Page 40 of Devil's Dilemma

She’s feisty, and loyal to Skull and her colleagues. Now all I’ve got to do is get some of that loyalty the club’s way. “Already said, we’ll make that happen. You’ll just have an escort there and back, got it?”

Her lips press together. “You really think it’s necessary for me to move to the compound?”

It seems she’s starting to listen to what I’m saying. “I do. If you don’t, then either I or a prospect will stay here with you. Look, it’s easier if we have everyone under the same roof. The compound can be protected. If we have everyone scattered all around, it spreads us thin and makes it harder to keep everyone safe.”

She stands while I move out of her way and she starts to pace the room. It’s in the middle of her third back and forth that she stops. Her eyes come to my face. “Do you really think I’m in danger?”

“No,” I say fast. “But we don’t take risks. Not with something so important. Fact is, we don’t know what the fuck’s going on, but want to be prepared for anything. Don’t want anything to blindside us.”

“Sort of like taking out insurance. It’s just in case.”

“It’s exactly that.”

She takes a lungful of air, then comes, “Okay,” on a long drawn out breath. “But you don’t need to sleep on the couch. I’ve got a spare room.”

“Couch is fine.” Give me the comfort of a bed and I might fall fast asleep given the stress of the day. A restless night also means I’ll have one eye open. Just in case.

As if realising she’s got bigger battles ahead which she should save her energy for, she capitulates with a simple, “Goodnight.” Then disappears into what I assume is her bedroom.

For a moment I stare down the hallway, my mind once again asking,where the fuck are you, Skull?I find it hard to believe he’s walked out on a woman like her.

I already know I admire her body and love the food she bakes. While this evening’s conversation hasn’t been easy, I know now I also respect the way she thinks.

It makes me believe Skull didn’t leave because he wanted to, but because he had no choice.

Which begs the question—if he was in trouble, why had he not come to the club?

He didn’t just leave her in the dark, that’s where he’s left us as well.

Why, Skull? Why?

As predicted I have a sleepless night. I jerk awake when I hear footsteps coming back down from where Mel had disappeared to last night. She’s wearing sleep shorts and a tee, perfectly respectable and well covered, but I can tell she’s not wearing a bra under her clothes. I bite back my desire to cradle those sumptuous breasts with my hands, with a reminder she’s not and will never be mine. Her reddened eyes and large yawn that she tries to hide betray she’s also had an unsettled night. It comes as no surprise, she’s worried about Skull, and her newly discovered condition as well. My personal desire is immediately quashed as a wave of compassion floods through me.Skull, where the fuck are you? You’re needed here.

She’s spoken, lost in my thoughts, it takes me a second to process what she’s asked.

“Yeah, coffee would be great.”

She looks a bit glum. “I suppose that’s something I’ll have to give up.”

I don’t have a clue about pregnancy. I shrug. “You can talk to Violet when you get to the compound. She’ll probably know about shit like that. But if you’re not having one for yourself, I can wait.”

“I’ve got some muffins…”

I launch myself to my feet. “Ones you’ve made?” At her nod, I follow her into the kitchen, looking around urgently. “Where, babe?”

My eagerness pulls forth a small smile. Opening a cupboard, she pulls out a tub. Then her face falls. “I made these for Skull. It’s the type he likes.”

As her bottom lip quivers my hunger rapidly fades. “Oh, hon.” I pull her into my arms. “It’s going to be okay.” I have no fucking idea how, but it’s what she needs to hear.

“I’m glad you stayed,” she says, quietly, making an effort to hold back her tears. “It was a comfort having you in the next room. I didn’t feel quite so alone.”

“I was only a call away, hon. Lean on me. While Skull’s not here, lean on me.”

Her breasts, separated only by the thin material of her tee, are pressed against my chest. My cock thinks it feels wonderful, so with one last hug I step away before there’s any physical evidence that my interest in her is more than platonic. Yeah, I can admit that. But I’ll never be acting on it. She’s not for me, but I can be her friend.

Friends can get hard-ons, can’t they?

We forego breakfast in the end. I bring in my empty saddlebags and she stuffs what she can into them. I turn away as I see her come out with an armful of lace, bras and presumably panties. My imagination doesn’t need to be fuelled by images of what she wears under her clothes.

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