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Holding it up against her, I smile. “This is it. Makes your eyes pop.”
She slides her fingers over the material, almost reverently. “I haven’t worn it in years. I hope it still fits.”
She ducks into the bathroom to try it on and shyly comes back out. “You think it’s okay?”
“Yeah, you look great.”
Glancing down at her legs, she lets out a curse. “It’s kinda cold for bare legs. I don’t have any stockings. I never dress up.”
“I’ve got plenty.” After discovering Rock’s fascination with my legwear, I’ve been hoarding tights like a squirrel stocks up on nuts for the winter. I dash upstairs and grab an unopened pair. Thinking she might want to wear boots, I grab both pairs I keep stashed here.
We spend some more time fixing our hair, and Trinity helps me throw on some makeup. By the time we’re ready to leave, I’m buzzing with excitement. Sophie has sent me about a half dozen texts telling me to hurry my butt downtown.
Seeing the looks on the guys’ faces when we enter the main room is worth all the time we spent getting ready. It takes some effort not to laugh my ass off. Then I get nervous that they might try to stop us from leaving. As much as it offends my independence streak, I recognize it’s a possibility.
Trinity and I breathe sighs of relief when we’re finally in the jeep, bouncing down the road. Her jeep is badass. Bright, shiny blue with a matching hard top, four doors, and big knobby tires. “This thing is awesome, Trinity.”
She glances over at me with a shy smile. “It’s really the club’s. Rock wanted me to have four-wheel drive when I moved up here. He makes sure I get a new one every couple of years.” Then she adds quickly, “Since I do the shopping and stuff for the club.”
Turning that over in my head, I’m not sure how I feel about it. Basically, she’s saying my boyfriend buys her a new car every couple years. It’s a little fucking weird, honestly. I’m not exactly jealous, but once again, I’m reminded of my outsider status. Damn, I didn’t want things to be awkward between us, and now we’ve kind of run out of things to talk about.
“Tell me how you met Sophie and Lilly,” Trinity asks.
Smiling at the memory, I tell Trinity about the first week of law school when Sophie and I met.
After a while, I’m afraid I’m boring her, so I wind up.
Glancing in her rear view, Trinity’s mouth quirks. “We have an escort.”
“What?” I ask, twisting in my seat to look out the back window.
“It’s probably Birch or Hoot just making sure we’re okay. You didn’t honestly think prez would let us wander around downtown by ourselves?”
Well, yeah, I did.
A few months ago I might have been outraged, but I understand Rock’s hyper-protectiveness better now. Especially after the epic crash we took. Honestly, given the crap I suspect his club is involved in, I should probably demand an escort everywhere I go. A question forms in my mind. It’s not fair to ask Trinity, but it pops out anyway.
“Do you know what kind of stuff the club is involved in?” Even though my voice is soft, the question seems to boom inside the quiet interior.
A pained look flashes over Trinity’s face, and I feel like a jerk for putting her in an awkward position. While we might be becoming friends, I know damn well her loyalty is to the club first. They’ve taken care of her for a long time. Even if she knows something, she’s not going to share it with me. By asking, I may have just squelched our budding friendship.
“Club doesn’t share stuff like that with me, Hope. You should ask Rock.”
I have asked. Indirectly. Here and there.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you.”
“It’s okay. You’re not the typical biker’s ol’ lady.”
“Yeah, I know,” I sigh, and want to pinch myself for sounding so pathetic.
She glances at me. “I don’t mean it in a bad way. Rock’s not the typical MC President. You’re good for him.”
“Thanks.”
We move onto less serious topics for the rest of the drive. I direct Trinity to the parking lot Sophie told us to use right off the highway. As planned, we meet up with Sophie and Lilly on the top level.
“Finally!” Sophie screeches while pulling me into a tight hug. A pang of guilt taps my belly for keeping them waiting.
Lilly gives me a quick hug. Trinity hangs back watching us, so I grab her hand and pull her forward to make the introductions. She seems surprised when I introduce her as my friend.
Lilly takes in Trinity with narrowed eyes but doesn’t say anything other than hello. I wonder what that’s about, but figure I’ll let it go for now. Trin may know how to handle herself at the MC and during a gunfight, but she seems a little out of place here, so I feel protective of her.
No one followed us to the top of the garage, so I wonder where our escort disappeared to. Not wanting to alert Lilly and Sophie, I don’t ask Trinity. As we walk, I take out my phone and send Rock a quick text letting him know we made it downtown safe.
When I slip my phone back into my purse, I catch Trinity’s eye and she gives me a nod.
The Red Room is packed. People like us, who stopped in before the show. Groupies hoping to run into band members. The way we’re dressed, we fit right in.
Sliding into a corner stool at the bar, Sophie orders a round of tequila shots.
“No fucking way. You know what that shit does to me,” Lilly grumbles.
After throwing her head back and laughing, Sophie answers. “Who said any of them were for you?”
Oh boy. It’s going to be that kind of night.
Trinity is quiet. Assessing my friends, I guess. A table near the back opens up, and we snag it.
“So, how tight are you with Z?” Lilly asks after we place our dinner orders.
Trinity slips on a placid face before answering. “I’ve known him for a long time.”
Lilly narrows her eyes. “You fuck him?”
“Lilly!” I gasp and smack her arm.
Sophie gives her friend the side eye as well.
Trinity’s mouth twists down. “Not lately,” she finally answers.
Okay, wow. I had not been expecting that at all.
Lilly gives a curt nod. “He fuck around the MC a lot?”
Trinity cocks her head. “Why are you so curious?”
Sitting back in her seat, Lilly fiddles with her napkin before answering. “We hooked up. He keeps calling. I just want to know if he’s worth the effort, or if he’s full of shit.”
Trinity sighs and glances at me. “Besides club girls, I’ve never seen him with the same chick twice. That’s all I can really tell you.”
I’m not sure in what world that information is helpful, or positive, but it seems to appease Lilly. For now.
When the crowd starts to thin, we follow the herd down the street to the arena. The cavernous building echoes from thousands of excited voices finding their seats, pumped up for Afterlife.
This show is a lot more subdued and organized because the arena is better staffed. We are thoroughly searched on the way in. Sophie surprises us with box seats. Her company was nice enough to let her use their box for the show. Apparently her firm doesn’t have any other metalheads. We even have a stocked minibar, which Sophie violates almost immediately.
The show’s good. Although the box seats are nice, it’s not as much fun as being up close to the stage, but it is safer. That makes me think of Rock. He’d be happy that we’re up here. Away from danger.
I send him a text to let him know.
Good, is all I get in return.
Afterward, one of the band’s crew members stops by to invite us backstage. Apparently Sophie knows people everywhere she goes.
Curious, Trinity and I tag along. Sophie greets a tiny redhead after we pass through a second round of security who walks us backstage. I gather from their conversation she’s a band member’s girlfriend and she and Sophie have met on one of Jonny’s tours.
“You okay with this?” I ask Trinity.
She shrugs. “Sure. I wouldn’t mind meeting Chase. He’s fucking hot.”
I giggle at that. While the band members are definitely sexy, young studs, they don’t really hold a candle to our big, manly bikers. Not in my mind anyway.
In the green room, Sophie’s friend, Sydney, introduces us to the guitar player and lead singer. Trinity is definitely digging the singer, Chase, which I find hilarious. He’s tall and well-muscled, but in a lean way, completely the opposite of Wrath. We do our fangirl thing—asking for a photograph—and the band humors us. Sophie seems ready to smack me for not acting cool, but I’m having too much fun to care.
As the atmosphere changes from fun to rowdy, I realize I’m tired and would rather be in my boyfriend’s arms than with a bunch of strangers searching for a backstage hook-up.
I tap Sophie on the shoulder. “We’re going to get going. You two okay?”
One corner of her mouth turns down. “Party pooper.”
“I know. I suck. Forgive me?”
“Yeah, I’d want to rush home too if I had a hunk of man like yours waiting for me.”
“Where’s Jonny?”
She rolls her eyes. “Texas, I think. I’m taking a few weeks off when his tour is over. Going to see if we can make things work.”
“Good. You know he’s nuts about you.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Trinity edges closer and bumps me with her hip. “Ready?”
“Yup.”
After a round of hugs, Trinity and I head out of the backstage area.
“Hey, Trinity,” a thick, rough voice calls from behind us.
She whirls around. “Oh, shit. Hey, Blue.”
A big, round brute of a man ambles up to us. He gives me a thorough visual fondle before turning to Trinity. “Enjoy the show?”
“Oh yeah, it was great. What are you doing here?”
“Working security.”
“Cool. Oh, this is Rock’s ol’ lady, Hope. Hope, Blue used to bounce at CB.”
“Oh, hi.”
“Where you ladies parked?”
“The garage on Second Street.”
He nods and gives the backstage area a once-over. “I’ll walk you girls out.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I protest.
He takes each of us by the elbow and leads us outside. Trinity’s mouth quirks. “Just go with it, Hope. If I had to guess, Rock called him and asked him to keep an eye on us.”
Blue smirks, but doesn’t admit or deny.
Sonofabitch. I’ll admit, I’m impressed with how far Rock’s reach is.
Once we’re safely on our way back, Trinity giggles. “Birch is back. Let’s outrun him.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind surprising them at the clubhouse.”
She glances over. “You trust Rock, don’t you? I swear, Hope, I’ve known him for a long time now, and I’ve never seen him crazy about a woman the way he is with you.”
“So I keep hearing.”
Trinity snorts. “I get it. Believe me.”
Punching the gas, we rocket forward, and cut over two lanes to take the next exit. Gripping the “oh shit” handle, I suck air in through my teeth. “Geez, Trinity.”
She giggles, but eases off the gas.
After a while we’re alone on the long, winding road to the clubhouse. “I meant what I said, Hope.”
With the surrounding darkness and the hum of the knobby wheels over the rough country road, I’d been halfway to snoozeville.
“What’s that?”
“Rock. He’s protective of the whole family, you know. But the girls he used to…” she pauses as I think she searches for a term that won’t offend me “… hang with. They were out of sight, out of mind. Not that he’s ever been cruel, but unless we had bad shit going down with a rival club or something, he didn’t put tails on them. He didn’t really give any of them a second thought once he was done with them.”
I get that Trinity, in her own sweet way, is trying to make me feel better, but the information actually makes me want to barf.
“I’m making it worse, aren’t I?” she asks with a nervous chuckle.
“Kinda.”
Once we pull in the gate, the place is alive with people.
Trinity ends up parking down the hill, and we hike up to the clubhouse. We find a nice surprise waiting for us—Rock and Wrath sitting outside talking. Not a club girl in sight.
Hurrying over, I throw myself in Rock’s arms before he even realizes we’re there. “Holy—”
I cut him off with a fierce kiss. Behind me, Trinity giggles and Wrath groans.
Cradling my face in his palms, Rock traces his tongue along my lower lip, dipping into my mouth with a soft lash of his tongue. Suddenly, I wish we were upstairs instead of standing outside in front of everyone. As our kiss deepens, I hear the front door open and slam shut.
Pulling back a fraction, I notice we’re now alone outside.
Rock strokes his fingers over my cheek. “Have fun, baby doll?”
“Yes, but I missed you,” I say breathlessly while looking up at his handsome face.
A knowing grin curves his sexy lips. “I missed you too.”
“You had eyes on us, though, didn’t you?” I ask, striving to keep my voice even.
“You mad?” He’s wary, but unapologetic.
I sigh and glance down at my hands, which are still covered in healing scrapes from the accident. “No. I appreciate how much you care.”
His body relaxes. Even in the garish glow provided by the outdoor floodlights, I get a little lost in his storm-gray eyes, the sharp lines of his jaw, and the sensual curve of his lips. His look is equally hungry, and I never tire of the way he makes me feel. Beautiful, cherished, sexy.
“Take me upstairs, Rochlan. Do filthy things to me.”
His eyebrow quirks, and a grin curves his mouth. “You’re bossy tonight.”
“You love it.”
“That I do.” Lacing our fingers together, he walks me inside.
I unglue my gaze from Hope’s sexy fucking lips long enough to get us inside and up to my room. Even her scent, crisp autumn air mixed with her natural sweet fragrance, short-circuits my brain tonight. Christ, I’m fucked up if I can’t stand being away from this woman for more than a couple hours.
It doesn’t bother me in the slightest.
She tosses her jacket on the leather chaise, and I still her with hands on her shoulders.
“Any ass-grabbers tonight?” I ask.
“Not yet,” she teases back.
“Babe, you have no idea.”
She blushes and bends over to unzip her boots.
“Uh-uh,” I scold from behind her. “I can’t believe I let you go out of the house dressed in so little.”
From here, I see her shoulders tense. She’s about to ream me out for the “let you” part. “Can’t help it, Hope. You’re too fucking sexy.”
As I turn her toward me, I see the blush creeping up her neck. I love how shy my woman is. It takes a lot to work her up, but when she finally lets go, it’s so fucking beautiful. Eventually she relaxes and the shyness melts away.
Brushing her hair over her shoulder, I lean down to press kisses along her exposed neck.
Someone bangs on our door, interrupting my filthy plans to ruin another pair of her stockings. Stalking to the door, I throw it open to find an anxious Teller. “I’m sorry, prez. I just got a call from Heidi. Our grandmother had a heart attack or something. Ambulance is taking her to the hospital. I had a little too much to drink earlier…” he trails off.
“Yeah, okay.”
“I can’t find Murph or I wouldn’t bug you guys.” His mouth twists into a grimace. “And Trinity’s busy with…Wrath.”
Christ.
“Give me a sec, okay?”
Hope comes up behind me, nudging the door open wider. “You okay, Teller?”
“Yeah, just shaken up. Heidi sounded terrified.”
Hope reaches out and squeezes his arm. “I’ll come with.”
Teller takes a deep breath and flashes a quick smile. “Thanks, Hope. I appreciate it.”
Huh. Apparently my brother finds Hope more comforting in a family crisis than me. Go figure.
“I’ll, uh, go wait downstairs.”
Hope watches him weave down the hall before turning to me. “Just let me change out of this dress.”
I groan as my plans for unlacing that sexy-as-fuck dress with my teeth go up in flames.
She’s all business as she steps into her closet, quickly works the laces loose, and lifts the dress up, tossing it on the floor. She bends over to unzip her boots, and I groan again at the sight of her in nothing but a black bra and the black pantyhose. I need to get a grip, or we’re never going to make it to the hospital.
Turning in the opposite direction, I head to the bathroom, where I splash some cold water over my face and clean up. When I re-enter the bedroom, Hope’s dressed in faded jeans, a club sweatshirt and boots. “Ready?” I ask.
“Yup,” she chirps back.
I grab my own sweatshirt and we head downstairs. Hope tugs my hand, pulling me to a stop before the staircase.
I turn, a “what” forming on the tip of my tongue, when she reaches up and kisses my cheek. Her lips brush against my ear. “I left the tights on under my jeans.”
“Fuuuck,” I groan. “What are you trying to do to me?”
She lets out a giggle and races down the stairs ahead of me.
Teller’s sitting on the couch alone, head in his hands. He glances up when he hears us. “I’m so sorry, guys.”
Hope hurries over and takes his hand. “You know we’d go with you no matter what, Teller.”
“Thanks.”
The ride to the hospital seems to take forever. There’s not a lot to say. Heidi calls with an update, and even up front I hear the panic in her voice.
“Marcel!” she yells and runs to her brother as soon as we get there. He gives her a big, brotherly hug as she breaks into sobs.
“I’m sorry,” she cries.
“For what, Bug? It’s a good thing you were there to call for help.”
