“Well, thanks for coming.” His other hand skims my arm, what probably looks like a casual touch to those gathered aroundus, but my skin prickles with awareness. “I better step back and let Glory and Tricks at you before they tackle me out of the way.”
I smirk, but the next moment I’m engulfed in Glory’s embrace, Tricks beaming at me from the alpha’s side. “You’re back,” Glory breathes, holding me tight enough to feel the relief in her embrace. “You’re wanted here,farfallina. Don’t ever think otherwise.”
I nod, sharing a quick hug with Tricks, who exclaims over my vintage Siouxsie and the Banshees tee, but then pouts at my lack of luggage. “What happened to those packing boxes?”
I nod over my shoulder at Wings. “I brought the most important thing, didn’t I?”
“You did. Thanks for that.” Her face softens as she grabs Wings, ruffling his hair, even though she has to stand on the tips of her high-heel boots to do it. While the siblings get reacquainted, I look around at the other club members gathered on the steps. There are a few faces I recognize, including Feeder, a mechanic who used to hang out with my dad in the workshop, arguing the merits of a Fat Boy over a Road King.
“Your mom would be so happy to know you’re back with us,” his mate, Lynn, says as she envelopes me in a frangipani hug. She’s totally gray now, with deeper lines around her eyes, but she seems genuinely happy to see me. “And looking so beautiful. A mirror-image of Sienna, but with Robert’s eyes.”
As much as I’ve prepared for it, hearing my parents’ names out loud is jarring, and I give her a tight smile. “Thanks. It’s good to see you again, Lynn.”
It’s all I can offer, and Pitt must sense it, because he takes a step closer to me, his hand brushing my lower back. I catch a glimpse of his set jaw and realize that while Ark might have planned for this to be lowkey, other members are drawing closer, curious about the welcoming party. There are plenty of surprised looks, and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m back in the clubhouseor because Wings has reappeared as an omega with a calming bite on his throat. I hear a few muttered questions, but Pitt doesn’t give them a chance to get any closer, herding us upstairs and through the front door.
“Not so bad, right?” Wings asks, as I tuck my hand tightly in the crook of his arm. I nod, because we’re right on Ark’s heels, Tricks and Glory promising to meet me later as they head off towards the kitchen. I catch a whiff of something that smells like apple pie, but we don’t stop as Ark leads us up a huge mahogany staircase.
“This is one of two ways to the residential floors,” Ark tells me over his shoulder. “Both are off-limits for non-members.” He stops abruptly at the first landing and frowns down at me. “I mean it’s secure. Not that any of your guests would be unwelcome.”
“You’re looking at my guests,” I tell him, nudging Wings with my hip.
“Okay.” His gaze bounces to Pitt and back, but then he heads up the next set of stairs. I try to keep my gaze off his broad back, but it’s hard with it right there in front of me. He’s wearing his cut, like every other fully patched club member, but the bottom of his tee is caught in the waistband of his jeans, and I find my fingers itching to reach out and tug it free. My gaze flicks up to his well-worn collar, pulled tight against the nape of his neck. He rubs a hand over it, like he can feel my stare, and the tiny golden hairs glint against his dark tan. Are they as soft as they look, or would they prickle the tips of my fingers? Despite my issues with the club, I always loved the Flyers’ emblem, and it’s not lost on me how good the flaming wings look inked on his thick neck…
I startle when he suddenly turns back to me on the second landing. “You didn’t say if you wanted your own room or to stay with Wings.”
“Oh.” I glance at Pitt, who looks like he’s chewing on the edge of a smile. “Well, there’s three of us,” I tell Ark. “Does that qualify us for a pack suite?”
Pitt goes still beside me, but Ark swings to stare at his Sergeant-at-Arms. “Three?”
“Ah, it’s new.”
Pitt’s tone is only a shade off an apology, and I frown. If we’re really welcome back here, shouldn’t we get to decide where we sleep? “Three,” I repeat, tipping up my chin. “Is that going to be a problem?”
Ark’s nostrils flare, and I wonder if he’s already regretting this reunion. I open my mouth to tell him I’m fine back in my apartment when the shutters come down over his eyes, but not before they rake across my face, hot as coals. “There’s an empty suite down here.”
He turns and strides down the hall and Pitt’s hand slides along the small of my back, brushing the skin above my waistband. When I lean into him, he grins. “Thanks for including me, butterfly.”
I nod, but the next moment Ark is unlocking the door and we’re stepping into a huge room, or at least by club standards. There’s a king-sized bed against the far wall, flanked by matching nightstands, all in a buttery, golden oak. There’s a rose velvet loveseat under the bay window, draped with an indigo throw and a couple of tasseled cushions. The comforter on the bed looks soft and expensive and has the same deep jewel tones as the lampshade and the hand-stitched rug on the floor. The overall effect is more like an omega’s sanctuary than an alpha’s den, and I turn to Ark in surprise. “Wow. Do all the suites look this good?”
He shrugs, not quite meeting my eyes. “New clubhouse, new layout. If there’s something missing from the old place…”
“God no.” I peel off my jacket and drift over to the bed, running a hand over the jade green comforter. “This is amazing. Thanks, Ark.”
“Glad you like it.” He sounds brusque, and when I glance back at him, he’s already heading towards the door. “I’ve got some stuff to take care of if you want to get settled in.”
He’s gone in a wave of crushed violets, and I raise a brow at Wings. “Did I say something wrong?”
He shakes his head, but he releases a long, drawn-out breath as he nudges me onto the bed. I fall back happily, admiring the silky texture of the comforter as Wings kicks off his boots and pulls off his cut. “Finally got you where I want you, butterfly.”
I prop myself on my elbows, preening at the way his gaze slides down and pools on my chest. “You think this wasn’tmymaster plan?”
“Great minds think alike.” He smirks as he climbs up beside me, hooking an arm around my hips and pulling me close. With his other hand he cups my face, his thumb rubbing gently over my scent gland. “How does it feel? You okay being back here, or is it too much?”
“You mean the little I saw between the front door and this bed?” I snort, wondering if that was Ark’s version of a tour, or if he was just too busy to hang around any longer. For someone who proclaimed to want me back in his clubhouse so badly, he didn’t exactly linger. “It was fine. What about you?” I glance up at Pitt, who’s standing at the end of the bed and watching us. “Some of those alphas out there looked pretty surprised by your calming bite.”
Wings gives my hip a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry about it. We’ve taken care of it.” I raise my brows at him and a hint of color stains his cheeks. “From last night. I smell enough like Pitt that they’ll keep their distance.”
I bite my lip, memories of our steamy shower rushing back. Pitt chuckles at my expression and I smirk at him. “You really are being useful, aren’t you?”
