Page 70 of Paladin's Hell

Chapter 24

Jayden

I’m having fun. I don’t know what I expected coming to a different club. I knew it wasn’t going to be like the Tucson chapter, that a family barbeque was a misnomer as there wasn’t much family here. But the men I’ve met so far have been alright. The problem I’m going to have is learning all their names.

It had been strange upstairs in Paladin’s bedroom. The first time I’d been alone with him. The first time he was going to kiss me. As I eat the food on my plate, I wonder what it would have been like if we hadn’t been interrupted. Would it have made the tingles that Moira had described go through me? The anticipation had almost been enough. Talk about bad timing, we’d been that close before Demon had knocked on the door.

Part of me wishes he hadn’t stopped us. The other part is glad, in some ways, that he had. It’s not that I don’t trust Paladin, I don’t trust myself. I don’t know the boundaries, when to stop, when to encourage him. I’m scared of him taking advantage and going too far like those men had in my past, but likewise, I haven’t any experience of successfully saying no. Would I have known when to stop? Or would he?

In two months, I’m legal. Many kids my age have already lost their virginity, obviously, mine went years ago, but I left school friends in Tucson who were sexually active and not ashamed of it. What does a date on the calendar matter? Particularly when different states, different countries, have different interpretations. Do I feel old enough? I feel ancient in many ways, a nervous kid in others.

I chew, swallow, then pick up my soda and take a sip, trying to analyse my feelings when I’d first seen Pal today being chased by that whore. She’s around here, somewhere. While Pal had been getting the drinks, I’d seen her glaring at me. She, and the other club girls, are immediately recognisable due to their lack of clothes. The sun is shining, but it’s nowhere near warm enough to be prancing around almost naked. I suspect they’re on the lookout for a male body to keep them warm. As long as they’re not expecting to get their hands on my man.

My man?Since when have I felt possessive about Pal? I suppose I’ve never been challenged. Have always accepted he was mine. Yet, once Tulia had been sent on her way, and Pal had taken me up to his room, the green-eyed beast inside had fully woken up when it appeared someone had got in there first. The sense of relief that I’d felt on seeing that clever cat had surprised me. But it had also brought home, this is where Pal lives. He could be getting up to anything, and I’d never know. He could tell me whatever he thought I wanted to hear, as for what really goes on, I’d be none the wiser.

A nudge to my ribs. “You’re quiet. You okay?”

I nod, smile, and don’t let him into my thoughts.

“Mo said come and join us.” I glance up. A woman, Mo’s age, is standing beside us. Pal’s smiling at her. “Jeannie, this is Jayden. Jay, Jeannie. She’s Bomber’s old lady, and looks after us like a mother.”

Jeannie’s wide smile suggests she’s flattered, rather than upset by his description of her. She waves to where two or three picnic tables have been pushed together. Along with Mo, there’s another woman sitting there, properly dressed for the cool day, so I assume she’s another old lady and not a whore.

When she sees who I’ve spied, Jeannie explains. “That’s Sindy, she’s Buzzard’s woman.” From here I’d guess she’s about forty. Suddenly Jeannie’s body stiffens. “Oh no, you fucking don’t,” she snarls, then turns and stomps off.

My eyes follow her to see her heading toward an older man who currently has one of the scantily clad women’s arms looped around his neck. To be honest, he seems to be ignoring her, but that doesn’t stop Jeannie storming up and ripping the club whore away.

Looking up it’s to see Paladin grinning. “Bomber, I presume?” I ask.

“Yeah. Whores love to fuck with Jeannie. Come on then. I’ll introduce you.”

Making a mental note not to look too friendly with Bomber, I let Pal take my plate.

When we arrive at the table, it’s another round of introductions. I already know Hellfire and Mo, of course, but now I meet Jeannie’s man, Bomber, Sindy, Buzzard who’s the money man apparently, and a man called Rusty who runs the bowling alley. I smile broadly at the latter.

“Free entry for brothers and family,” he tells me, when he sees my interest. “You any good?”

“I’ve never tried,” I say, surprising him.

“It wasn’t exactly safe for Jay to do normal teenage things in Tucson,” Pal explains.

“Well, fuck me. Bout time you learned, isn’t it?”

“She plays pool though,” Pal lets him know I’m not entirely pathetic.

Rusty’s eyes sharpen. “Any good?”

As Pal goes to speak, I place my hand on his arm and lean over him. “How about you judge for yourself?”

He laughs heartily. “I’ve got a suspicion I might end up playin’ against a ringer. But I’ll take you up on that. Anytime you want, kid.”

Like Bomber, he seems older than Hellfire, so I don’t get upset when he calls me that.

“You finished?” Pal points at my empty plate. “Want anything else?”

Rubbing my stomach, I shake my head. “I’ve had plenty.” When he stands and holds out his hand, I take it. I pause a moment, looking around at the men. Even the older guys seem to keep themselves fit. Satan’s Devils all over seem to be a good-looking bunch. Remembering my thoughts about Pal, disloyally I look around seeing if any of the younger men here would cause my heart to race, and then glance back at the man by my side, realising he comes out on top. There’s just something about him. I wonder again what it would have been like had our kiss not been interrupted.

As he walks around and introduces me to more of the men, I realise I have never done this before. Oh, back in Tucson, Paladin was never far from my side, but we never gave off the vibes that we were a couple. It’s comforting in a security blanket way to have people assume we’re together.

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