Page 15 of Lore (Serpents of Chaos MC #3)

ATIANA

The food is served at the table, but the men aren’t looking as excited as they usually are when Ora or Lu serves their food.

Bones lifts it to his nose and smells. “It smells good,” he announces.

“Of course it does,” Lore fires back, scowling at him.

Rider and Dove start to eat, and Lore takes a mouthful, his violet eyes widening as he chews.

The bastard.

I know that back then, I wasn’t the best cook, but when you become a mother, you kind of have to learn.

“This is really fucking good,” he states, sounding surprised and pleased.

Bones takes a careful bite and then closes his eyes, moaning slightly. “I don’t know what the hell you were talking about, Lore. This is delicious.”

My eyes narrow on Lore. Did he warn them that I wasn’t a good cook?

Lore clips the back of Bones’ head, making him choke, while the rest of the men start to eat. Ora has a check-up at the doctor’s office, so she and War are missing. Haze and Lu also aren’t here, something to do with a performance Haze has, so I’m currently the only woman at the table.

Skull takes his bite, studying me thoughtfully. Ora told me how to tell them apart, and I’m grateful because I don’t think I would have figured it out on my own. However, the more time I spend with them, I realize how different their personalities are. “It’s good.”

“Thank you,” I reply, cutting my eyes back to Lore. “I’ve picked up some new skills over the years.”

Something about that statement pisses him off, because his jaw tightens. His fingers grip the fork harder, and he shovels in another mouthful.

Suit comes in later, smiling at me when he sees me. “Hope there’s some left for me?”

Lore puts his fork down and narrows his eyes at him.

“Yes, there’s plenty,” I assure Suit, and he winks at me. He’s wearing his usual crisp white shirt rolled up to his forearms to show off his ink. He’s put his leather cut over it, and the contrast is kind of sexy.

Lore clears his throat, and when my gaze cuts to his, I know he caught me checking out Suit and is even unhappier, if that’s possible.

I think the kids being here is the only thing that is keeping him from losing his temper.

I clean Dove’s mouth and then smile when I see Rider has almost eaten half of his food.

“Do you want more?” I ask him.

He shakes his head. “No, thank you.”

“Can you please make this again?” Suit asks, licking his fork. “It’s delicious.”

“Yeah, there was no need to threaten us,” Bones adds, smirking. “Seems like you might not know your woman as well as you think.”

“Why did he threaten you?” Suit asks, brow furrowing.

“You didn’t get the text?” Bones asks him, amusement now dancing in his blue eyes. He turns to Lore. “You didn’t warn all of your club brothers? Or did you just not warn Suit?”

“Bones,” Lore snarls, eyes darting to Rider and Dove before looking back at his brother. “After this, meet me in the gym. I have something I need to show you.”

His tone is ominous, and I have no doubt what he wants to show him is a fist to the face.

“What do you want to show him?” Rider pipes up, his voice excited. “Can I see too?”

“Yeah, Lore. Can he see too?” Bones fires back, trying to keep a straight face and majorly failing.

“So wait, you thought her food wasn’t going to be good, so you warned everyone to behave?” Suit asks, shaking his head in exasperation.

“He told us we had to pretend it was good, even if it wasn’t,” Blade speaks up, smiling at me. “It’s amazing, by the way.”

“Thank you, Blade,” I say, trying to stop myself from laughing now.

I mean, it’s kind of cute—he threatened them so they wouldn’t hurt my feelings. “And Lore, I appreciate you looking out for me. But if, in the future, I make something that is bad, I think I’d just prefer everyone to be honest with me.”

“Noted.” Lore sighs, scrubbing a hand down his face. He then turns to Rider and winks. “And yes, Rider. I’ll show you what we have in our gym.”

“Yay!” Rider cheers, then looks around the table. “And my mama always makes good food. She’s the best cook ever.”

“Yes!” Dove agrees, nodding her little head, her dark head of hair swaying around her.

“Yes, she is,” Lore agrees, giving me an apologetic glance.

I smirk, finding the whole thing amusing.

After dinner, Lore helps me clean up, and then he shows the kids the gym before bedtime.

I’m so used to doing everything for the kids alone, so it’s really nice having him here to help.

Trent was always working, so although he made more money, I was always the one who cooked, cleaned, and did everything for the kids.

I never minded. I love being a mother, but having Lore help me tuck them in and read them stories feels really nice too.

And maybe even a little less lonely.

“So what did you want to talk about?” I ask him when we’re finally alone.

He leans back against the wall and studies me. We’re standing so close to each other our shoes are almost touching. “About today with Rose…”

I put my hand up to stop him. “It’s fine, Lore. I was just explaining to the girls that?—”

“That what?” he asks, raking his teeth over his lower lip.

“That this is who you are. You flirt. Women love you.” I shrug my shoulders and shift on my feet. “I think that they’re hoping for some happy ending with us, only...”

I try to look down, but he lifts my chin with his fingers. “Only what?”

“Except we aren’t going to get that,” I whisper, forcing a sad smile. “You have your dream life here, and I can see that. I don’t fit into that.”

“How do you not fit into my life?” he asks, frowning. “The old ladies love you. Some of my club brothers are trying to fucking steal you away from me. You belong here. With me. And so do Rider and Dove.”

“Lore…”

“It might seem like I’m the same man from before, Butterfly, but I’m not. I know what I want, and I’m not going to lose you again,” he declares, his voice steady and sure.

Determined.

“This was my dream life. But now the only dream I want has you in it.”

“I won’t ever share you, Lore.”

“You won’t have to. I haven’t even touched another woman since you came back into my life. And I won’t be,” he vows, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth.

“You flirt with everyone.”

“I won’t,” he promises.

“You can’t change who you are. And if we don’t work out, we don’t just have me, but we also have two little hearts that are going to be broken. I can’t do that to them.”

His thumb drags back and forth over my lips. “I told you, no matter what, I will be there for both of them. I led this life not knowing I had a child out there. Things could have been different. You can’t judge me for how I lived my life when I didn’t know, Butterfly.”

His piercing violet eyes slowly graze over my features, and a look I can only describe as yearning enters his gaze. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, Atiana. The grass was never greener on the other side. I was just thinking with my dick and didn’t realize it until it was too late.”

“Easy for you to say now,” I mutter, not wanting to soften my heart toward him.

I have no doubt he loved every second of his choices.

Every woman he was with.

He never once even gave me a thought.

I need to be smarter this time.

But then he smiles at me. It’s lazy, it’s sensual, and I can’t stop looking at his lips.

You need to leave now, Atiana.

Walk away.

Don’t be stupid.

As if he can read my mind, he moves quickly before I can stop him and puts his mouth on mine.

His lips are exactly as I remember them, and his kisses are still just as intoxicating. He tastes like mint and good memories.

His hand grips the side of my neck as he pulls me up against him. My nipples tighten as a bolt of pleasure strikes through my body.

It’s been several months since Trent and I had sex, and I know that sex with Lore will be a whole different experience, one that my body wants more than anything.

Even though we’d only been with each other back then, we always had a chemistry so hot that I knew he’d ruin me for other men.

Shame that only went one way.

I break the kiss, searching his eyes. “You got angry tonight when I mentioned learning new skills while I was away.”

His jaw tenses, and he tucks my hair back behind my ear. “I know I don’t have any right, but the thought of any other man touching you?—”

“I’ve only been with two men. You and Trent.” His body goes still, and I can sense his surprise at my statement. “How many women have you been with since me?”

My question does as I wanted and ruins the mood. “Butterfly…”

“You don’t even know, do you?” I sigh, shaking my head. “While I was picturing you every single time Trent fucked me, you were out there imagining anyone but me.”

But it’s true.

To him, I probably represent commitment.

Safety.

Responsibility.

I’m boring.

“That’s not fair,” he murmurs, searching my eyes.

“Maybe not, but it’s the truth. Goodnight, Lore.”

I go back into my room and gently close the door behind me.

And a few hours later, when I find myself walking to his room in a moment of weakness, I know I made the right choice by pushing him away.

Because Brandy is closing his door behind her.