She had no idea what was going on, but if it helped the man she cared about then she would do anything.
You’re in love with him.
****
Stephen ran his fingers through his hair, put the empty glass down, and walked out of the study. He noticed many of the directors had left, which made him relieved. Dealing with men who worked with him was the last on his to-do list. Next, his gaze sought out Ursula. He found her and watched as Lucas and Sean crowded around Ursula. He knew they wouldn’t do anything to her, but he couldn’t stop the anger building inside him. He slammed the door to his study not caring the attention he caught. He walked over to where they stood. Cadeon tried to hold him back. Stephen pushed him away. No one was moving in on his woman. This feeling felt so similar to that morning when she spoke of going back to her apartment. He didn’t like it, either.
Grabbing Sean, he slammed him up against the wall. This was his home. They weren’t in the club, and they were trying to take her. All he could think about was getting the men away from her. He didn’t see Lucas and Sean. He saw two men trying to take Ursula. The violence inside him startled him. Stephen couldn’t stop himself. When he raised his fist, James stopped him holding him back. They caught the attention of a few people, but they were able to pull him into his study. Stephen saw Ursula was held back in the hall. Sean and Lucas, Tate, Kevin, and Cadeon were already there. James was still physically restraining him.
“Get your f**king hands off me,” Stephen said.
“Calm the f**k down,” James yelled. Tate and Kevin were at the door, guarding it. “I’ll let you go when I know you won’t attack your friends.”
“I thought you weren’t coming. What’s wrong? Couldn’t resist taking my woman either?” He snarled, cursed, and kicked out.
“Violet is with Ursula. They’re fine,” Cadeon said.
Sean and Lucas were seated on his couch. After several minutes he began to calm down. He no longer saw the enemy. He saw two friends he’d attacked. James let him go when his body went lax. Stephen went straight for his whiskey. He needed the burn of the drink as it went down his throat.
The tension inside him began to ease. Stephen felt the eyes of the men on him. He didn’t like to be closely observed.
“I don’t want your woman. I haven’t met her, Stephen. I came here because I had news, and I saw you about to attack your friends. Are you really too stupid to realise what is going on with you?” James asked. His voice was rising with every word he spoke.
Stephen felt ashamed for the way he responded. “I only saw two men trying to take my woman.”
“So, you’re finally admitting to being possessive towards her?” Cadeon asked.
“I—I—” Stephen couldn’t answer.
“Oh for f**k’s sake. You were about to pummel two friends that you’ve known for a lot longer than a piece of ass,” James yelled at him.
“Don’t talk about her like that.” Stephen stood toe to toe with his oldest friend, the one man who knew everything about him.
“Why not? If you’re not going to possess her or claim her as your own then she’s just a piece of ass to me. Maybe I should go out there and take her for a test run? Show her what a real dominant is all about.” James was taunting him, and it worked. Stephen lashed out, but James avoided the punch. Sean and Lucas held Stephen back. “Admit that you’re a possessive man.”
Stephen struggled as he fought with himself. He didn’t know why he was denying it. His heart was slamming against his ribs. The need to beat the shit out of any man who talked about Ursula like that consumed him.
The next instant he felt the wave of possessive feeling overcome him. He knew what his friends were saying was right. There was no other way he could describe the feelings inside him. They were the same kind of feelings he’d seen inside other male members at the club.
“Accept who you are, Stephen, before it kills you and your woman. This is important. Feel the possession, and accept it. You’re a dominant man who won’t share your woman. You want her every second so no other person can be near her. You’re an Owner.” James spoke every word Stephen was feeling.
He let go. Closing his eyes, he allowed his body to accept the part of him that hadn’t risen before in his life.
“How do you cope with these feelings?” he asked Cadeon.
“I know Violet loves me. I was her first in everything, and it helps keep the demon at rest.”
“I’ve never felt this way about any woman in my life. I’ve seen the way you all are with the women you’ve been with. Why haven’t I felt like this until now?” Stephen asked all the men in the room.
“We’re not a bloody race, Stephen. There is no scientific experiment to see how we react. There are only the few select members who can relate to how we feel. You know this. Your father told you, like his father told him. This is something we’ve got to deal with.” James sat opposite him.
Stephen remembered all the conversations he’d had with his father. He also recalled going out and sleeping with every woman he could find to try to awaken the need inside him. At the time he had thought it would be cool to be possessive about a woman. The feelings inside him were too intense.
“You have to learn to control it,” Cadeon said.
Stephen opened the top buttons of his shirt. He needed the fresh air.
“Now you know about this I need to start talking about what is going on,” James said.
He pulled out a piece of paper from his jacket and handed it to Stephen. He opened it up and saw several pictures. Some were taken inside both clubs; another was of Ursula. There was also a picture of Violet and Rebecca. Each woman he recognised as being claimed by members of his or James’s club.
“What is this?” he asked.
“Turn them over,” James said.
Stephen turned each photo over. On the back a note read, “Can you protect them all?” He gave the photos to each man. Cadeon ran his fingers through his hair.
“Violet went out shopping there. She didn’t know someone was watching her,” Cadeon said.
“I think the point of the photos is to show us none of the women knew. I’m more concerned about the photos of Ursula and Rebecca. They are the main women under our protection. All the other women have their own protectors,” Stephen said.
“Actually, Rebecca is my responsibility, and Ursula is yours, Stephen,” Cadeon said.