Page 24 of Bane's Beginning

“Did I do what?” I bit down.

“Know how to treat women when you first met Serena?” I responded. “Because I remember you were just as much of a whore as I was. Saying I don’t deserve Thea is like saying you don’t deserve Serena!”

“I don’t deserve Serena,” he said and I could feel the anger rising up in him. Fuck, I really didn’t want to have to throw down with him again. “That’s what you don’t understand, prick. When I met Serena, she was too good for me and I knew it. Hell, she is and will always be too good for me. That thought alone makes me want to wake up every day and be a better man because I know that even on my best days, I will never even light a candle next to her fucking flame!”

“It’s one thing to stop fucking around because you met my sister, but it’s another thing to actually try and be a better man. I don’t know how you feel about Thea, but I know it’s not enough because if it was enough, you would know that she deserves a hell of a lot more than sneaking around on the back fucking patio.”

“You’re right,” I sighed. “She does deserve more than what we’ve been doing, and I should have talked to you sooner about it. Honestly, I can’t even think fucking clear when she is in the room or when we’re alone. She’s gotten under my skin and I’ve finally come to accept that these feelings aren’t going anywhere. I don’t know exactly what that means but this,” I said, pointing in between us. “This is me letting you know that I’m pursuing her, that I want to try to be the type of man she deserves and I’m not backing down.”

I saw the anger dissipate from his eyes and relief washed over me. He didn’t say anything but he put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a nod before he walked out.

Now, it was time to make Thea know where I stand, too.

She’s mine.

Chapter 12: Thea

Anna, a few of the ol’ ladies and I were sitting by the pool. I didn’t have a swimsuit so I borrowed one of Anna’s. I hadn’t seen Serena since earlier. I guess she ended up not wanting to go shopping and went upstairs to take a nap. The boys were in what I’d come to learn was called church, discussing club business. Whatever the fuck that meant, so we decided to hang out by the pool. It was one of the very few days that it hadn’t reached over a hundred, so being outside felt great.

“Can I ask you a question?” Anna said from beside me on the lounge chair.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“How did you meet Marcus?” I wasn’t sure why she was asking but I figured that she was just genuinely curious. Though Anna was a hellraiser, she was also fairly sheltered, which I figured was because she was a founding member's daughter and her brother and father are assholes. When she told me she was a virgin, I didn’t believe her. I mean, the girl is two years older than me, but once she explained the club dynamic and how protective they were, it made sense.

“Bridgette introduced us at a party at the start of our second year, and we got to talking, talking led to fucking and then fucking led to the past two years of hell,” I said, trying to sound funny, and I heard a few of the other ladies snicker.

“You hooked up on the first night you met him?” she said, almost shocked. “How many other guys have you dated?”

“Uhm,” I thought for a second. “Maybe like two or three in high school, so like four total.”

“Huh,” she said. “You’re younger than me and you’ve seen more action than a Bruce Willis movie.”

“Bitch,” I said as I playfully shoved her. “We all can’t be nuns living in a convent. Don’t worry, Innocent Anna. A boy will come along and corrupt you any day now.”

Anna gave me a telling look, like she wanted to say something but was too shy. “Unless someone already has?” For a woman who always had a lot of words, she sure was quiet. “If you’re wondering how long you should know or date someone before sleeping with them, there is no right answer. It’s all about what you feel in the moment with that person.”

She smiled at me, and someone grabbed my shoulders from behind. I jumped and looked back and was surprised to see that it was Bane. All of the ladies seemed surprised by the stares they were giving us.

“Hey,” he said in his deep, sexy voice. “I wanted to come talk to you about something.”

“You did?” Bane and I hadn’t spent much time together other than the random mornings on the porch, so I wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted to talk about. “Yeah,” he said, reaching for my hands. “Follow me.”

With those words, I swooned. How could you not when you look at those deep blue eyes and his smile almost seemed boyish, like he was genuinely happy today. Following his lead, he took me upstairs and down the hall. He grabbed a key out of his pocket to unlock the door and pulled me inside. Looking around, his room was not what I expected. It was clean, but looked lived in.The entire room smelled like his deep, woodsy scent that I was beginning to become obsessed with.

“What are we doing here?” I finally asked him. “Take a seat,” he said and gave me a push on his bed. “Fuck,” he grunted. “You have no idea how long I’ve thought about having you in my bed.” My body shuddered at his words and goosebumps began to cover my arms. “Probably just about as long as me wanting to be in it,” I said playfully.

He laughed, his dark and seductive laugh that always sent lightning bolts straight down my thighs and into my lady business. “As much as I’d like to explore those evil little thoughts of yours, that’s not why I brought you here.”

“No?” I said, confused. “No, I’m taking you out tonight,” he said matter of factly. “And before you give me lip, it’s a done deal, sweetheart. You’re with me tonight.” His grin was panty-dropping.

“Do I get a say in this?” I responded as I crossed my arms over my chest and pretended to look annoyed. I was really ecstatic and already wanting to run downstairs and have Anna help me with my outfit.

“Nope,” he said, widening his grin. “Besides, if you said no, I’d think you were just using me for my body.” He patted his stomach where I was well aware of the nicely chiseled six-pack he was packing under there. “I am using you for your body,” I said, smirking. He dropped down so his lips were right beside my ear. “Keep talking like that and I will spank that beautiful little ass of yours.”

I laughed, though I was extremely turned on. Ugh, this beautiful man kept breaking through my walls and every ounce of self-control that I had. “Don’t threaten me with a good time,” I saidand gave him a push away from my space. I had to put some distance between us because if I didn’t I was going to combust right there in his bedroom.

He laughed as he shook his head. “Be ready at six, babe.” I didn’t say anything and walked out of the door. Fuck, I shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t be excited about being pursued by a man when I was hiding from another, but the more I got to know Bane, the more that I felt like I got to know myself. Another reminder kicked in when my phone started to ring and I saw Chase’s name.