My mouth widened into a satisfied smile at the sight of her passion-glazed eyes and red, swollen lips.
“Point taken, brother,” Patriot muttered, his tone full of laughter. I turned my head to glare at him, and he gave me a big, toothy grin.
“Get lost before I knock some of those teeth out,” I grumbled.
He snickered as he turned to leave, but I stopped him when a thought occurred to me. “Patriot.”
“Yo.”
“Spread the word.”
“Got it.”
When I brought my gaze back to my girl, she was frowning up at me, her brow puckered in concern. I didn’t want to argue with her anymore, so I changed the subject—we’d revisit my claim on her when we could do it naked.
“How ’bout I show you around, angel?”
I tossed a scowl at Link when he snorted, suppressing a laugh. He knew exactly why I’d offered her a tour, rather than just taking her back upstairs like I really wanted to. Ignoring him, and Mac who was silently laughing too, I returned my attention and smiled at Rylee.
“Um, okay,” she agreed after a minute. Her curiosity had clearly won out over her desire to finish our conversation.
“Wait, Rylee.” I went serious and tugged on my cut. “When you’re not in our room, you wear this. At all times. Got it?”
Rylee’s eyes narrowed, and I could tell she was about to challenge my command, so I sighed and spoke before she was able to get a word out. “It’s not about you being my property”—she raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her waist—“okay, not only about that,” I conceded. “This vest also tells anyone who sees you that you’re under my protection. Not one man in this brotherhood would ever hurt a woman, but without my cut, you’re fair game.” I looked into her eyes and made sure she was really listening when I continued, “And we don’t play fair. Understand?”
It had happened before, another patch seeing an unclaimed woman and deciding to take her and leave. It wasn’t like the married guys around here could judge. Most of us had stolen our women in one way or another.
Rylee nodded, though she didn’t look particularly happy about it. Her lips formed a cute little pout, and I had to fight my smile. She huffed and tried to walk away. “Let’s go—hey!”
I’d stuck a finger through one of her belt loops and yanked her back so she was pressed into my chest. I gripped her hips and dipped my head to murmur, “One more thing. Don’t ever run out on me again, or I’m going to cuff you to our bed and spank your sexy little ass until you’re begging me to let you come.”
Her breathing had turned choppy, but she attempted an indignant gasp until I dragged my lips along a sensitive spot on her neck.
“Now we can go.” I left her with a kiss, then patted her ass to get her moving. As we walked through the rooms, I introduced her to everyone, despite knowing Patriot would’ve started doing what I’d asked.
A few of the old ladies were around too, and I knew Rylee appreciated meeting them when this place was packed with testosterone.
Our second to last stop was the kitchen, and when we walked in, I rolled my eyes as I cleared my throat. Scout—the club’s VP—had his woman, Cat, up against a wall with her legs around his waist while they tried to swallow each other’s face.
Scout growled in annoyance and shouted, “Get lost!” When he tried to move in for another kiss, Cat whacked him on the shoulder while straining to see over him. He was a big motherfucker, and his old lady was tiny, but somehow, they fit perfectly together.
“Put me down, caveman,” she insisted with a frown.
“I wasn’t done with you, kitty cat,” he rumbled. But he obediently set her on the ground and turned around to glare at me for interrupting. Then he saw Rylee, and his gray eyes zeroed in on my cut, his face transforming with a glee-filled smile. Here we fucking go.
“Welcome. This beautiful woman must be Rylee. I’m Kyle, but everyone calls me Scout except my sweet kitty cat.”
“Hi.” Rylee’s mouth curved into a smile.
“Yes,” I answered in a threatening tone. “This is my woman, Rylee.” She threw me a disapproving glance but didn’t deny my claim.
Scout lifted his chin at me. “You need me to knock some sense into this motherfucker, just let me know.”
Cat sighed and pushed around him, smiling. But it was reserved since she always held back until she felt the newcomers were worthy of the club. “I’m Cat. Are you hungry?”
“Famished,” my girl replied. I wanted to kick myself. Of course she was starving. It was probably what got her out of bed in the first place.
Off to a great start taking care of your woman, Rossi.
“Come and sit, I have some cinnamon rolls I just took out of the oven.”
I led Rylee over to a large table that would feed a small army and helped her into a chair. Before I could sit next to her, Scout shoved me out of the way and dropped onto the seat I’d pulled out for myself. I clenched my fists and snarled at the asshole, earning myself a curious glance from Rylee that I couldn’t interpret.
“Tell me about yourself, miracle.”
I groaned and sat in the chair on her other side.
“Miracle?” Rylee repeated with confusion.
“Scout has a thing for nicknames,” Cat explained as she brought a platter of delicious gooey cinnamon rolls to the table. She set a plate and fork in front of each of us, then Scout pulled her onto his lap. “It means he approves of you.”
Rylee blushed, and I suddenly hated Scout for being the one to earn those pretty pink cheeks. “Why miracle, though?” she asked.
“You remind me of Shirley Temple with that crazy head of curls,” he answered with a wink.
“Ah, I get it,” Rylee laughed. “Little Miss Miracle.”
“Eat, angel,” I
