Page 5 of Clash

Holy shit! I didn’t even think about that.

Before I could change my mind, the man sped off, leaving me standing there with my small son next to a big burly biker.

“Come on,” Clash grumped, stomping up the steps to his condo.

We entered what was probably the cleanest house I had ever seen.Did a man actually live here?A gross thought bubbled in my stomach, and I had to keep myself from throwing up.Was he married? Was I invading another woman’s home and admiring her husband with lustful eyes?

“This is where you live?”

Clash shook his head. “I own the place, but I don’t actually live here. I live down at the clubhouse with my brothers. This is just where I crash when I need mental health days.”

“Oh.” I could feel the frown taking over my face. “So, your wife lives here then?”

He laughed. “Do I look like the type of man who is married?”

He definitely didn’t.

“I guess not.”

The way his face lit up proudly made me question him even more. Alex’s dad had a similar conceit to him as well, one that I didn’t particularly enjoy.

“Anyway, this is the house. You and Alex make yourselves at home. The shower is upstairs in the loft, the remote is on the table. I’m not sure what food I have, but help yourself to anything you like. That couch pulls out into a bed. Or you can sleep upstairs in mine. Either way, I don’t care.”

“You’re leaving?” I asked curiously. “You’re just going to leave two strangers in your home like this?”

He eyed me peculiarly, mouth ticking up into the slightest smile. “I think I can trust you not to rob me blind. You look desperate, not stupid. I’m pretty sure you can see I’m not the type of guy you should be messing with.”

Gulping, I nodded my head in agreement.

“Good, now that we got that settled, I’m going out. If you guys need a change of clothing, I think I have some shirts in the dresser upstairs. My boxers would be way too big for Alex, but you look like you’d fit in them just fine.” His left eyebrow raised, along with his smile.His innuendo did not go unnoticed.His confidence was rather infuriating.

He shot Alex a look. “How old is he?”

“Four, almost five. His birthday is in two months.”

“He’s rather small for a five-year-old.”

“I know.”

His jaw ticked ever so slightly before his eyes perused my body.

“You’re pretty small, too. When was the last time you two had a decent meal?”

Shrugging, I picked at my skin. “I can’t remember, to be honest.”

He looked like he wanted to say something, but instead, he moved toward the door. “Don’t sleep in my bed without taking a shower first. You smell disgusting.”

“Excuse me…” The door slammed in my face before I could even get out my comeback.Who the fuck does he think he is?

Then the smell hit my nose. Putrid garbage and unclean clothing wafted through my nostrils, making me almost gag.

“Come on, Alex, we both need to take a shower.”

Alex giggled as he came out of the shower covered in a large towel that seemed to engulf his whole body. “This towel is bigger than me!”

I fished out an old white T-shirt from the dresser and pulled it over his head.

“Once Mommy takes a shower, I’ll wash your clothes so you can have clean underwear on. This should cover you up for now.”