Hook (Brutal Chains MC #1)

Chapter 16

Sixteen

Bea

I woke up about twenty minutes ago, only to find that I was in this huge clubhouse all on my own. At first, I was a bit peeved that Hook would leave me here by myself, but then I realized that just because my life was on its way to shit doesn't mean his life stopped. He had duties and other things to handle. If everyone was gone, at least it meant they were all together. He was safe, and that's all I can ask for.

Slipping on the sweats and shirt Hook gave me earlier, I make my way out of the bedroom and into the main area of the clubhouse. It's honestly like a big frat house, completely set up for men. Hell, there were even milk crates in the corner, I'm sure they used for chairs at some point.

I don't dare open any of the closed rooms, but I do see the kitchen. It's got a lot of cabinets, but there's no table. There's a stove and a fridge, but most of the stuff around is either ready to eat or needs to be microwaved. There are a few packs of ground beef in the freezer, a few fruits, and a few other staple ingredients. Besides that, this huge place is completely bare.

I'm glad to see there's some eggs and ready-to-make pancake mix. At first, I was just going to make something to eat for myself, but then I started to wonder if this is all they have in here. When was the last time someone made them a home-cooked meal? They all put their lives on the line to help me the other day; the least I can do is make them a meal to say thank you.

Quickly, I gather what I can from the fridge and get started making brunch. I make eggs and pancakes, fry up some hamburgers and bacon, and even find the ingredients needed for biscuits and gravy. Not necessarily things I'd put together, but I don't know what all of them like. My last dish is a fruit cobbler I made from some fruit that seems like it's just hours away from going bad.

My heart speeds up when I hear the bikes pull into the garage. I hear the men laughing and talking as they walk up to the door, and then it all stops when the door is opened.

"Bea!" Hook calls out for me, and I stick my head out of the kitchen so he sees that I'm here. No need to leave him in suspense.

"Hey, I hope you guys are hungry," I offer before I come back into the kitchen and start pulling out the paper plates and plastic cutlery that I've found. I don't know where the normal plates and cups are, so I'll have to make do with the disposable ones I've found.

"What are you doing?" Hook comes to the kitchen, bracing his arms on either side of the door frame, effectively taking up all the space. I push the plates and forks into his chest, which forces him to drop his hands and take them from me.

"I'm saying thank you." I lean up and kiss his lips. It's quick and sweet.

"You know you don't have to do that, right?" Hook says.

"I know; I want to," I reply, pushing him back until he starts walking into the main area.

I look at the food that I made. I already know it all tastes good. If I'm anything, I'm a good cook, but I'm worried that I'm missing something or that I haven't made enough for everyone. I grab the big platter of eggs and walk out of the kitchen to see the men have all worked faster than I thought possible to break out a collapsible table. Some of them sit in chairs while the others use the milk crates, just as I suspected. I shake my head as I see Light's large frame trying to teeter on the edge of a milk crate that looks like it's about to break under him. I put the eggs down before I turn back and go for more food.

"Prospect, get off your ass and get the food," Hook barks, and the man at the end of the table jumps up and rushes to help me.

"Oh, fuck, that smells good," the one they call Semi says. I'm nearly back to the kitchen when I hear a heavy thump on the ground. I cringe, thinking the worst, and turn back to see Hook standing over him. "Don't touch until she gets back," he snaps, and I can't help but laugh. They're brutes. Funny, helpful brutes.

"What's your name?" I ask the kid next to me, who is picking up the biscuits and gravy once I get into the kitchen again.

"I don't have a name yet; you can just call me Prospect." He smiles, and I open my mouth to tell him that his mother certainly didn't name him Prospect, but he walks out with the food before I have a chance to. What does it matter? If that's the culture here, I'm not going to go against it.

Finally, after several trips, I get back to the table and sit down next to Hook. The men stare at me, some of them openly drooling.

"Are you all waiting for me?" I ask, my voice quiet, and they boom in response, "Yes!"

I laugh again; I love the dynamic in here. "Go on, dig in." With that, I nearly jump away from the table as everyone reaches for what they want, sometimes two separate people tugging on the same plate before one of them concedes and lets the other have it first.

I'm glad I made so much. Hook makes sure I get some food on my plate as I'm not brave enough to stick my hand in the fray to grab the plate from someone else.

Just as I slide the first piece of pancake into my mouth, I hear Semi moan almost explicitly. "God damn, woman, this is so good. I think I'm going to have to get me an ol' lady for myself," he chuckles, and everyone joins him. Everyone besides Hook.

"Old lady?" I turn in Hook's direction. "What's 'ol' lady' mean?"

Hook opens his mouth to speak, but Semi cuts him off, answering the question for him. "Oh, you know, ball and chain, lifetime subscription to Nag Town, wifey." Semi smiles wide as he picks up another spoonful of eggs and shovels it into his mouth.

"Wifey?" I stare at Hook, and his jaw clenches, letting me know that what Semi says is true.

Suddenly, my appetite is gone, and I excuse myself from the table. Just earlier, I was worried about him wanting to be with me after all this is over, only to find out now that not only is he planning on staying in a relationship with me, but apparently I'm a married woman now.

What the fuck is that?

"You fucking asshole. Wait until I get you alone; I'm going to fuck you up," Hook threatens Semi, but I don't turn back to look at him. It's obvious he wasn't intending to let me know that, but everyone else knows. When did he make this decision, and what exactly does that mean for me? What am I going to be expected to do? What if I'm the one who wants to be free of him? Is he going to turn on me the same way Lance did?

The questions fly through my head as I make my way to Hook's bedroom. I slam the door behind me, getting more and more pissed off as the seconds tick by.

Moments later, the bedroom door opens again, and Hook walks in. He leans his back against the closed door and crosses his arms over his chest.

I wait for a second for him to say something—anything—but he just looks at me. He's going to let me take the lead on this. So be it.

"When the hell were you going to tell me that I was your wifey?" I nearly screech at him.

"There was no need to tell you. The decision was made already."

"How the hell can a decision like that be made without my consent? You know I'm not a piece of property, right? I'm a person. I have thoughts and opinions, too." I walk right up to him and point my finger into his chest, trying to get my point across.

"You already gave your consent. I told you that you were mine. Did you forget? You agreed. Did you think I was fucking with you?" Hook has the nerve to laugh, and it takes everything in me not to smack him across the face.

"That's not saying I want to be your wife. You know it's not the same thing." I shake my head, but he reaches out and grabs my waist.

I don't even realize he's spinning me so I'm trapped against the door until it's too late. I've got a million and one worries racing through my head; number one is feeling like I'm being trapped again.

"It is the same thing—for me and this group. The only time one of us claims a woman is when we make them our ol' lady. With that title, not only will I make sure that no one fucks with you, but so will the rest of the club. You'll be safe no matter what happens."

He pinned me to the door, his body pressed against mine.

I've never met anyone who knows how to use his body better than Hook. Every time he's near me, it's like I forget everything I'm supposed to be worried about.

I shake my head, trying to get out of the haze I'm feeling being this close to him. "Hook, you know it's too fast. We're not ready for this," I whisper.

"Who says? I know what I'm ready for. I know I'll do anything and everything to protect you, even give up my freedom. I've never met a woman who manages to reach into the shit that I call my life and bring me out into the light. Every time you're in the same room as me, my entire fucking world drops away. What's the point of waiting and flip-flopping like a little boy? I know what this is, Bea. Don't you?" He uses his leg to spread mine so his thigh is pressed right against my core. I suck in a breath and let my head fall back as I look up into his eyes. I want to trust him, want to believe what he's saying, but the last time I did, it was with Lance, and that ended so badly.

"You don't know me. I could be all wrong for you. I'm too much work."

He chuckles in that deep voice as he rubs the side of his face against my skin. His whiskers scratch and set me on fire.

"You're wrong again. I know you. I know exactly what you want. I know what makes you mad. I know what makes you happy. I know when you're scared. I know when you're turned on. I know how to make you scream." He slides his hand into my sweats, and once again I'm soaked. I really need to learn how to get a grip on my hormones when I'm around him, but he's right. The man has my number.

I whimper and let my hands drop to his waist so I can get his belt.

He laughs and quickly pushes my sweats down.

"Tell me you don't want to be my woman. Tell me, and I'll stop."

"I... I..." I stutter, not sure how to answer.

He lifts me so my feet are no longer on the floor, and my bare legs are wrapped around his waist as he lines himself up with me. "Tell me this doesn't feel perfect," he mutters against my lips.

He slides into me slowly, and with my back pressed against the door, I've got nowhere to go; I just have to take what he's giving me.

He's right; it feels like heaven each time he is inside of me.

"Are you mine?" Hook asks as he slowly thrusts up into me over and over.

"Hook..." I whine.

"Bea, sweetheart, I'm asking you to marry me here." He kisses me softly, and my eyes spring open. I gaze deep into his eyes, and it's like I can see the very soul of him. He means it. The man is ready to risk it all for me.

"Yes. I'm yours, yes," I answer, and he buries his face in my neck as he continues to make slow love to me against the wall.

I wait for the feelings of dread to fill my belly, but none does. For the first time in a long while, I have no regrets about the decision I've just made. I'm Hook's, and I don’t think I could be happier.