Patriot lifted his palms. “I didn’t even do anything, man.”
Pointing at him, Nova growled, “Keep your hands and eyes off her, motherfucker.”
The guy hadn’t won any brownie points with me, but Patriot really hadn’t done anything to warrant Nova’s anger. “Pretend he isn’t in the room. That’s what I’ve been doing.”
“Not good enough,” Nova gritted out as he lifted his leather vest and shoved my arm into one of the holes. “You can ignore the guys down here all you like, but no way in hell are they going to miss you. That’s why you gotta wear this at all times. So none of these motherfuckers get the wrong idea.”
I stared up at him in shock as he shifted around me to slide the vest in place. Remembering what Arya had told me about how big of a deal it had been when Dax had given her his property patch, I gulped down the lump that had suddenly appeared in my throat. My voice came out hoarse as I asked, “Doesn’t me wearing your cut send the wrong message? I thought only old ladies were supposed to do that.”
9
Nova
I had the sides of my cut in both hands, so I used them to haul Rylee forward until we were no more than an inch apart. “Damn, straight,” I growled. “Pretty sure I made it clear that you’re mine, angel.”
“You-you can’t just...just...decide I’m yours!” she stammered.
Leaning down so that my lips were right next to her ear, I whispered, “Your body already knows it’s true. Should I take you back upstairs and prove it?”
Rylee’s mouth opened slightly, so I closed the gap completely and sealed my lips over hers. My tongue slipped inside, and she immediately melted into me. I let go of my cut to hold her close, one hand cradling her skull and the other gripping one of her ass cheeks.
I devoured her, making sure everyone who saw us had no doubt who this woman belonged to. But when she let out a soft moan, I broke the kiss. I didn’t like the idea of anyone hearing her sexy little sounds but me.
My mouth widened into a satisfied smile at the sight of her passion-glazed eyes and red, swollen lips.
“Point taken, brother,” Patriot muttered, his tone full of laughter. I turned my head to glare at him, and he gave me a big, toothy grin.
“Get lost before I knock some of those teeth out,” I grumbled.
He snickered as he turned to leave, but I stopped him when a thought occurred to me. “Patriot.”
“Yo.”
“Spread the word.”
“Got it.”
When I brought my gaze back to my girl, she was frowning up at me, her brow puckered in concern. I didn’t want to argue with her anymore, so I changed the subject—we’d revisit my claim on her when we could do it naked.
“How ’bout I show you around, angel?”
I tossed a scowl at Link when he snorted, suppressing a laugh. He knew exactly why I’d offered her a tour, rather than just taking her back upstairs like I really wanted to. Ignoring him, and Mac who was silently laughing too, I returned my attention and smiled at Rylee.
“Um, okay,” she agreed after a minute. Her curiosity had clearly won out over her desire to finish our conversation.
“Wait, Rylee.” I went serious and tugged on my cut. “When you’re not in our room, you wear this. At all times. Got it?”
Rylee’s eyes narrowed, and I could tell she was about to challenge my command, so I sighed and spoke before she was able to get a word out. “It’s not about you being my property”—she raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her waist—“okay, not only about that,” I conceded. “This vest also tells anyone who sees you that you’re under my protection. Not one man in this brotherhood would ever hurt a woman, but without my cut, you’re fair game.” I looked into her eyes and made sure she was really listening when I continued, “And we don’t play fair. Understand?”
It had happened before, another patch seeing an unclaimed woman and deciding to take her and leave. It wasn’t like the married guys around here could judge. Most of us had stolen our women in one way or another.
Rylee nodded, though she didn’t look particularly happy about it. Her lips formed a cute little pout, and I had to fight my smile. She huffed and tried to walk away. “Let’s go—hey!”
I’d stuck a finger through one of her belt loops and yanked her back so she was pressed into my chest. I gripped her hips and dipped my head to murmur, “One more thing. Don’t ever run out on me again, or I’m going to cuff you to our bed and spank your sexy little ass until you’re begging me to let you come.”