by Mallory Funk
When uncle Bear leaves, Trigger asks me if I need any ingredients to bake more since my aunt and uncle took the rest of the muffins to the clubhouse.
I nod my head. I’d hate for them to spend money on me, but if I use it for baking for them then I don’t feel so bad.
He tells me to write a list. He then takes a picture of it and sends it to one of the prospects since he’s not allowed to leave my side and it’s not good for me to go out and show my face.
I agree since I don’t really want to have a run in with Vince or my mother. I have no doubt in my mind that she will come here since I didn’t have anyone else to turn to.
A couple hours later, a prospect (who I learn doesn’t have a name until he’s fully patched into the club) drops off bags and bags of food. Trigger ends up going outside to help him bring everything in.
I start putting everything away thinking of everything I can bake. I feel like a kid at Christmas time.
The prospect leaves when Trigger tells him to head back to the club, and I’m once again alone with this biker.
I feel oddly comfortable around him. I wonder if it has something to do with how attracted I am to him. I shake that thought from my head. There is no way that I need to get mixed up with a man again.
I know that I’m not ready and I wonder if I ever will be.
Though, something about Trigger makes me feel safe. That thought alone scares me. How can I feel safe with someone I just met?
Chapter Three
Trigger ‘Colton’
There’s something about Sophie that draws me to her and I’m going to figure it out.
After the prospect drops off the groceries, I watch Sophie move around the kitchen. She starts baking right away and cooking supper. Every once in a while, she will look up, glance at me, and give me a small smile.
I know that I must look like a creep staring at her, but she’s the first woman to catch my interest in a long time. She’s so fucking beautiful, and I can’t be bothered to look away. I enjoy the way she hums lightly while baking. I don’t think she even realizes she’s doing it.
I don’t know how much time passes but, before I know it, Sasha and Bear are walking into the house. I am still sitting at the table, watching over her like I’m supposed to. They wouldn’t think anything of it except me taking my job seriously. I’ll let them think that for now.
I get up once they are in the kitchen and give them a nod before I leave. Since it’s late, I already know that Bear will be staying in for the night. It’s his first night with his niece so I wouldn’t blame him for wanting to get to know her. Hell, I want to get to know her, but I will have to wait until tomorrow when I watch her again.
Just before I’m out the door, Sophie hands me a container full of muffins and cookies. I raise my eyebrow at her, and she gives me a shy smile before turning around and walking into the kitchen as fast as she can.
I can’t help but smirk at her retreating back.
I leave before I end up doing anything that would get my ass kicked by Bear.
It doesn’t take long before I’m back at the clubhouse. I go straight to my room to drop off the treats Sophie gave me because I’m sure that I won’t share that shit with anyone. From watching her cook and bake all day, I could smell everything. It all smelled delicious. She took time to concentrate on each recipe and, from the way she moved, you could tell that she has done it many times and had her own routine.
I could already feel myself getting pulled into the deep with this woman and I wasn’t sure I wanted to stop it. Something about her feels so natural and right like she’s exactly where she’s supposed to be.
After I sneak a couple bites to eat, I head back into the main room where there are a few brothers around playing pool, having a few beers, and hooking up with some club women that we had recently got.
There was a bit of trouble finding women who wanted to be club whores, but slowly they came in.
I see a couple brothers bring women back to their rooms. Now that Ella and Olivia are around, there hasn’t been any fucking in the main rooms. Prez does not want his girls to have to walk in to see that. He wants them to feel like they can walk in at any time without worrying that they are going to walk in on brothers banging a club girl.
I pull up to the bar beside Crash and Shield and nod to the prospect for a beer. He grabs one and hands it to me without question.
“So what’s she like?” Crash asks eagerly and I automatically frown. I really fucking hope he isn’t interested in her.
“I didn’t really talk to her. She just baked and cooked all day,” I say in a tone that makes it sound like I’m bored.
“Who knew Bear had such a hot fucking niece? At least from what you could tell in those baggy fucking clothes,” he says, earning a little laugh from Shield.
“Yeah I wouldn’t mind being on watch for her all day, getting to watch that sweet ass,” Crash says biting his lip and slightly shaking his head like he couldn’t believe how hot she was.
“I would stop talking if you knew what was good for you,” Torch says walking up to us with Stacey at his side. They both are wearing matching grins.
“Why the fuck would I?” Crash asks with a look in his eyes I can’t place.
Stacey let’s out a laugh. “Because Prez is walking up to you and you know that Bear and he are best friends. I have no doubt that Prez is going to take her under his wing too. But keep talking, see what he does. What do I know?” she says with a shrug, but you can tell by the smirk on her face that she does know how Prez will react to someone talking about Sophie that way.
I look over her shoulder and see Prez and Lily walking up to us and ordering a shot of whisky.
“I think it goes without saying that Sophie is off limits. Not only is she a niece of a brother but she is also getting out of a fucked up relationship. I hope that fucker is stupid enough to come here. I’d like to show him a thing or two about what I think of him hitting women,” Prez says after he has a shot of whisky.
Lily nods her head. “That fucker better wish he never meets me. Her daddy was my best friend. I’d like to teach him a lesson on hitting such a beautiful woman.”
I just nod my head along. I have known Lily to make threats if someone threatens her family, but I haven’t had the opportunity to see her in action. Apparently, when they were younger, she was a take charge kind of woman.
The look in her eyes right now tells me that she wouldn’t mind five minutes alone with this fucker Vince. Hell, I wouldn’t mind five minutes alone with him.
I spend the next couple hours bullshitting with my brothers before I head back to my room to get some rest. I’m on duty to watch Sophie again in the morning. I’m so thankful that no one could tell that I was lusting after the sweet Sophie because that would earn me an ass kicking for sure.
I close my eyes and it takes me a couple hours to fall asleep. My thoughts keep drifting back to Sophie and watching her move around the kitchen all day, in her element.
Sophie
I spent supper talking with Uncle Bear and Aunt Sasha getting to know them some more. I wished so badly that I would have been able to get to know them while in my teenage years. They seemed warm and loving. They had felt more like my parents than my own mother did.
I missed feeling like someone cared about me and didn’t talk down to me all the time. I don’t have to listen to my mom or Vince pick on my appearance. I don’t have to always look perfect, making sure that I don’t have a single hair out of place. I’m glad that I finally found a way out. I just hope that they don’t find me and try to take me away from what seem like great people.
I quickly go back to my room and look through all of the clothes everyone brought me. I could tell that they were all new because of the tags, and I have never been more grateful. I understood why everyone didn’t want me to go out and show my face and, honestly, I didn’t want to go out right now anyway.
I would like to spend the time getting to know everyon
e. I really hope that I have found a place with these people.
When I lay down for bed, I can’t help the tears that fall. I cry for all the pain I have been through and the family that I never got to know, and I mostly cry because it’s been a long time since I went to sleep feeling cared for and safe.
I just hope nothing takes me away from them.
Chapter Four
Trigger ‘Colton’
Three weeks later
For the last few weeks, I have spent almost every day watching over Sophie. I can honestly say that I am definitely drawn to her. I was called off shop duty for awhile, but they will eventually switch me out with another brother if we don’t deal with Vince soon.
The day after we had met, I went back to the house to watch over her and she was up baking and cooking again.
Since I was there early, she had offered to make me breakfast. I would never turn down breakfast, especially when it’s made by her.
There was something about her making me a plate and grabbing me coffee. She already knew how I liked it, and it all felt so fucking natural that I had to fight to keep my thoughts from straying most of the day.
These weeks have certainly tested my self-control. I’ve wanted to grab her and kiss the fuck out of her so many times. I’m sure that she has caught me many times looking at her lips. I’m not sure why I bother to hide it anymore. That’s until Bear walks in the room. Any thoughts of wanting to make a move flee the second he steps a foot inside.
Why? Why the fuck does she have to be related to the biggest mother fucker in the club?
Every day we had spent together she made me breakfast, lunch, and even supper if Bear and Sasha were running late. She told me what she remembered of her dad and brought out the pictures she had of him. I had to laugh at some of them because in most ways the brothers haven’t changed. They still had the same pissed off brother look. They just have a few wrinkles and some grey hair now.
Whenever Sophie had talked about her life with her mother, or that fucker Vince, I had to keep my anger in check.
She was always told what to wear, do, and say if she wasn’t in her own room. HER OWN ROOM! I couldn’t fucking believe it!
You should have the comfort of your home knowing that you can be who you are or wear what you like. She never even got to pick out her own clothes!
I almost felt bad when I knew that the women had went shopping for her, but she dismissed it because they were clothes she was never allowed to wear since all she used to be allowed to wear were dresses. I couldn’t believe the excitement on her face for wearing a simple pair of jeans or leggings.
I had given her a card and told her that it was from the club so that she could shop online for some clothes. I didn’t want to admit that it was from my own pocket. I wanted her to have a chance to pick out something for herself. I knew that Bear or Prez would make sure she could do that, but I wanted her to have something from me even if she didn’t know it.
There were some days that we were alone for hours. Those were the days that I had started looking forward to the most.
Sophie is something fucking special. Even if I can’t have her as mine, it’s almost enough to be near her and spending time together. I don’t even want to think about what will happen once we deal with her fucker of an ex and mother. I couldn’t imagine not spending every day together.
Today she decided to take a break from cooking and baking. She has made a lot of food for everyone over at the clubhouse and they all love her food.
I’m sitting in the kitchen with a coffee and she’s in the living room watching TV. It’s the most privacy I can give her. I can’t give her more than that. Part of me hopes that she doesn’t want me to.
I can feel her glancing at me every now and then, but I keep pretending that I’m not paying attention. I love the way her eyes feel on me.
I get a text from VP and can’t help but groan out loud.
Damien: The women are on their way to get to know Sophie. I sent Crash, Pyro, and Shield to help watch.
When he says women, I know that it’s not just Ella and Stacey. I have a feeling that a lot more are coming if they are sending more brothers this way.
I walk over to the living room and try to hide my amusement when Sophie acts like she wasn’t just watching me.
I turn my head a bit when a smile tries to break free. Fuck, I already feel like I’m a goner for this woman and I haven’t claimed her. Yet. Fuck, no get those thoughts out of your head. I can’t have this woman as mine. She’s too good for an asshole like me.
“Soph, the girls are coming to visit you.” I watch the way her eyes widen in surprise.
“What? Why would they want to come see me?” She places a hand on her chest and has a look on her face like she can’t believe that anyone would want to spend time to get to know her. It fucking guts me, and I want to hurt the people that made her feel that way.
“Darling,” I say raising an eyebrow at her giving her a look that what she’s asking is completely ridiculous.
She throws her hands in the air and looks at me like I shouldn’t believe it either that anyone would want to spend time with her.
I can’t stand the look in her eyes that she’s not good enough for anyone. When I get my hands on the people that made her feel this way, I will make them pay.
I walk over to her and grab her hand to quickly pull her up.
She easily falls into my arms and it feels so fucking right that I don’t want to let go.
Knowing now what she feels like in my arms, could I really keep pretending that I don’t want her as mine?
She lets out a gasp of surprise and I hear her breath come out shaky. I don’t feel a fearful vibe coming off of her and, when she looks up into my eyes, I know I’m right.
She’s looking at me with trust, hope, and a longing in her eyes. I want to be that man for her more than anything and the feeling has doubled since I have been holding her.
I never knew that holding someone would feel so right.
“I hate that you think no one would want to spend time with you and get to know you. You’re a Snake now. Shit, you probably have been one longer than me, but you were just lost and now that you’re back you better believe that everyone is going to try to get to know you. You’re fucking perfect, Soph. I will spend every day proving that to you until you believe that you are worth more than that asshole and bitch of a mother made you believe.” I place a light kiss on her forehead and reluctantly pull away.
It’s seconds later that I hear the sound of vehicles and bikes pull up. I sit back down at the table where I originally was. It may look like I’m pretending that moment didn’t happen, but I will never forget the smell of lavender coming off Sophie or the hopeful look in her eyes. Holding her feels like home, like nothing has ever felt more right.
I’m completely fucked.
Chapter Five
Sophie
I sit down in shock. I barely move when the door opens and the women walk in. Part of the shock is from the women coming over here and getting to know me; I haven’t had friends in a long time, but mostly, I am shocked at what Trigger just said to me.
When I looked into his eyes, I could tell that he was feeling everything I was feeling, and it blew me away. I spent so much of my teenage years and adult life hearing that I’m worthless and that no one would want me, but when Trigger put his arms around me, I felt safe and wanted. He didn’t tell me anything out of obligation, and I could tell how serious he was and that he believed every word.
The women all smile at me and take a seat on the remaining spots in the living room. When I give them smiles, they re-introduce themselves as Olivia, Ella, Stacey, and Krista. Olivia also has a couple friends that live in her old house that she said would be coming by later. I glance back to the kitchen and am shocked to see three more bikers talking with Trigger. I didn’t notice them walk in, but I haven’t been able to shake off thinking about Trigger.
“Sophie…” Olivia s
ays waving a hand in front of my face.
I snap out of my thoughts and look at her with a light blush on my cheeks.
“Sorry, what was that?” I ask hoping that I’m not caught looking at Trigger. I don’t know how any of them would handle it since I don’t know them and I don’t know the rules of the club.
“I asked how you were handling everything. I know it’s not easy being stuck inside all of the time,” she says, and Ella and Stacey nod their heads in agreement. For some strange reason, it feels like they know what it’s like being stuck inside all the time.
“It’s fine. I have spent most of my time baking. This is really the first time I have taken a break since I have been here, but I like keeping busy with cooking and baking. It’s also more exciting now that I have people to bake for,” I say with a smile on my face.
All of them smile at me.
“Don’t get me started on your baking. Best fucking muffins I have ever had!” Stacey says rubbing her stomach and everyone nods in agreement. I can’t help but blush. It’s not often I have heard compliments, even if it’s just for the food I cook.
“Thanks,” I say quietly. I glance back up at Trigger. I can’t help it, but this time I’m caught.
“Do you have a thing for Trigger?” Ella whispers leaning in closely so that the men in the kitchen don’t hear us. I notice everyone else leans in as well.
“What? I don’t know what you are talking about. Yeah, I mean sure he’s cute and all, but I was just glancing over there… That’s A LOT of leather in one room,” I say hoping that I don’t blush again, but I curse myself when I still do and slap my hand to my head because that was the dumbest thing I could have said.
“Hot… the word you are looking for is hot,” Stacey says a little too loud when the men glance over here which causes me to blush harder.
When I look at Trigger again, he winks at me. I can’t help but feel butterflies when he looks at me like that.