Between Embers (Lost Kings MC #5.5): A Companion to White Heat: Three Short Stories (13 page)

Shit, do I? It seems unfair. I probably get hit on more often working at the legislature than he does in a strip club.

“No. That’s not fair. Either I trust you or I don’t.”

He turns then, surprise written all over his face. Guess he didn’t expect that answer.

“You want me to move out of the clubhouse?”

“Don’t you
have
to live here?”

“No. Some of the guys live off-campus,” he says with a smirk, as if I’d spoken my frat-house comment out loud last night.

“But you’re happy here.”

He doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t have to. I saw with my own eyes last night how at ease he is here. How much he likes being around the guys he considers his family.

“If anyone should move, it’s me. You’re here. My job’s down in Empire…the commute—”

“I come before your job. That’s a start,” he says dryly.

There’s a lot of noise, shouting and banging around in the hallway. Nothing alarming. Just the guys waking up and being guys. Z grinds his teeth as if it’s bad timing, but I stop him with a hand on his shoulder.

“In the past, I’ve had interest from rental agencies…to rent my house out in the summers because it’s so close to the lake. I could…I could rent an apartment closer to you.” My heart’s thumping so hard I barely get the words out.

He flicks his gaze my way and a brief smile touches his lips. “We can talk more about this later.”

A breath of relief leaves me. Z’s sensitive to my mood. He realizes how hard this is for me and he’s giving me space.

“Let’s go down for breakfast. I bet the happy couple will be over soon.”

“Oh, good. I’d like to see Hope before I leave.”

His mouth twists.

“How long do you want me to stick around?”

“I probably shouldn’t answer that.” He throws the covers off and in a fluid, sexy motion, pushes himself over top of me, caging me in with his thick, muscled arms. Not even a tremor from holding himself up over me. He dips down and kisses my forehead before moving off the bed.

“You’re awfully graceful for such a big guy.”

He smirks at me.

“Shit. My bag is down in Trinity’s room. I don’t have anything to wear besides my bridesmaid dress.”

He doesn’t tease me or hesitate. “I’ll go grab it for you.”

Maybe he’s good for me after all.

I got further than I ever expected to with Lilly today. I’m not stupid, though. Sensing it was time to back off, I did. Her mind’s turning, working it out in her head. That’s enough for now.

Opening the door to run downstairs and grab her stuff, I almost trip over the bags in front of my door. I pick them up and turn to Lilly. “Yours?”

She lets out a soft laugh and nods.

Fifteen minutes later, we’re headed into the dining room hand in hand. Trinity’s at the usual table flipping through a big pink binder. “Christ, Trin, the wedding’s over. Put that thing away.”

Startled, she glances up and slams the binder closed, sliding it under her chair. “Morning.”

“Where’s your other half?” I ask as we approach the table. Lilly lets me pull a chair out for her and she even sits in it without a single comment.

Trinity points to the doorway, and I turn to see Wrath trying to sneak up on me. “Not today, fucker,” I holler, dropping into the chair next to Lilly before he bear hugs me or whatever the fuck else he was planning to do.

He’s wearing the same shit-eating grin he had on earlier. “What’s up, brother?”

He falls into the chair next to Trinity and flings an arm around her shoulders. “I’ll tell you in a few.”

Now I’m really curious. But he turns his head, nuzzling against Trinity’s shoulder and whispering something in her ear that makes her laugh.

After a few minutes she glances around the dining room. “I’ll go check on the girls—”

Wrath clamps his hand over her leg, keeping her in place. “Not today,” he says, just loud enough for me to hear it.

Lilly catches my eye and I shrug.

Murphy and Teller join us next. Teller looks worn out while, Murphy, I’m not sure what’s going on with him. His knuckles on his right hand are scraped up, though. “Get into it last night, little brother?”

For some reason, he and Trinity share a look. “I’ll tell you later.”

“What the fuck is everyone so secretive for this morning?” I grouch.

Teller bursts out laughing. “Probably waiting for Mom and Dad to get here.”

Wrath rolls his eyes. “Christ, they’ll both kill you if they hear that.”

Lilly shakes against me. “Mom and Dad?”

Murphy makes a circular motion with his hand, indicating everyone at the table. “Rock is the dad—”

“No, no, I get it.” Lilly laughs even harder. “No wonder Hope doesn’t want kids. She already has a house full of them.”

Trinity laughs with her. “Exactly.”

Serena and Mariella burst out of the kitchen with mugs and pour coffee for everyone. Lilly gives me a curious look but doesn’t say anything.

“Hey, newlyweds!” Murphy shouts, making all of us turn our heads. Rock sort of glares at each of us and tries to tug Hope back out the door.

“How was the wedding night?” Wrath yells.

I can’t resist messing with them either. “Was it worth saving yourself for?” I ask.

Prez rolls his eyes and glances at Hope. “I told you we should have eaten breakfast at home.”

She shushes him and they take their seats. Hope’s a sharp girl. She looks around the table, taking each of us in. She smiles briefly when she notices Lilly’s still here. But her gaze goes back to Wrath and Trinity who have matching grins stretched across their faces.

“What’s up with you two?” she asks.

Right before she says it, I catch Wrath’s eye and he looks so fuckin’ happy I know exactly what Trinity’s about to say. “We’re engaged!”

The girls shriek and Hope races over to see the ring. Lilly joins them and they chatter away. I stand, reaching over to give Wrath a quick hug and back slap. “Congratulations, brother.”

I
could
make some ball and chain joke, but I’m too happy for the both of them.

“I am
not
going to any dress shops,” Murphy informs all of us. Yeah, that had been fun. For Wrath and me,
not
Murphy. I eye Wrath because we need to make Murphy do that again, but he’s too busy staring at his bride-to-be.

Then they’re busy making out and making everyone want to hurl. Lilly grins at me and leans over to kiss my cheek. “They’re sweet together,” she whispers.

“He’d do anything for her.” I want her to understand, if she let me, I’d be just as devoted to her. I just can’t come up with the right words.

Instead, I tease Rock and Hope about all the boring, married sex they’ll be having. Teller rats me out for the time or two I said Hope was dick-whipped.

Murphy finally explains why his knuckles are so raw. “I knocked Bull’s ass out last night.”

I’m sure Bull had that punch coming. Fuck, I wanted to punch him myself last night a few times. Lilly looks a little disgusted, so I shrug. This is who we are. If I want to get serious with her, she might as well hear it all, good and bad.

Serena and Mariella bring out a platter of eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast, which we all demolish.

Wrath informs us he’s planning to build a house next. I catch Lilly’s eye.
See? I wouldn’t expect you to live at the clubhouse,
I want to tell her.

Hope teases us, claiming she got a tattoo that Rock absolutely will not allow her to show us. Lilly leans in. “It must be true love. She always swore she’d never get a tattoo.”

“Yeah, what about you?”

She raises an eyebrow. “I’ve never had something I wanted on my body permanently.”

“I wanna be on your body permanently,” I growl in her ear. She shivers and turns to catch my mouth in a quick kiss.

“For fuck’s sake. Y’all need to get a room!” Dex shouts. He’s not yelling at me specifically. Rock and Hope barely glance up at Dex’s bitching. Wrath throws his middle finger up without taking his mouth off Trinity.

“Thank fuck,” Teller groans, pulling out a chair for Dex. “I’m about to lose my breakfast.”

Mariella pokes him in the side, and he grins at her.

Murphy’s sitting next to Serena looking like he’s choking on a piece of bark. “You okay, lil’ brother?”

“I’m good.”

“Did Heidi come back last night?” Hope asks Teller who groans.

“No. She called me when he dropped her off, though.” He glances over at the bar at the few people snoring on top of it. “Too much going on here last night, you know?”

She laughs. “I see your point.”

Rock claps his hands once to get our attention. “Church. Then my bride and I are going to pack for Hawaii.”

“Are you
letting
her bring clothes, Rock?” Trinity asks, bursting into giggles.

Rock’s mouth twists into a wicked smirk, but he doesn’t answer.

“Thanks, Trin,” Hope mutters. She’s laughing too, though.

Rock glances at me but before he says anything, Murphy stands. “I’m gonna walk Serena out and then I’ll round the guys up for church.”

I think it’s news to Serena that she’s leaving.

“Thanks for all your help, Serena,” Mariella calls out.

Serena nods and follows Murphy.

After they clear the dining room, Trinity jumps up. “While you guys are in church, I
am
helping Mariella clean up,” she says with a pointed look at Wrath, who rolls his eyes. Hope joins her before Rock can say no.

“I feel like I should help now too,” Lilly jokes.

I lean into her. “We won’t be long. Will you still be here?”

She turns and presses a quick kiss to my lips. Her fingers trail over my cheek and she looks into my eyes. “I’ll stick around.”

MORE THAN MILES EXCERPT

W
HEN
I
TOLD
Heidi I was working at Wrath’s gym, I just wanted her to know I was doing something else with my time other than babysitting strippers. Especially after I realized how deeply my involvement with the club girls and dancers bothered her. I never expected her to show up for a visit.

I’m crazy-happy to see her though. Can barely keep the grin off my face. Twitch eyeing her like a safe he wanted to crack pissed me the fuck off. Need to keep an eye on that kid. I don’t trust him as much as Wrath does.

One of Trinity’s additions to the gym was a couple of picnic benches out back, so on days like today, we could spend time outside. We’re the only ones out here and it’s nice to be alone together.

“How are your arms today?” she asks.

I roll up my long sleeves. “Got taken care of by a professional. Bandages are still good.”

The corners of her mouth quiver. She reaches out and runs her fingers over the gauze. “You should probably change these tonight.”

“Wanna come supervise?”

“If you need me to.”

She flicks her gaze up and catches me staring at her. Something’s been bothering me since she stopped in. “You okay? You look tired. Hittin’ the books hard?”

Her lips curve into a slight smirk. “Thanks a lot. Nothing better than hearing I look like shit.”

“You’re fucking gorgeous. I just worry about you.”

Her face softens. “Yes. I’ve been studying late.”