“Why the hell are you so excited about tonight?” I ask him, raising a dark brow.
He plays with his lip ring. “One of the girls at Toxic—she’s a f**kin’ angel. Blonde. Huge ass tits.” He cups his hands in front of his pecs, mimicking the universal gesture for huge boobs. “I wanna bring her home.”
“To your torture chamber?”
He grins. “Don’t diss it till you try it.”
Dex walks out next, and my breath catches. Dark jeans, tight black shirt stretched across his muscles. I lick my bottom lip as I take in his appearance.
“Stop looking at me like that or I’m staying my ass home,” he growls. He checks his pockets for his cigarettes and wallet. Rake pulls out a bottle and starts pouring himself a drink.
“If you’re drinking you better be going in a taxi,” I tell him.
“It’s just one drink. I’m not rocking up in a f**kin’ maxi taxi,” he says, scowling. I laugh at his expression. Tracker walks in, his sleeves on showcase tonight with a white t-shirt.
“Everyone looks hot tonight,” I grumble, staring down at my text book.
My life sucks!
Dex kisses the top of my head. “I’m going out for a smoke.”
“Okay,” I sniff.
“Babe,” he says.
“Yeah?”
“Stop pouting, yeah?”
Three sets of amused eyes stare at me.
“I’m not pouting. I hope you all enjoy your night. I’ll see you at what? One am maybe?”
Laughter ensues.
Dex kisses my lips then heads out the front door. I look at Tracker who winks at me when he sees me staring.
The rest of the men arrive, and they all get on their bikes and ride out. Dex is the last one to leave, because he kisses me for about ten minutes before I can finally get him to go.
He kisses my stomach and then he leaves.
I study for two hours then fall asleep.
*****
I wake up in the middle of the night to laughter. My room door open and Dex walks in, knocking his foot on my new dressing table.
“Motherfucker!” he growls.
I stifle a laugh. He flops down onto the bed, his hands searching the sheets for me. When his fingers finally touch my arm, he says, “Yes!” like it was a big feat to find me, then rolls right next to me. He wraps me in his arms and kisses the back of my neck.
“I missed you,” he says when he realises I’m awake.
“Did you have fun?” I ask him drowsily.
“I did.”
“Good,” I reply.
“But I still missed you,” he says, turning me to face him. “Next time you’re coming with me.”
“To a strip club?” I ask incredulously.
“Anywhere,” he replies, his hands now roaming all over my body. “You’re a million times sexier than those girls.”
“So the grass isn’t greener on the other side?” I ask a little breathlessly as his thumbs graze my br**sts.
“No, and I never for one second thought that it was,” he says quickly, claiming my mouth.
We make love, and I fall back asleep with a smile on my face—insecurities fading away.
Chapter Twenty Three
Exams past in a blur and then I get a two week break. After more baby shopping, I’m about to pull out of the car park when I see Renee.
And she’s not alone.
When I see her with a man with her, my interest piques. When the man turns around my eyes widen in shock.
What the hell is Eric doing with Renee? I take a photo of the two of them and send it to Dex. Sometimes a picture is all the evidence you need. I notice Vinnie staring in their direction too. He has his helmet on so I can’t see his expression.
We drive home and Vinnie opens the door for me, not looking me in the eye.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him.
“Nothing,” he says, opening the back door and grabbing all my shopping bags out. Dex walks out of the clubhouse looking agitated, all coiled muscles. He slaps Vinnie on the back and takes the bags from his hands. Vinnie leaves, and I’m left feeling confused.
“Is everything okay?” I ask him, placing my hand on his chest.
He looks down at me, still radiating tension. “Everything’s fine we just need to talk about something.”
That sounded ominous.
I suck in a deep breath. “Okay.”
“Let’s go into our room,” he suggests. Or more like demands. He needs his own word. Deggests or Sumands.
I hold my hand up. “Is what you’re going to say going to piss me off?”
He bobs his head. “More than likely.”
“Maybe we should sit in my car? Then I can just drive off when I lose my temper.”
I’m carried to my room.
“I’m having déja vu,” I say as I watch Dex pace before me.
“You can’t get upset over this—you’re pregnant,” he finally says, his tone pleading.
I gape at his audacity. “Yes I realize I’m pregnant. Now tell me. What have you done?”
He looks down at the floor with his hands on his hips. “Renee cheated on me, yeah?”
“Yes,” I say. I knew that part. Stupid ass woman.
“But I didn’t tell you who she cheated on me with,” he says, risking a glance at me.
I shake my head in confusion.
Until it hits me.
My throat burns.
The picture I took today.
Eric and Renee?