Demon
I’d given up sex for cake and talking. Jesus. If my brothers had heard that shit come out of my mouth, they’d ask what size panties I needed. With any other woman, I wouldn’t have given a fuck. But Farrah wasn’t anyone -- she was my woman. If she needed to talk, I’d make the sacrifice. I fucking hated talking about myself, even if she’d been right. We didn’t know a damn thing about one another other than the basics.
It wasn’t just me anymore. I’d have to make changes and be willing to compromise on occasion. I’d let her win some battles along the way. When it counted, I’d hold my ground. Being an asshole to the club whores was one thing. I didn’t want Farrah to hate being here, or regret being mine. There were two clubs who would take her in if she decided to leave. Hell, probably more than two.
She’d had to frost the cake when we got to the kitchen. I’d taken a seat at the table, watching her. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a woman in my home, before Farrah anyway. There’d been one or two women I dated seriously when I’d been younger, but no one in a while. She’d been here several weeks and I liked having her around. One night had always been enough in the past. I should have known the moment I wanted to bring her here, keep her overnight, she’d be different from all the others.
Seeing Badger, Dingo, Outlaw, Dragon, Dagger, Guardian, and Steel all settle down had made me realize my life was pretty fucking lonely. Yeah, I had my club, but when I came home at night, it was only me here. Or had been until now. It hadn’t escaped my notice she’d added a few touches to the house. I now had some sort of decorative pillows on my couch, a colorful rug on the floor, pictures on the wall.
I hadn’t told her, but I liked what she’d done with the place. Even in here she’d made changes. Lace curtains hung at the window. A bit too girly for me, but it made the place feel like a home and not a bachelor pad. She’d even bought new bedding for our room, steering clear of flowers and shit. The blues and greens weren’t bad, and I had adjusted to the bold contemporary design on the comforter.
She cut two slices of the cake and pulled a bottle of water from the fridge as well as a soda. Farrah gave me the larger piece and the soda before sitting in the chair next to mine. She cast me a shy smile before taking a bite.
“You feeling more like this place is home with all the changes you made?” I asked.
She froze. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask first.”
I waved off her concern. “Not what I meant, baby. I don’t mind you adding your own touch to the place. Everything looks nice. And don’t think I didn’t notice you used my bank account to pay for it. Every penny you spend, I get a notification from my bank. I didn’t add it to keep tabs on you, but so I’d know if anyone fucked with my accounts. But it means you can’t spend money in secret. I’ll always know.”
Her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t deny it. She took another bite of cake, licking the frosting off her lips. “I would have covered it, but since I couldn’t work I didn’t have any money to spare.”
“With a baby coming, I don’t think you’ll have much time to work. The other ladies here have enough to do without watching our kid too. You’re a mom now, Farrah. Your life is changing, and I know it wasn’t what you’d planned, but you’ve got to go with the flow.”
“You mean go along with your flow.”
I smirked but didn’t answer. I didn’t have to. She already knew what I’d say. Same thing her dad and grandpa would likely have said to their women if they’d made such a remark.
“We need a nursery,” she said.
“You pick a room and a color. I’ll get it painted. Can’t leave to go buy shit until I know you’re not in danger, but we can look at some things online. You either get something local a Prospect can pick up, or we can have it delivered. When all this is over, you can go to as many baby stores as you want.”
“I’m starting to wonder if we’ll ever figure out what’s going on.”
I’d had the same thought more than once. I had Outlaw, Wire, and the other hackers Outlaw knew checking into things, and I hoped to have an answer any day. It was shitty to go behind Scratch’s back when all this seemed to involve the Devil’s Boneyard too, but if he had Farrah’s safety as a priority, it wasn’t showing. I couldn’t risk anything else happening to her, and not only because she carried my child. I’d grown rather fond of her. My house finally felt like more than four walls and I knew it was all due to her.
“You wanted to talk. Said we don’t know enough about one another. So ask your questions. I’ll answer what I can,” I said.
She nodded and seemed to think it over a moment. “Do you have any family outside the club? Anyone who’s still alive?”
“Not that I know of. My parents are long gone. Good riddance when it comes to my father. The man was no prize. Never knew my grandparents. I don’t remember any siblings growing up, unless either of my parents had affairs that resulted in kids who didn’t live with us. As much as they hated one another, anything is possible.” I shrugged a shoulder. “Only have the club. And now you and our kid.”
“You already know my family,” she said. “Or at least on my dad’s side. All he has is the club. If I have any family on Mom’s side, other than my grandpa, I don’t know anything about them. She said her mom was dead.”
I wondered why they’d kept her in the dark. I remembered the rumors circulating through the various clubs when Venom took out Ridley’s mom and stepdad. I also knew Ridley had a half-brother, even if I didn’t know what ever happened to him. It was curious no one had kept up with the kid. Shouldn’t he have met his nieces and nephew at some point?
“What else do you want to know?” I asked.
“Well, I’m pretty sure your favorite drink is beer and your favorite food is hamburgers, because you consume a lot of both. Any other favorite things I should know about?” she asked.
I snorted. “While I am partial to beer, hamburgers aren’t my favorite food. It’s steak. I like listening to classic rock, don’t care much for wearing bright colors, and I like to watch Die Hard at Christmas.”
Saying I didn’t like wearing colors was an understatement. Nearly every shirt in my closet was black, gray, or navy. I did have a dark green and a maroon in there, but they’d been gifts from the old ladies. Apparently, the somber colors made me less approachable, which worked in my favor as the Sergeant-at-Arms.
“What about you?” I asked, feeling like I should want to know the same things about her. As long as she was honest, faithful, and we got along, I didn’t really need to know anything else. But women were different from men, and the last thing I needed was her going off about me being an insensitive asshole. I’d heard it often enough over the years. The difference was this time the woman lived under my roof and I couldn’t kick her ass to the curb.
“My favorite drink is sweet tea. I’m partial to cherry pie. I love blues and greens the most, and I don’t really have a favorite movie but Lavender did get me hooked on Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. I’ll listen to just about any music except modern rap.” She finished her cake and pushed her plate away. “I also know how to change the oil in my truck, maintain my tire pressure, can change a tire, and while I haven’t had to personally do it yet, I do know how to change the brakes on my truck too.”
“Impressive. I’m not sure the other old ladies around here have the first clue what to do with a car other than put gas in it and drive.”
“Doesn’t sound very fair of you. Maybe they know more than you think,” she said.
It was possible, but doubtful. My brothers had a type. Damsel in distress with an inner strength that usually surprised everyone. But their strength was subtle, not at all like my woman. For me, I liked the fact Farrah was a fighter. If she’d been a complete pushover, or too docile, I’d have been bored. Instead, I never knew what she’d say or do next. Might cause a few issues with the club here and there, like her kneeing Colorado in the nuts, but all in all, I’d rather have feisty over demure any day.
Knowing she wouldn’t be helpless if she broke down on the side of the road was a bit of a relief. Didn’t mean I wouldn’t put extra precautions in place. Farrah had quickly become high on my list of priorities, as well as the kid growing inside her. My club still did and always would come first, but I also knew she’d understand, having grown up in this world.
“That it? Talk’s over?” I asked as quiet descended over us.
“Guess I’m not too good at all the girly shit,” she said. “I’m more tomboy according to my family.”
“Nothing wrong with being a tomboy.” I much preferred Farrah in her T-shirts and jeans than the skintight outfit she’d worn the night we met. She’d been sexy as fuck, but the more I got to know her, the more I liked her in a more natural state.
“If you’d seen me as a kid, you wouldn’t utter those words. I climbed trees, even dive-bombed Tank one time. I’ve had broken bones, knocked out a tooth more than once, gotten black eyes. I think my mother despaired of me ever acting like a girl. Then I discovered I liked boys and I’m almost certain she and my dad were wishing I’d go back to climbing trees instead of wanting to climb the Prospects.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, not liking the idea of her climbing anyone but me. Stupid, since I knew she’d been a virgin when I took her, so I was the only man she’d ever been with. Didn’t mean I liked the thought of her checking out anyone else. I knew damn well if I voiced my opinion she’d call me a caveman, or worse. Heard it plenty of times before.
“I expect faithfulness from you, Farrah, not just in our relationship but to this club as well. You’re my old lady, and I know you understand what it means. I won’t treat you like a kid who needs to be led around. You handled yourself just fine with the club whore. Should probably not knee any other brothers in the nuts like you did to poor Colorado. That being said, I don’t want you letting anyone push you around. You’re mine and not some club whore they can fuck with. Understand me?”
She nodded. “Right. Tough, but hold back with the brothers in your club. Club whores are fair game.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah, you can put them in their place all you want. It was hot as fuck. Long as you realize you’re getting bent over the second we get home.”
“Until I can’t bend.”
The thought of her belly swollen with my child made my dick hard. Yeah, I was a sick fucking bastard, but at least I owned up to it. I reached across the table and took her hand, lacing our fingers together. There was more to Farrah than most probably realized. She had the hard-as-nails exterior down, but I’d seen the sweetness in her, the insecurity at times, and the need to be accepted. She wouldn’t take shit from anyone, even me, but she got hurt the same as everyone else.
“I don’t know what this relationship will look like, but I can promise you’re the only woman I’ll be fucking. I’ll come home to you every night, unless I’m out on club business, and I will protect you with my last breath. You’ll never want for anything, you or the baby. If there comes a time I’m not here, the club will watch over the two of you.”
Her fingers tightened on mine. “Let’s not off you this soon. At least wait until you’ve pissed me off good and proper, then I may decide to lend a hand.”
“Don’t ever change, Farrah,” I said, smiling. I’d give her shit because it was fun, and I’d spank her ass whenever she disobeyed, but it would be entertaining, never knowing what tomorrow would bring. I knew for damn certain she’d never stay where I put her, unless she decided it was a good idea.
“I’m afraid you’re stuck with me as I am,” she said. “Smart mouth and all.”
I tugged her closer and leaned over the corner of the table to kiss her.
As much as I’d love to fuck her, she’d made a good point. We didn’t seem to do much of anything else. If I just wanted sex, I could have gotten it at the clubhouse. Farrah was mine, and the mother of my child. She deserved more than for me to treat her like a club whore. I didn’t have a fucking clue how to be in a relationship. Hadn’t been in one in forever, and even back then, I’d screwed it all up. Hell, I’d only ever dated two women, and I hadn’t exactly been faithful to them. I’d made them promise not to fuck around, but I hadn’t given them the same courtesy. If I’d had a sister and some asshole had treated her the way I’d treated my somewhat girlfriends, I’d have kicked his ass. The closest I’d come to a relationship in the last decade was a little Mexican señorita who’d been dropped on the club’s doorstep, but it hadn’t lasted long or gotten overly serious. Since I’d claimed Farrah, I needed to make sure I did shit the right way this time.
It was different. Not like before. This time, if I fucked shit up, I’d have hell to pay. Not only because of who she was related to, but she lived in my home, had been officially claimed in front of my club, which meant she was here to stay. I couldn’t just toss her out and wash my hands of her. The thought of keeping a woman should have scared the piss out of me. I’d never really wanted to in the past. Even the women I’d dated somewhat seriously I’d known I’d never hang onto indefinitely.
“So, a nursery… any ideas what you want in there?” I asked.
“Where should we put it?”
I stood and motioned for her to follow me. The first bedroom was empty so I pushed open the door and let her check out the space. At the moment, I had a few things stored in here, like my gun safe. With the help of my brothers, I could move it elsewhere. Might be the prime time to add a room to the back of the house like I’d thought about for a while now. The second room held some gym equipment and a desk I used on occasion.
“I’ll be adding a room to the back of the house off the kitchen. I can move the gun safe out there, along with the shit in the second bedroom. Shouldn’t take too long to get it framed out and finished. Long before the baby gets here, as long as the weather holds. Still, I can shift it from the wall and get the painting done in here, go ahead and put together any furniture you pick out.” I glanced around the space and back at her. “Think it will work?”
“Sure, but… if you have another spare room, why not just move the gun safe in there?” she asked.
“Well, I could, but as fast as I knocked you up this time, something tells me we’ll need the bedrooms for our kids.” Her cheeks flushed. “So, do you want this to be the nursery? We can work on getting the other room set up for any future children further down the road.”
She nodded, then rubbed her toe across the carpet. “Can we put new carpet down? This one is a little…”
“Ugly?” I asked and laughed. She wasn’t wrong. “Yeah, we can put in new carpet. This was part of a leftover roll I got cheap when my house was put up. I didn’t much care at the time.”
She worried at her lower lip before lifting her gaze to mine. “Is this going to work?”
“For a nursery?” I glanced at the room again. “I don’t see why not. We can get it fixed up quick enough.”
“Not the room,” she said. “Us. You. Me. This baby.”
I’d thought we’d already settled this in the kitchen. She’d wanted to talk, to get to know me better. But she still doubted what exactly?
“Farrah, what do you want?”
She opened and shut her mouth, not seeming to have any idea what to say.
“You wanted to know more about me, so I sat down and talked with you. I know it’s not enough, but you can’t learn everything about a person in the span of a few days or even weeks. Hell, people married twenty years probably still learn new shit about their spouses. Do you think I’d do this for anyone else? The talking, moving my damn guns to another location… any of it? Because I wouldn’t.” I folded my arms over my chest. “I have never, not once, given a rat’s ass about a woman’s feelings. Until you. I don’t know what the fuck else you want from me, but it seems like you’ve got one foot out the damn door.”
Her cheeks flushed a deep pink. “I’m sorry, Cody. My emotions are all over the place. It’s not an excuse, and maybe I’ve always been a brat. I’ll try to do better, but it won’t happen overnight.”
“You’re young, Farrah. Really damn young. I don’t expect you to act like a forty-year-old woman, but you’re not a kid either. You walked into the clubhouse that night, begging to get fucked. Now you’re mine, and so is the kid in your belly. I’m trying to give you what you want, to some extent, but I’m not a fucking lap dog, or someone you can run roughshod over. I’ll see to your needs, make sure you’re safe, but I will also spank your ass when you deserve it.”
She gave a short jerky nod before eyeing the room again. I had no doubt I was about to face an uphill battle with her, but hopefully we’d come out the other side without killing one another. I liked feisty women, but she was right. Farrah was a brat, and I was more than happy to spank it out of her if need be.