Since I was distracted, I missed the first part of what he said. Reaching, out I trail my fingers over his arm. "You've made a lot of progress."

Even though I shut the oven off before we sat down, my skin simmers with heat. It's the look Wrath's giving me.

He turns his head and goes back to talking about the fight. This whole friends only thing we've been doing is nice, but also confusing as hell.

"Come on, aren't you afraid of pain?" I ask when he mentions one of the moves his opponent is famous for like it's no big deal.

His ocean-eyes swing back to me. "No babe. The only thing that scares me is the thought of losing you."

That can't be true. "Why?" I stand and clear the table, bringing the dishes to the sink. When I turn, Wrath's standing right behind me.

"You don't get it. I want you. I just don't want to fuck this up again."

He says he wants me. But for what? And how can I be sure if he won't speak the language my body and brain understand-sex?

I'm about to blurt that out when he leans over and presses his lips against mine. His hand cradles the back of my head, holding me still, while he takes his time exploring and tasting my mouth.

After I'm not sure how long, because I lose track of time, he pulls back. His lips curl into a crooked smile that makes my knees weak. "You know the last time I tried to kiss you in the kitchen, you almost barfed on me," he says low and teasing.

My cheeks burn at the memory of that miserable Christmas Eve. "That's not fair, I had the flu."

Without warning, he wraps his hands around my waist, picks me up and sets me on the counter. "You feeling okay tonight?"

"Yes," I whisper.

"Good." He barely gets the whole word out, before his hands are on my face, holding me still. He covers my lips with his, taking charge. Hot and hungry, his tongue brushes against mine. Sweeping into my mouth, reminding me of what he's capable of doing. His hands drop to my hips as he deepens the kiss. I hook my legs around him, drawing him closer. Almost frantic to have him, my fingers fiddle with his belt. One big hand covers mine, stopping me.

He bends and nuzzles my cheek. "Not yet, Angel Face. Not here."

Surprised, I draw back. "Why?"

He doesn't get to answer, because we're interrupted by whoops and shouts coming from the hallway.

Wrath and I stare at each other and he raises an eyebrow.

Pushing myself off the counter, I head to the kitchen door.

Wrath grabs my hand as I pass. "Wait." He peers out of the small square window in the kitchen door. "Looks like a party in the champagne room," he says.

I don't want our moment to end. I'm so close to asking Wrath-no begging him-to come to my room with me.

Except I've never let any of the guys in my room. Wrath's not just anyone. As stubborn as I can be, even I know that.

He shoves the door open hard, and I see Rav and Sparky moving one of the dining room tables.

"What the fuck you two doing?" Wrath shouts at them.

Rav gives him a bleary smile. "Inga. Train. Champagne room."

A shiver of revulsion works over me, and Wrath's hand reaches behind him to pat me on my side. As if he knows why I find this so disturbing.

The door swings shut as he steps back inside. He shakes his head and mutters "fucking disgusting" under his breath.

"You can go. I won't be mad."

Why the hell did I say that?

Wrath cocks his head, and his eyebrows draw down. "Trust me, that's the last fucking thing I feel like doing."

My breath catches and I struggle to fill my lungs with air. "I didn't mean that, Wyatt. II'd be hurt, if you-"

He leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead. "Stay here. I'll be right back."

He's only gone long enough for me to finish washing a couple dishes. The door swings open as I'm turning off the tap.

Wrath shakes his head. "Fucking Dex. I don't know what the hell he was thinking."

That sucks. I feel bad for Dex, but I'm not sure how he expected things to turn out any different.

Wrath takes my hand and tugs me toward the back door.

"Come on, let's go outside. Hopefully Rock will be back soon. Let him kick her skank ass out."

He sits on the low stone wall opposite the clubhouse and pulls me down next to him. "We can go for a walk if you want, after Rock gets back."

"I'd like that."

He wraps his arm around my waist and I lean into him like it's the most natural thing in the world. Every now and then muffled shouts can be heard from the house and each one brings back very unpleasant memories for me.

Each time I shiver, Wrath's arm hugs me tighter and a little bit more fear ebbs away.

I'm proud of myself for the way I'm keeping a lid on my anger tonight. Fucking Dex. I'm partially to blame for this situation, since I allowed Inga to come up last night.

Normally, I wouldn't be so bent over this sort of thing, but I sensed right away how much it bothered Trinity. Raising bad memories, upsetting her-absolutely not okay.

While it probably falls under my job description to break that party up, I know Inga will throw a monumental hissy. I'd rather not leave Trin alone right now. Plus, the brothers have the right to do what they want in their own fucking clubhouse-even if the rest of us are thoroughly disgusted. Rock's the president for a reason. I figure he can decide how to deal with it.

I'm about to take out my phone and text him, when I hear his bike making its way up the driveway. Trin turns to me and smiles.

"You're going to make him deal with this, aren't you?"

My shoulders lift. "It's his ex."

She bumps her body into mine in a teasing gesture. "Yeah, but you're the one who gave her the okay to come up last night."

True enough.

I get up and walk over as he's backing his bike into his spot. The minute he shuts it down, I'm on him. No need for Hope to walk in on that cumfest.

"Inga's back."

His face twists. "Who the fuck brought her back here?"

"Dex has it bad for her." I glance up at the sky for a second. "Or at least, he did."

Trinity's hand touches my back, so I know she followed me over.

Another wave of shouting can be heard outside.

Rock's eyes narrow as he studies the clubhouse. "What's going on?"

Fuck. I'm not really sure how to explain it in front of Hope. "She wanted to play choo-choo?"

"What are you, five?" Rock snaps.

Well excuse me for not wanting to freak Cinderella out, jackass.

"Who's in there?"

"Everyone except you, me, Bricks, and maybe Z."

Z chooses that exact moment to step outside. Guess the asshole joined in after all. "Dude, your girl, Ing, is playing a serious game of Chinese Fingercuffs."

Oh, that's priceless.

"She's not my girl," Rock spits out.

Trinity steps forward a little. "I think she's trying to get you jealous," she says softly.

I can't help snorting at that. "Yeah, that's not the way to win a guy back."

Hope tugs on Rock's arm and he glances at her. "So, your ex-slampiece is in there taking it in every hole from your 'brothers?' Is that what I'm getting out of this conversation?"

Holyfuckingshit!

Seems Cinderella isn't so clueless after all.

Rock chokes and clearly has no idea how to respond to that. Z and I can't stop laughing.

"No one made her," Rock explains, which only makes me laugh harder.

"What, is she hoping you'll go get in line?" Hope spits out.

I'm going to die from lack of oxygen if she keeps this up. "Probably," I gasp.

Trinity attempts to diffuse the situation. "She must have run home and watched one too many Law and Order episodes. They don't make girls pull a train to hang here," she explains to Hope.

"What a relief," Hope snaps.

Nope, not liking her tone toward Trinity at all. Z and I both stop laughing and glare at Rock.

Control your woman.

The look on his face clearly says Fuck off. He puts his arm around Hope's shoulders. "We're going upstairs."

It'd be nice if it occurred to him that this whole situation might upset Trinity. I put my arm around her waist and tip my head at Rock. "Trin and I were going for a walk."

"I'll take care of it," Z volunteers.

Yeah, Rock's done with this whole situation. "I don't care who does what. Make sure things don't get too out of hand, and make sure she gets home in one piece. Make it clear she's not welcome back. Wipe her GPS if you have to. That bitch can't find her own ass without it."

Hope snorts and rolls her eyes. Whether it's because she doesn't like how well Rock knows the competition or something else, I don't know.

"Oh, some of the guys are filming it," Z decides to finally mention.

Rock's about to blow a gasket. "End that now. She'll lose her contract if that shit gets out. What the fuck is she thinking?"

Z glances at Hope, and I bite my lip so I don't start laughing again. "Uh, you might want to be the one to take care of that," he suggests.

"Are you fucking serious? What the fuck are you wearing this for then?" Rock pokes at the VP patch on Z's cut.

"I'm just saying it will be better coming from you."

All of us clomp into the clubhouse together. Rock runs his hands through his hair, obviously stressed about having to deal with Inga. I suffer a minor twinge of guilt over the whole situation.

The girls join Teller, Murphy, and Swan in the living room. I find my attention divided between what Trinity's up to and Rock pulling me to the side.

"Stay here with Hope and Trinny. Do not under any circumstances let the girls take a step in that hallway."

As if I'd let the girls anywhere near that cumguzzling skank show. "Yeah, sure. Why, you gonna slip in a quick one?" I ask, 'cause I'm pissed he thinks I have no common sense.

Someone's not in a joking mood. Rock smacks me and I snicker. "No, fuckface. Just do what I ask," he snaps.

"Come on, chickenshit," he yells to Z.

"Not cool," Z bitches back.

They carry on like that down the hallway and I decide to go join the girls.

Trinity seems to have recovered from whatever was bothering her about the whole situation. She's trying to reassure Hope, who seems pretty pissed off.

"Really, Hope. This almost never happens here. Rock doesn't run the club that way."

Hope arches a brow at Trin, but doesn't respond. Her attitude is starting to tick me off.

It's not long before Dex and Z carry Inga out of the house kicking and screaming. I should probably help with that, except I don't want to.

Rock returns in one piece. He throws himself on the couch and runs his hands over his face like he's trying to erase whatever he just saw. "Jesus Christ, that was disgusting," he mutters.