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“Is that her orgasm face?” Ravage asks.
“I’m gonna murder you,” Teller snarls, jumping off the couch.
Charlotte froze the minute Ravage opened his mouth, so thankfully Teller’s movements don’t jostle Charlotte’s hand forcing her to doodle all over my face.
“It works better with liner,” Charlotte mutters after the boys race out the front door.
“I think I’m too old to pull off this color.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “You’re not that much older than me.”
“I’m like twice your age in dog years.”
Another eye roll. “You’re terrible at math.”
I force myself to sit still while she painstakingly drags the liquid over my lips in short precise strokes. She holds the napkin up in front of my face. “Blot.”
She stares at me for a minute, making me fidget. “One more layer,” she says before repeating the torturous process.
Finally, she declares me finished and hands me a compact. I study my face, unsure of this new look. “Too dramatic for me, don’t you think?”
“No way.”
Teller returns, staring at us for a few seconds before opening his mouth. “I’m not sure how I feel about my girlfriend and my—”
“Don’t you dare,” I warn him.
“—president’s wife,” he says, drawing out the words to cover up the fact that he likely was going to say some variation of “mother figure.”
“Wearing the same sexy stuff,” he finishes.
“Oh!” Charlotte paws through her purse again. “It comes with this sparkly topper color. I don’t have anywhere to wear it but here.” She plucks the mirror out of my hand and quickly swipes the glittery gloss over her lips and beams at Teller. “Better?”
“Much.” He holds out his hand to her. “Come here. I need to see it in a different light to be sure, though.”
They both laugh at the fake dry-heaving noises I make as they head upstairs.
“What’s wrong, Hope?” Trinity asks, coming from the direction of the kitchen.
“Where were you?”
“Helping Swan. Why, what’s wrong?”
I point to my face. “Look what Charlotte did to me.”
She chuckles and drops down next to me, slinging her arm around my shoulders. “Looks good.”
“And I’m pretty sure Teller left Ravage for dead somewhere outside.”
She shakes with laughter. “No such luck.” She tilts her head toward the hallway. “He’s in the kitchen harassing Swan.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“Not to Swan,” she teases.
We’re still joking around when the war room door opens and Wrath steps out. “How long you been waitin’ for me, angel?”
“Few minutes.”
“Where’s Murphy?” I ask a couple seconds before he pops out of the war room.
“You worried about me, Hope?”
“I never know what trouble you’ll get yourself into,” I tease.
“Ain’t that the truth,” Wrath jokes, giving Murphy a quick shove.
“Heidi come with you?” Murphy asks, glancing around the living room.
“She’s at the house trying to finish up some assignments before the trip.”
Murphy’s mouth twists down. “Feel bad making her miss school.”
I wave my hand in the air. “She’ll have her laptop to check in so she doesn’t get behind.”
Finally, Rock joins us and I jump up, wrapping my arms around him. He runs the back of his hand over my cheek. “Waitin’ for me?” he asks in a low voice.
Tipping my head back, I nod at him.
“What’s going on here?” He traces his finger over my bottom lip.
“Oh.” I slick my tongue over my lips. “Charlotte did this to me.”
He leans in closer. “I like.”
I lean up to kiss him and he pulls back. Recognizing the issue, I cup the back of his head with my hands, keeping him still. “It’s supposed to be kiss-proof. Let’s test it out.”
“You’re man enough to pull off that color, Rock,” Wrath adds.
“Don’t you have some work to do?” Rock asks without taking his eyes off me.
“Nah, I’m good.”
Murphy chuckles uncomfortably. “Where’d Teller go?”
“Upstairs with Charlotte,” I answer.
“Why don’t we go upstairs,” Rock suggests.
“Um, because Tawny and Sway stayed in our old room last night?”
“No one’s seen or heard from him yet this morning,” Trinity reminds us.
“Fantastic,” Rock grumbles.
CHAPTER THREE
Rock takes me out on the bike several times a week if we have the time and the weather’s good. Mostly short trips around Empire. A few longer rides when our schedules align.
I’ve come to crave the exhilaration of the wind in my hair, the speed and roar of the bike, the expert way Rock handles himself. The thrill of holding on to him while he guides the heavy machine where we need to go.
There’s a buzz of excitement in our house the night before we’re set to leave. Even Alexa seems to sense something big is about to happen. She’s been giggling and playful all evening.
“Boy, I hope this mood continues,” Heidi mutters as she runs her hand over Alexa’s head. “Otherwise Carter might kill me.”
“I have something that might help.” Murphy grins and pulls a package from behind his back.
“What’s that?” I ask.
Alexa’s already squealing and reaching for the soft, denim bundle Murphy hands to Heidi. “Oh my God,” Heidi says, shaking it out. Her jaw drops and she stares at Murphy.
“It’s so cute.” I lean over to get a better look. “When did you do this?”
Now that all of our attention is focused on him, he runs his hand over the back of his neck and shrugs. “She likes the patches.” He taps a couple of the patches on the front of his cut. “Thought she should have her own.” The corners of his mouth pull up. “But a more age-appropriate version.”
Alexa yells even louder when Heidi spreads the tiny denim vest in front of her. She points to the biggest patch—a white unicorn with a flowing rainbow mane—taking up the back and squeals in delight. Flowers decorate the pockets, a four-leaf clover and a crown on the sides. A 100% Princess patch sits over her heart. Murphy nudges me with his elbow and points out the one at the bottom right.
“Guns don’t kill people,” I read out loud. “Uncles with pretty nieces do.” I snicker imagining Teller picking this one out. “Inappropriate, yet still somehow appropriate in our family.”
Murphy chuckles. “Teller added that one.”
“I figured.”
Heidi helps a squirming Alexa into the vest. She’s so excited it takes Heidi a couple seconds to wrestle it on her.
“Look at you.” Rock crouches down to eye-level and Alexa twirls to show off her new prize, then holds out her arms for him to pick her up.
“It’s a little big,” Murphy says to Heidi. “Was hoping she’d get to wear it for a while. Bought extra patches so she has ’em for the next one.”
Heidi doesn’t speak. She shakes her head and wraps her arms around Murphy. He pushes her hair off her face and murmurs a few words to her.
To give them privacy, I join Rock in fawning over Alexa. “Are you going to be Uncle Carter’s copilot?” I ask.
“Yeth!”
“Are you going to behave?” Rock asks in a slightly sterner than usual voice.
Alexa has to think about it and scrunches up her little nose. “Yeth?”
“Sounds about right.” Rock kisses her cheeks and sets her down. She’s enthralled with the vest and can’t seem to decide between showing off and checking it out herself.
The next morning, everyone assembles in front of the clubhouse to strap gear on the bikes, perform checks, and go over the schedule one last time.
For a group of non-conformist bikers, they’re extremely thorough and organized.
