Once she was dressed, she picked up her bag and made her way back into the bedroom just as the door opened and Clayton appeared.
It was a warm day already, and he didn’t wear a shirt, just a pair of low-riding jeans.
“Morning,” he said.
“Morning.” She didn’t know where to look.
“I was balls deep in your virgin pussy last night, Maggie. You can look at me.”
She lifted her head and offered him a smile even as heat filled her cheeks.
“It’s good that you can still blush. Don’t be nervous.”
“I’m finding it hard to put you and my teacher together. You both look the same, minus the suits and you know…”
“The ink?” he asked. He reached behind him and pulled out the gun from her backpack. “Do you want this back?”
She nodded.
“Do you know how to shoot it?”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever used it?”
“What’s with the twenty questions?” she asked.
“You’re my responsibility. I only ask of my people what they are capable of. If you know how to handle this, then I don’t care, but if you’re going to get yourself killed because you fire it wrong, I need to know.”
“I know how to work it.” She wasn’t a complete fucking moron.
“Good. After breakfast, you can show me.”
He opened the door.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“Breakfast. A couple of the guys found some stuff in the supermarket. We’ve scored big. Come on.” He held his hand out.
“I don’t know if I should go out there,” she said.
“You’re coming with me. I’m not going to hide you.” He took her hand, locking their fingers together. She followed behind him.
The group had to be easily twenty, maybe even thirty people. Three people stood around a barbeque pit, smoke coming from inside it.
She stayed by Clayton’s side, but she was well aware of the curious looks. People were eating and each time she looked toward them, they held up their sandwich with a nod.
There was bread?
She didn’t know how they had found this or how it was done, but either way, she was so happy. When Clayton handed her the sandwich, she took it, biting into whatever the hell it was. Closing her eyes, she moaned, enjoying the food as she chewed. It didn’t matter what she was eating, just that she was.
Clayton leaned in close. “I’m going to have you moaning like that when my lips are on your pussy,” he said.
She turned to look at him, feeling the heat fill her cheeks.
He chuckled. The sound was deep. “Fucking love how you react.”
Slowing down on her food, she nibbled on the sandwich. She noticed how everyone had the same amount. No one complained.
After the food was finished, she was handed a cup filled with coffee. She took a sip and noticed Clayton never once left her side.
No one approached. No one asked questions. Slowly, she found herself relaxing.
“I want you to meet Pete,” he said.
“What? Why?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to meet anyone.
“All of us have a mark that makes us recognize each other.” He held his wrist up and she saw the band on his wrist. It was a whole bunch of spikes circling the entire wrist.
She touched her own wrist.
“Everyone who joins me has the same ink. It’s how we know to protect each other. All you have to do is present your wrist, and we’ll be there for you.”
“But it doesn’t have magical powers.”
“We’ll always be close by, Maggie. I don’t let anyone out of my sight for long.”
She nodded.
“I know it’s a lot to take in, but over all, it will be for the best. It will keep you safe.”
“Of course it will,” she said. She hated this. There would have been a time she’d have taken any mark Clayton asked her to take, but this … it was different. This was just to be part of his crew. There was nothing special about it.
There was nothing special about everything that was happening.
It’s fine. I’m fine.
She knew none of her fantasies would come true, not anymore. The world of falling in love, getting married, and having babies no longer existed. This world was cruel and people had to get used to it, fast.
****
Clayton didn’t know what the fuck to do.
Maggie took the ink and Pete was careful as he put the design around her wrist. There was no way he was letting the man touch any other part of her. Those curves were all for him. Everyone else had to prove themselves. They had to show him and the crew over time they had a right to be in the place. She was different.
He’d rounded up the crew that morning and let them all know Maggie was special to him. That he would give up his life to protect her. They hadn’t argued with him. He’d never been a selfish bastard, always giving to them. He was a leader who put his army first and yet he was the first one to go into any battle.