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Yeah, I had to remember to never give him coffee since it seemed all he needed to start the day was to wake up.
As soon as the kettle boiled, I poured the water into my mug, leaving enough room for creamer.
“Hey, bro … Yes … No … I don’t know … Yes, he does. He’s amazing and handsome and hot.” He pouts. “No, we haven’t. Even when I’d offered myself up, he didn’t want to … Yes … Okay, I’ll try and be patient … You want to talk to him?” He thinned his lips and eyed me. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I placed my coffee on the counter and stalked toward him, holding out my hand. Riker sighed. “He wants to talk to you too.” When I was close, he hid the cordless phone behind his back. “Ignore anything he tells you about me. It’s all lies. Please want me still after talking to him, and remember he has a bear inside him that makes him grumpy.”
Please want me still.
A heaviness settled into my chest.
He was afraid of rejection.
From everyone or just me?
I threaded my fingers through the back of his hair and tugged him close, until the front of his body collided with mine. I kissed his forehead. “Nothin’ he says will take away my interest in you.”
He bit his bottom lip, smiled around it, and nodded.
“Pass me the phone, Riker,” I ordered. When he did, I told him. “Go get a drink.” I placed the receiver to my ear and watched him jog over to the refrigerator. His body was damn art. “Who’s this?” I asked, even though I remember Riker saying it was Deacon who had the bear inside him.
“Deacon Blackwood. Riker’s oldest brother, and you are Corbin James. President to the Fury MC. Only child. You live at?—”
“Let’s skip all the details I already know.” A growl sounded through the phone. The bear was pissed. “You don’t call me Corbin. Only Riker gets that. Name’s Razor to you and the other brother. Respect me and I’ll do the same in return. Now climb down off your high horse and tell me what you wanted?”
Riker cackled and danced from one foot to another while he drank some milk.
“Respect? Fine. In the most respectful manner, I’ll warn you to be careful with our brother. Don’t take him for granted. He’s the type of person who gets attached to people, and they’ll use that to their advantage. If I find out that is your end game, I’ll make sure you pay. No matter who you are. No one fucks with Riker. Make sure you tread carefully, Razor.”
“Then I’ll say back to you, respectfully, that you have nothin’ to warn me against. So you can shove your threat up your bear’s ass, and if you and the other one ever come at Riker like that again, I will fuckin’ shoot you no matter what he’s done.”
There was nothing but silence for a few beats.
“Did he tell you what he did?”
“No. But for future reference, you come to me before dealing out any punishments. I can already read Riker, so I know he ain’t no saint. He likes to play. But from now on, it’ll be me deciding on his punishment or if he gets any at all. Hear me?”
A low chuckle. “Were you with men before, Riker?”
“No. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Yet you’re willing to take on Riker? Not only that but any situation he gets in, without considering what danger that could put on you? What about your club, Razor?”
“We can take care of ourselves. My brothers will have my back. If I protect Riker, they will too. If they don’t have my back because of Riker in my life, then they’ll have a choice of learning to accept or leave my club. Plus, you don’t know what the brothers and I deal with. The danger we go through. Danger that won’t touch Riker because I’d put a stop to it before anyone even fuckin’ thought of harmin’ him.”
“Your club holds a bunch of vigilantes. You help clean the streets, which is why my brothers and I have left your club alone. Your club may grow and smoke your own pot, but it’s nothing we’re concerned about. I also know the club runs two gyms and five bars.”
Tensing, I clipped, “How the fuck do you know this?”
Who were these shifters?
“We have our resources. Don’t fret, though. You’ll know more about us soon. But the information you learn doesn’t get shared with your club brothers because it could jeopardize Riker’s life.”
“I’d never fuckin’ risk him.”
I wouldn’t. I never wanted to see him hurt in any way, but especially if I was the cause of it.
More damned silence from the other side.
I glanced up from the wooden planks on the floor to see that even Riker had stilled.
