She chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I’ll go and answer the door.”
“Don’t be grumpy.”
“Why spoil my reputation?” He left the room as she threw a pillow in his direction. The fire inside him had eased the moment he put the ring and necklace on her. He passed a picture of his mother in the hall way on the way towards the front door. She wore the necklace in the portrait. His mother looked beautiful and happy. He hoped to one day give Ursula the same happiness.
He opened the door with the scowl returning. Members of the club had arrived, along with a couple of the directors on his board. He didn’t like entertaining in his home. This was the first year he’d done any entertaining. Cadeon, with Violet and Lucas, walked in first.
“It’s cold out there. I was freezing my nuts off,” Lucas said.
Cadeon laughed. “I was surprised to get an invite.” He held Violet at his side, a protective arm around his woman. “Where is your woman, anyway? She’s been getting a lot of speculation just recently.”
As if she heard them, Ursula appeared at the top of the stairs. “Has Stephen become grumpy again?”
She began to descend the stairs. Stephen felt a lump form in his throat. In the light of the hall and stairs she looked absolutely stunning. He moved to the stairs oblivious to the glances coming their way.
Stephen held out his hand, which she took.
“Isn’t he always grumpy? You look gorgeous, Ursula,” Cadeon said. Stephen introduced her to Violet. Both women went into the kitchen. The waiters arrived to bring help with drinks. In no time at all, the small dinner was in full swing. Stephen hated every second of her being in the company of other men. He wanted to pull her away from everyone and keep her to himself.
He took a long drink of whiskey. Sean turned up, and he sat with the men from the club. They asked him for updates on the problems he’d told them happening between Ravage and Possession.
“What does James think about everything?” Sean asked.
“He has his team on it, and so do I. The last thing we need is either club to become public knowledge.” Stephen sipped his beer, at the same time searching for Ursula. She stood with Violet. No one else was next to them.
“You feel it, too, don’t you?” Cadeon asked.
“Feel what?” Stephen tore his gaze away from her to stare at his friend.
“The need to go to her. You feel yourself losing control when a man takes a step in her direction.”
“I don’t see you going to Violet,” Stephen said.
“It doesn’t mean I don’t want to. I’ve clocked three men who have their eye on my woman. The moment anyone makes a move towards her, she’ll be back here with me.”
Stephen gazed into his empty glass thinking about what Cadeon said. He didn’t want to admit to the feelings he described. For some reason he was still holding himself back from the truth.
“I need to get myself another drink.” He stood and went into his study to gain control. After putting the glass down he sat on his couch and counted to ten. When he opened his eyes, he saw the picture of his mother and father together, taunting him.
In that split second, he hated his parents for leaving him, not only for leaving him but leaving him without any knowledge of what to do about his growing feelings.
There was no way Ursula could accept him being part of a club who believed they were possessive towards their woman. The little joke of them being the Owners would send her away.
“If I’m not possessive what the hell is happening to me?”
****
“He’s in denial,” Cadeon said. Lucas watched his friend and boss disappear into his study. Sean sat back while Tate and Kevin took long drinks of their beer.
“What do you expect us to do? He’s clearly denying any knowledge of how he feels.” Lucas ran a hand over his face, glancing at the woman in question. She truly was a peach, a beautiful woman who’d made his friend happy.
“The problem you have with Stephen is he doesn’t believe. Where most of us have felt possessive towards all the women in our lives, he hasn’t. He shared his women with men who weren’t inclined our way. I know he’s never loved a woman enough to stay with her for longer than a couple of months. They come and go. Ursula is the first woman that I know of to live in the same house as him,” Cadeon said.
“Stephen doesn’t believe in any of it?”
“Nope. Up until I met Ursula I was starting to think it wasn’t in him. The way he treated women would shock the very foundations of what Possession and Ravage stand for. I think he needs a wake-up call.” Cadeon sat forward. Lucas listened to the other man, intrigued about what he was saying. He’d not known Stephen long, but he liked the man even if he was moody at times. Who wouldn’t be? Lucas knew the kind of stress Stephen was under.
“What do you suggest?” Sean asked.
“I think he needs to know what it feels like when a man comes onto his girl. Lucas and Sean are the only two unattached males here. I’d ask James if he were here, but he’s not.”
“You’re asking us to break the code of the club? I’m already on a warning, Cadeon. I’m not going to get my ass sent to hell just because Knox won’t admit to his own male instincts,” Sean said.
“I’ll guarantee you won’t have a problem with the club. Just do this, Sean. He needs to know what is going on inside him.”
Lucas stared at Ursula. He didn’t want to go through with it, but he understood Cadeon’s reasoning. After several moments, he stood and walked over to her. She looked up at him with a smile.
“Hi, I’m Lucas Sanchez, one of Stephen’s friends.” He held his hand out to her. She shook his hand. Sean joined him.
Chapter Eleven
Ursula shook the hands of both men. She recognised them from when they’d been at Stephen house when she was still his employee.
“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Ursula Mills. Where is Stephen? Has he hidden away being moody?” she asked. She thought she’d done a great job of the get-together. When he’d asked her to organise and host it for him several months ago she hadn’t thought how important it was to her for it to be perfect.
“He’s in his office. We wanted to talk to the woman who has taken her place in his life.” Lucas leaned in close placing a hand at the back of the wall. She frowned at his closeness but didn’t say anything.