Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
His eyebrow shot up as he seated himself across from her. “You looked at a cookbook? That sounds ominous. And your salads are never boring.”
Her green eyes brightened with amusement. “Well, as every single recipe looked complicated, I hastily closed the offensive book and put it back on the shelf.” She indicated the small bookshelf that held a dozen cookbooks, courtesy of Lana and Alena.
She made him laugh. It was that simple. She’d introduced him to the concept of having fun. He hadn’t known what that was like.
“Babe, we need to talk a little bit about what to expect when Torpedo Ink is hosting a party for other chapters or other clubs. Or if we go on a run with other clubs, which we do a few times a year.”
Instantly, she focused her entire attention on him. She always knew when he was going to say something she might find difficult. He forced himself to be matter-of-fact. He knew what her first reaction was going to be.
“I told you how we were raised together.”
She nodded, her expression instantly compassionate. “Yes, not all the horrible details, but I don’t need them. I know it was a very difficult time.”
“We watched one another’s backs. It was the only way we were safe. We weren’t allowed clothes most of the time, and we got very comfortable with nudity in front of one another. In fact, most of us are more comfortable without clothes.”
“I’m well aware. It doesn’t hurt that you have a smoking-hot body, Keys. Not everyone does.”
“We don’t see one another that way. It’s the same with sex. The things that happened to us in that school were vile. If we had sex with the others around, we knew we would be safe. That became normal as well.”
Her eyes widened with that look of innocent shock she gave him several times a day. “You have sex in front of one another?” She repeated it slowly, her tone incredulous.
“Often. And when we’re hosting a party, women come. Women who like to party hard with bikers.”
The moment he said it, he got the reaction. She looked carefully down at her plate and pushed the pasta around with her fork. “These are women you’ve been with?”
“Yeah, babe. A few of them. You know I have a past, and it isn’t pretty. It was before you. Those women aren’t part of my life now; only you are.”
She still didn’t look at him. “I get it, but how would you feel if you were in a room with a number of men who I’d had sex with?”
“I can’t hear shit like that, Lyric. We’ve talked about my reaction to the idea of another man putting his hands on you. I never had anything in my life, other than my bike, that was mine alone. Not that mattered. Until you.”
She sighed. “At least get what I’m saying. You go to your parties if that’s what you want to do, but I can stay here.”
“And worry the entire time that I’m going to revert back into that man.”
She didn’t deny it. “I have an overactive imagination when it comes to us. You know that, but if I elect to stay home to avoid having these women in my face, then however I end up feeling is on me, not you.”
“You staying home is not an option. I go to a party or on a run, you’re coming with me.” He stated it in his usual velvet voice, the one she responded to as a rule. Lyric always found it difficult to resist that tone. Mostly, she didn’t try. He could see the stubborn set of her chin. He always had the urge to bite it when she gave him that response.
“Why would you insist I go with you?”
“It’s a party. It’s fun. But more than that, we usually have a reason if we’re inviting others. Normally, if we party, it’s just Torpedo Ink. In this case, Czar called on the Trinity chapter to back up the club when they invaded Headed for Hell’s territory. A violation of our codes could have easily led to war. We owe Trinity. The Rampage club also backed us up. They asked to be patched in as another chapter of our club. We had the time to get to know the members of Trinity, but we aren’t as familiar with those in the Rampage club. We suspect that most are legit, but there might be one or two plants.”
She ate a bite of pasta. A good sign. She was thinking it over. He ate as well. He’d never been fond of cold food, not after living in the basement of the school from hell.
“Why do you need me there?”
“You’re my woman, and you pick up on things sometimes no one else does. I’m counting on that. In a situation like one of the parties that gets a little wild, I know I can count on you to follow the rules. That makes you an asset. More importantly, I like you with me.”