He bows his head, pressing his mouth to mine. “That’s right,” he whispers against my lips. Still watching me, he draws away. “I’m the ex-con—the one who has no business being with you. I don’t want to drag you down—”
I open my mouth to protest, but he silences me with a finger against my lips. “I wasn’t finished.”
When I nod to indicate I’ll wait my turn, he leans down and presses his lips to mine again. He trails his fingers through my hair, tipping my head back even more. I’m up on tiptoes, curling my arms around his neck, returning his demanding kisses, forgetting where we’re standing and that I was about to leave.
I’m absolutely breathless and drunk on him when he finally pulls away. “Let’s go,” he says.
“Go where?”
“To my apartment.”
My stomach clenches tight. After all this? “You don’t want to be seen with me now?”
“No. Fuck no, Serena.” He cups my cheek, forcing me to look at him. “That’s not it at all. I thought you’d be uncomfortable here after that scene.” He waves his hand at the clubhouse. “It’s noisy too. We can be alone and it would be quieter there—that’s it.”
My gaze shifts to the clubhouse and back to Grayson. “I don’t want to look weak in front of your brothers. They already think I’m a whore—”
“Don’t fucking say that.”
“It’s the truth.”
“No. It’s. Not,” he growls. “And if any of them ever even hint at that, you tell me right away.”
“You want me to rat out your brothers? That won’t make them like me.”
“It’s not ratting them out. It’s your man protecting you.” He brushes his knuckles over my cheek. “I don’t give a fuck if they like you. But they will show you respect.” He throws a possessive arm around my shoulders, much like the way he did that first night.
“Why’d you do that the first time I came up here?” I ask.
He steers us toward the front door and boldly steps inside. In front of everyone, he leans down and plants a kiss on my forehead. “Because I wanted everyone to know you were mine.”
“And now?”
“They need to know that I’ll choke anyone who disrespects you.”
I scan the room, but thankfully, no one’s paying attention to us. “I can’t believe you lifted Steer off the ground. He’s built like a bull.”
Gray’s body coils tight, and I realize what he’s thinking. I dig my elbow into his ribs. “I’ve never slept with him.” I point two fingers at my face. “I have eyes.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
I turn toward him. “Are you going to wonder if I’ve slept with someone every time I mention a name? Do you need a list?”
His jaw clenches. “No.”
“Yo, Grinder,” Wrath calls from the war room door. “You got a minute?”
“Son of a bitch,” he mutters. “You all right?”
My gaze skitters around the party.
“Promise you won’t leave?”
“I won’t get far,” I mumble.
“Hey.” He presses a finger to my chin and tips my head back. “Lilly said she and Trinity were baking stuff in the kitchen. She specifically invited you to join them.”
My lips curve. “I like Lilly. She’s a sweetheart.”
“Good.” He stares down the hallway as if he’s calculating how many obstacles I might encounter on my way to the kitchen.
“I’ll be fine,” I assure him, casting a glance Wrath’s way. “I wouldn’t keep Wrath waiting.”
Grinder
I watch Serena until she disappears into the dining room, then join Wrath.
He shuts the war room door closed behind us. Neither of us sit.
“You planning to stand there and stare at me all day or did you actually need something?” I ask.
“Heard you were about to throw down with Steer.” He arches a blond eyebrow, but his usual smirk isn’t anywhere to be found.
“He had it coming. I don’t care what he thinks he knows. I’m not allowing anyone to disrespect my woman. Especially a brother.”
“Oh, I get it, Grinder. Trust me.” Wrath’s more serious than I’ve seen him in a while. “I agree. If you’re planning to claim her, make it crystal clear. If anyone disrespects her, put an end to it fast.”
“Well, that’s what I did.”
“Good.”
I pull back and stare at him. “Are you advocating putting a woman before the brotherhood?”
He stares right back. “No. I’m saying protect your woman for the good of the brotherhood. There’s a difference. Anyone who disrespects her after you’ve spelled it out is disrespecting the entire brotherhood. Every one of us.”
“Did you know?”
He crosses his arms over his massive chest. “Know what?”
“Don’t be cute, you big fucker. Did you know she used to hang around the club?”
“I’ve had my own shit to deal with, Grinder, so I don’t exactly keep a journal of every—”
“Don’t you fucking dare call her a—”
“Easy.” He holds up one hand. “Yes, I recognized her. But what was I supposed to say? I didn’t know you two were that tight.” His fierce blue eyes drill into me. “For fuck’s sake, you just got out of prison. How was I supposed to know you’d get this twisted over the first woman you stumbled over?”