Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 145088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
He’d loved feeling desired like never before and doted on. He missed the flirting and having twenty-four-seven access to Dex. But if he gave in for the sake of pleasure without thinking things through, the situation with Dex would only get messier.
Because this wasn’t about them anymore. They’d barely known each other for a month, but Dex had already caused so much havoc. Driven by the desire to have him around, Hammer had still chosen to sponsor him as a prospective member of the MC, and if that backfired, it might backfire hard, on all of them.
Hammer hadn’t revealed the nature of the fiasco at the cabin and had lied about what happened to protect Dex, but he couldn’t keep that up forever. Sooner or later, Dex might do something that couldn’t be easily dealt with, and Hammer did not want to keep cleaning up his messes indefinitely.
Which landed him between a rock and a hard place, because even after Dex’s massive fuckup and the missing finger reminding him of what happened every single day, Hammer itched to have him around.
But that was not the only issue. If Hammer chose to be with the guy, he’d have to uproot his whole identity too, because sooner or later, someone would start asking questions, and Hammer respected himself enough to answer them.
Trying to have a no-strings-attached relationship with Dex wouldn’t work either. Dex was always eager for sex, but had also shown how much he cared for Hammer by literally jumping out of a car to save him.
And yet the idea of Dex moving on and finding a different man to watch over him made Hammer’s blood boil. Just imagining that scenario made him want to smash the cup in his hand and stab something, but he decided to leave his home as it was and left for the clubhouse. Maybe he could find a reason to smash something there.
It’s been a week since his return and the whole thing would have been easier if Dex wasn’t around all the time, fixing things at the clubhouse or running endless errands. No matter how much Hammer tried to ignore him, memories of his cute smile always came back to taunt him. No one smiled at Hammer like that, without even a hint of fear.
He missed Dex’s scent whenever he lay on his own. Falling asleep, he missed his delicious yet unhealthy meals, his silly comments, and the honest enthusiasm he approached everything with.
Hammer didn’t know how to scratch that itch but was aware that he’d go crazy if he couldn’t.
The Demon Brethren MC clubhouse was a grim, unassuming building at the edge of town, between a strip club, a factory, and, oddly enough, a large dog shelter. All its windows were painted from the inside for privacy, and you had to pass through a gate to enter the yard.
It was a second home for Hammer though, a place he knew inside out and where he didn’t need to tiptoe around people. Dex had been a prospect for only a week, and he was already endearing himself to others despite being openly gay. He didn’t complain when given chores, had an ease of making conversation, and thanks to everyone knowing about his actions at Cora’s place, the guys treated him with more respect than a prospect usually got.
He was here to stay and haunt Hammer, unless his impulsivity led to fallout that could not be ignored. What would Hammer do then? Deal with the consequences for him?
He couldn’t fucking do that when Dex was a full-on adult capable of making his own choices, but the urge to protect him was still there, insistent like a cockroach drilling its way into one’s ear.
Hammer would have ruminated way longer if Dex wasn’t kneeling by Torcher’s red motorcycle and tinkering with something by the front wheel, right next to Hammer's usual parking space.
Dex looked over his shoulder, as if he'd been too lost in thought to notice the buzz of an approaching Harley, but his smile froze at the sight of Hammer. Hopefully no one else could recognize the longing in his eyes.
“Hey! Wait before you go inside,” Dex said.
Torcher sat on a metal bench next to Dex, lazily smoking a cigarette. His long hair was as red as his motorcycle, and while very tall, he was also skinny like a greyhound. “You’re telling our enforcer what to do?”
Hammer stiffened, and his mind produced all the ways this could go. If he were too soft on Dex, people would start getting ideas, if he deflected the comment, it would stagnate in Torcher's head like rotting food in the trash stinking up the place. And if he were firm and agreed with his brother, Dex would be hurt. His eyes would darken, his lips would lose their smile, and he’d sulk until tomorrow.