What Doesn't Destroy Us (The Devil's Dust #1)(7)

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My head is pounding as I open my eyes to a dusty ceiling fan in an unfamiliar room. “Where am I?” I croak out, noticing my lungs are not screaming for air anymore.

“You’re in the clubhouse. I brought you to one of the rooms. You fainted,” says a familiar voice. “Your mom and Bull are getting shit straight.” I look beside the bed to find Shadow kneeling there. “You took a spill right outside the club. How’s your head?” he asks, as he brushes my hair behind my ear. His fingers linger by my ear causing a rush of adrenaline to fill my body, making me feel high.

“I-- it’s ok,” I stutter, that familiar feeling of not being able to breathe creeping its way back into my lungs. The man makes me fluster in a way I have never experienced, I have no control of my body when I’m around him.

“Breathe, Dani. I won’t bite unless you want me too.” He winks.

Oh my God, don’t wink at me. My thighs clinch at the desire surfing up my legs.

I sit up on the bed, Shadow’s face inches from mine. My eyes fall on his pouty lips. I wonder what they feel like on a woman’s skin. I lick my lips, wanting to taste his; taste him. Breaking my eye contact from his lips, I look up into his stormy eyes and notice he’s staring at my lips as well. With a sudden feeling of courage, I push myself forward and brush my lips against his; testing him, hoping for a reaction. He pulls back, studying my face. My sudden feeling of courage rapidly turns back into butterflies. Does he want me as bad as I want him? Does he feel the attraction between us?

He lets out a growl as he roughly grabs me by the legs and swings them over the side of the bed. His fingers dig deep into my skin. Lifting me by my ass, he slams me back against the wall. His lips crash into mine, his tongue demanding entry. I accept the intrusion, he tastes incredible and dangerous. He snakes his hand away from one of my ass cheeks and grabs a handful of my hair, pulling it tightly. He is being rough, as if showing me the kind of guy he is. Little does he know I can’t get enough of it. My hands clinch the front of his shirt to pull our bodies closer; my legs wrapping tighter around his waist. I can’t believe what I’m doing; my mother warned me to stay away. But, I can’t help myself, I know I’m playing with the devil himself and I want more!

Suddenly, he pulls away, nearly dropping me on my ass. “I can’t do this, Dani,” he whispers hoarsely. “And you would do well to stay clear of me...”

“What?” The fire lit between us is doused with arctic water. I try to compose myself, feeling cheap and easy. His sudden iciness drowns my arousal, drenching me with anger.

“You would just get hurt in the end,” he says, running his hands through his choppy hair, his tone arrogant. He looks me up and down, making me feel like I can’t handle him. “Trust me.”

“I’m a big girl, I can handle myself,” I fire back.

He scoffs, pissing me off more. I try to push him out of my way, and he grabs my wrist pulling my body back to within inches of his. I try to pull my wrist free, but he just tightens his grip.

“I am not one of your little boys back in New York trying to play businessman, Dani,” he sneers. “If you were mine I would f*ck you within an inch of your life every chance I got. I would show you what that body of yours is capable of. He is whispering now, his lips brushing against my skin. “But in reality, you can never be mine.” His tone is suddenly cold. He pushes me away from him. My body is confused. Am I turned on or pissed? I hate him, but I still want him.

“You’re the president’s daughter. I don’t look forward to having my nuts on a platter anytime soon,” he says with a sudden scowl.

A knock sounds at the door and it immediately opens.

“Shadow, let me have a word with my daughter,” Bull demands as he enters the room.

“What’s your full name, Dani?” Bull sits down on the bed and pats the spot next to him, inviting me to sit. I oblige.

“Danielle Lexington,” I manage to choke out; the severity of the situation still overwhelming.

“I see your mother gave you her last name,” he sneers.

“What’s your name, I know it’s not Bull.”

“Leo Goodmen.”

“Why do they call you Bull?”

He chuckles, his eyebrows rising, “They say I’m bull-headed.”

“Funny, my mother has said that to me countless times,” I respond back. I see myself in this man more in the last five seconds than I have my mother my whole life.

He runs his hands through his thick black hair. “If I had known you existed, Dani, I would have been there. I will never forgive your mother. I can only imagine the things she has said about me over the years. When she left, we were not on the best of terms.” He looks at me with a sad face.

“Only to say I was acting like my father. If I asked about you, she would just ignore me. She is a very private person, about everything. She works a lot, too. So we haven’t really bonded.” I respond truthfully. “I just found out about you on the plane ride.”

“Well, your mom told me everything that happened. You guys are going to stay here until things blow over, you’ll be free from danger here. I would put you guys up in our safe house but we have a charity event coming up and we have other chapters already held up there.”

“Charity event?” I was shocked to hear that outlaws were hosting a charity event.