by Faith Gibson
“Pick what, James?” Rocky demanded. Her happy mood was quickly dissipating.
“Nothing. I, uh, the garbage…” James grabbed the plastic bag and rushed away from them.
“Jerk,” Rocky murmured, but Sin heard her.
Sin didn’t want to cause a scene, but he also wanted to comfort his female. Instead of holding her hand like he was itching to do, he placed his hand on the small of her back and walked close behind as they entered the door James had exited. Sinclair noticed another door and asked, “Where does that door go?”
“To my apartment. Before I spent all my money on drugs, I had the good sense to enclose the back door leading upstairs. That way I can get home from inside the bar without having to go outside.”
Sinclair was happy to know this, but if he had his way, she wouldn’t be living over the bar much longer. When they entered her small office, Sin thought back to the first time he’d heard her voice coming from this room. He’d assumed his feelings were coming from the man sitting at the bar. Now he knew differently. Rocky locked her purse away in her desk and stopped in front of him. “Thank you for… letting me drive your car.” She kept her hands to herself, and if the mate bond was calling to her as strongly as it was to Sin, she was dying to touch him.
In one quick move, Sin whirled Rocky around against the door, closing it in the process. He crowded his body against hers and leaned down for a kiss. He wasn’t going to let her forget the afternoon they’d shared just because she feared her past. Sin was going to constantly remind her he was different. Rocky opened for him and their tongues melded together in perfect harmony. Sin slid a hand up her side, resting it on the outer curve of her breast. One day, when they knew each other better, he hoped to talk her into having the implants removed.
Rocky’s hands caressed Sin’s face, her thumbs smoothing down his beard. Instead of pulling away like he’d feared, she tried to get closer. Rocky rose on her tiptoes, pressing their bodies tighter together. His cock was hard and had been since he’d admired her driving skills, but now, it was aching. If that was going to be the way of things from having a mate, Sin wouldn’t complain as long as he was able to sate his need with his female’s body. He trailed his lips over her cheek, down to her ear, farther down her shoulder, sucking at the skin. One day, hopefully soon, he would sink his fangs into that same skin and seal their bond.
“Sin…” Rocky’s plea was breathless. “I have to meet with Bridget,” she reminded him.
Sin was loath to release her, but he didn’t want to give her any reason to ever be mad at him. “I know, beautiful girl, but I cannot get enough of you.”
The doorknob turned, but whoever was trying to get in met with resistance since Sin still had Rocky trapped. “Rocky? You in there?”
“Yes, Bridget.” Rocky pushed on Sin’s chest, and he backed up so she could open the door. If the manager noticed Rocky’s kiss-swollen lips, she didn’t say anything about it.
“Are we meeting with Banyan back here?” Bridget asked, eyeing Sinclair.
“Yes. Is he here?” Rocky asked, putting some distance between her and Sin. She walked behind her desk and sat down.
“Yes, I’ll go get him.” Bridget looked up at Sin again before going to get Banyan.
Banyan and Bridget entered the office, and Sin and Banyan shook hands. “Brother, you’re looking… well,” Banyan smirked.
Sin cocked an eyebrow at him but didn’t tell him he was absolutely correct. He walked over to the front of the desk and sat on the far edge. It put him close to his mate but far enough out of the way he shouldn’t be in the way. Banyan and Bridget sat down on the sofa, and the meeting began.
Chapter Fifteen
Alistair had always ruled with an iron sword, and his Clan was used to it. However, the group of Gargoyles assembled at his compound in Ithaca was not the males he remembered. Had it been so long since he’d made an appearance they’d forgotten who was in charge? Theron had been responsible for keeping their army battle ready, but he was gone, and Alistair was having a hard time finding someone worthy of taking his son’s place.
Standing on the balcony overlooking the training field, Alistair asked, “Who amongst you is the strongest, most feared Goyle?”
The males looked around at each other, shrugging, seeming to discuss the matter. Alistair felt as though he was dealing with a bunch of newbies. “It shouldn’t be that hard of a question. If I were to come down and challenge you all, who do you feel would be able to take my head?” At his question, the ranks fell back, and one male was left standing. The male was a large Goyle Alistair had never seen before. “What is your name?”
“Darian Lindbergh, Your Highness.”
“Darian, are you capable of taking my head?”
“I have trained with the sword for over six hundred years, and I am competent, so yes, Your Highness, I could take your head.”
“Would you like to prove your abilities in front of your Clan?” Alistair tested.
“No, Your Highness. I would never wish any harm upon you, even during a sparring exercise.”
“And what if I demanded you to fight me to the death?”
“I would obey your command, but I would make it known to all who would witness our combat I was doing so under your orders, not at my own free will.”
“Is there any other who feels they are better than Darian?” Alistair waited while the males murmured to one another.
“Darian Lindbergh, in light of recent events, I am in need of a second-in-command. Unless one of your Brothers wishes to challenge you, the title is now yours. Meet me in my office in three hours. Until that time, you will lead the Clan in the first of your daily training exercises. War is imminent, and you must be prepared.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Darian bowed low before turning to his men and shouting orders.
Alistair remained on the balcony as the males got into formation and began sparring. Darian moved through the ranks, stopping every now and then to give pointers. Overall, Alistair was pleased with what he saw. Being Greeks, his Clansmen would have all been raised on the sword from the time they shifted regardless of whether there was threat of war or not.
As he studied his new commander, Alistair’s mind drifted as it always did to his sister and her offspring. The family who should be down below fighting for the Greeks. Instead, his sister had shamed the family and married a godsdamned Italian. Every time he thought of Athena, he wanted to behead the bitch. One day. For now, he would use her as the perfect bait to lure his nephew to him. Targeting the mates hadn’t met with the result Alistair had hoped for. Holding Athena hostage would bring Rafael riding in on his white horse to save the day, and that’s when Alistair would kill two Gargoyles with one sword. Mother and son. At last, he would have his revenge on the bitch.
A knock on his door took his attention away from his army and toward something else. Someone else. He opened the door to his bedroom and smiled. “Hello, Athena.”
His sister couldn’t speak plainly since she’d been gagged, but the threat was obvious.
“Now, now, Sister. Do you really think you and your bastard son are any match for me?” he taunted. The Gargoyle holding his sister tightened his grip as she tried to lunge at him. Alistair laughed and jerked his head to the hallway. Athena was hauled off to a room he’d prepared especially for her.
Rocky sat back and let Bridget interview Banyan since she would be the one working with him. With Sinclair sitting so close to her, Rocky couldn’t keep her focus on the conversation. Several times she thought of asking him to leave, but then she remembered driving his car. Who in their right mind let someone they didn’t know drive a two-hundred-thousand-dollar sports car? Sinclair Stone, that’s who. When Rocky thought back to the penthouse, she really couldn’t say Sinclair didn’t know her. He knew her on a most intimate level. The man was as talented with his tongue as he was his beautiful, veiny dick.
Sin growled low in his throat, and Rocky snapped her eyes up to his. His n
ostrils were flaring, and he was looking at her like he wanted a repeat performance. Banyan laughed and asked, “Do we need to take a short break?” Bridget was looking at all of them like she’d missed out on a joke.
“No need, Brother. I’m going to check the perimeter,” Sin said as he stood from the desk. He left the room without as much as a glance at Rocky. What the hell was his problem? And check the perimeter? What did that even mean? Rocky leaned back in her chair and focused on Banyan and Bridget. After thirty minutes, Sin still hadn’t returned, but Bridget had asked Banyan to excuse the women while they talked it over.
“I think he’s perfect, but ultimately it’s your decision,” Rocky said as soon as the door closed.
“He would be perfect if he wasn’t gay, but yes, I think he’ll make a wonderful boss. He has lots of great ideas, and he has plenty of money to spend on a new kitchen. What I want to know is what’s up with you and Mr. Broody? I thought he was going to fuck you right there on your desk.”
“What? Nothing’s up with us. He’s brokering Banyan’s deal.”
“Right. Then what did I walk in on earlier?” Bridget asked accusingly.
“He was kissing me. But that’s all it is, Bridget. There’s nothing between us other than a physical connection. You know my history with men, and I do not care for a repeat.”
“I think you’re going to have a hard time convincing him of that. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”
“Whatever. Do you want me to tell Banyan the bar is his?”
Bridget rose from the sofa and came around to where Rocky was sitting. She leaned against the desk with tears in her eyes. “If this is our only option, then yes. Please tell me you won’t disappear on me, though.”
“I won’t disappear on you. I’ve decided to study nursing, so I will be scarce, but not invisible. Besides, Banyan agreed to let me stay in the apartment, so I’ll be right here if you need me.” Rocky stood and pulled her friend in for a hug. The tears she thought would form were surprisingly absent. The proverbial weight lifted from Rocky’s shoulders. Her friends would all keep their jobs, and RC’s would get the facelift it deserved. “Let’s go find Banyan and give him the good news.”
When Rocky opened the door, Sinclair was leaning against the opposite wall, both his arms and feet crossed. He did not look happy, but Rocky wasn’t going to let his mood sway hers. “We have a deal,” she said to him. When he didn’t acknowledge her words, she did a mental eye roll and turned toward the seating area to find Banyan. A large hand gripped her bicep, and she was pulled to Sinclair’s chest.
Instead of speaking, Sin crushed their mouths together, pulling her lower body to his. This was the same possessive kiss he’d given her earlier. The kind that left her breathless. Bridget sighed as she scooted around them, leaving them alone in the hallway. Sin pulled her chin up so he had her undivided attention. “Come home with me tonight. Please,” Sin requested. It was hard for Rocky to think clearly when she was this close to him. It was hard to think at all.
“Sinclair…”
“Raquel, please. I didn’t get enough of you this afternoon. I want to be able to take my time with you. After you speak with Banyan, I want to treat you to dinner. My cook is preparing a meal as we speak, and I would hate for Ingrid’s hard work to go to waste. She lives with me, so you don’t have to worry about being alone in the house with me.”
Vivian had told Rocky how good Ingrid’s cooking was, and knowing her best friend had been in Sin’s house without her had the green-eyed monster rising up. She knew it wasn’t Vivian’s fault, nor had Sin had sex with Vivian, but Rocky was feeling a little possessive when it came to Sinclair Stone. She didn’t understand it. She could say there was nothing more than a physical attachment to the man, but she would be lying. After less than eight hours, Rocky was falling for Sin, and there was nothing she could do about it. She knew she was making the second biggest mistake of her life, but she said, “Okay.”
“Okay?” Sin narrowed his eyes. “Just like that… okay?”
“Yep. Now, let’s go talk to Banyan so we can get out of here.” Rocky pulled his face down and brushed a soft kiss across his lips before linking their fingers together. Hand-in-hand, they made their way to the front of the bar and found Banyan and Bridget sitting together at a high top.
Banyan glanced at their joined hands and smiled. “I see you’ve calmed down,” he said to Sinclair.
“I hear congratulations are in order, Brother. You are the new owner of RC’s,” Sin replied.
Rocky took the seat next to Bridget and said, “I’d like to tell the employees tomorrow. Would you meet me here so I can introduce you to them?”
“I’d be glad to,” Banyan replied. “Bridget, would you please bring a bottle of your finest whiskey so I might propose a toast?”
“Be right back,” she said and left to go retrieve the liquor and four glasses. When she returned, she said, “Normally I don’t drink on the job, just so you know.”
“I’m not a hard ass, Miss Jones. As long as you maintain a professional demeanor, having a drink during your shift with a patron will not be frowned upon. It’s a great way to build rapport.” Instead of allowing Bridget to serve them, Banyan poured a healthy amount into all four glasses and distributed them. “Here is to new friends, new family, and a beautiful future.” The four of them clinked their glasses together and sipped their drinks.
Bridget finished hers quickly, and said, “Thank you, Banyan. I need to get to work now.” The man inclined his head to her, but didn’t watch her walk away. Bridget was a beautiful woman who had a body most men drooled over. He was definitely gay, but Rocky had no problem with that. Thinking of him with another man reminded Rocky of Finley sucking Sinclair’s cock. She had to wonder if Sin was bisexual or if it had been a one-time deal. She planned on asking him when they were alone.
“Banyan, if you will excuse us, Ingrid is cooking, and I don’t want her to have to keep the food warming.”
“Of course. You two enjoy your evening. Rocky, what time would you like to meet tomorrow?”
“How about three? That will give the employees time to ask questions before they start their shift.”
“Excellent. I will see you then. Sin, I’ll see you later as well?” Banyan asked, raising his eyebrows. An unspoken question passed between the two of them, and Rocky was curious as to what was going on.
“I apologize, Brother. My mind has been preoccupied. I will make it up to you.”
Banyan grinned and glanced at Rocky. “I completely understand.”
“Thank you. Rocky, are you ready?” Sin stood from the stool and held his hand out to her. She allowed him to help her down even though she didn’t need it.
“Good night, Banyan. I’ll see you tomorrow.” In response, Banyan did that fisting his chest thing and inclined his head to her before returning to his bottle of whiskey.
“My things are still at Finley’s. I need to run upstairs and grab a change of clothes. I mean…” Rocky assumed Sin wanted her to spend the night. Maybe he only wanted dinner and a good fuck before he took her home.
“I would be most appreciative if you would pack all the clothes you have and bring them with you. I have a feeling it is going to take more than one night to get my fill of you,” Sin whispered in her ear. As they made their way to the back of the bar where the door to her apartment was, a familiar face passed them coming out of the women’s restroom. The woman knocked shoulders with Rocky, not bothering to apologize.
“Hey, watch where you’re going,” she said to the woman’s back. The woman turned around and glared at Rocky. It was Shelby, the employee Rocky had fired as soon as she took over RC’s. Rocky hadn’t seen her around since then, so she was surprised to see her now. Sin turned to follow the woman, but Rocky pulled on his hand. “She’s not worth it. Come on, we don’t want to keep Ingrid waiting.”
“Do you know her?”
“She’s an ex-employee. I had to fire her right after RC’s beca
me mine.”
“Does she come in here often? I’ll give Banyan a heads-up.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen her in three years. It’s probably nothing.”
“If you are sure.” Sin was still staring where Shelby had been moments before.
“I’m sure,” Rocky said, even though she wasn’t. Ever since Blake had conned Rocky into believing he was interested in her for a relationship, Rocky had stopped giving anyone the benefit of the doubt. Everyone had a motive, and more often than not, it was nefarious. Everyone except Sinclair. For some reason, Rocky trusted the man not to hurt her.
Something about Sin called to her on a level deep within her soul. She didn’t understand why someone like him would be interested in someone like her, but stranger things had happened. Her mother had been a beautiful woman and had been madly in love with Rocky’s father even though he wasn’t a handsome man. Her father was short and round with thinning hair. Her mother was outgoing and spontaneous where her father was quiet and introverted, but he loved her mother with every fiber of his being and made sure she knew it every single day.
If her parents, as different as they were, could make it work, it was possible Sin actually saw something in Rocky, even if she didn’t see it in herself. She was going to keep her heart guarded and take whatever this was between them one day at a time. When Sin found out the truth about her past or when he got tired of her and kicked her to the curb, she would have the great sex to look back on. Besides, now that she no longer had to worry about RC’s, she could get on with her new life of studying nursing. She wouldn’t have too much time to worry about Sin.
Sin followed Rocky upstairs and waited, taking in her small apartment, while she packed her clothes. She didn’t pack them all like he’d asked, but she did plan on spending more than one night with him. She found a spare toothbrush and an unopened tube of deodorant.
The glass of whiskey downstairs had taken the edge off Rocky’s nerves. Not caring what Sinclair thought, she placed her bag on the floor by the door before going to the freezer and pulling out her stash of Patron. “Drink?” she asked when he stepped closer to her. Rocky took a swig and held the bottle out to him. He took a sip of the smooth liquid and, taking the cork from her hand, replaced it and put the bottle back in the freezer.