Her eyes narrow a little, a flicker of doubt in them.“What kind of business deals?”
My lips press into a hard line, the walls going up instinctively.We don’t talk about the MC’s business with outsiders.Hell, we don’t even talk about it with each other all the time.Each of my men has different business deals they look after.But Hannah isn’t just an outsider anymore—she bears my mark, but she hasn’t fully chosen me in the way I need her to.I want to trust her, with everything inside me telling me I can, but it’s not just me I’m putting out there.It’s the whole fucking club.
The silence hangs between us for a beat, my mind racing.Staring at her, I’m trying to gauge her sincerity, but her eyes are steady.I can feel her waiting for me to answer, for me to give her something more.
Pulling my hand back, I rub my thumb against my bottom lip as I look away.“Not everything is for you to know, Hannah.Not yet.Some things...they belong to the MC, and we keep them inside the club.”
Vex shifts in his seat, a small grunt escaping him, but he says nothing.The air in the room is thick now, tension building, and I can’t help but wonder if I’ve said too much or if I’ve said too little.
“I get that,” Hannah says, her voice steady, and I’m more than surprised by her response.
“You do?”I ask, raising an eyebrow, genuinely taken aback.
She nods, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her beer bottle.“Yeah.I do the books for a lot of different businesses.I wouldn’t tell you about them.Well, not yet, anyway.”
I watch her closely, trying to read her face.There’s no hesitation in her eyes, no sign of doubt or discomfort.She’s serious, and something about the way she says it makes me think she’s more like me than I gave her credit for.Maybe more than she’s letting on too.
Vex shifts in his seat, a low chuckle escaping him.“Guess we’re all keeping our secrets, then.”
I nod, but my gaze stays locked on Hannah.She’s calm and understanding.It’s as though she’s got her own walls, her own guarded spaces that she’s chosen not to share with anyone.But that doesn’t mean she’s not capable of getting it.Maybe she gets it better than I thought.The world I’m in, the one that comes with the MC, isn’t one you walk into lightly.And from the way she’s handling this, it’s clear she’s not someone who’s just going to crumble under the weight of it.
“You sure you’re okay with this?”I ask, my voice a little softer, unsure of how to approach the question but needing to know.
Her eyes meet mine, steady as ever.“I’m fine.I’m not here to ask questions you’re not ready to answer.”
At this moment, I feel a quiet respect for her.I didn’t expect this side of her, not at all.And while part of me wants to keep her at arm’s length, the other part of me can’t help but feel relieved.Maybe—just maybe—she might be more ready for this life than I thought.
Vex stands, his movements smooth and effortless.He glances at Hannah, his sharp eyes flicking from Hannah to me.“Do you need me to go by Hannah’s?Make sure everything is kosher?”
I think about it for a moment.It’s been quiet, but that doesn’t mean it’s beensafe.My instincts are still on edge, and I trust Vex’s senses more than anyone’s.“Yeah.Can you see if we missed anything?”
Vex’s nose twitches slightly, a small flicker of concentration crossing his features.His senses are sharper than a human’s, and his abilities give him a level of awareness that most people can’t even begin to understand.He never forgets a scent so he should be able to identify who did this.
“Yep,” he says, tossing his empty beer bottle into the trash with a precise flick of his wrist.“I’ll take care of it.”
“I’ll get my keys,” Hannah offers, standing and starting to head toward the bedroom door, but Vex stops her with a hand.
His lips curve up into a lazy, almost teasing smile.“That’s okay.I’d prefer you invited me in.It’d be rude to snoop around your stuff without you there.I’ll just take in the outside, see if anyone’s around.”
Hannah frowns at him, clearly not understanding the subtlety in his words.“I don’t mind you going in.”
Vex’s smile widens, his gaze flicking briefly to me—he’s amused by the whole situation.“I appreciate that, Hannah, but I’ll wait for an invitation from you when you’re home.”His tone is smooth with a calm that makes him seem untouchable or detached.It’s one of the things about him I’ve always found unsettling.
Hannah doesn’t seem to pick up on the hidden meaning in his words, or maybe she’s just letting it slide.Either way, she stares at him for a moment before her lips twitch up slightly.“All right.”
Vex’s gaze softens for a second, and then, with a single nod, he turns to head for the door.But I can tell that even though he’s following through with the request, his mind is already working.He’s assessing everything, even the things that haven’t happened yet.
I don’t like it when Vex is this quiet.It’s never a good sign.
The door clicks shut behind him, and suddenly, it’s just Hannah and me.She stands, her movements slow and deliberate, and before I can say anything, she straddles my lap, her body warm and soft against mine.Her arms slip around my shoulders, and she leans down, her breath warm against my neck.
“It’s been a long day,” she murmurs, her lips brushing against my ear.“Maybe we should go to bed?”
Her words send a pulse of heat straight to my cock, which is hard in an instant, straining against the tightness of my jeans.I can’t hold back the growl that rumbles from deep in my chest, the hunger for her that’s always simmering just beneath the surface.My hand slides up through her hair, threading through the strands before I grip the back of her neck, pulling her closer.
I crash my lips to hers, devouring her in a kiss that speaks more than words ever could.Her body arches into mine, the heat between us becoming unbearable.Her hips roll against me, and I can feel the electric connection between us, the way her body moves as if it’s made for mine.
But then, she pulls back just enough to look into my eyes.Her breath is heavy, her chest rising and falling with the same urgency I feel.She stares at me, her gaze intense, almost searching, but all I can see is the desire that’s burning in her eyes.
