Page 68 of Paladin's Hell

“I’m not sure whether it is or not. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? I know you expect things to change between us, now that we’re here.” She glances around. “Alone.” A quick grin. “I can’t help but expect Slick to jump out of the closet.”

“With a shotgun,” I laugh. Understanding exactly what she’s thinking. We’ve both been conditioned not to respond to each other.

She inches closer to me. “Pal? I, I think I would like to kiss you.”

I inhale sharply. A moment I’ve anticipated for so long. I’ve kissed her forehead before, even her cheek, but until that peck on the side of my face the other day, which barely counts, she’s never taken the initiative. I’m nervous, I’ve kissed girls, of course, but no one who means as much to me as Jay does. All of a sudden I regret suggesting it, wanting the dream to go on a little longer rather than risk disillusioning her. What if I’m not what she expects? What if I do something wrong? Knock my teeth against hers? What if it’s awkward? Fuck, I’m scared I’m going to push her away.

Her breathing has sped up. How do I read that? Is she nervous too? Fuck, she has to be. Has she ever kissed anyone before? Did the fuckers who… No, don’t go there, Pal. Don’t even think it. And never ask.

I’m the man. I’m expected to make the first move, aren’t I? My hands are shaking as gently I raise my right, placing it against her left cheek. I lean in, oh so slowly, giving her every chance to move back. She raises her head slightly, her lips aligned with mine though inches still separate us. A gap which narrows too fast, yet at the same time, torturously slow. I can feel her warm breath against my skin, only a fraction of free space remains between our lips.

Bang! A hammering on the door. Both of us jump apart, my heart’s thundering in my chest. Jay’s hand covers her own, as shocked as I.

“Pal? Jay? You in there? Food’s ready!” It’s Demon. He’s trying the door handle.

“Coming!” I yell back, then, when I’ve unlocked the door, I raise my chin defiantly at the VP. “Bitch got in.” I tell him, explaining the bolt.

He grins. Accompanying his words with a wink. “Mo, Mom, sent me. Think she was worried what you’re getting up to.” Jeez. Perhaps it’s not Slick we need to worry about here. Seems we’re still not allowed time to ourselves. He leans in conspiratorially, “I won’t tell her you locked yourselves in. Don’t think she’d believe you about Bitch. Hi Jay.” He nods the last over my shoulder.

Looking around, I see Jay’s face is flushed as though I really had kissed her. That she’s embarrassed is putting it mildly. But I’m proud as fuck when she jumps to my defence. “The cat was just in here…”

“I’m messing with you,” Demon laughs. “Fuckin’ cat gets everywhere. Only tolerate her as she catches the mice.” He stands back, waving his hand. “Come on then.”

Swallowing back the request that he leave us alone to finish what we started, I hold out my hand for Jay to take, then lead her back down the stairs, across the clubroom, and out to where picnic tables are already filled. There’s still a short queue by the grill. Interestingly, it’s set up in what I’ve been told is the remains of the original furnace.

Jay’s grip on my hand tightens. I’m not surprised. It’s the first time my new brothers have seen her. Cad, already eating, catches my eye and gives me a thumbs up. Working closely with him, he’s one of the brothers I know best.

Thunder’s manning the grill, Runt and Wills, two of the prospects helping out. Both, close to my age, eye Jayden up with interest. For some reason, there’s no bar on prospects having a girl here, and something about the way they’re assessing her has me placing my arm around her waist and pulling her into my side.

“Might as well piss on her while you’re at it,” a voice, unmistakable as Lizard’s, says in my ear. “Hey, I’m Lizard. Seems your man’s too rude to introduce me to his lovely lady.”

As Jay gives a nervous laugh, she takes the hand he holds out to her. Instead of shaking it though, he raises it to his lips and kisses the back. Jay blushes, as my body goes rigid. Lizard laughs, using my confusion to step up and get ahead of us in the line. Turning, he winks at me over his shoulder.

Asshole.

We fill our plates, Jayden grabs some salad shit that doesn’t interest me, then I lead her to a table where there’s space, pretending I don’t see Moira beckoning us over. In order to avoid her, I belatedly realise I’ve joined the table where Pyro and Taser are sitting.

Both men’s eyes immediately go to Jay.

“Jay, this is Pyro and that there is Taser.” This time I take the lead.

Taser’s giving her a long assessing look. Too long for my liking. Suddenly he speaks, “So you’re the baby Pal’s been sittin’.”

Pyro slaps him around the back of his head. “Doesn’t look much like a baby to me.”

“What I was thinkin’,” Tase replies, rubbing his skull. “Now I see what Pal’s been makin’ such a fuss over.”

Is it wrong that I want my property patch on her? Or, if not that, a fucking big neon sign flashing over her head, mine.

Jay takes a delicate mouthful of food. It is good shit, Thunder can cook. But I don’t much care for her appreciative groan which goes straight to my dick. I can only hope it doesn’t have the same effect on anyone else, or I might need to kill someone. She swallows, then looks around.

“Anything here to drink, Pal?”

“Sure. Soda?” I start to stand, then waver.

“Go ahead, Brother. We’ll look after your girl.”

Which is what I’m afraid of. Jay in no way looks like jailbait. They know her age, don’t they? Fuck me, but I can’t remember. I hurry away, almost pushing brothers out of my path in my hurry as I go back to the coolers to get our drinks. Bottle and can in hand, I start to return to the table, when Sparky steps in front of me, impeding my progress.

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