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And while I’ve gone without for so long, been teased endlessly since she got on the back of my bike and I swear I felt the heat from her pussy just behind me, I grit my teeth and force down my desire.

Soon. Very soon.

But not now.

“Food’s here,” I say, only sticking around long enough for her to acknowledge my words with a small head shift to the side and a brief nod.

I leave the bathroom, shutting the door behind me and taking a moment to rein myself in so I don’t go in and fuck my woman like she deserves.

Like she needs.

Showing her once and for all that I can be what she wants. That I can cherish her in a way no man has ever done. That I’ll put her first, always. That I’ll take care of her forever.

Instead, I go through the clothes on the bed and am surprised to find not only clothing for me but a phone. A burner.

Gina’s name might not be stamped on this, but it’s clear it’s from her. I doubt anyone else is ballsy enough to go against what I’m sure is the old man’s wish that we not communicate with anyone outside this building.

I dial the clubhouse emergency line every Hound knows by heart.

“Mabel’s Whore House,” Bass mutters into the line when it connects.

“Yeah, I’d like to order a whore for the weekend.”

“Atom? Shit, man, where the hell are you? Club’s been going crazy looking for you. Flint tracked you once he got the call, but the connection was too low for us to hear anything. All we had was your location that ended the second you got on a plane or something, then only picked up for like half a second before it went off again. We have you in California, but who the fuck knows if that’s accurate.”

“It is. More specifically, LA.”

“No shit,” Bass says, and I can hear him moving things around.

“Nat’s family wanted to get to know me, since I’m part of the family and all.”

Movement stops on his end as he understands what I’m saying. One, I’m not sure if the line is secure. And two, I had to reveal what I am to Natalie and her family.

“All right, man, I get it. Just got a wife myself. Family is family. Just drop us a line sooner next time, man. We thought someone took you, not that you were jet-setting off to meet the in-laws.”

I bark out a laugh at the way he’s trying to play it cool, but I’m pretty sure the cat’s already out of the bag for anyone who’s listening. Not the part about me and Nat, just that I was having my team track us.

“When do you think you’ll make it back?” There’s a pause, and I hear some mutterings in the background on his side before he comes back on the line. “Casper and Flint are up to their ears in wedding plans. We might have a wedding much sooner than we thought if Kitten keeps pushing. The boys are going to need you back here.”

I hear the water shut off and look at the bathroom door as if I can see through it. The thought of Natalie stepping out of the shower, dripping wet and drying herself off, is a cruel torment I force on myself for half a moment before I look out the window at the morning sun coming in over the LA skyline.

“Don’t know. I’ll be lion to you if I had a date in mind. But hey, tell the boys that they might be able to placate their girls and push back their time if they take them on vacation or something. I hear the East Coast is nice this time of year.”

I hear a hum, but I know it’s not from Bass. I must be on speaker now. Hopefully, the boys understand my meaning. I can’t outright say that the best way out of this mess is if the Leone family wants to help us out, but a few mixed words will hopefully get them thinking.

“All right, man. Call when you can. I’ll make sure Rex and Fido are looked after.”

“I owe you,” I say before hanging up, just as the bathroom door opens and a beautiful Natalie, dressed only in a damp towel, comes out.

“Shower’s free,” she offers, and all I can do is grunt.

Words elude me, as they normally do when I take the time to really look at her.

I don’t have to hide my attraction from her anymore. I don’t have to pretend I’m only looking at her as if I were holding her captive, like we led her to believe. I can freely stare at, worship, and ogle her all I want.

But the glare she’s aiming at me should probably give me pause in all my joy of having this newfound freedom.

Instead, I just smile and gesture to the food.