by Jenika Snow
For a second, she just stared into his eyes, thinking about him, about what she wanted. This man had saved her life. He could have been like Gerald, or so much worse. But Zeke had taken her to his home, made sure she healed, made sure she felt safe. She cared for him, wanted him, and that was so strange to her given everything she’d been through. She shouldn’t be able to trust anymore, but with Zeke she knew, without a doubt, he’d protect her with his life. She took a deep breath, shook her head, and said,
“Don’t stop, Zeke. I want this.”
Chapter Fourteen
One week later
ZEKE HAD STOPPED.
He didn’t touch her again for the next week. When he’d gone to take Gerald out, he’d been convinced that he would come back and fuck Alessandria until neither of them could think. Instead, guilt had swamped him. The women he’d fucked in the past, he’d taken and fucked them so damn hard that they had been unable to walk for a week afterward. The thought of taking Alessandria when she couldn’t handle it, sickened him. He wasn’t going to do something that would remind her of Gerald.
Just thinking about that bastard had him so damn angry. It had been a week since he’d killed Gerald, a week since Alessandria had almost been his. Sitting in his office, he stared at his cell phone while he thought about what to do next. He heard his office room door creak, and knew it was Alessandria before even seeing her. He could sense her and feel her presence. She hadn’t left his house for well over a month, and he still caught her on occasion staring at the gate. Her desire for freedom was clear to see.
“Gerald’s gone. No one can hurt you.”
“He’s not the only one out there that deals with women.”
“My men will keep you safe.”
“I only trust you.”
He’d been charmed by her confession and saddened. Zeke was always so busy that he’d not had the time to take her out yet. However, Daniella had just called him and invited him over for dinner. He’d asked her if there was enough food for him to bring a guest, and she said yes without any hesitation. There was no doubt in his mind that Shakes had informed her of everything going on in his life.
“Are you all right?” Alessandria asked.
Closing his eyes, he willed his dick to calm down. There’s no way a woman should have this kind of control over him. Yet Alessandria did. Whenever he was near, he got hard, and even when he wasn’t near her, he got hard. It was driving him crazy. He didn’t want to touch her though until he knew without doubt that she was well again.
“I’m fine, baby. Everything okay?” He saw her standing by the door wearing a long cardigan, her arms wrapped around her waist. The material molded to her body.
“Have you been avoiding me?”
“No.”
“It doesn’t feel like that.”
“How does it feel like then?” he asked.
“I gave myself to you, Zeke, or tried to. I want what you want.”
She rounded the desk and stood in front of him. Zeke stared into her eyes, his world toppling on its axis as he felt emotion for her rise up. Right or wrong, he didn’t know what to make of his own feelings when it came to this woman, or what to do about it.
“I want you, and I want you to desire me, too.”
He swallowed. “I do, but you’re not ready, not healed properly.”
She swallowed. “I’m healed, Zeke, and I want you so much. Do you need me to beg you?”
“No.” He took her palm in his, running his fingers across the back of her hand, before turning it over, and touching the inside of her wrist. After a second, he released her hand and slowly lifted up her shirt. “You were covered in bruises, Alessandria. You were recovering from a beating that you didn’t deserve, nor did you ask for.”
“I won’t mistake you and Gerald.”
“I know you won’t, baby. That’s not why I held back. I want you to be at your peak of health. I like everything darker, harder, and I’m not willing to risk anything for a quick fuck with you. I’m going to explore every inch of you, test your limits, and know your boundaries.”
“I like pain; I know what I want.”
“There’s so much pain to explore for both of us. I’m going to bring you so much pleasure that it’s going to wipe out every single memory of what Gerald did to you.”
He stood up and wiped away the tears that had spilled down her cheeks. She was so beautiful; Zeke couldn’t believe that any man could harm her.
“Stop crying, baby.”
“I feel safe with you, happy.”
“I want you to do something for me tonight,” he said.
“Anything.” She whispered the word back, and he saw he had her tangled within his web. But what he felt for her was real, true.
“I want you to come with me tonight.”
“Where?”
“To my daughter’s. I want you to come and have dinner with Dani, Shakes, and me.”
She licked her lips, and pulled away from him, the spell broken. “I don’t think I can do that.”
“You’ve got to learn to leave the house, Alessandria.”
“I leave the house every day.”
“You don’t step out of the gates. I want you to step out of those gates with me tonight.”
He saw her hands fisted at her sides. She looked petrified.
“He’s not coming back.”
“I know that,” she spoke on a whisper, and his heart broke a little at her fear.
“I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know, Zeke.”
He chuckled. “Is there anything you don’t know?”
She smiled softly. “I don’t think I should be going with you to your daughter’s place. What if I’m overstepping my bounds, crossing a line? She’s your daughter, and I’m not part of your family.”
“No. Dani will welcome a sweet soul like you. She’s younger than you, gentle like you. I love my daughter, and you’re my woman now, Alessandria. I’m not going to hide you like a dirty little secret. You’re mine.”
She licked her lips again, and her nerves were easy to see.
“You’re coming with me. I’ve already made the arrangements with Dani. She’s pregnant, and if I don’t turn up with my plus one, she could explode with tears.”
“It’s not possible to explode with tears.”
He chuckled. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to have an emotional woman around?”
“Do you?”
“Touché.” He grinned at her.
“You’re coming either way. You’ve got ten minutes until we leave.”
Her eyes widened, but hen she smiled gently.
He didn’t know if she’d protest, but he silenced her with a kiss regardless. “Ten minutes.”
“You’re bossy.”
“Didn’t you know: it’s follow Zeke’s rule or no rule at all.”
She went to get ready.
“Since she has been with you, she has come out of her shell,” Boscoe said, walking into the room seconds later.
“I like to think so.”
Boscoe nodded. “Do you want me to assist you tonight?”
“The two men I hired still on Dani’s house?”
His daughter didn’t go anywhere without two guards on her ass. She was the one person he loved beyond a shadow of a doubt.
He was a fucking asshole, and he was pleased that things had worked out the way they had. She was a pain in the ass, but he loved her more than anything.
“Yes. She’s watched round the clock. Shakes protects her, and he’s even sent your guys coffee.”
Zeke smiled. At one time, he’d wanted Shakes dead, but as time passed, as he saw the way the former Soldiers of Wrath biker took care of his daughter, Zeke realized he was a good man. Shakes took care of his girl, and that was all that mattered. “I’ll drive the two of us to Dani’s place with Colin following close behind.”
“I’ll let him know. Do you think she’s ready to leave?”
“If I let her stay afraid of the outside world, she’ll never get the freedom I can see she wants. I don’t want her feeling trapped; she has a right to live her life without fear.”
“You’re a good man, Zeke.”
He shook his head. “I’m not a good man. I’ve not been a good man for a long time.” Any chance he’d had of being a good man was long gone even before he’d had a chance to live. His parents had created the monster inside him, and there was no way to escape that.
“You’re too hard on yourself,” Boscoe said. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m going to take the rest of the night off. Go to the club, find a bitch, and use her until I can’t walk.”
Zeke laughed and watched as Boscoe left the room. He was a loyal man, one Zeke trusted with his life.
Zeke made his way toward the hallway leading to the front door at the same time that Alessandria came walking downstairs. She had left her hair down, and she hadn’t changed her clothing. The only thing she’d done was put on a pair of sneakers, and they looked cute, down to earth. She looked real.
“I’m ready.”
“Dani’s going to adore you.”
“I doubt it.”
Taking her hand, he led the way out to the car. He made sure to flick the child lock on the door so she didn’t have a chance to make her escape. Zeke wasn’t prepared to take any chances when it came to her safety. He climbed into the driver’s seat and turned the car over.
Alessandria wasn’t panicking yet, so he reversed the car, turning it around to face the gate. Driving slowly, he already saw that Colin was waiting just outside the gate.
“Wait!” Alessandria held up her hand as she stared at the gate.
“Everything will be fine.”
She nodded. “Just please, go slowly.”
He eased out of the drive, and every time she held her hand up, he stopped. Taking his time, they made it out of the gate and drove toward Dani’s place. The first hurdle was over with. Now, he just needed to see what his daughter thought of the woman he’d fallen in love with.
ALESSANDRIA DIDN’T HAVE a clue what to expect of Zeke’s daughter, but Daniella was, well, she was nothing like she’d imagined. She hadn’t seen Daniella as she’d not been around to visit Zeke. Instead, Zeke had gone to see her. She was a nice woman, a little shy and reserved, but from the look on Shakes’ face, he found her adorable.
“Who are you?” Dani asked, before Zeke got chance to say anything.
“Alessandria.” Her cheeks heated, and she looked from Zeke to Daniella and back again.
“How did you meet my father?”
Alessandria felt on the spot, felt flushed, embarrassed. “I don’t know what to say.” She didn’t know how to explain how she’d come into Zeke’s life.
Daniella turned to Zeke. “Can you explain?”
Zeke exhaled. “She was with a shipment of women, and she didn’t want to be there.”
“He saved her life,” Shakes said, moving behind Daniella. “He helped protect her from someone very bad, someone that wanted to hurt her.”
“He’s my friend,” Alessandria said, standing beside Zeke, her hands in front of her, and her fingers twisted together from her nerves.
Daniella didn’t speak for a moment, didn’t even move. But then she smiled. “I’m glad you’re safe and that my dad could help you.”
Alessandria saw her eyes grow watery, and Daniella moved closer to wrap her arms around her father’s neck.
“I’m so pleased you helped her. You are a good man.”
Stepping out of the way, she watched as Zeke frowned even as he held onto his daughter.
Tucking her hair behind her ear, she waited while the family had a special moment.
“I’m so sorry.” Daniella sniffed and wiped her tears away. “Welcome to my home.” Daniella pulled her in for a hug, and Alessandria took the warmth that was offered. It had been too long since she’d been given any kind of affection, well, not until Zeke had taken her in. Holding onto Daniella, she hoped that in time they could be friends.
“Thank you.”
Daniella moved them from out of the hallway, and it wasn’t long before Shakes and Zeke were talking in another room, and she was alone with Daniella.
“I’m really sorry about that in there. I’m pregnant, and my hormones are all over the place. I can’t control it.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’re the first woman I’ve been around who has been pregnant.” Alessandria took a seat at the kitchen counter and watched as Daniella moved from the counter to the fridge and back again.
“You’ve not seen pregnant women before?”
“I’ve seen them before, of course. I just haven’t spent any time around a pregnant woman, not substantially, I mean. Where I was, the women weren’t allowed to have children. Being pregnant was an obstacle that they took care of right away.”
Daniella looked at her with worry on her face. “Can I ask what you mean by that? It sounds to me like you were in a jail.”
Alessandria took a deep breath. “Gerald, the pimp who owned me, made sure none of us had kids.”
“Okay, wow, erm, wow. I’m so sorry.”
“I want to think of that as my past. Your father saved my life. I mean that with everything in me.” She stared down at her hands and wondered if she’d opened up just a little too much. “I never got pregnant, though,” she shrugged. Once she started talking, she just couldn’t stop. “I suppose it was all for the best.”
Daniella placed her hand over Alessandria’s. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“It’s all in the past. There’s nothing I can do to change that.”
“Again, I’m sorry. I’m not really good with people, especially in situations like this. Having a father like Zeke, and a mother like I did, didn’t make it easy for me to have friends, or know exactly what to say in situations like this. I’m kind of used to my own company. It’s my own fault, really.”
Alessandria liked her.
“I have to say I’m shocked.”
“About what?” Alessandria asked.
“My father being with you.”
“Because of Zeke moving on from your mother?” Alessandria hadn’t asked much about Daniella’s mother, but now she felt stupid about not finding out.
“No. Dad hated her. I hated her. She wasn’t a nice woman, and she actually used me in order to have a better life for herself. My mother was awful. You’re nothing like her. No, what I meant was, Dad never has a woman with him. He’s always alone.”
That very thought made Alessandria incredibly sad. “I don’t know what’s happening between your father and me.”
“Do you like him?”
“Yes, I like him.” She loved him. Even from as early as the moment he’d shot those men who’d roughed her up, he’d been making his way into her heart, and now she couldn’t imagine life without him. Alessandria didn’t know what she was going to do when Zeke got bored with her. She really hoped he never did, but men got bored, they looked for something better. Pushing those doubts aside, she focused on the beautiful woman in front of her.
“That’s good. I know Dad isn’t for everyone, but I want him to be happy. I really want him to be happy and to find the kind of happiness that I’ve found with Shakes.”
“Was it hard being with Zeke?”
Daniella stopped chewing on the piece of salad she was tossing into a bowl and smiled. “It was hard. Dad’s got two personalities. There’s the man he’s become to the outside world, and then there is that good man. He’s a good father, a hard worker, and he had a shitty life when he was younger. More often than not, the two men mixed, and I got more of Zeke than I did of Dad. It was hard. I didn’t make friends, and he was always away; that was hard. Then, one day, I discovered who he really was, and I just backed away. I changed, and it was always different.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m more sorry. I’ve spent so long seeing him as Zeke, that I forgot w
hat it was like to see Dad. He’s, erm, he’s very protective. At times, he’s over protective.”
“That’s how dad’s are supposed to be.”
“I guess. Shakes is looking forward to becoming a dad. He’s going to be a great one.”
Alessandria saw the love in Daniella’s eyes, and she yearned for something like that.
“My dad cares about you; I can see it.”
She really hoped that Zeke did. Alessandria knew she was in love with Zeke and would do everything in her power to make him fall in love with her. It wasn’t about being desperate. She loved him and didn’t want to lose that.
THE DINNER WENT by without any problems, and Zeke was so damned happy. Alessandria and Daniella were his two favorite women, and Shakes wasn’t too bad when it came to company.
“That was wonderful, thank you,” Zeke said.
“I’ll get dessert.” Daniella grabbed a couple of plates, and Zeke picked up the rest, following her into the kitchen.
“Thank you,” he said.
“What for?”
“For being nice to Alessandria.”
Daniella smiled. “I like her. She’s a nice woman. You’re going to take care of her, aren’t you?”
“Yes. She’s my woman to protect.”
“I’m glad. I really like her.”
“Do you think she can be your new stepmom?”
Daniella scrunched up her nose. “I don’t think so. She’s strictly friend material, nothing else. I don’t mind you marrying her, it’s just, I don’t want to think of her as a stepmom”
“I love her, Dani.”
“Then treat her with love and care. Be nice to her, and don’t go all Zeke on her.”
“It’s all I know.”
“It can’t be all you know.”
“What makes you say that?” he asked.
“If Zeke is all you were then Alessandria would have left your club. And you wouldn’t have cared. You’re a bad man, Dad, a really bad man, but you’re not a monster. I didn’t know that before. I do now. There’s a difference between being bad, and being a monster.”