“Why?”
“I don’t want kids, Curse. Sex with you is going to end up with kids if you’re not prepared to wear protection.”
After feeling her once without a condom, Curse didn’t want to spoil the fun. She’d never believe him, but she was the first woman he’d ever taken without the use of a rubber.
“Whatever. You’re not taking the morning after pill. What happens, happens.”
“If I’m pregnant I’m not keeping it.”
He turned her over, glaring down at her. “You’re not killing anything we make together. If there’s a baby, I’ll be a f**king father to it.”
“You couldn’t father a f**king child, Curse. You’re out on the road more often than not. Ashley told me you can’t stand to be grounded for long. Newsflash, babies need constant attention.”
His anger spiked. Pulling out of her body, he stared down at her fisting his hands at his sides.
“I’m going to wash up. You better consider what you’ve just said by the time I get back.”
“Why?” she asked, arms folded over her br**sts.
“Because I don’t make it a habit to hurt a woman. You talk that shit again I may make an exception.” He stormed off, letting his words sink in. Curse knew he wouldn’t hurt her, but Mia didn’t have the first f**king clue as to what she said.
No, he didn’t stay home for long periods of time. Each time he left Piston County he had a pretty good reason. The Skulls were attracted to trouble. Devil wouldn’t leave his friend to suffer. Chaos Bleeds and The Skulls had a precarious relationship but one that worked.
If he had a woman and a kid then he wouldn’t be rushing off whenever trouble lurked around the corner.
Washing his c**k and fingers, he returned to the bedroom with a cloth.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “It was rude of me to say something so awful. I don’t know how you’d be as a father for your child.”
Staring at her, he nodded, accepting her apology.
Mia was an enigma. On the one hand she was a bitch, fighting him at every turn, but then she turned and was this sweet woman who looked totally lost.
When he got a chance to, he was going to f**king give some to Ashley. The other woman was accepted by the club, but that didn’t mean she had the right to tell Mia about his business.
****
Mia woke to strong, ink covered arms wrapped around her. Glancing behind her she saw Curse was asleep holding onto her tightly. There was no chance of leaving his side without him waking up. Blowing some hair off her face, she stayed in his arms, trying her hardest not to tense.
“You want to f**k, little girl. I can give you what you want.”
The words haunted her, and on the clock beside the bed she saw it was the anniversary of what she had done. Closing her eyes, she counted to ten to stop herself from thinking about him.
“Stop being tense. It’s the morning, and you’ve just woken up. No one should be this tense.” Curse muttered the words against her ear and kissed her neck.
“I’ve got to go.” She didn’t have cleaning today for other people. Mia worked a double shift at the diner doing the morning then the afternoon shift.
“Where?”
“I’ve got to work.”
“Again.”
“Real people have to deal with real work.” Mia kept facing the wall.
“What? You don’t think I work? I work f**king hard. Devil has us working at the club, the strip club, and doing whatever we need to do for Jerry.”
The mention of Jerry made her tense. He noticed.
“How the f**k do you know Jerry?”
“I used to clean his house.” She tried to climb out of the bed, but Curse wasn’t letting her go.
“There’s more to it than that. Used to, why did you stop?”
“It’s none of your business. I need to pee. Will you let me the f**k go?”
“No, stay still and answer my f**king question.”
Growling in frustration, she turned to glare at him.
“What part of it being none of your business don’t you get?”
“You know what he is. I want to know why you tensed up at the mention of his name. I’m not f**king stupid, Mia. Tell me.”
Throwing her arms up in the air, she didn’t see him letting her get away with anything. “He offered me a job yesterday. A working job with male clients. Can you believe two men within hours of each other offering me money to f**k them? Get off me.” She shoved his arm away, shocked he let her go.
“You’re not working for him again.”
“Duh, I stopped it instantly. I told him to get another cleaner. I’m not for sale.” Storming into the bathroom, she did her business, washed her hands then brushed her teeth with the spare toothbrush. Entering the bedroom she saw Curse was stretching to his full height.
Words failed her as she looked at him. Every single hard muscle was on display for her to see.
“Do you want to come and lick me? You’ve got drool coming from your mouth already.”
Sticking her tongue out, she grabbed her uniform and started to wriggle into the dress. With the dress on her hips, she fixed her bra into place.
“You work too much,” he said.
“I work enough to make my mom comfortable. Most people would do the same.”
“No they wouldn’t. A lot of people are self-centered ass**les who couldn’t give a f**k about their parents. You’re different. Angel would like you.”
She turned to him. “Who is Angel?”
He chuckled. “Are you jealous?”
“No, of course not.” The lies came easily as he finished buttoning up her dress.
“Angel is one of the women at The Skulls. Lash’s woman who seems to attract as much trouble as the club itself. She’s a sweetheart and loves Lash.”
“You sound in love with her.”
“Nah, she’s too sweet for me. I like a woman who’s not afraid to show me her claws.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “I need you to take me to the diner. I’m not going to get home to take care of my mom. Will you do that for me?”
“Sure, for a price.”
Shoulders dropping, she stared at him. “What do you want?”
“A kiss.”
“What?”
“I’ll go and check on your mother and all you’ve got to do is put those pretty lips on mine.”
As she stared at him for several seconds, he didn’t move away. They faced each other, and she was struck by how different they were.