She stared down at her body and the tears fell. She swiped them away, hating herself for even allowing herself the chance to care what people thought. All her life she’d been told about her weight and how disgusting it was. Nothing had ever changed. Even starving herself for a short time hadn’t worked.
The desire to fit in, to truly belong to the club, was overwhelming. But she was too scared to try, too fragile for more rejection. What was wrong with her? Why didn’t any of the old ladies like her? Even the club pussy gave her the cold shoulder, which said a lot.
Beth imagined the whispers around the club. They probably thought Forge was too good for her.
The door opened, causing her to jump, and she quickly got to her feet so she didn’t look like an unattractive puddle on the floor.
“Are you too good for me and my club?” Forge asked.
As a way of a welcome, she didn’t know what to say or do. “What?”
“Look, I get that you’re hiding up here because I did buy you. You’re my woman to use, fuck, and breed. Your father gave you to me and I’m not giving you back. I’ll pop that cherry soon, so you’re going to have to get used to me being around. This club is your home now. Those men would die for you, so the least you could fucking do is show them some respect.”
She opened her mouth, but quickly closed it.
“I’ve been told you rarely come downstairs, and you haven’t spoken to anyone.”
She nodded.
“Are you too good for us, princess?”
“It’s not that. I promise.”
“Then what is it? Because I don’t have women who think they’re better than anyone else.”
She averted her gaze, not wanting him to see the tears his mean words were creating. “I’m not used to this.”
“To what?”
Her father’s words of calling her useless and constantly sending her to her room to stay out of the way bombarded her.
“I … I … don’t … I’m not, I’m… It’s better if I’m out of the way.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Because, this isn’t… I’m not here because you want me here. I’m fat and ugly and I don’t want to make a bad impression. It’s easier to stay in your room. I don’t want people to hate me.” She knew it was lame and hated how pathetic she sounded.
She swiped the tears away. “I don’t think I’m better, that’s for certain. I would never think that. I know I’m useless.”
Forge stepped close to her, placed a finger beneath her chin, and sighed. “Fuck, I’m sorry.”
She lifted her head, brows raised. “Why are you sorry?”
“Because, seeing you up here, watching me, I thought … it doesn’t matter what I thought. This club is your home. You can come and go as you please around the clubhouse. But if you want to go shopping or go for a ride, you come to me, and I’ll arrange it. I’ll either come with you, or get one of my men to take care of you.” He cupped her face. “You need to stop crying because this is making me want to go to your father and cut his dick off. Believe me, I’ve wanted to many times.”
She laughed but the sound died when she realized he wasn’t joking. “Wow.”
“Yeah, wow. This isn’t like in the movies. It’s a hard life, but you’re not free pussy. You belong to me. You’re all my woman, and the men know it. They’ll do whatever it takes to protect you. All you’ve got to do is give them a chance.”
She nodded. “Okay.” She looked around the room. “I’d like that. I’d like to get out of the room.”
He laughed. “If I’d known, I’d have come and got your ass sooner. I thought with me being gone, you’d have gone exploring.”
“I went to the kitchen. I did make some muffins for everyone.”
“That was you?” Forge asked.
She nodded. “Yes. I can cook and bake. It’s one of the few things I do well.”
“Good, then from now on, you can cook for the club.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close.
“I missed you,” she said. Her cheeks heated because she knew why she was here, and it wasn’t to be in any kind of relationship.
“I thought about you every single night.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Now, I’m going to get you out of this room before I bend you over and fuck you. My dick is aching for you, but I can wait.”
He grabbed her hand and before she could say or do anything else, he pulled her out of the bedroom. She wouldn’t have minded if he wanted to have sex.
He pulled her outside, keeping an arm wrapped around her.
“Do not look at the ground. Don’t even think of feeling guilty. You keep your head up high and look straight ahead. These women know they’ll never have what you have. You’ve got all of me and none of them are ever going to get that chance.”
His words did offer her comfort and she followed him outside. The scent of barbeque was heavy in the air. Several of the men and women were crowded around dustbins that had been lit.
Forge put his hand on her hip, leading her to one.
No one said anything as she put her hands out over the heat. The night air was a little cold. She already had on a sweater to try to ward off the chill.
“Are you hungry?” Forge asked.
She nodded. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
With him gone, she’d been trying to limit the times she’d gone to the kitchen, not to starve herself, but because she didn’t want any interaction.
“You’re a quiet
