Chapter 16

I hatedHilton already and that wasn't fair. He hadn't done anything to me other than come into Judah's house and claim that he loved him. And apparently, at some point, he'd tattooed Judah's name on his wrist.

In reality, Hilton didn't look much older than Ellis, and if I was being completely honest, at that age I'd done some pretty stupid things, too, especially after I'd broken up with Judah and tried to keep my head above water.

"How old are you?" I asked from where I sat on Judah's right side at the dining table.

Hilton had taken Judah's left, much to Judah's visible irritation. He'd tried to force Hilton on the other side of the table with Ellis, but Hilton had refused, sitting firmly on his seat and crossing his arms with a pout.

"Old enough for Judah." Hilton popped his lips out. I wasn't sure if he was going for another pout or a sad expression, but it reminded me of how young he really was. He was just a baby in my eyes, in both looks and personality.

"Fucking hell." Judah pressed firm fingers to his forehead, rubbing. "I've told you before, Hilton, it was only sex."

"Why did you bring him here then?" Ellis narrowed his eyes at Judah, and I sighed. They had only just begun to get along, then this had to happen. Of course Ellis would judge Judah for this. He was a sucker for helping those in need, the same as I'd been when I'd taken him in. He believed in paying it forward.

Judah groaned, and Hilton straightened, smiling with wide eyes at Ellis as though he was Hilton's personal hero.

"I like you. Let's share Judah. We can both love him." Hilton beamed from Ellis to Judah, and the tension kneading my insides finally snapped.

My hand shot out and I grabbed Judah's, interlinking our fingers. Almost immediately, Hilton's gaze fell on my contact with Judah before focusing on me like it was the first time he'd seen me.

"You don't have to worry about Ellis because Judah's mine. He's my boyfriend, kid, and if you're not old enough to realize how much of an eejit it makes you to get a tattoo of a man's name inked on your skin, you aren't old enough to date a man like Judah."

Hilton blinked his long lashes at me and his bottom lip began to wobble again.

I sighed and gave Judah a glare. "How old is he and why are you robbing the cradle?"

"I'm not," Judah protested, switching his narrowed eyes from Hilton to softening his gaze at me. "He's fucking twenty-two. He should know better."

A sharp sob escaped Hilton again and he grabbed a napkin, burying his face in it as he wailed. I stared at him in shock, not quite sure if I wanted to feel sorry for him or annoyed at him. He'd come crashing into our life on a perfectly reasonable Saturday morning and was ruining what should've been a peaceful day. We'd had plans, and I'd been looking forward to them, too.

Ellis shot up from his seat and rushed around the table, dragging a chair with him as he went. Ellis situated the chair beside Hilton and dropped into it before he curled his arm around Hilton, rubbing his shoulder gently. "Hey, it's okay. You're okay."

"I love him," Hilton yowled, and I winced away from his screech, thankful that while I'd been a stupid young man, I hadn't been anything like this. To be perfectly honest, I'd never met anyone like Hilton. Not even Ellis had acted like this when he'd first arrived at my trailer. "We were supposed to be together forever."

I'd been jealous of Hilton when he'd first announced why he was here, an indescribable fury eating at my insides, but now all I could do was stare at him and feel nothing but pity.

Judah threw his hands up in dismay, bringing them back down to bang on the table. "We fucked a couple of times. Jesus."

If anything, his reaction only made things worse. Hilton's screams grew louder, and my head was already beginning to pound.

I gave Judah a look of disbelief, so many questions running through my mind, and he could clearly read them because he shrugged.

"I was desperately in need of relief both times," he mumbled, now massaging his temple. "It was a big mistake on my part, trust me."

I leaned back in my seat and stared up at the ceiling, praying to whoever was listening that Hilton would leave so we could once again have quiet, but I doubted that was going to happen anytime soon. I'd fucked plenty of guys, but I'd never met—or slept—with anyone quite like the young man sitting on the opposite side of Judah.

"I love him so much," Hilton sobbed into the napkin, his entire body trembling. "He's my soulmate."

"Is this happening right now?" Judah grumbled loud enough for me to hear him. He ran his palms over his face and shook his head. "What the fuck was I thinking?"

I had the same question. This kind of behavior didn't show up out of nowhere. There had to be signs of Hilton's clinginess beforehand.

"Seriously, how did you fuck him so good that he thinks he's going to spend the rest of his life with you after two times?" I raised my eyebrows, a slither of amusement snaking its way through me. Despite the aching in my head and the still weeping Hilton, the entire scenario was beginning to look fucking funny right now. It took all my effort not to start laughing.

"I—"

Judah was interrupted by a loud and overdramatic howl from Hilton, causing Judah to shoot to his feet and grab Hilton by the arm.

"That's enough! Up!" Judah hauled Hilton upright, and Hilton fell to silence immediately when Judah spun him so they were face-to-face. "Enough! Do you hear yourself? You're twenty-two years old. You're not a child, but you're acting like one."

"Hey!" Ellis jumped to defend Hilton, but I raised my palm toward him, successfully shushing him. I didn't know Hilton, but I had a feeling he had to hear this. I had no idea where he'd come from or how he'd grown up, but he needed a reality check.

Hilton stared up at Judah with wide, watery eyes. "I.... But I love you."

"You don't know me," Judah growled out in return. He huffed and released his hold on him. "You have some serious issues, but it has nothing to do with me."

Hilton's bottom lip wobbled, but this time no tears came. He slid his attention to me, and then he was flying at me. I raised my hands, ready to fight, but to my shock Hilton entwined his arms around my middle and buried his face against my chest. "Please don't let him send me home. I don't want to go. I want to stay here with you." He rested his chin on my clavicle and stared up at me. "I'm great at giving blowjobs and I love spreading my legs. You and Judah can share me. I won't mind."

The change of direction was giving me whiplash.

"Hey, get off him." Judah went to step forward, but I sighed and shook my head, successfully making him stop. Apparently, this was my life now, saving young men who didn't want to go home.

I grasped Hilton's arms gently and pushed him back so I could get a better look at his face. "Who are you scared of?"

He fluttered those long lashes at me, and if it'd been anyone else, I might've fallen for his pleading ploy, but a possessive residue still lingered inside me as I thought about him sleeping with Judah. I'd never actually expected to meet someone who'd been in Judah's bed.

"My older brother," he whispered, words shaky. He sniffled and wiped his nose with the back of his hand, and I couldn't work out whether it was an act or if he truly behaved this way. "He's horrible."

"I have mean family, too," Ellis whispered, taking a step forward. "Maybe Hilton could stay with us."

I sent Ellis a look. "No."

"Why not?" Ellis clenched his jaw, and it was the first time I'd seen him fight against me. "This house is big enough."

"This isn't our home, El," I reminded him with a fierce stare. "We are guests as well, and when we move back to the trailer, what then? Will Hilton come with us?"

Or would he stay here to warm Judah's bed? The thought had my stomach clenching with jealousy. I wasn't so insecure that I thought Judah would up and leave me for this young man who couldn't control his emotions, and yet, I also hated the very idea that he'd fucked Hilton in the first place. Hilton was so different from me in every way.

"You're not going back to that trailer." Judah stomped toward me and hauled me against himself, grabbing my chin between his fingers and slamming his mouth over mine. I groaned into the forceful push of his lips. In such a simple act, he was claiming ownership, and I let him. He could do anything to me, and I'd accept it. Maybe I was more like Hilton than I thought. "You're staying here." His hold on my chin softened and he stroked a knuckle over my cheek. "I'm not letting you go again, Puffin."

I thought about his mum and his friends and all the people we had fighting against our relationship, and wondered if it was a dream to believe him. There were a million reasons why we wouldn't work, but my need for him seemed to outweigh them. I wanted to fight for us.

I smiled and pressed my forehead against his. "It's too early to give up my trailer."

He frowned but nodded in understanding. "Fine, but stay here."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"What about me?" came Hilton's shaky voice. "Can I stay, too? Please?"

"No," Judah snapped instantly without turning to look at him.

Hilton collapsed to his knees, hands pressed together in a prayer. "Please, please, please! I'll be so good. I won't love you, I promise. I'll do anything you want me to."

"Anything?" I shifted Judah out of the way and pointed at his wrist. "Get my boyfriend's name lasered off. I don't want it on there." The jealousy swelled in my chest again as I eyed the black inked swirl of Judah's name.

Judah sighed. "If you do that, you can stay for a month. That's all."

Hilton jumped to his feet and went to hug Judah, but I intercepted him, grabbing his shoulders and pressing him backward.

I bit my tongue hard to stop myself from doing anything ridiculous, like shoving him too roughly. He was much smaller than me and I'd do real damage to him, something I didn't actually want. "No more touching him, either. He's mine."

Hilton wrung his hands together and rolled his lips into his mouth. "I promise!"

I had no idea what we were doing here, but somehow, we ended up with two young adults under our care. How the fuck did that happen? I truly had a soft spot for those in need, apparently.

Judah tugged me back, pressing his chest into me and kissing my ear. "You do feel jealous, too, huh?"

I rolled my eyes but smiled. "Aye, maybe."

Hilton bounced on the tips of his toes and clapped his hands. His dramatic change in emotions felt like a seesaw, and we were now seeing a completely different angle of it. "I should go home and get some clothes then."

"I'll come with you," Ellis said, straightening his shoulders. "It'll give me something to do today."

Hilton hooked his arm around Ellis's and beamed at him. "We're gonna be best friends, El."

I groaned. Fuck, I hope not.

Ellis and Hilton left, and with them out of the house, Judah and I were alone. The sexy times we'd had earlier this morning were long forgotten. Instead, we decided to go for a drive to Lake Ontario. It'd been a long time since I'd gone there without any reason but to relax. Some jobs I'd had in the past required me to do long hours over six days, and with only one day off, I slept.

It was busy around the lake as there was a farmers' market, but we managed to steal a parking spot close to the event. As soon as we both exited the car and Judah locked it, he took my hand in his, and we walked peacefully toward the stalls that had been set up for the day. I knew sometimes Shep came with the Kings, so I kept an eye out for bikes, but I hadn't seen any yet.

It was warmer out than usual today, so I simply wore a white T-shirt that clung to my chest and a pair of shorts with flip-flops. Judah's top was classier—Ralph Lauren, which only made me think about last night and those jerks that he called friends.

"Have you come to the market since...?" He trailed off, and I knew what he meant. Since Mum died. She'd loved going to things like the farmers' market, though I didn't remember it ever being this big. Stalls were spread out across a large area, and the variety of items for sale ranged a lot more than they had the last time I'd come here.

I squeezed his hand in reassurance. I wasn't sad talking about her. There were a lot of things I missed about her, but I cherished the time I'd had with her. "No. The last time I came here was the week before she died. I managed to sneak her out of the hospital, and I wheeled her around here. Wasn't easy with the grass." I kicked the ground beneath my feet gently.

"There's a lady here now, she makes bear claws. They're fucking delicious." His eyes slid down my chest, and I grinned, arching my pecs out more than necessary. I didn't miss the way his pupils dilated and how he swallowed, the apple of his throat bobbing. "Fuck, Puffin."

"Yes?" I smirked.

"You know what you're doing. Stop it or we won't be away from the house for very long."

I chuckled and waved my hand. "Then lead the way to these bear claws."

He wasted no time, dragging me through the crowd that had gathered to find a treasure. There were all sorts of items for sale, from fresh fruits and vegetables, cupcakes, handmade children's toys, and fresh fish.

At one point, while we were trying to get to these famous bear claws that had Judah in a hurry, a little girl ran into us and fell back on her behind. Her mother apologized profusely, but I shook my head and helped the little girl stand again.

"I'll be back. I can't remember where the stall is. Stay here." Judah let go of my hand and rushed off, and I blinked after him, surprised at how excited he was by the prospect of these baked goods.

I smiled at the mother and little girl. "No harm done. It's very busy today."

The mother laughed. "I haven't seen it like this in some time. Have a good day."

Then, she was off again, the little girl now clutched in her arms as she maneuvered her way through the people. I sidled off toward the outskirts beside a stall that had an open space next to it and got out of the way. I was a big man, and I'd seen enough irritated glances sent in my direction for blocking the walking path.

I smiled and peered around at the area. Mum would've loved to see the market now. She'd always said there was nothing better than homemade products, and she was right. There was a certain love that came with items that had been created or grown by hand.

Five minutes later Judah was back, a paper bag clutched in his hand like a trophy as he came to a halt beside me. He half yanked out the bear claw, using the paper as a napkin as he held it up to my mouth.

"Take a bite."

I raised my eyebrows but didn't question him as I opened my mouth dutifully, taking a large bite of the baked good. I chewed thoughtfully, keeping my facial expression neutral even as the taste exploded in my mouth in an array of delicious flavors. It was perfect, the first time I'd ever tasted one, and I already loved it.

"What do you think?" Judah stared at me, his mouth parted and brown eyes wide in an appearance of hope. He was handsome like this, carefree and happy, and the more I looked at the older version of him, the more I realized how deeply in love I was. He'd been a missing piece of my soul that had now been reconnected to the rest. Who cared about the people who tried to tear us apart? We could handle them.

"Mm. It's okay," I said as seriously as I could.

His shoulders slumped. "Fuck. I thought they were good."

I laughed at his downtrodden reaction and cradled his face in my hands, placing a kiss on his delectable mouth. "It was delicious."

He pinched my nipple through my shirt, and I yelped, twisting away from him in both surprise and pleasure. "You're an asshole."

I laughed and rubbed my pec. "That hurt."

"You deserve so much more. Here." He shoved the bear claw into my hand. "I'm going back to get more."

"Judah, you don't have to?—"

But he was already gone again, moving like a whirlwind in a tightknit crowd of people. I groaned and stared down at the bear claw for a moment before taking another big bite. It was one of the most delicious things I'd ever tasted in my life, and if I kept eating like this, I'd need to do extra time in the gym. Not that I minded if it meant I got to spend time with Judah in a way that made him happy.

"Look who it is!"

I froze as a familiar voice came from my right. I turned, not pleased to find Chaz there, a paper bag clutched under his arm. He looked every bit as arrogant as he did last night, with an expensive dress shirt and tan pants, his hair slicked back, and a smarmy grin on his face. In the daylight, I disliked him more than I did the night before.

I forced a smile, my shoulders tense. My spine went ramrod straight, a trickling of unease sliding down my back. "Chaz. Hello."

He peered around, then pointed at the bear claw in my hand. "I didn't realize the farmers' market had charities here, too."

I blinked at him. "I'm sorry?"

He laughed. "I'm sure you didn't buy that on your own." He shrugged and opened the paper bag under his arm. Pulling out an apple, he inspected it, then thrust it toward me. "Here's my donation. It isn't as fancy as the bear claw, but the poor should take whatever they can get, right?" His eyes glinted when I didn't react. "Then again, Judah's mom told me you cost her a lot of money to walk away. Is that what it takes? Cash?"

I swallowed around the bitter taste in my throat and raised my chin. "Your subtle insults need work." There was only so much a man could take before he retaliated, Judah's friend or not. "They're very obvious."

"I was never trying to be subtle." He shoved the apple back in the bag and closed it again. "How much do you cost?" His gaze slid down my frame, too slowly for anything but an appreciation of my body. "I'm sure Judah wouldn't mind. I've got the money."

"Fuck off," I said at the same time as I felt a presence at my back.

"Is this guy bothering you, Tav?" Shep's voice relaxed me, and I turned to give him a smile, then stopped in surprise to see three other Kings with him. I didn't know two of the bikers, but they were tall and wide and foreboding in their leather jackets. The one I did know was Scar, a bloke who'd been in jail at the same time as Shep's brother. He was the biggest of them all, and he had the appearance of a beast in his height alone, but when you added the crew cut and dark glare, he was terrifying.

As if he read my thoughts, Shep pointed at one of the Kings. "This is Charley, he's Scar's boy toy."

Charley was shorter than Scar but handsome with short dark hair and a model face. He was prettier than what I'd expected from a biker.

Charley snorted. "Boyfriend. Not boy toy."

"I enjoy it when you're my Fleshlight, Fish, that makes you my toy." Scar shot Charley a grin, and the only response he got in return was an eye roll.

Shep pointed at the other King. "And this is Reaper."

Reaper was a lot scarier than Charley with his tattoos alone. The fiery skull ink on his throat was stark against his skin, and despite having nice brown eyes, the sneer on his face was scary as all fuck.

Out of the Kings standing in front of us, Shep was the youngest and clearly the most innocent. His blond hair was softer today with less product, and there was an ease about him that made me believe he was feeling more at home with the motorcycle club. His mouth twitched into a small smile despite how low his dark blond eyebrows sat above his brown eyes.

Chaz hesitated, then steeled himself, trying to stand taller. "I don't know who you are, but this is between me and Tavish."

Shep stepped forward. "Is it? Because it sounded like you were insulting the guy who helped raise me."

Fuck.I didn't want a fight, and if this didn't get resolved soon, Judah would come back to a brawl, but I wasn't quite sure how to fix this quickly.

I touched a hand to Shep's chest. "Come on, kid, I've got this. You know me, I don't need anyone to defend me."

Shep wasn't listening, though; he was firmly focused on Chaz.

"What's going on here?"

My gaze shot toward Judah, who'd shoved his way through the crowd to get to us, a couple of small paper bags clutched in his hands.

Judah frowned. "Tav? What's going on?" He eyed Shep suspiciously and stepped toward him. "Are these bikers bothering you?"

How was I meant to tell him that it wasn't Shep and the Kings who were the problem?

Fuck.