
If you leave the room, wear the cut.
-L
After reading it, I only had more questions. Like why he didn’t wake me up before he left, how long he’d been gone, and why he wanted me to stay here when he was gone. More importantly, did he really leave his cut for me?
At least there was an answer waiting for me on that last one. I glanced over at the chair where he’d left it last night and gasped when I spotted the dark leather hanging over the arm.
He really did want me to wear his cut.
It made it easier to believe Lucas hadn’t brought me here just because he wanted to sleep with me.
Wrapping the sheet around me, I slid off the mattress and padded over to the chair. My fingers traced over the patch that announced to the world that he was a Hound.
This leather vest was sacred to Lucas. Being told to wear it felt bigger than the orgasm he gave me last night.
Except it didn’t erase the fact that he’d disappeared this morning. With my lack of experience, I could be reading too much into everything.
So I smoothed my thumb over the stitched patch one last time before letting my hand fall away, hoping last night hadn’t meant more to me than it did to him.
My thoughts only spiraled more as the day wore on. Probably because I spent most of the day hiding in Lucas’s room, unsure how the other Hounds would react if I wandered downstairs. I didn’t know anyone here, and the idea of bumping into one of them without Lucas beside me made my stomach twist.
Hours passed in silence while I tried to fall back asleep.
Nobody checked on me, and Lucas didn’t return.
Around five, hunger finally dragged me out of bed. I debated venturing downstairs to find something to eat, but the thought of being the random girl sneaking around the clubhouse made me hesitate. I didn’t even know where the kitchen was or what kind of food they kept there.
My stomach grumbled again as I checked my phone. I was supposed to be back at the diner in a couple of hours. Not showing up wasn’t an option. I couldn’t risk looking unreliable.
Technically, Lucas hadn’t said I couldn’t go to work. He probably thought he’d be back by now. He couldn’t possibly be angry if I left for my shift…right?
I glanced again at the cut draped over the chair. It felt too meaningful to put on without him here.
Wearing it felt like agreeing to something I didn’t yet fully understand. And the clock was ticking down if I wanted to make it to work with enough time to eat something before my shift started.
“I can’t just disappear from my entire life,” I finally muttered. “I have responsibilities.”
Decision made, I grabbed the uniform I’d worn yesterday and ducked into the bathroom. I took a quick shower, then pulled on my clothes.
When I came back out, the cut was still on the chair. I walked past it and grabbed my purse instead.
“I’m just going to work,” I whispered to myself. “He’ll understand.”
I hoped.
With a steadying breath, I finally headed out of his room, telling myself everything would be fine.
My stomach was a knot of nerves as I made my way downstairs. The clubhouse was quieter than I expected. I only heard a few voices drifting from somewhere deeper in the building, including a young child, which surprised me since I hadn’t expected kids to be hanging around a biker clubhouse.
Nobody was in the lounge area as I quickly crossed the space, which should’ve been a relief. But somehow it wasn’t.