Page 11 of Shadow’s Protection (Hurricane Heat MC #1)

Violet

After a shower, I feel like a totally new person. A new person I hardly recognize in a life I never could have imagined for myself. I had sex with Shadow. Like, mind-melting, intense, amazing sex that is nothing like I’ve ever experienced before.

I had a couple of serious boyfriends before Clive—two, to be exact—but sex was never the highlight of those relationships.

With Clive especially, it was always something I did the way he wanted it.

He never helped me have an orgasm. He never seemed to care if I was doing anything other than making it good for him.

To be honest, that was not even the worst thing about my relationship with Clive. But as I pull on a pair of yoga pants and a loose, long-sleeved top with a wide-open neck that slides over one shoulder, I’ve never felt more alive.

Shadow is sitting on the couch, his fingers locked together while he stares off into the darkness.

“You waited?” I ask. My hair is still wet and smells like my travel-sized shampoo, vanilla and lavender and delicious.

My legs are wobbly, but somehow, walking through the bedroom and seeing Shadow there feels weirdly right.

I have to resist the temptation to act like this is normal and just climb into his lap and kiss him.

I don’t know how to act. None of this is normal. But my gosh, I have never felt more satisfied.

When I reach the couch, Shadow rakes his eyes over my body. I can’t read his expression, but he looks lost in thought. My stomach growls, a loud, long sound, and I laugh and pat my belly.

“What time is it anyway?” I ask.

He grins, then gestures toward the door. “Time to see who’s still alive and kickin’.”

I follow him through the door, and as we walk down the corridor back into the compound, Shadow keeps his hand on my lower back. The gesture is protective, but even more than that, it feels possessive. I’m not sure how I should feel about that.

It’s not overbearing like Clive, who liked to drag me by the hand when I lingered too long at a table or got lost in a bookstore scanning the shelves.

Shadow may be big and scary, but he’s the thing I am least afraid of in my life right now.

I’m going to cling to that feeling of safety for as long as I can.

When we reach the main room of the compound, the whole place has come back to life.

There is a massive guy I recognize from last night, growling as he seems to silently direct a group of young guys who are cleaning up the place.

Some of the older bikers are already drinking, beers in their hands as they recline on couches and chairs.

We head toward the bar, and Shadow pours us two fresh cups of coffee. He silently hands me one while a biker even bigger than Shadow approaches us.

“Storm won’t blow past for another day.” This man is taller than Shadow, and his black hair is chin-length. He’s got a thick black beard and piercing blue eyes that look cold enough to cut glass. He narrows his eyes and practically looks through me.

“Violet,” Shadow says, cocking his chin toward me. “Drink your coffee. I need a minute. Then we’ll get something to eat.”

I meet his eyes, and I see reassurance there. I feel accepted and looked out for, so even though the room is full of strangers, people I have never met and who all look like they could eat me alive, I’m not afraid.

I smile at him, and then I look at the man with him. “Phantom, thank you again for letting me stay here.”

Phantom doesn’t respond, just firms his lips and turns away. Shadow follows him.

Well, okay…

I’m alone on the barstool sipping my cup of coffee—at least, as alone as I can be—when I feel the cell phone in the pocket of my yoga pants buzz.

After hearing Clive’s message, I thought about turning the phone off, but my sister insisted that I stay in touch, so I texted her before I jumped in the shower.

I take a peek at my phone and just pray it’s her checking in.

My heart swells with relief when I see a text message pop up filled with emoji hearts.

Sis: You’ve got at least one more night till this thing blows past, if the weather people know what the shit they are taking about. Be safe, sis. Send me updates. Keep your phone charged. Love you.

I like the message so she knows I read it before I slip the phone back into my pocket.

My sister knows I’m safe, and Clive has settled down enough to stop blowing up my phone.

I haven’t responded, and I’m shocked to realize that if I weren’t with Shadow, I would have.

I would have told him everything. Where I was. Who I was with. How I was doing.

I left him because… Well, there are so many reasons why I left that man, that relationship. And yet, for the last six months, I haven’t cut the cord completely.

When he texts, I answer.

When he calls, I pick up.

Not now.

Not today.

I left to start a new life, and the storm may have blown me onto a totally unexpected path, but there’s no need for me to put Clive first now.

He can’t get to me. I’m safe here. And I want to soak up every bit of this experience.

Tomorrow morning, when the storm has blown over, this pit stop on the road to my new adventure will be behind me.

I’m going to take every moment as it comes.

I have to hold back a sad grin. Tomorrow means I’ll have to say goodbye to Shadow. It’s weird how a morning of intense sex can make you feel so alive and changed.

Is that what great sex does? Or is that just what I’m feeling because Shadow is a man who hasn’t yet tried to hold me back? Stifle me?

“Hey, princess.” An unfamiliar voice breaks me from my thoughts. “You know how to cook?”

I turn to see a woman wearing a giant T-shirt that probably doesn’t belong to her and nothing else that’s visible, at least. I try not to cringe at the sight of her bare feet on the sticky floor.

“I do,” I tell her.

She yawns and rubs her eye, smearing remnants of last night’s glittery eye shadow across her cheek. “Come on. You’re on kitchen duty.”

I look back toward Shadow, who is standing with his arms crossed over his chest. He’s in a quiet conversation with Phantom that looks intense. When I meet his eyes, Shadow looks at the girl, then back at me. He gives me the slightest nod, so imperceptible I’m not sure he did it.

But then the girl loops her arm through mine. “Ohhhh shit,” she croons. “So, you’re not just some straggler Shadow brought in from the storm? The girls are going to want details.”

I have no intention of telling anyone anything about what’s happened with me and Shadow, but I let this woman drag me away from the bar and into a really big, beautiful commercial kitchen.

I don’t know how many people actually live in this place, but the kitchen is massive.

There are two huge refrigerators, a walk-in pantry, and a gas stove that has twelve burners.

A couple of women who look like they are still wearing their clothes from last night are taking turns flipping pancakes, and I smell bacon that must be baking in one of the ovens.

“For the love of Christ, tell me you can cook.” One of the women I recognize from outside last night—not the puker, but the other one—points at me. “What’s your name? You’re…” She squints, as if trying to place me.

“I’m Violet,” I tell her. I reach out a hand to shake hers. “And you are?”

A woman I almost don’t recognize as the bartender from last night approaches me. Her face is free of makeup, and she’s not wearing the low-cut top that shows off her very impressive cleavage. She’s dressed in a comfy-looking sweatsuit in a soft red color that highlights her dark hair and eyes.

“I’m Stella,” she says, nodding at me. She points to the friend of the puker.

“That’s Amy, and over there is Jackie.” She lowers her voice and nods at a woman who is rummaging around in an open fridge door, yelling about needing more butter.

“Penny,” she murmurs. “She’s gonna give you a real hard time about Shadow.

Don’t show any weakness, and you’ll be fine. ”

I nod thankfully and immediately wonder how many of these women Shadow has fucked too.

I shake the thought from my head. It doesn’t matter.

I’m not looking for forever. I’m not looking for anything, honestly.

Shelter from a storm. I need to remember that.

I’m the stranger here, and these women… They are part of this world. I’m just passing through it.

I lift my chin and set my coffee down on the counter. “So, what can I do?”

Penny slams the fridge door shut, having found an unopened package of butter. “Bitch, please tell me you cook?”

Stella leans close to me and says very loudly, “We mean bitch as a term of endearment. Not an insult.” She shakes her head and sighs. “Can you chill out with the new girl, Pen?”

Penny shrugs and tosses the butter on the counter. “What’s your name, new girl?”

I tell her, assuming she either didn’t hear it or wasn’t paying attention when I introduced myself to Stella.

Penny cocks a brow at me. “That’s a real innocent name for a bitch with a body like that.” She looks me over. “If Shadow gets tired of you, make sure you come talk to me.”

She winks, and the other women whoop and laugh.

“Penny’s an equal opportunity fuck,” Stella explains with a smile. “And one of the most decent bitches you’ll ever meet.”

She motions for me to follow her, so I join Jackie, Penny, and Stella behind the counter.

“We got twenty hungry bikers to feed and, what, twelve girls?” Stella counts on her fingers. “Wait, where’s Bailey?”

The women start talking about who slept with whom last night, who is showering, who’s still sleeping off the hangover from last night’s party.

“Cook like you’re cooking for an army,” Stella says, shaking her head. “Storm’ll pass through by tomorrow and the guys will shop, so anything in here is fair game.”

I can see that the pancake situation is not going well, so I offer to help.