Wolf.e: A Dark MC Romance
Wolf.e: Chapter 36

The moment we pull into my driveway I’m mentally making notes for myself. I get off the bike without a word.

Number one, call a security company and have them here in the morning.

Two, maybe get a dog? Yes, that’s what I’ll do—a Doberman.

I unlock the front door with the keypad as a prospect pulls my car into the driveway followed by another member in a pickup truck. I head straight inside, slam the door, lock it behind me and lean my back against it.

I hear Gabriel’s voice through the open window talking to the prospect. I close my eyes and pray he just leaves. I don’t need him banging down my door. I need to save myself a little bit of dignity here. The weekend we spent together was… there are no words, but when he just stood at the edge of my bed and looked at me like he was done with me, that feeling is still way too fresh. Stupidly, for a split second while we were together, I thought maybe—just maybe—Gabriel felt the same way I did, like there was nothing on Earth that could ever feel as good as he could. Like our bodies were made for each other. Stupidly being the operative word.

I make my way through my house into my kitchen and fill a glass with water. As I’m about to take a sip, I hear the access to my keypad beep, followed by the horrifying sound of my front door unlocking.

He has my code? How?

Gabriel makes his way into my kitchen and tosses the key to his bike onto the counter. He says nothing, standing on the other side of the island. Knowing he can enter and exit my house any time he wants makes him seem even bigger, more intimidating.

His eyes drink me in like it’s been almost painful to be away from me. I push the smoldering feeling of his gaze from my mind. He’s been hurt, blood spots are visible through his white t-shirt on his shoulders, and I realize glass from the windows breaking must have cut him.

I fold my arms over my chest and do my best to appear as frustrated as I feel. The moment his eyes meet mine, I struggle because he melts me with that gaze.

“You can go,” I tell him. “And I guess I need to change my code.”

“No.” He shakes his head. “Go pack some things; you’re coming with me for a while until I can make sure you’re safe. I thought I could keep you safer if I stayed away from you. I was wrong.”

I put my hands on my hips. I still really don’t like being told what to do. Someone has been doing that my whole life.

“The only way to show that Foxx guy I’m not of any interest to him is for you to leave and not come back. I told him you were just a one-night stand. I’m pretty sure he believed me,” I lie.

Gabriel moves faster than I have time to prepare for and both his arms cage me in against the counter as he towers over me.

“Pack your shit or don’t pack your shit, either way you’re coming with me. This isn’t a discussion,” he says, looking down at me. His body is so close to mine that it instantly ignites my own muscle memory, like he’s a phantom limb I’ve been missing. I look away from his eyes and fight with everything in me not to feel the pull that tethers us together. Gabriel’s hand comes up and tilts my face with a finger under my chin.

I push his hand away and watch as his jaw sets.

“You left a week ago and I haven’t heard one word from you. I don’t see you out at your other conquests’ houses making sure they’re safe, why me?”

Gabriel’s hand is instantly at my throat. “This isn’t a fucking game,” he seethes.

I reach up and pull at his hand around my throat, he’s never held it so tight, and I can’t breathe at all. The fury I see in his eyes tells me I pushed him too far. I scratch, I fight with both my hands but he doesn’t even flinch.

His lips come down to mine and hover as I silently beg for air.

“I didn’t leave. I’ve been here every single night, hummingbird, watching you sleep. I’ve been with you everywhere you’ve gone—every time, every day since I left this house. But it wasn’t enough. They know I was here and they got to you.”

Gabriel releases my throat and I inhale in a gasp, reaching for my throbbing throat, choking back my breath. The realization that he’s been watching me, been in my house when I was sleeping, has pulled the air from my lungs just as completely as his hand to my throat.

But fuck me, it also made me feel comforted. I sigh.

“Now, I won’t tell you again, understand? Get. Your. Shit.” Gabriel practically whispers but it’s a warning. If I don’t do what he says, something tells me I’ll be leaving anyway with just the clothes on my back.

“Gabriel!” I croak out, still dizzy. “Please… where are you taking me? I don’t want to live at the clubhouse,” I spit the words out desperately.

He can’t just pick me up and put me down whenever he wants. I have to have more dignity than that. I will not be his groupie, living in the club waiting for my nightly fucks.

He smirks at me, like he knows something I don’t as his lips unexpectedly come down, almost enough to meet mine. I suck in a desperate breath with how close he is. Gabriel doesn’t kiss me, though; he just holds his mouth over mine, nothing more than a whisper of air between us, sending my senses into overdrive. I pant against his lips, fighting the urge to kiss him. He pulls my bottom lip between his teeth and into his mouth, sucking so hard I can feel the blood rush to the spot he’s claimed. I swear I feel the inner battle holding him back from kissing me and I realize I’ll never understand what goes through his tormented mind. He releases my lip. It throbs as he pulls back and admires the mark I’m sure he’s left there.

“Please. This is my home,” I say, looking into his eyes.

Gabriel shakes his head slowly and reaches down, grabbing hold of my hand. He brings it up to his chest and slides it under his cut, placing it above his heart. As we stand here staring at each other, momentarily transfixed, I can feel the slow, steady beat of his heart through his thin t-shirt. His breath is deep and even as he pulls my palm out and brings it up to his lips, kissing it just once.

“No, little bird. I am your home.”

He lets my hand fall to my side as I stand here just dumbfounded by his words before he adds, “And I’m not taking you to the clubhouse.”