by Harley Wylde
“Bedroom and bathroom are this way.” I made sure she was following me before I went into the guest room, turning on the ceiling light. On the off chance my sister ever dropped in, I made sure the sheets were cleaned at least every other week so they didn’t smell too stale. The bed was a queen-size and there was a short dresser on the opposite wall, as well as a nightstand next to the bed. It wasn’t much, but Jordan insisted the room felt cozy. She’d picked out the patchwork quilt in jewel tones and blue curtains hung from the windows on either side of the bed. I even had a cot for Lanie so she could camp out in the sunroom.
Mei hovered in the hallway, eyeing the other two doors.
I pointed to the one closest to her. “That’s the bathroom. I’m afraid it isn’t adjoined to your room, but you’ll have it all to yourself. The other door is my bedroom, and I have a private bath in there.”
She shifted from foot to foot before coming closer. When she stepped into the bedroom, I moved into the hall. The way she’d stripped down at the clubhouse made it clear she expected us to take advantage of her, to use her the way others had. She was like a skittish puppy who had been kicked once too often, but I hoped that eventually she’d realize she was safe here.
“If you need something to sleep in, you can use one of my T-shirts. The water takes a second to heat up, but you’re welcome to take a shower or soak in the tub. My sister always leaves a few things here so you won’t have to worry about smelling like a guy.” I smiled, hoping to set her at ease. “Just hope you like gingerbread or cinnamon since those are the last scents she left over here.”
“Will you be joining me?” she asked.
I shook my head and backed up another step. “No, Mei. You can stay in there until the water runs cold if you’d like. I want you to be comfortable here. There’s not a bunch of stuff in the kitchen, but you can have anything in there. I mostly keep beer and bottled water stocked, but there’s some soda too.”
Her lips turned down at the corners and her brow furrowed as she looked around the room before holding my gaze. “I don’t understand. How am I supposed to pay for sleeping here?”
I rubbed a hand over my chest to fight the ache building there. Damn. If that didn’t speak volumes about her interactions with men so far, I didn’t know what would. Had no one ever done anything for her just to be nice? My guess was a big fat no.
“You don’t have to pay to stay here, Mei. I want to help you. There’s a lock on the inside of the bedroom door and same for the bathroom. You can lock them if it makes you feel safer.” I wouldn’t tell her that I could easily pick those locks, but I needed her to understand she had nothing to fear from me. I’d rather rip off my arm than hurt her.
She let her bag fall to the floor, but she stood unmoving in the middle of the room. I’d never seen someone look so lost before. I clenched my hands into fists so I wouldn’t reach for her. If anyone had ever needed a hug, it was Mei, but I had no doubt she’d misconstrue the act as me trying to get her to drop her panties.
“You don’t know who I am, do you?” she asked, her voice whisper soft. “You haven’t seen them.”
“Seen what?” I asked.
“The videos.”
Videos? Was Trotter filming his girls now to make an extra buck? Wouldn’t surprise me, but it was the first I’d heard of it. As long as they were of age and consenting, there wasn’t much anyone could do about it. But if he’d crossed a line, which it seemed he’d done with Mei, then that was different. It was clear she hadn’t chosen this way of life. Were the others at the Ruby Slipper the same? Or were they there because they wanted to be? While I couldn’t understand anyone choosing that way of life, I wasn’t about to look down on someone who enjoyed that sort of thing. I’d heard some women got off on the power of stripping, watching men fall at their feet. The woman in front of me wasn’t one of those, though, that much was clear.
“You have no idea what I’m talking about,” she said, her eyes going slightly wide.
“If you want to tell me, you can, but it’s not necessary. Your past is exactly that, Mei. The past. It doesn’t define who you are. I don’t know if you’ve ever read Robert Frost, but consider this your path not taken. The way you’ve had to live up to now can change, if you want it to.”
She gave a snort of laughter and surveyed the room again. “I’ve heard that before. Usually it means I’m on my back, or worse, within hours. Like Trotter told Beau, I can handle several men at once… if that’s what the club needs.”
Fury rolled through me. Not at her, but at everything that she’d been through, the way men had treated her to this point. No, I wasn’t a saint. I’d had more than my share of women, but they’d all been willing. Then again, the men who paid for Mei’s time thought she was willing too. The thought that I’d been with anyone who hadn’t been completely into it made me a bit nauseated. I’d been raised to respect women, to protect them. Maybe my current way of life made it seem like I was like the others she’d known, but I’d always prided myself on making sure the women in my life knew the score up front.
“Not this time, Mei. You’re free, beautiful. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. I’m not paying for services rendered, or asking you to spread your legs for me or anyone else. I only want to help, to give you a safe place to figure things out.” I couldn’t seem to stop myself from getting closer to her. She held perfectly still as I reached out and ran my fingers through her silky hair. “I wish that I could track down every man who had ever hurt you. Then I’d make them suffer, make them pay for everything done to you, over and over, until they were begging for mercy.”
She swallowed audibly and leaned into my touch, her gaze locked on mine. I saw the moment she realized that I meant everything I said. The darkness in her eyes lifted slightly, and there was a spark of hope. Before I did something stupid, like kiss her, I backed out of the room and went back to the living room. Hopefully, her new clothes and shoes would arrive soon.
I heard her step into the hallway and pause. “Did you mean it when you said I could borrow a shirt for tonight?”
I closed my eyes and nodded, not trusting myself to go near her. “Second drawer in my dresser. You’re welcome to use any of the shirts you want. I won’t move from this spot until you’re in the bathroom with the door locked.”
“Thank you.”
My heart pounded as I listened to her head into my room, heard the dresser drawer slide open and the sound of her rummaging through my shirts, then waited for the bathroom door to shut and the lock to click. Only then did I relax and remember to breathe. Shit. I hadn’t told her where anything was kept. I edged closer to the hall without going too close to the bathroom and yelled out to her. “Towels are in the cabinet behind the door and Jordan’s bath stuff should still be on the side of the tub. Use anything in there you want. New toothbrushes are in the drawer under the sink.”
I didn’t wait to listen to her response, putting more distance between us. I flipped on the TV and found a movie I usually enjoyed, but my mind was elsewhere. What had sent Mei to the Ruby Slipper? Beau had said that he knew her when he was in the system, so she’d been a foster kid, but there were supposed to be programs in place to help them when they aged out. Had Mei just fallen through the cracks, or had something else happened? I wanted to know, and while Outlaw had been tasked to find out the connection between Mei and Beau, I didn’t know exactly how deep he would dig. Getting information on Mei would be easy enough, but it felt like taking that route would mean I was breaking her trust. If Outlaw found anything, I’d wait and hear it with everyone else, if Grizzly decided we needed to know.
If the club wanted to know more about her, I’d let them interfere without my help. Mei needed someone who was on her side, had her best interests at heart, and didn’t care about what brought her here. Well, it wasn’t that I didn’t care, but more that I was willing to wait on her to share when she was ready. Whatever trouble came to the gates because she was here, I’d handle it. No o
ne was taking her out of here unless she wanted to leave with them.
Trotter’s men hadn’t shown for payment yet, that I knew of, but Grizzly had given the order to throw some cash at them and make them leave Mei in our care. I figured we had until morning before things went to shit and Trotter demanded we return her to the Ruby Slipper.
Chapter Three
Meiling
I spent the first five minutes in the shower watching the bathroom door. The knob never turned, and I didn’t hear footsteps near the door. It seemed too good to be true. He had to want something in return, right? All men did. Even Beau had left me behind, and clearly hadn’t wanted me here when I came by last night. I didn’t know why he’d changed his mind, and I was too scared to ask. Had he told them I’d be a good little whore for all of them? The Beau I’d run into last night wasn’t the same one I’d known four years ago.
Picking up the shampoo, I sniffed it, then smiled. Dingo was right. It did smell like cinnamon. I lathered my hair, then rinsed and conditioned it. I couldn’t remember ever having a simple luxury like conditioner before, and it felt like heaven getting to use scented products. My foster parents hadn’t cared what I smelled like, as long as I performed for them. And at the Ruby Slipper, those men couldn’t care less if I was even clean. Several had just seemed happy I had all my teeth. Since several of the girls working there had what I’d heard called meth-mouth, I could understand. Their teeth were rotting or missing from drug abuse.
There was a pink razor on the side of the tub that seemed sharp enough. I hoped his sister wouldn’t mind me borrowing her stuff. I scrubbed my body and shaved everywhere important, then rinsed my hair again. It had been so long since I’d felt this clean I almost wanted to cry. After I shut off the water, I stood for a moment, just listening. Peering around the curtain, I saw the door was still closed and locked, so I stepped out onto the bathmat and dried with the thick towel I’d found in the cabinet, wrapping a smaller one around my hair.
I’d also spotted some lotion in the cabinet and used it before brushing my teeth and finger-combing my hair. There was a brush in the cabinet too, but I didn’t want to use it. The long hairs wrapped around the bristles made me believe it also belonged to his sister, and I’d used enough of her stuff already. There was a brush in my bag back in the bedroom. I should have brought my stuff in here with me.
I slipped Dingo’s shirt over my head, smoothing it as it fell to my knees. Even though I didn’t have on panties underneath, it was still the most covered I’d been for as long as I could remember. I didn’t see a hamper so I tossed the towels over the top of the shower so they would dry, then cautiously opened the bathroom door. I could hear the TV going and saw a pair of booted feet propped on the coffee table, even though I couldn’t see the rest of him. Scurrying into my room, I shut the door, then stared in amazement.
Sacks. Lots of sacks. They were just from one of those twenty-four-hour stores, but as I peeked into each one, I saw clothes, shoes, and other things that had to be for me. They were all in my size, and Dingo hadn’t mentioned his sister would be visiting. Since they were in the room he’d said I could use, it had to mean they were mine, right? Tears gathered in my eyes. I ripped into the package of panties and slipped on a pair, loving the way they actually covered my ass. The only two pair I owned were thongs and I hated them. The bras were a soft material that wasn’t the least bit transparent, and the clothes…
A sob built in my throat, but I tried so hard to hold it in. Jeans, modest-looking shirts, and shoes that were made for comfort and not to entice men. I lost the battle and tears streaked my cheeks as I cried so hard my throat and chest hurt. Booted steps came running toward the room, and Dingo must have slid to a stop just outside. He didn’t barge in, at least not right away. As my cries grew louder, he pushed the door open and rushed inside.
“Mei? Honey, what’s wrong?” He dropped to his knees next to me.
“I-I-I…” I couldn’t even tell him why I was crying. I just gestured to the bags, then threw my arms around him and held on.
Dingo held me, letting me soak his shirt with my tears, and he gently rubbed my back. Eventually, I got myself under control and took a few shuddering breaths. He rested his cheek on the top of my head, just holding me. Not once did his hands try to roam somewhere inappropriate. Beau was the last person to hold me like this, and I’d only been fourteen. I hadn’t realized until now just how much I missed it. My foster dad’s version of affection was vastly different.
“When’s the last time someone bought something for you?” he asked.
“My foster parents gave me only what they were required to purchase, and the clothes were never like this. No one’s ever been this nice to me.”
“They aren’t much, Mei, but I wanted to make sure you had enough clothes to get by for at least a few days. You’re welcome to use the washer and dryer off the kitchen whenever you need to, and we can always get a few more outfits.”
I fisted his shirt and lifted my head. The concern in his eyes, the gentle way he held me, it was all overwhelming. Men had taken what they wanted from me ever since I’d hit puberty. Not once had I ever kissed someone just because I wanted to, but right now, this very moment, I wanted to kiss Dingo. Before I could second-guess myself, I pressed my lips to his. He tensed and drew back, his gaze searching.
“Mei, you don’t have to do that.”
“I know,” I said. “I did it because I wanted to.”
There was a moment of hesitation in the way he held himself, the look in his eyes, and then he leaned toward me. This time he kissed me. Dingo threaded his fingers into my hair and held me as his mouth devoured mine. I melted against him, feeling desired for the first time in my life. Cherished. Men had wanted me before, but they’d wanted to take not give.
Dingo broke the kiss with a groan and pulled away. “Mei, no. We need to stop. I didn’t come in for this, didn’t bring you to my home so I could take advantage of you.”
“You aren’t.”
He caressed my cheek, his gaze holding mine. “You should get some sleep. I know it’s still a bit early in the day, but I’m guessing you haven’t had a chance to rest much. I’ll come get you when it’s time to eat.”
I nodded and reluctantly turned from him. Crawling under the covers, I lay with my back to the door and tried not to feel rejected. Part of me was convinced he was trying to be a nice guy and do the right thing, but the other part had to wonder if he saw me as dirty. Yes, I’d just showered, but I’d been used by countless men. I wasn’t exactly the type of woman you took home to meet your mom, or the kind you kept forever. He was trying to do the right thing and offer me a safe haven, which I appreciated, but it felt like maybe I wasn’t really worthy of being here with him.
I waited for him to leave, but he didn’t move. I turned over to face him and the look on his face made me start crying again. I couldn’t remember being this emotional since I was a kid. I’d locked all that down years ago, or so I’d thought. Dingo came closer and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for my hand.
“I want you, Mei. I won’t do you the disservice of lying to you about it. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to act on those desires. That’s not what you need right now. Don’t think for a second that I stopped because I don’t want you.”
“I feel out of place,” I admitted. “I don’t know what to say or do, or how to act.”
“Just be you, Mei. There are no expectations, at all. The only thing I want is for you to feel safe and comfortable while you’re here.”
“While I’m here.” My lips twisted. “Because eventually you’ll want me to go.”
He laced his fingers with mine and tightened his hold on me. “No, but I don’t want you to think you have no other options. Your life has barely started. I’m quite a bit older than you and kind of set in my ways. There’s an entire world out there for you to explore, once you get your feet under you. I won’t stand in your way of finding happiness.”
Bef
ore I could say anything else, he lifted my hand and kissed it, then stood and walked out of the bedroom. My skin tingled where his lips had touched me. I didn’t know what to make of Dingo. He was the first man to ever make me crave someone’s touch. I just wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. He seemed nice, but what if it was all a lie? What did I know about him, or anyone else here for that matter? Even Beau was a stranger to me now.
I tried to sleep, but my mind was leaping from one fear to another. There was a roof over my head and food in my belly, which was a vast improvement, but I still worried there was a catch. Why would he bring me here, give me all these things, if he didn’t want something in return? People didn’t do nice things without there being a price.
I also worried what would happen if they found out about Beau’s past. The way he’d looked at me last night, the furtive glances to see if anyone noticed us, was enough to tell me that he hadn’t told them what we’d been through. I wouldn’t tell anyone, but someone would eventually figure out who I was, which meant they’d find out about Beau too. I didn’t know what would happen to him. Would his club be angry? Kick him out? Or do something even worse to him?
My stomach knotted and I felt the burn in my throat that meant I was seconds from throwing up. I tossed the covers off me and ran for the bathroom, hitting my knees just seconds before the hamburger and fries came back up. Snot ran from my nose and my eyes watered as I heaved until there was nothing left. I heard the sink running and blinked up at Dingo. He came closer, placing a cold wet cloth on the back of my neck.
“My mom always insisted this helped,” he said. “Too much food at once?”
“Maybe,” I said, my voice coming out more like a croak. My throat was raw and ached now.