As I place a plate in front of Graycie, I catch Mom teasing Opal. “Come on,” Mom prods her, “you might as tell us the next book club read. We’ll just find out eventually.”
“Absolutely not,” Opal snaps.
Vera leans forward, her tone sickly sweet, “I guess Opal doesn’t realize we’ve been reading romance since before she came around.”
The look on my sister’s face is pure fucking horror. I can’t help but chuckle as I put my plate down, take a seat, and take the drinks Sidewinder delivers.
“Yeah,” Jackal rumbles, “maybe, but the romance from back in the day wasn’t pure porn.” The table freezes before we turn toward our former Prez, slowly. When he glances around, he shrugs like he’s not at all bothered. “What? I’ve seen what you’re reading now,” he points his fork toward Vera, “and some of it made me want to clutchmypearls. Me. And I’m a fucking biker for fucks sake.”
Graycie and Opal have gone bright red and are frozen to the point that I’m almost afraid of them literally cracking. My woman wheezes out a laugh before looking toward Opal.
“This is exactly why I keep refusing your book club invitation,” she deadpans.
Opal blinks a few times, and I notice Sidewinder pause slightly before sitting down again in his seat, his eyes fixed on his plate. “I’ve never even heard of a book club. I’m certainly not part of one,” my sister sounds like she’s telling the god’s honest truth.
But we all know better.
The table erupts in laughter and some of my brothers at other tables, having heard the exchange, join in. A feeling of family wraps around me, one of those moments which bind us together, one we tell stories about later. Graycie must feel it too because her body relaxes as she picks up her fork. When she glances up at me, the smile on her face is pure light.
I brush a few strands of hair back off her face and lean over to kiss her forehead. “Eat up, Graycie-girl,” I murmur, “and enjoy.”
When I pull back, there’s understanding on her face. She nods, ever so slightly, before tucking into her plate while smiling, laughing, and engaging with everyone around the table.
It feels good.
Not just having her at my side while surrounded by my family, but the way she blends into the tapestry of my life, of this place, of this family. It’s effortless, like she was always supposed to slide into the spot at my side.
Because she was.
My chest puffs up with pride because she’s perfect. For me. For this club. For my family.
Remembering how she brought up club whores has my gut clenching. I don’t think it’ll be a problem, but I’ll keep my eyes open. The club whores have been keeping their distance so far.
Clarice might try to stake a claim she’s never had. Sindi has never wanted a patch, but Clarice is a different story. Her and Lola are cut from the same cloth.
I’ve never touched Lola.
It’s been a while since I’ve been with any of them. Still, that doesn’t mean they won’t try some shit. I know my Angel can handle it.
My cock perks up at the thought of her claiming me the same way I’ll always make my claim clear. Yup, and it’s time to go.
I lean over and whisper against the shell of my woman’s ear, “Say goodnight to everyone, Graycie-girl.”
She pulls back slightly so she can see me, her eyes searching mine. Whatever she sees there has one side of her mouth twitching. Without looking away from me, she pitches her voice higher, interrupting the conversation while not giving a single fuck, “Goodnight, everyone.”
Then I’m standing and scooping her up into my arms before striding out, not bothered about anyone having the chance to say goodnight back. Because I really don’t care. Not right now.
Not when I need her so fucking badly it feels like needles under my skin.
She tucks her head under my chin as I carry her back to my room. I should take her to my house and show her where home is for the next forever, but it’s too fucking far. And my dick is fucking begging to be back in her tight heat.
The sound of the door slamming behind me is loud in the quiet of the room. When I stand Graycie up, her hands cup my jaw and her fingers skim over the stubble. Fuck, I love it when she touches me.
The smile on her face makes me wonder if my woman is a mind reader or not. “Turner,” she purrs, “you look like you’re about to worship me.”
“Damn right,” I growl the words, the beast in me rattling its cage.
“Good,” her lips curl into a wicked grin that has my cock leaking pre-cum, “but I don’t want you to treat me like I’m fragile.”