Chapter 13 Rodger left me to get settled, so I looked around the apartment again on my own. It was far too big for one person. Maybe I could ask Cindy about his living arrangements to see if he would want to share. I liked him. He reminded me a lot of some of the snarky warrior women I used to train with. Snarky and blunt is what I like in my friends. His make-up was immaculate too. I always wanted to do a crease-cut glittering look. Gross fuck. I wish I could have pushed him down the stairs. I would have shaved his hairy dick and balls while he was in a coma and left him feeling all scratchy when it started coming back. The third floor was buzzing with activity when the elevator stopped and the doors opened. There were four men gathered around a pool table, laughing and drinking beers and wine coolers. They were in dirty jeans and bright orange or yellow shirts with stains all over them. They looked the complete opposite of the first people I saw in the club. Rugged and very straight. The whole back wall was a kitchen with a long island in front of it with many stools to sit. Three guys were bickering at the stove and counters, preparing food, and Rodger was sitting at the island across from them, refereeing whatever it was they were fighting about. Something about onions. One guy, a large blonde with his hair swept back in a ponytail and glitter all over his bare chest, was sitting on a recliner facing a TV in the corner nearest the elevator. He looked up as I stepped out, his thick brows rising high on his head. "Uh oh. Boss! A chick got past Cindy!" He yelled. "Hey, lady. If you're looking for Mickey-poo, he's laying pipe in Florida this weekend. Pick up your stalking next week." "Mickey's going to skip toon town to hit pound town with Minnie," one of the bright-shirted guys chuckled, then took a swig of his beer, then licked his lips, staring me up and down. "If it's just some pipe you need laid, I got the tools you could use," he wiggled his eyebrows. "Laid pipe?" I smirked. "Sorry, bud, but my sink just isn't leaking for you." sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ƒindNoᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You sure?" He took a step forward. "Want me to take a look and make sure?" "Knock it off," Rodger stepped beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders . "I just told her she would have nothing to worry about with you lot. You're fast to prove me wrong." "She here for your pipe, Rodger? She's a little young for you. Don't you think?" The glittering blonde asked. "She's not here for anyone's pipe, Dave. She's here for the same reason as all of you," he shook his head, looking disappointed. Dave looked confused, as did all the others. Even the three in the kitchen stopped fighting to stare in our direction. "Gentlemen, meet Chloe. She will be our newest addition to our family." Everyone's jaws dropped at once. It was so comical that I giggled at their gawking disbelief. I helped Rodger set the table while the others tried to carry on with what they were doing, pretending not to be openly staring at me. All except Dave, who tossed down the remote and came to shadow us. He kept trying to ask questions while filling glasses with water, but Rodger told him to wait until dinner was served. Dave turned out to be the werebear mated to Riley. He was working as a bartender and bouncer for the club as well, but because it was less busy at the moment, he was eating dinner before starting his shift with his mate. The four men who were playing pool were all werewolves from a pack up north. They were warriors at one point, but the Luna of their pack started to use them to entertain herself and her friends. When the alpha walked in on one of the Luna's parties, Boyd, Alexi, Beau and Jamie barely escaped the pack with their lives. They work during the day on road construction, and on the ladies' nights at the club. Boyd, the one who offered to lay pipe for me, was more curious than anyone about where I came from. He tried to claim the chair beside mine after Kai, Lenny and Darren, the three cooks for the night, finished setting the pot of sloppy joe filling, buns, tater tots and salad on the table. Rodger told him to sit in his usual seat and had Kai, a kitsune from Okinawa, sit by me instead. Kai's fair skin turned a beautiful pink shade when I smiled at him, which made me have a soft spot for him right away. "So, you were a Luna?" Boyd asked, filling a fourth bun with the sloppy joe mixture. I just got done giving them the entirety of my story, like I did for Cindy and Rodger earlier. Rodger still went rigid beside me when I mentioned the time I was in a coma again, but I felt comfortable to reach over and unclench his hand from the chair and offer him a soft smile to ease his worry for me. Everyone listened intently, eating their sloppy Joes without interrupting until I was done. All apprehension towards me left as the soppily joe mix depleted more and more. I only had one the entire dinner and had to force it down. I knew after my first bite why Rodger apologized. I expected the can mix to be added to ground beef. This tasted and felt like heartburn on bread. Sloppy joes weren't supposed to have beans in them. The onion chunks were so big they were the most dominating part of the sandwich, and they were raw. "She still is a Luna if I heard right," Dave snorted. "No rejection means she is still their next Luna. I heard you had a thing for Lunas, Boyd." "Lunas had a thing for us," Jamie smirked, offering me the sandwich he had just made. I shook my head, knowing I couldn't stomach another one. After dinner was done, I offered to help with dishes, but Kai murmured his disapproval. He said it was their duty tonight. He took his scheduled responsibilities seriously since Rodger saved him from an abusive family member in his homeland. After the dishes were done. Rodger excused himself for the night, saying he would see me in the morning to take me to get clothes and other things I needed. He insisted, no matter how much I told him that I would be fine with the clothes in the apartment for now until I could get a job. He gave everyone one last warning to behave towards me, then went to the second floor of the building to his apartment. Dave left to bartend, and Kai went with him, having shifts at the club as well. "Hey, little Luna," Boyd threw me a pool cue when I started to head for the elevator to go up to my apartment too for the night. "Know how to play?" "Maybe." I tested the weight of the smooth stick in my hand. We had pool tables in our warrior annex. I used to play all the time before Cameron. "No way," Boyd's eyes twinkled with mischief. "I want this game to be one on one. You can watch." Title: Addicted to You Author: CrushReel Genre: Romance, Billionaire, CEO, Modern, Romantic, Hidden Feelings, Mansion, Office, Meet Again Status: ongoing In "Addicted to You," a captivating romance unfolds between Audrey and Floyd. Despite Floyd's arranged marriage and family struggles, he continually comes to Audrey's rescue after their one-night stand that has left her secretly pining for him for eight years. As their paths intertwine in unexpected ways within the backdrop of a luxurious mansion and high-stakes office dynamics, hidden feelings resurface, igniting a tale of love, loyalty, and second chances. This modern romantic narrative by CrushReel delves deep into themes of forbidden love, self-discovery, and the complexities of relationships in the world of billionaires and CEOs. What sets "Addicted to You" apart is its deft exploration of the characters' internal conflicts and the magnetic pull drawing them together despite external obstacles. Experience the emotional rollercoaster as Audrey and Floyd navigate their undeniable connection amidst societal expectations and personal dilemmas. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a story that goes beyond conventional romance tropes with its rich character development and intricate plot twists.