In some ways, I was grateful to be free of that responsibility for a change. In other ways, this club had defined me, housed me, supported me at times when I had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. I fought alongside these men and called them my brothers.
“There’s always a place for you here, if you want it,” Hillbilly said, fanning out his cards and adjusting them. “Can’t give you back the VP patch though. That belongs to Ironside now.”
“So it’s a bunch of old guys running the gig, huh?” I replied with amusement.
Hillbilly chuckled.
“Damn straight. Someone has to keep these youngsters in line.”
Two hours later, I had lost and won several hundred dollars. Sierra and Dash were playing pool with Lila, Hillbilly’s daughter. And Ruby was at the bar, deep in conversation with a new member I didn’t recognize. His patch read, Psycho.
He was a handsome bastard, I had to admit. Good, strong jawline, mesmerizing dark eyes, and a devilish charm to him that was hypnotizing to witness. Even from my position clear across the room.
When Ruby spoke, he leaned in, utterly enthralled with her. Maintaining steady eye contact. Hanging on her every word.
He pulled out his phone and angled the screen in her direction. She popped off her bar stool, bending over the counter. Her ass stuck out—unintentionally, innocently, but no less provocative—and that damned skirt rode up even higher. All it would take was the whiff of a breeze and she’d be flashing her panties to the whole fucking bar.
I inhaled a deep breath and slowly released it. My gut clenched as Ruby continued to flirt with Psycho. Flipping her hair over her shoulder. Gazing up at him through her lashes.
“Earth to Titan,” Hillbilly said. “Are you placing a bet or not, brother?”
I snapped my attention back to the game. But I couldn’t focus properly. My gaze kept straying back to Ruby. Her long legs, those knee-high boots, and that damned smile…
Dash clamped a hand on my shoulder with a squeeze, making me flinch.
“Sierra and I are heading out,” he said. “It’s getting late and we’re having her grandmother over for a holiday lunch tomorrow. She’s beginning to fret that there are still moving boxes stacked in the kitchen.”
“Let us know if you need a hand,” Hillbilly said. “I’ll send a few of the boys over to do the heavy lifting.”
Sierra and Ruby said their good-byes, hugging each other. I walked them to the door, waiting until they drove off before I turned to Ruby, who had resumed talking to Psycho again. I marched over, scooped an arm around her waist, and lifted her up. She yelped with surprise.
“Hey! Put me down—”
Carrying her back to the poker table, I sat down and settled her firmly on my lap.
“You’re going to stay right here,” I said. “Where I can keep an eye on you.”
Ruby huffed, wiggling her ass against my groin. I growled and grabbed her hips, digging my fingers in to let her know I meant business.
“That is the second time you have interrupted a perfectly innocent conversation," she protested.
I scoffed.
“There’s nothing innocent about you, honeybee. I’ve seen the books you read.”
Ruby glanced over her shoulder and wrinkled her nose at me.
No one batted an eye that she was perched on my lap. Bunnies did the same thing in the club all the time. Hell, even a few of my brothers’ wives would cuddle up to their men while playing poker.
Being shy was a foreign concept around here. Sex and love were shown just as freely as hatred and grudges in the Reckless Order. That was Hillbilly’s policy:air your grievances and fuck your ladies like it’s the last time you’ll see them. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
Another round of poker began and I studied my cards. Ruby shifted in my lap with an irritated sigh. I could smell her perfume—faint, delicate, but sweet. Her body heat seeped through my jeans.
Straight to my cock.
I gritted my teeth as the blood in my body began racing south. It wouldn’t take much effort to flip up that scrap of fabric she called a skirt.
“Fold,” I grumbled, tossing my cards on the table. It was a shitty hand anyway.
