Kincaid: Cerberus Mc Book 1 (10 page)

It says I’m pissed, but I won’t give you the satisfaction of admitting it.

“I’m not mad.” She shrugs her shoulders and carries the last of the clothes to the dresser. A pair of panties falls from the bottom of the pile. She was obviously trying to hide them from me. I notice two things at once, the tiny triangles of pink lace and her fabulous ass as she bends over to scoop them up off the floor.

I grunt my approval to both and she turns back to me and narrows her eyes.

“Don’t,” she says. I raise an eyebrow at her. “Don’t come in here and try to be all sexy. Not with that shit in the kitchen this morning.”

She’s prodding, and I know she wants an explanation from me. Either she wants the backstory on Bunny or reassurance that there’s nothing going on. It makes me mad for some reason, and when I see her reach down and start to absently twirl that fucking wedding ring around her finger I become damn near enraged.

I stand from the chair and walk toward the door. “You don’t get to be pissed about shit in my past, Em. Just like I don’t get to be mad about shit in your past. What I should be mad about is you thinking about me when you came on a finger that have another man’s ring on it.”

I hear her gasp toward my back as I walk out of the room.

I’m pretty sure I stand in the same spot, with my mouth hanging open for years.

Not only did he point out what I already knew about him being awake this morning and watching me, but he also didn’t tell me anything about the girl from this morning. I close my eyes and take deep breaths. He doesn’t owe me anything, and as far as I’m concerned I owe him for the clothes and the hotel room from the other night, and that’s it.

Begrudgingly, I head to the kitchen and pray Diego is nowhere to be seen. Rose asked me to help out with making dinner tonight, and I agreed. I’m not going to stay hidden away in this room just because I don’t want to run into certain people who are here.

Thankfully, Rose is the only one in the kitchen as I head to the sink to wash my hands before we get started. She already has a ton of ingredients on the counter.

“What happened to that smile you had ten minutes ago?”

I give her a fake half smile.

“I’m sure it has something to do with the same sour ass look Kincaid had on his face a few minutes ago.” She chuckles and hands me a dish towel to dry my hands on.

“Thanks,” I tell her. “How can I help?” I want to steer clear of any conversation of Diego for as long as possible.

A redhead named Snapper and a short brunette named Gypsy join us in the kitchen and begin to help with dinner. We’re all laughing and working together to get a menu of comfort food together when Bunny comes in. The mood in the room suddenly changes, and I can tell immediately that I’m not the only one who doesn’t like her.

“Nice of you to join us,” Gypsy says as she washes lettuce for the salad.

“I was busy,” she says wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

My eyes widen when I realize what she’s implying.

Snapper steps in front of her and points at the sink before Bunny can reach into the bowl and grab a cucumber from the top.

“Wash your fucking hands before you come in here and start touching shit other people are going to eat,” Snapper spits at her.

I see Bunny’s grin spread as she looks at me as if she just realized that I’m in the room. “Don’t worry Snap,” she says in my direction. “I caught it all in my mouth.”

I look over at Rose when Bunny turns her back to me at the sink and begins to wash her hands. She shakes her head and mouths “ignore her.”

Yeah, easier said than done since now I have it in my head that she just sucked Diego off.

I seriously need to find a job and soon. The quicker I can get him paid back and enough money to find my own place to stay the better. I can’t even decide what is more detrimental: the abuse from Bobby or the emotional distress from the last twelve hours.

***

Dinner was just as stressful as I imagined it would be. I was already settled at a table with Rose on one side and Kid on the other when Diego made his way into the room. I saw his jaw clench when he looked at me, but he didn’t say anything. He made a plate and sat down at a table where Shadow, Wrench, and another guy I didn’t recognize joined him.

Everyone carried on their own conversations and although there were other chairs at the table Diego was at no one sat with them. It was as if there was some unspoken rule about who was allowed there. Bunny didn’t even try to sit with them, which was saying something. The four guys kept their voices down and carried on what looked like a very serious conversation while they ate.

Rose, Doc, and Kid tried to draw me into the conversation several times, but I really wasn’t in a socializing mood. I nodded and responded when appropriate, but I didn’t really add anything important to the discussion. As soon as I felt like it was socially acceptable, I excused myself from the table and headed back to my room. The last thing I wanted was to be involved in the “pussy fest” as Rose described it earlier. My understanding is that’s what the evenings at the clubhouse always turn into.

I wasn’t in the room long when a gentle tap on the door interrupted my thoughts, thoughts that were once again about Diego and wondering why I’m even here. I was wondering why he even bothered to help me and then I came to realization once again that he just did what most men would do when they saw a woman being hurt by another man. He helped her.

He helped me, and I clung to him like a fungus and came here with him. We hadn’t discussed anything other than him helping me get away from Bobby and him telling me he would protect me. He didn’t say anything about him being mine or wanting me to be his. Whatever feelings or interest I thought I saw in his eyes and actions were either something I cooked up or something he did with every female.

The knock comes again. I groan and climb off the bed to unlock the door. I hate that there isn’t a peephole in the door, and I stand near it without unlocking it. The last thing I need is Wrench on the other side.

“Em.” Diego’s raspy voice is a relief, and a frustration rolled into one.

I unlock the door and pull it open a few inches. I’ve changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top in preparation for bed seeing as I had no plans to leave my room or see anyone else for the rest of the night. My nipples harden without provocation at the sight of him in my doorway, and I immediately hate that I’m not wearing a bra.

“Hey.” I do my best to act like he doesn’t affect me and fail miserably.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful.” It comes unprovoked and from the slight widening of his eyes, I can tell he didn’t mean to say it out loud.

I feel the resolve I’d spent all day rebuilding against him begin to diminish, and looking in his mesmerizing brown eyes causes me to swallow roughly. I see him shift his weight marginally, but I keep my eyes on his face; the last thing I need is him seeing me staring at his crotch again.

We stand in the doorway for several long minutes, in silence, just peering at each other. His eyes trace every feature on my face until they settle on my mouth, which causes me to shift, mimicking his movements from earlier.

“Can I come in?” His husky voice nearly causes me to melt into a puddle on the floor.

I pull the door further open and step to the side so he can enter. My heart hammers in my chest when he gently closes the door behind him.

“I wanted to give you this before I left.” I look down for the first time and see a cell phone in his hand.

“You’re leaving?” I can’t hide the disappointment I didn’t know I felt until the words were spoken.

“I’ve been called out on a job, Em.” He holds the phone out further for me to take. “Take it, please. I want to be able to talk to you.”

Chills run up my arm when my fingers graze his, and from his hiss, I’m certain he felt it too.

“How long will you be gone?” I sound desperate and at this moment, I can’t even be bothered to care. I lower my head to try to gain some composure.

He reaches out and tilts my head back, so I’m looking in his eyes. “I’m not sure. A couple weeks probably.” His eyes are once again on my lips, and the attention has them parting slightly, small panting breaths escaping.

“That’s a long time,” I tell his mouth, unable to pull my gaze from his lips.

“I’ll be back before you can even miss me.”

His hand moves from under my chin to cup my cheek. I groan slightly when his thick thumb traces my lower lip and his tongue snakes out and licks his own; a harsh shiver runs up my spine because it feels like his tongue is on my own lip.

He moves closer, and I close my eyes as his mouth nears mine. I feel his warm breath ghost across my already tingling skin. Even though I part my lips slightly, readying them for his kiss, I feel his mouth kiss my cheek with just the faintest edge touching the corner of my mouth.

I’m molten lava, and my body is on fire when he pulls back and clears his throat. I raise my eyes to his, and I can see the lust and desire as clear as day. I’m sure he can see the confusion and pain from his rejection in my eyes. He sweeps his thumb over my lip again before pulling his hand back.

“If I kiss you now, Em, I’ll never stop.” He takes another step back, and it takes all of my power to not reach out to him. “Answer the phone when it rings,” he says and turns and leaves the room.

I told her the truth. I knew if I tasted her lips I’d never leave. The feel of her beautiful face under my rough hand was almost too much to walk away from as it was. I shake my head to clear it as I pack my duffle bag for the trip. I need to get my head on the right things before the beginning of this mission. Not being in the right head space can get you killed, and I’ll be damned if I die before I know her taste on my tongue.

I stride out of my room without even a sideways glance at her door, resisting the unseen tug she has on me. Making my way to the front of the clubhouse, I hear Wrench and Kid bickering.

“Tell him you want to go.” I hear him snort loudly. “I’ll gladly stay here and keep an eye on that girl.”

Chills run up my back at the sound of Wrench just mentioning Emmalyn. I have absolutely no use for him on the mission, but over my dead body will he stay here while I’m gone. Never going to happen.

“That’s not going happen,” Kid says almost like he could hear my thoughts. “Kincaid wants me here, so I’m staying.”

“You ready to go, Wrench?” I ask making my presence known.

“Why am I even going, Prez? There’s nothing for me to do on these things.” He rubs his already dirty sleeve under his nose.

“You get to haul gear,” I reply to his already pissed off face. I drop my bag at his feet and walk away.

I smile at the string of profanities he releases as I make my way to the kitchen, hoping Rose is still here. Just as I’d hoped, she’s at the counter putting up leftover food.

“You make nice with Emmalyn?” I bark out a laugh. She’s only eleven years older than I am but she’s somehow turned into the house mother for all of us unruly bikers.

“I think so.” I pick the heavy glass dish of leftovers off of the counter for her and carry it to the fridge. She walks with me and pulls the door open for me.

“What the hell do you mean ‘I think so?’ Either you did, or you didn't.”

“She didn’t yell at me or hit me with anything when I talked to her last.” I shrug and grab a bottle of water from the fridge before I close the door.

“She’s been through too much shit to be toyed with,” she says as a warning.

I lean against the counter. “Did she say something? Tell you about her life?” Now I’m the gossiping biker. It seems Emmalyn brings it out in all of us.

“No, Kincaid. She didn’t say anything. You can see it in her eyes, in the bruising on her face.” She walks up and lays a hand on my forearm. “Emmalyn needs to be nurtured not used. If you have anything other than good intentions for that girl you need to cut her loose. She deserves to be treasured; she needs to be protected.”

“I knew that the second I laid eyes on her, Rose,” I say with sincerity.

She gives me a small smile and stands up on her toes to kiss me on the cheek.