“No, thanks. We’re good,” Chrissy says, linking her hand with mine.

“We can make you a whole lot better,” Gold Teeth says.

“She said we’re good. Back off,” I seethe.

They lose the smiles and step toward us menacingly. Then I hear the booming voice of God.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

No, not God, but a savior all the same. My knight in shining leather – Gage.

Gold Teeth looks him up and down and sneers. The crowd disperses until we’re left with Dealers on one side and Snakes on the other. Gage stands in front, commander of his army. Dr. E and Razor are at his sides, and Ron looks like he’s barely holding himself back.

“Two o’ yours, huh?” Gold Teeth takes the lead on his side.

“Yes, they’re mine and off-limits.”

“They ain’t wearing cuts.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Matters to us. What’s to stop us from taking what we want?”

Gage’s jaw twitches. These guys don’t know who they’re messing with. I grip Chrissy’s hand tightly.

“I’ll put a bullet in your brain so fast you’d be dead before you even tried to touch ‘em.”

Tensions rise and everyone’s trigger finger seems to be itching. The Snakes’ president steps forward and places a hand on Goldie’s shoulder.

“Cool it, Ram.”

Ram/Goldie sniggers at Gage and takes a reluctant step back. His president approaches Gage.

“It’s all good, Hunter. Just a misunderstanding. The Dealers and the Snakes are good.”

Gage jerks his head at us then shakes the other president’s hand. We move to his side and he places his arms around our shoulders. That sends a pretty clear message, and all the Snakes stand down.

“See you around, Ace,” Gage says to the Snakes’ president.

When we get back to the bikes, he stares down at us sternly.

“How could two little girls cause such big trouble? That could have turned out very differently.”

“They’re too hot for their own good,” Ron chimes in as he sidles up next to Chrissy. He drags her away and leaves me with Reaper.

“They started it. We were just minding our own business.”

“I know. We need to find a way to let the world know you’re mine.”

“Any ideas?”

“A few.”

He reaches into the neck of his hoodie and pulls his necklace with the “12 Gage” pendant from around his neck. He places it around mine, fingering the pendant where it rests between my breasts.

“That’s a start,” he says.

I beam up at him, knowing this is big for him. He’s backing up his words with actions. Soon, everyone will know I’m his. All I need now is my very own cut. I know it’s going to take a while for him to get there, but at least he’s moving in that direction.

“Let’s go. I need to get you alone.”

“I second that, Miss Alvarez.”

We stop at the same gas station on the way home and then we all go straight to the clubhouse. Chopper is on the grill and there are some women busy setting up for the guys’ return. Right away, Chopper comes over to me and wraps me up in a bear hug. I return his embrace, giggling as he squeezes tighter.

“How you doin’, lil darlin’?”

“Great. It’s good to see you.”

He looks between me and Gage with a big grin. “Looks like I’ll be seein’ a lot of you around here.”

“You keep making those burgers and you will.”

He kisses my cheek and pats his son on the back. “I’m fittin’ to do that right now. You two run along. I’ll send someone over with some grub for you.”

“Thanks, Chopper.”

Gage takes me to his room and I push him down on the bed and straddle his hips. “I had fun today.”

“See? And you didn’t want to come with me.”

I pull down the zipper on his hoodie and slide my hands under his black T-shirt. His stomach muscles jump and he grabs my hips.

“Oh, I want to come with you. You won’t let me.”

He flips over and stretches out on top of me, a smirk on his sexy lips.

“Just a few more days, babe. Then I’m going to chain you to my bed for a week.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yep. You’ll get food and bathroom breaks, of course, but trust I will be inside that pussy every other minute of the day.”

I quiver beneath him, sinking my nails into his back as he kisses my neck. “You’re so crude.”

“Yeah…but I believe we already established that you love my dirty mouth.”

“I love what your dirty mouth does to my body.”

“Just wait, baby doll. There are so many things I’m going to do to you with my mouth.”

He sucks at the base of my neck, swirling his tongue on my skin. That’s definitely leaving a mark. His hand travels down my body and grips my thigh, raising it up so he settles between my legs. I throw my head back, giving him better access to my neck.

“Gage…”

“I love the way you say my name.”

“Gage, Gage, Gage.”

He chuckles and covers my lips with his. I moan into his mouth and wrap my arms around his neck.

“I love kissing you, too. Sweetest lips I ever tasted.”

“And I bet you’ve tasted a lot.”

He stares down at me with furrowed brows. “Actually, before you, I hadn’t kissed anyone in a long time.”

This is interesting. “How come?”

“I’m surrounded by easy women. I can cover my dick, not my mouth. The Hounds…I pretty much know where their mouths have been.”

“That first night, you didn’t know where mine had been.”

“True…but I had a feeling about you. I couldn’t let you get away.”

“Now I feel special.”

“You should. You are.”

Now I really do feel special. I bask in the adoration in his eyes and pull him down to me. He kisses me softly then climbs off the bed.

“We should get back out there,” he says.

“You go ahead. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Okay.”

I use the bathroom and wash my hands and face. My hair is a mess. Doesn’t this man own a comb or brush? I finally find a brush tucked away under the sink and run it through my hair. I trail my fingers over the red spot on my neck with a smile. I can’t wait to see my breasts covered with his hickeys. I pull his chain from under my wife beater and smile giddily at my reflection. I’m his. I belong to him. Never in a million years would I have thought I would happily refer to myself as a man’s property. But I am. He owns me. It’s scary to feel this way, to feel so strongly about a man who isn’t interested in love. Yes, he may have changed his mind about the relationship aspect, but what about the rest? What kind of relationship will we have without love? I don’t know, but I want him. We’ll see where it goes from here.

I leave the room, close the door, and freeze as I see Lonnie waiting for me. She scowls, clenching her fists at her side. I watch her and wait, my resting bitch face firmly in place.

“I should kick your ass for what you’ve done,” she snarls.

“I haven’t done anything. It’s not my fault you’re a slut.”

“Says the slut leaving his bedroom.”

“I’m still a virgin. Unlike you, I don’t need to spread my legs to keep a man’s attention.”

“Bitch!”

She steps toward me, but I don’t budge. I’m done taking her shit. “Go ahead. What do you think Gage will do when I tell him? When he sees the bruises?”

She pauses, uncertainty blanketing her features.

“You saw Mr. Glenn, right?” Her eyes widen in realization and she steps back. “We’ve never really gotten along, but I didn’t know you hated me that much. He was going to rape me, and you set it up.” At least she has the decency to look away in shame. “If Gage hadn’t been there that night…”

I shake my head and take a step in her direction. Her eyes drop to my chest and Gage’s pendant and she takes another step back in shock. “In a few days, Daddy’s lawyer will be here with the papers for me to sign. After that, we’ll be nothing but strangers. I no longer have a sister.” I push past her, but her next words stop me.

“I never did.”