Page 14 of Judge’s Obsession

I cringe, and she laughs.

“Okay, not that. Protection. Think of it as a way to shield you from everyone else. No one will mess with you because they know the member you belong to will make them answer for it.”

Something warm unfurls in my chest.

“It’s a mutual kind of respect. You’re promising to support your man, and he’s going to keep you safe. But it’s so much more than that. The women who wear those patches are Old Ladies.”

My nose wrinkles against my better judgment. “Old Ladies?”

She laughs and pats my arm. “It takes some getting used to.” She gestures around the room. “It’s a long-term commitment. Think of it as a way to say girlfriend or wife. The club is a band of brothers. They’ll do anything for each other and, by extension, any of their women.”

“Oh. That doesn’t sound so bad.”

Cherry winks at me. “Now you’re getting it.”

“Maybe.” But just because a man claims he’ll respect and care for a woman in this world doesn’t guarantee it.

My eyes inadvertently trail over to Judge, only to find him still watching me. He says something to Ghost, then strides toward me like a man on a mission.

He looks angry. Is he mad I came to the party?

Cherry glances between Judge and me, then slips away without saying goodbye. It’s obvious who’s in charge here.

I’m immediately crowded by the man who only hours ago gave me an orgasm—the only man who’s ever made me come.

He drags a knuckle along my jaw, his eyes roaming over my face. My heart rate ticks up, and I can’t help but wonder if I did something wrong. When his expression hardens, instinct has me shrinking back.

Judge stops moving.

“Breathe, Little Mouse. That’s it. Deep breaths.”

I exhale, finding my center. His hand remains against my cheek, his thumb moving gently over my skin.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice hard. “What happened?”

I shake my head.

“Not how it works, sweetheart. Tell me what’s bothering you.”

I could step away, but with Judge watching me so intently, my feet refuse to move. He’s got one hand against the wall at my back and the other resting against my cheek.

I swallow hard before admitting, “I thought you were upset. When you walked over, you looked angry.”

His brows draw together. “With you?”

I nod.

“Fuck, baby.” He brushes his thumb along my jaw. “What gave you that idea?”

I shrug, suddenly feeling foolish. “The way you were looking at me. Demon used to get this look right before…”

I trail off, but Judge doesn’t need me to finish.

His jaw clenches, and I feel the change in him. “Did he do that to you? Make you afraid to look a man in the fucking eye?”

“Sometimes all it took was looking at him the wrong way,” I admit. “I never knew what would set him off.”

Judge’s gaze drops to the fading bruises around my neck, and his jaw tightens.