The Lies Between Us (The Devil's Dust #4)(11)

“Okay, why don’t we all just calm down,” Bull advises. My nostrils flare with anger; I don’t need Bull handling my affairs. The guy rubs at his chin, eyeing Bull before walking away. Bull lifts his brow in a gesture that I need to turn away and leave. I bite my lip ring and give him an understanding nod, even if I don’t agree with his order. I’m a prospect, so I don’t get to argue or dictate his ruling. Not yet anyway.

I turn my back and lower my mouth to Cherry’s ear. “You all right?”

She nods and runs her hands up and down her arms. She’s uncomfortable. I shouldn’t have left her; I knew better.

“How about we take these beers to my room?” She bites her bottom lip, unsure. I spread my feet apart and lower myself to her eye level. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. It’s just quieter in there,” I explain. She purses her lips as if she’s thinking about it.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She shakes her head, avoiding eye contact. I grab her chin, forcing her to look me in the eyes, and her body nearly sways into me. Her lips part, and her body shivers beneath my hold. She’s affected by me, and her body reacting to my simplest touch is a turn-on like I’ve never experienced before. I feel like a preteen touching his first female, ready to blow my load in my jeans.

“Look at me, Cherry. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you,” I reaffirm. She blinks her eyes rapidly, as if she’s trying to blink away the sexual spell I put her under.

“Then you’ll take me back to my car?” She glances up at me from under her thick lashes and my dick jumps. She looks so vulnerable, so innocent, and the best part is she’s not even trying.

“Yeah.” I chuckle.

“All right,” she finally responds, her lips curling into a small smile. I smirk and take her by the hip. We weave through the crowd and head to the back of the hall where my room is. I was just appointed it a few days ago from Bull himself. I have a place about fifteen minutes from here, but having a room at the club is way more convenient at times.

I open the door and turn the light on, and she instantly starts looking around the room. The walls are layered with porn stars and models. Most of them were plastered on the walls before, but I might have added to the collection.

“Shit, I forgot the beer,” I mutter, turning to leave, but then I stop. I place my arm above the doorframe and rest my forehead on my forearm. “You’re not going to try and run off or anything, are you?”

She smiles and sits down on the bed. “No, not yet.”

“Okay, good.”

I shut the door behind me and head back into the noisy-ass club to grab our beers. As soon as I spot them on the bar, Bull sits down on one of the stools.

“You better get your ass in check, boy,” Bull informs, a cigarette between his lips. He squints as the smoke trails into his face.

“Come again?”

“Your little incident with that boy. You about broke his jaw for getting a little grabby.”

“Yeah, so what?” I shrug. It’s who I am. I’m hotheaded and won’t hesitate to put someone in check real f*cking quick. I fire first and ask questions later.

“You should have seen the look on her face, Lip. You better bury that shit and quick, or you will f*ck this up.” He blows out a puff of smoke, and I grit my teeth at his tone.

“I agree,” Shadow adds, sitting down beside Bull. Shadow is a prospect, too. He has dark hair and crazy blue eyes; when he looks at you just right, they are freaky as shit. He’s always kissing up to Bull. It gets irritating sometimes, but I understand it. He and I are a lot alike. He grew up without a father, and my dad was a prick, so getting approval from Bull is something we both aim for.

“What the f*ck do you know about women?” I sneer at Shadow. He doesn’t f*ck with many girls and hasn’t been in anything serious since I’ve known him, but now he’s giving me advice about landing a chick?

“That girl is pretty—hot, even. They don’t want damaged men who can’t control their temper.” Shadow shakes his head and takes a sip of his beer. “Nah, they want romance, all that fairytale bullshit,” he continues.

Bull nods, and stands. “See,” he clips, pointing at Shadow.

“What were you talking about with her?” I raise a brow at Bull. His mouth turns into a sly grin.

“She was asking about you, what you did here and all.” He shrugs, and I can’t help but smirk. She asked about me, well damn. Knowing she was talking and asking about me makes me a little giddy, like a f*cking teenager or some shit.

“Yeah, she likes you all right. But it’s up to you if it remains like that.” Bull slams his cigarette in an ashtray, and my brows dive inward with his remark.

I open a beer and take a big gulp. How do I keep a girl like that from running off? Fuck, this just got a whole lot harder. I’m not a gentle kind of guy. I beat my dad with a steel pipe the first time he put his hands on my mother, landing him in the hospital. When my brother Zeek would tease me growing up, I would get so angry I would black out. One time, I came to with my mother screaming and pulling me off Zeek. He was blue and unresponsive from me choking him. He was okay, but it just goes to show how screwed up I am. My father was proud, my mother prayed. I walk through mayhem with ease and leave a tide of crimson behind.