The hit of nicotine fills my lungs, soothing the ache in my chest as I try to calm my nerves. The pebbles on the ground start to shift with someone’s footsteps, so I spin around noticing Prinie making her way out to me. All calm evaporates in an instant as she slides into a seat next to me.
I sit up taller, my eyes going wide as I scan around to check if anyone’s watching. “I can’t be seen talking to you—”
“That’s bullshit! Zero can’t dictate who we can and can’t talk to.”
Exhaling, I slump back down into the seat taking another drag. “Prinie, I’m bad for you. You know why.”
She subtly clenches her thighs together like she’s turned on, and that movement confuses me.
“Surely, we can talk and be civil.”
“I can’t, Prinie. I can’t be around you. All I want to do is pin you against a wall and kiss you to high hell… but I can’t. And I won’t.”
Her eyes widen in shock. “Wow! Honesty from you… that’s a refreshing change.”
“You need to leave.”
Defiantly taking a stand, she folds her arms over her chest.
She’s not budging, the beautiful, stubborn woman, so I stand to leave.
Prinie reaches out gripping my arm. A tingle shoots straight to my chest making me turn back, and when I do, she’s right up in my space. Her smell invades my senses, the scent she’s wearing is amazing, just like I remember.
It’s intoxicating.
Drowning me in regret.
I’m losing my willpower as I inch closer. The air around us begins to charge and sizzle with electricity as I stare into her gorgeous autumn leaf colored eyes. She’s luring me in like a siren to a sailor.
My breath hitches, my heart rapid-firing when all I see is her.
“I’m not angry about what happened that night, Wraith. It’s about what came after.” Her tone is soft, delicate, and she’s almost pleading with me.
I wince, my stomach churning, hating myself a little bit more, but I know it was for the best that I pulled away that night. That I retreated from her.
I step back, breaking the astonishing connection between us. “It’s almost morning. Go to bed, princess,” I tell her then step back completely, pulling my arm free and regrettably walk back inside the clubhouse.
Instantly, cold rushes through my body at the loss of her touch. She ignites me, and without her, I’m dead inside.
Skulking in, I head for the stairs.
Zero’s standing there watching me.
My mind swarms with thoughts as I give him a nod. Honestly, I can’t fucking win. I’m losing my shit. No matter what, I’m always going to have a set of eyes on me now.
I always felt safe here at the club.
Always had a family and a connection.
But maybe now, all I have is a big fucking target on my back.
PRINIE
The Next Afternoon
The club’s had a major sleep in, seeing as we all went to bed at sunrise. It’s almost three in the afternoon, and I’m trying to recover from a restless sleep. Though the smell from Fox and Bub cooking up a storm has my stomach grumbling. Nothing like some glazed ham and potato salad to tide us over until we’ll have us a late dinner.
Sitting with Phantom, he’s messing about, telling me jokes which are sort of funny, so I giggle along while trying to take in his features. He might be tall and skinny, but what he lacks in definition compared to the other guys here, he makes up for in his good looks. He has a killer smile that instantly warms your heart. The bluest of eyes light up like the sky on a summer’s day. His face is so fucking adorable you want to grab his cheeks and squeeze them. He’s like the guy in high school with the babyface that every girl had a crush on. However, he’s a little more defined than that with a touch of facial hair to give him masculinity.
Phantom is hot, there’s no denying it, and I’m definitely attracted. If my body didn’t want someone else, I might even consider acting on that attraction, but I can’t.
My mind won’t get past the barrier where maybe one day Wraith and I could work our shit out.
The problem—our issues run deep.
The other problem—I don’t know what our issues really are.
We fought, we argued, we fucked, and it was great until it wasn’t. After that, shit was strained between us. Neither one willing to talk about it, and when we do, that’s when one of us blows up. I’m not sure what to do, especially now with Zero on our backs.
Will we even get a chance to?
I don’t know.
It’s like everything is against us.
Maybe that in itself is a sign?
“Honestly, Prinie, I think if you wanted to, you could,” Phantom exclaims, gaining my attention.
“Sorry, what?” I ask, coming back to the conversation.
“Stop glowing like the goddess you are, you’re blinding me!” He pulls his sunglasses down from the top of his head with a smirk.
“You’re too much.” I roll my eyes.
As I observe over the table, Phantom picks up his glass and takes a drink, while all I can see is Zero and Cherry completely loved up. I’m happy for them. I really am. My best friend and my brother couldn’t be more suited, and with the mess Rayne has been through, she
