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“I mean it.” She let me pull the blanket over her. “Friends, Zander. Only friends.”
“Yeah, I hear you loud and clear. No worries. It’s all I want too.” I clenched my teeth. “Be back in a flash.” I saluted Sadie, earning me one of her brilliant smiles.
I exited the room, closed the door, and scrubbed my hands down my face. A mammoth roar hung in my throat.
I should be elated Jaynee only wanted to be friends when most women pursued me relentlessly. I liked to be chased. It was fun to hear them beg. More fun when they tried to seduce me with their womanly wiles. In the end, nothing happened beyond hooking up because I wouldn’t let it go further.
This was me. How I rolled.
So why did I feel like something good had been stolen from me? It was ridiculous. Getting rejected before I even tried anything with Jaynee was a blessing. Yet it messed with my head. I didn’t like it.
I went downstairs to the kitchen. The hum of voices and activity swirled in the air, along with the scent of waffles. I loved living here. There was always someone around, so I never felt lonely. The Knight’s Legion family was the best. They were all I ever needed until Jaynee and Sadie had me rethinking the future.
I wondered if Sadie preferred bacon or sausage. What about Jaynee?
Why the fuck are you overthinking, Lynx? Take some of both.
“Morning,” I muttered as I went straight for the plates.
“Good morning, honey.” Tina came to my side. “Want me to help with you that?” She nodded to the food I was staring at.
“I don’t know what to bring them. Do we have a tray to put the plates on?”
She smiled, understanding in her eyes. “We sure do. Let me serve this up for you. Drink some coffee. You look exhausted.” She patted my arm in her sweet, nurturing way.
“Appreciate it, Tina.” I went to the coffee maker, filled a mug, then sat at the table with Ire. “How’s the woman?”
The reason Ire and Wolf took forever to catch up to us last night had been because of a woman they’d found in a pool of blood. Her injury wasn’t life threatening. They’d grabbed her before any of the Vipers saw them and took her to the hospital. It impressed the hell out of me that Ire could ride his hog holding onto an injured, barely conscious woman.
He shrugged and put his cup down. “Don’t know. They never tell you anything when you call if you’re not family.”
“So lie and say you’re her brother.”
He stretched his giant arms above his head. “Nah, no more lying for me.”
I cocked my head, utterly confused. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
“Did you know it’s wrong to be with a kitten if you have feelings for someone else, even if you know you can never be with that person?”
Jaynee flashed in my head. The incident with Becca still bothered me. I’d been avoiding the kittens because of the weird-ass feelings I had for Jaynee. I needed to figure them out before I could get back to my normal activities. Then my stupid brothers had put me on the spot during the kitten interviews. I’d given in to appease them, to keep my reputation intact. I didn’t need them asking a million questions, especially Track.
I eyeballed Ire. “Why is it wrong if you’re not with the one you like?”
“That’s just it. I didn’t think it was wrong until Dodge said he hadn’t been with a kitten the whole time Emilee had been gone. Wolf hasn’t either.” He hung his head in shame. “Jill’s been dead nine months, and our brother still hasn’t been with a kitten. Not even for a blowjob.”
Damn, Ire seemed torn up about this. I didn’t understand why.
“Hey, what’s all this about, brother? You’re acting like you’ve cheated on your girl.”
“Dodge and Wolf would say I have.” He shook his head. “That’s why I’m done. No more lying to anyone, especially myself.”
“Brother, I’m confused as hell. Who are you talking about?” I kept my voice low so none of the prospects at the other table heard us.
Ire growled. “Ava, all right?” He slammed his hand on the table and dropped his head. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to him. “It was just to get a release before I went to see Ava. So I wouldn’t get a hardon while around her. If she ever knew how I really felt about her, she’d never let me near her.”
Oh damn, poor Ire. It all made sense now. The times I’d gone to see Ava following her attack was stressful. Bikers terrified her—even me, who’d been her boss. She trusted me, yet seeing me triggered her. I had to stop driving my hog and wearing my cut when I visited her.
I put my hand on Ire’s shoulder and whispered, “I had no idea you’d been going to her place.”
