mind. I should have called. Talked to her. Reassured her everything would be okay.
Sean stood outside my house and gave me a nod as I parked my bike. I walked past him and inside. The door hadn’t even shut before Phoebe rushed toward me. Her hair looked like she’d been running her fingers through it. Still, she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
“You’re here,” she said.
“Told you I’d catch up.”
She folded her arms and tipped her chin up. “Catch up? Kraken, we’ve been here for half a day. Where were you? What happened?”
I pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her. “Baby girl, there are some questions I’ll never answer. Just know Deuce won’t be coming for you, and if his club has even half a brain cell among the lot of them, they won’t either. Damn near went to see your parents, but when I finished with Deuce, I just wanted to see you. Make sure you were all right.”
“My parents? Why would you go see them?”
I pressed her cheek to my chest and held her. I didn’t want any secrets between us, not as long as they weren’t club business, but I also didn’t want her scared of me. She’d lived with monsters long enough already. There might be darkness inside me, but I only let it out when someone needed to be punished. I never went after innocents.
“We’ll talk later, baby. Right now, I want a shower and some food. I promise I’ll tell you what I can. There are some things I’ll never be able to share.”
“But you won’t lie to me, right?” she asked.
I cupped her cheek and pressed my lips to hers. “No, baby. I won’t lie to you.”
“All right. I’ll go start the shower for you, then find something for you to eat while you get cleaned up.”
I rubbed my hand over my beard. I hadn’t had anyone take care of me before. It was nice. I watched her ass as she hurried down the hall, her hips swinging side to side. Despite being hungry and tired, my dick hardened. I wondered if she’d understood what it meant for me to claim her. She wouldn’t be sleeping in a guest room. My woman belonged in my bed, under me, and screaming my name.
I followed, stripping off my clothes along the way. I tossed my cut onto the dresser along with my phone and dumped my boots in the closet. My clothes went into the hamper in the bathroom. Phoebe openly stared at me, and I saw her fingers twitch. I reached for her, tugging her closer.
“You can touch me, baby girl. You might be mine now, but I’m also yours.” I took her hand and placed it on my chest. “You understand what I meant when I said I was claiming you?”
“You mentioned old ladies, but the Sadistic Saints only have whores.”
“I’ll have a property cut made for you. You’re not a club whore, Phoebe, and you damn sure never will be. Any man touches you, I’ll fucking kill him.” She tensed but I held onto her. “Not trying to scare you. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, or this club. You didn’t ask how I knew Deuce wouldn’t come for you.”
“You killed him, didn’t you?” she asked, her voice nearly a whisper.
“Beat the hell out of him first. I’m the Sergeant-at-Arms, baby. My hands are covered in blood. Doesn’t make me like that shithead. I don’t kill innocent people, and I would never hurt a woman. Well, maybe not never. There are some evil bitches out there, and if one of them hurt you or our kids, I’d end her. Someone betrays this club, won’t matter their gender. I’ll handle it.”
She took a breath and seemed to be thinking it over. “You’ve never forced yourself on a woman, have you?”
I smirked at her. “Baby, do I look like I’d need to force anyone? They always fell at my feet.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m being serious, Kraken.”
“And then there’s that. Around the club, I’m Kraken. In enemy territory, I’m Kraken. Here in our home and it’s just us? Call me Blake. No one’s used that name in a long-ass time, and only you get the privilege of saying it now.”
“Is it just you and me?” she asked. “Or will I have to share you with those other women? Is there even a reason for me to get tested? If you’re just going to bring something home to