Filthy Devil (Dark Horse MC #6)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER

SEVEN

JAMES

The department store is the perfect place for me to get everything I need, including a hairbrush. I don’t know why, but I expect Nash to wait for me at the front of the store until I’m finished. He doesn’t.

Instead, he stays at my side as I head toward the buggies. Then he does something that surprises me. He takes the buggy from me and casually saunters down the main aisleway of the store.

I stare after him for a moment, unsure of what’s truly happening. Then my feet move, and I hurry after him. I can’t believe that this man, this gorgeous, tall, strong, rugged man dressed in jeans and leather, is pushing a bright-red buggy as he walks through the women’s panty aisle.

He stops at the side of the lingerie department, his head swinging over to me, then he smirks. “I can pick them out for you, or you can do it on your own.”

I open my mouth to say something, then snap my lips closed. I want to ask him what exactly I’m supposed to be buying here.

A whole wardrobe or just essentials?

And what is my budget?

I have no idea, and at the same time, I’m apprehensive to ask. He called me out on my manipulation tactics, and I know that I was wrong, but…

“Sweetheart,” Nash murmurs.

I lift my head, and my eyes find his. He’s smiling down at me, his gaze focused on mine. I don’t say anything. Instead, I just look up at him. His blue eyes search my own. Then he brings his hand to my cheek.

“Get whatever you need to get you started. At least a couple weeks’ worth of shit. We got a washer and dryer at the club, and by the time you need more, we’ll have something figured out for you.”

Instead of verbally responding to him, I take a step backward, then turn toward the underwear and start shopping. It doesn’t take me long. I don’t go for anything wild and crazy.

Instead, I buy basics—jeans, plain shirts, tanks, and a few sweaters. Then I get some bras, panties, and a variety of shoes before I head toward the bath and makeup department. The entire time, Nash follows me around without saying a word about how filled up the buggy is becoming.

Once I’m finished putting everything in there, I turn to Nash. He is watching me, but I can’t begin to guess what he’s thinking. His blue eyes search mine for a moment. Then he clears his throat before he speaks.

“This all the bathroom shit you’re getting?” he asks, sounding confused.

I flick my gaze into the buggy, then swing it back to meet his, and I frown. “I have makeup, soap, shampoo, conditioner, razors, face wash, and moisturizer. Do I need something else?”

“James, I don’t know women that well. Haven’t lived with one in years, but I remember a hell of a lot more shit littered the bathroom counters and shower than this.”

I’m not sure the kind of women this man was with, but if I had to guess, they were ones who dressed in skintight clothes, wore heavy makeup, and had a fond affection for Aqua Net. I imagine they look much like my mother. It’s still weird to think of her like that, but she was my mother and that’s exactly the way she looked.

“I’m not into a lot of makeup and products,” I say. “I’m more into natural stuff.”

He nods a couple of times, then reaches out and touches my hand. Flicking my gaze to his fingers, I slowly follow his arm before my eyes find his blue ones. I love the color of his eyes. He’s absolutely gorgeous.

I was stupid to try and manipulate him. I should have known that this man could get any woman he wanted. He doesn’t give a shit about me, no matter my age. He’s not desperate for a woman to share his bed.

I’m not sure why I tried it anyway, other than the simple fact that I was scared shitless… I still am. I have no idea what to expect or what is in store for me, but I know that trying to manipulate this guy isn’t the way to do it.

“I like that,” he chuckles. “Let’s go.”

“Wait,” I call out as he takes a step away from me.

He stops, and his gaze finds mine again. He holds it for a moment, then clears his throat as he waits for me to continue. I do. I scrape my teeth back and forth across my lower lip. Then I let out a long sigh before I speak.

“How am I going to pay you back for all of this? I have nothing, and I have no way to make money.”

I can’t believe that we are having this conversation in the middle of a department store, a buggy full of clothes and toiletries, with people walking up and down the aisles and a random screaming kid in the background.

If it’s bothering him or if he even notices, he doesn’t say a word. Instead, he smirks, his lips twitching as he searches my gaze. “I could think of a couple of ways, James.”

Leaning forward, I place my palm against his chest, needing to touch him. He doesn’t look down at my hand. He lifts his own and wraps his fingers around my wrist, holding me against him.

“Oh yeah?” I breathe. “How?”

He lets out a chuckle, then lowers his head, and his lips brush mine, and I can’t help it. My breath hitches. I don’t know if it is because he’s so gentle or if it’s because he really does make me feel all kinds of breathy.

I think it’s because he makes me feel breathy. I’m not very experienced when it comes to men. I’ve only been with a few… and I’m discovering that they were boys. Definitely not men. Because the way Nash makes me feel when he touches me is almost otherworldly and not like anything I’ve felt before.

“Don’t worry about that shit, sweetheart. Let’s go and get this handled. The rest will work itself out.”

And then, without another word, he releases his grasp on my wrist, turns, and begins walking away. I follow a few feet behind him, my legs shorter and unable to keep up with his long strides. Although, I’m enjoying the view of his great ass, so I don’t mind too much.

When we reach the cash register, I don’t miss the look the employee gives him. She’s probably fifteen years older than me but is very pretty. She parts her lips and starts panting as she smiles at Nash.

“Aren’t you a good daddy, buying your daughter some new clothes for college,” she purrs.

I stare at her, almost slack-jawed. Not because she thinks he’s my father—he is old enough to be that—but that she would actually say that out loud. The petty side of me has a few things to say, but I’m not sure how Nash would react, so I keep my lips shut— for now .

“Yeah, I’m a good daddy,” he says, his voice silken and absolutely filthy.

That tone, the way he says that, is all I need to know. Wrapping my arms around his, I push myself closer to his side. Then I turn my head and tilt it to the side so that my temple is resting against his shoulder.

“He’s the best daddy. Especially when he makes me come,” I say, making sure to add an extra purr to my words.

The way her eyes widen in horror and her lips part is the best ever. I almost burst out into laughter, but I decide against it. Her cheeks tint hot pink as she finishes up. She doesn’t even read the total to us, and glancing at it makes me feel nauseous.

I’ve never spent a lot of money on clothes, and this is a hell of a lot, but Nash shoves his card in the machine as if it’s nothing, grabs the bags, and then walks away. I run after him, trying to keep up with him yet again.

NASH

Starting the truck engine, I look over at the woman who is sitting beside me. Slowly, she brings her gaze to meet mine, and without a word, we burst out in laughter. She lifts her hand to her lips, closes her eyes, and her shoulders shake when she opens them and leans forward over the center console.

“I seriously thought she was going to burst into flames right then and there,” James says between giggles.

I shake my head a couple of times, and my smile dies down as I realize that I haven’t laughed, truly laughed, in a hell of a long time. Unless it was with one of my grandkids, but with a woman? It’s been a fucking long-ass time.

A long-ass time.

I like it—too much.

Facing the windshield, I start the engine and head toward the club. I still don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do with this woman, but for now, she can stay in the little apartment.

I know that the other men are going to want to put her to work. She would look amazing on the stage, but I don’t know if I could handle that. Seeing her naked body on display for dozens of men…

Gripping the steering wheel, I hear it crack beneath my grip.

The fucking idea of her naked for anyone but me makes me completely fucking enraged. After I pull into the parking lot, I grab her bags and carry them upstairs, setting them down on the floor at the entrance.

James follows behind me. The lights are on in the club. The black-and-white portraits are on full display. Those were my idea. I fucking love them, too. Naked celebrities, tons of fucking bunny pictures.

It’s what I envisioned when I thought of a high-class strip club. And while we aren’t charging a grand for a lap dance, we aren’t slouches either. This is one of the busiest clubs in the area, and to think, not long ago, we’d been burned down in an arson attack with the threat of not opening at all.

“Nash,” James calls out.

My eyes find hers. She takes a hesitant step toward me, then another, but stops just before she reaches me. She’s close enough to touch but far enough away that I know she isn’t ready for my touch.

“Yeah?” I call out when she doesn’t continue.

“Thank you,” she murmurs.

“I got some shit to do tonight. The kitchen will have the chefs back there working. Order what you want, but stay off the club floor.”

She frowns, her gaze searching mine for a moment. “Stay off the club floor?” she asks.

I hum but don’t go into detail. It’s not that I give a fuck that she sees a bunch of bitches flashing their tits and ass. It’s more that I don’t want any patrons to think that her tits and ass are up for grabs because they, indeed, are fucking not.

Right now, they’re all fucking mine.

And they are only up for grabs to me.

And they’re going to stay that way until I figure out what the fuck I’m going to do with her. I’m not sure yet. Keeping her seems a bit too extreme. But I’m not ready to turn her out to whatever the fuck her future is, either.

“Off the club floor,” I grind out.

She sinks her teeth into her bottom lip and runs them back and forth a few times before she releases it and takes a step toward me. “And what happens with me, Nash? I still don’t know anything.”

My lips twitch into a smirk. “Sweetheart. When I’m ready, you’ll get your orders. But for now, I’m enjoying what we’re doing. As long as you know that manipulating me isn’t going to work, we’re good just how we are, yeah?”

Her gaze flicks down to her feet. Then she slowly lifts it to meet mine. “I made a mistake, Nash. Don’t continue to embarrass me about it. I’m scared.”

Laughing, I close the distance between us, lifting my hand to cup her cheek. Leaning forward, I touch my mouth to hers. “Okay, sweetheart. I’ll stop giving you shit. But be a good girl, yeah?”

Her next words should absolutely not turn me on the way they do. But they do, and I almost strip her ass bare and fuck her right this fucking second.

“Yes, Daddy.”