Free Rough & Raw (Notorious Devils Book 2) by Hayley Faiman Page B

feminine and … me . Bates informs me that he’s written my number down for Tammy already.
    I thank her for all of her help and give her my own instructions before I give Stella hers, along with a big hug and a kiss goodnight.
    I feel a pang in my heart as soon as the front door closes behind me. Bates wraps his hand around my waist from behind and lowers his head so that his lips brush my neck with every word he speaks.
    “She’ll be fine, babe. I got a man on the house, she’s safe,” he says.
    “A man? Where?” I ask as I look around in surprise.
    “He won’t go anywhere near the house unless there’s danger. He’s here, watching our girl, keeping her safe,” he murmurs. I want to melt into a pile of goo at his feet. Sweet heavens, the man is too hot. Our girl . Dammit, I want him.
    I pull away from him and unsteadily walk toward his beat up pickup truck without saying a word. I’m not mad at him, not really, I’m angry at myself. Why can’t I turn off those feelings for him? Why, after ten years, do I still shake when he’s near me? Why does my pussy clench and my legs want to spread at the sight of him? Fuck, I’m never going to be able to move past him .
    A voice inside of me tells me I’m stupid, that having feelings for him, allowing myself to be controlled by him would mean repeating bad mistakes from the past—but that voice can shove it up her ass. That voice doesn’t remember what having Bates and then losing him felt like. I can’t go through it again. I would just rather not have him at all.
    “Tonight will probably be tame,” Bates says as we drive toward the clubhouse. “No big parties, just a regular Thursday night. I won’t be here, so if anybody says or does anything to make you feel uncomfortable, just call me or Fury and we’ll be right down.”
    “I’ll be fine,” I say, staring out the window.
    “I don’t think you realize what these guys are like,” he says. For some reason, I am overcome with anger.
    “Are they guys that like to fuck anything with a pussy, mouth, or ass?” I ask. The truck swerves to the side of the road and Bates slams on his breaks.
    “Brentlee,” he says, his tone harsh and sharp.
    “I know what kind of men they are, Bates, because they’re like every man. They want to fuck and be fucked hard. They want to come, and drink, and have a good time without some bitch nagging at them. It’s fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ve probably seen and done everything they could do. I’m not worried, so neither should you be,” I announce before I turn my head to face the window again.
    This is over between us. Whatever crush he has on me needs to end. I need to make sure it’s decimated.
    “Look at me,” his voice is low and deep, rumbling throughout the cab of the truck. I refuse his request. I can’t look at him. He’s too handsome.
    I feel his fingers wrap in the back of my hair, and then they tighten before he forces my neck to turn my head toward him. It burns. It fucking hurts. He’s never been this rough with me before in my life. I choke back the tears and try to keep my spine straight and my body taught, ready for whatever is to come next.
    “Whatever the fuck you’re thinkin’, fuckin’ stop that shit right now. I’ve given you days to pull away from me since Boise. You’ve had your time to stew and come up with stupid shit in your head. Stupid shit that ain’t gonna work. You’re mine, Brentlee. Every single one of those fuckers knows you’re mine. You try anything fuckin’ dumb, and they’ll all rat your ass out,” he announces. I should be scared. The haunted look in his eyes should terrify me, but for whatever reason, it doesn’t.
    “I’ll do whatever I want, Bates. I’m tired of being told what to do,” I breathe.
    “I’ll spank your ass, Brentlee. I’ll spank that perfect fuckin’ ass of yours if you do anything stupid tonight,” he warns.
    “You’d hit me?” I murmur.
    “Never.”
    “You just said you