This was wild. “How long would I be a house mouse?”
“Until you decide to leave, become a club bunny, or become someone’s ol’ lady.”
I shift my gaze to Merrick. “How do you become an ol’ lady?”
“Someone claims you, and you agree. Like a marriage, whether you make it legal or not.”
Like a marriage.
Symphony rushes up to my side. “Marietta, this has been fun, but let’s go home. You need to think something like this over. It’s crazy.” She widens her eyes at Diesel. “Get us to the car. Now.”
But Diesel hesitates, looking at his brother.
Merrick looks at Iron Jack.
The hierarchy here is clear.
Oh, me and my big mouth.
Low Joe shoves his way through, holding the whiteboard from Hookup Heaven. “Iron Jack, you should see this.” He holds up the sign with my words on it. My face flames as everyone reads it out loud.
“Virgin in the house. Find me and fix it.”
Low Joe sets it on the floor. “This bunny and her friend were the only ones in there. One of them wrote it.”
A whoop goes up among the men. “This her?” Chain asks. “I stake my claim for her to be my ol’ lady!”
“Same,” Hoss says.
“I’ll throw my hat in,” says another, elbowing his way forward.
Iron Jack runs the back of his fingers over the pale stubble on his jaw. “Did you write this?” he asks me.
The blood drains from my face for the second time tonight. “Yes.”
He sighs. “Take this young lady home. We’ll hold a club meeting about it. We’ll let you know how it turns out.”
“This is ridiculous!” Symphony cries. “You can’t just take someone.”
“Diesel,” Iron Jack says, “silence your woman.”
But Diesel knows where his dick is buttered. He glares at Iron Jack. “I’m not a club member, and you’re not going to boss me around.” He cuts a glaring look at his brother. “Come on, Symphony, don’t worry. We’ll handle it.” He grabs her arm and then mine, and we head for the door.
Jenna and Bailey follow behind.
The band fires up again as we step outside.
“What happened?” Bailey asked.
“Your romance books just got real,” Jenna says.
I glance back at the bar as the door closes. Iron Jack, Merrick, Chain, Hoss, and the others are all sitting at a table, talking with serious expressions.
Oh, I’ve really done it this time.
CHAPTER 4
MERRICK
