Page 40 of Savage Lust

“Aren’t you?”

He stalked across the room so fast I didn’t have time to brace myself when he pulled me against his chest.

“No. But whatever he’s coming here to say to me, he ain’t going to say in front of you.” He looked down at me, lips tight. “Just give me ten goddamn minutes, okay?”

The strength of him pressed against me, shoved away all the other emotions. His body was warm, mine responded, and I held myself perfectly still to keep from rubbing against him like some sex starved groupie.

“I deserve to know what I’m getting into.”

He released me with a sigh and two loud, firm knocks sounded on the door.

“We can talk about it later.” And he walked out, in bare feet, pausing long enough to grab his smokes before shutting the front door behind him.

I wasn’t hiding because he was ashamed of me, I told myself as I padded quietly into the living room. I was hiding because I was nosy. The past week had moved fast, different from the steady trod of screwed up news my life had been before.

It was messed up that a man had to die for my life to get better. The guilt churned away in my stomach. I shouldn’t be enjoying any of this and yet…

Screwing up my nose, I knelt on the arm of the gray couch and leaned toward the window. I could make out their lower halves through the blinds, but just barely. Merc had walked to the railing and they both stood there, talking.

Club business wasn’t any of mine, and I knew I shouldn’t be skulking about trying to listen in. Halfway to standing, convinced to go back to the bedroom and mind my own `business, I heard my name.

But if it’s about you…

“She should be asleep.” Cam said. “She seems to be doing alright.”

“I bet.” I couldn’t see him, but the sarcasm in Merc’s voice was clear.

“Is it a problem?” Something cold and hard snaked into Cam’s voice, making my skin heat.

Would I always have that sort of reaction to him, or was it just because we’d had sex?

“Nah, man.” Merc’s ambivalent tone said,I don’t care. The railing creaked, like he’d leaned against it. “I like her.”

Good, because I liked him too.

Cam mumbled something I couldn’t make out. I pressed my body against the door now, listening hard.

“You trust her?”

“Enough.” Cam’s answer was quick and noncommittal.

That stung. He trusted me enough to have sex with me, to sleep in the bed with me.

“Preach is real interested.” Merc’s words were so quiet I almost couldn’t make them out.

But Cam’s laugh rang loud and clear. “What the fuck about? Everything I’ve done since I was a teenager has been for the fucking club. That shit ain’t changed. He’s paranoid.”

“Any reason to be?”

“Maybe.”

More mumbles I couldn’t make out, which left me time to question what Preacher would be after Cam about. Could Cam have something on him? Should I be concerned about Cam?

“Talked to Ky tonight.” Merc’s voice was hushed, but I could make it out. “He’s got girls that work that motel we found Archer at, wants to know if he needs to be concerned.”

“He doesn’t.”

Dylan had told me Archer’s death was an apparent suicide. This motel stuff would probably be something else Cam was keeping from me. Maybe I should put it on the list to ask the lawyer about.

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