Corbin groaned, and I thumped the back of his seat.
Hunter wriggled a bit closer and grabbed my thigh so tightly it hurt. “Fuck, my bike.” We were already passing out of the gates of the industrial park.
“It’ll be gone by the time we get back. Impounded or stolen,” Corbin said, very matter-of-fact, and Hunter let out a sad “no” and turned to stare behind us.
“Nonsense. We’ll get it later.”
Corbin huffed, and I willed him to shut his mouth as he caught my eye in the rearview mirror. If I had to buy him a new one, I would.
The ride back to the Virtue was quiet, and the crash after all the adrenaline pulsing through me at the race and then the run in with the cops had me feeling loose and ready to take what I wanted, ready to fuck. I had an arm around Hunter and wanted to keep his solid warmth next to me for as long as possible. Corbin eventually stopped at the front of the Virtue near the curb, even though we were holding up traffic. Someone behind us honked. I took my time getting out, went around, and had meant to open Hunter’s door for him, but he was already out and standing there on the sidewalk, staring at the ivy covered brownstone facade of the Virtue.
I was surprised when he flashed me a toothy grin. “This was really fun. I’m sorry it’s over.”
“Happy to hear ya say that. Worried ye’d be traumatized. Why is it over?”
His mouth fell open, and I used a finger on his chin to tip it shut. He shuffled a step closer to me, his arms wrapped across his middle. “That was really,reallyfun. And the way you didn’t take any shit from those cops.” He practically glowed, and I felt darn good about myself.
“Keep sayin’ sweet things like that and I’m gonna wanna keep ya round.”
He frowned at me and nearly looked angry for a moment, but before I could ask what I’d done wrong, he leaned in and pressed his lips hard to mine. He went to pull away, but I slipped a hand behind his head and held him there as I parted his lips with my tongue and delved in to taste him. The late-afternoon sunshine beat down between the buildings and warmed the top of my ears as we stood there and breathed each other’s air. His soft lips were perfect.
“One of your men is in my office.” The amused tone didn’t suit Rourke. I forced myself to drop my hold on Hunter and step back. Rourke stood near us, apparently giddy at his status as a thorn in my arse.
“Okay. I’ll be there.” I turned back to Hunter, who held himself tauter than ever. “I need to take care of some business. Didn’t expect it.”
“Okay. Go.”
Fuck, he sounds hurt.He only blinked back at me, however. “Really? You’re fine with it? Not going to pitch a wobbly?”
Hunter stepped in and brushed his lips against mine again, shy, searching, the sweetest kiss. “Can I see you when you’re finished?”
My hands found their way to his hips and I rubbed my thumb along the top of the waistband of his jeans, pressing into the flesh. “I’ll be there.”
Rourke gestured at Hunter to follow one of the guards from the front, and I had to assume the man was taking him to Forrest. I hated that I didn’t know, and would send Corbin around as soon as he was done parking the car. I watched Hunter until he was safely inside the Virtue.
“Is this a short problem or an involved one?”
Rourke just laughed.
6
Hunter
Blinking open my eyes against the sting of chlorine, I stared around at the stripes of purple and blue painted by lights on the bottom of the pool. Underwater, weightless, and in blissful silence, I could finally think about the date I’d had with Jamie without Forrest prodding for more details. I carefully drew my knees up to my chest and held them, floating like an unbalanced egg. I liked Forrest, and I was even beginning to square with the idea that I probably loved my brother, too, but he never shut the fuck up when he was curious. About most things, sharing with Forrest was fine. For now, though, I wanted to keep Jamie to myself.
My chest swelled with an odd bubbly goodness as my lungs became tight and I had to pull myself toward the surface. I broke the top of the water and sucked in a deep breath. Cool air struck my face, and the hubbub of biting laughter and voices crashed over me, worse than the sound of metal tearing apart at the race. Above, the dark sky was cloudless. If I squinted, I thought I could make out a few stars.
What is Jamie doing right now?
He hadn’t asked me to come with him. I knew he was in the Killough Company, and that meant he was supposed to be in the big leagues compared to the Kings, but it hurt that he hadn’t trusted me enough to ask me along. Not sure why I felt that way. I wouldn’t have taken him with me on something important to King, not without permission. The discomfort still hammered away inside me—from missing him, from wanting to be near him.
Barks of laughter drew my attention poolside. Several groups of people lounged in chairs: some who worked here—a few prostitutes with their chosen man or woman of the night—and thenmy people. I paddled myself in a little circle while confusion tumbled around in my head.
Nothing bad was going on, I just wasn’t sure what the hellwashappening. I’d walked back into the Virtue this afternoon to find my uncle Grant here with a few of my soon-to-be club brothers. Currently Grant sat on the lap of his tattooed fiancé, Reaper, and Grant was about my size, so small in comparison. They were pushed up to a white metal table in the corner of the pool area. Forrest was at his elbow, leaning close to tell him something, and he patted out a rhythm on Grant’s arm as he spoke. Sometimes I thought maybe Forrest got anxious, too, just in more manageable ways than I did. Angel, the too pretty guy I could still barely make eye contact with, was on Forrest’s other side. I could understand Grant and his fiancé being here, but Jester and Scar sat across the table from them, and I had no idea why. Why would King send all these men to New York City?
“Thought you were drowning,” Grant called over as he waved toward me, and there was more laughter from the table, but that was also joined by a few people around the pool. My body burned. I hated being the center of attention.
“Nope,” I said, loudly enough to be heard, and then swam toward the edge. I pulled myself out of the water, dripping a puddle onto the cement. Someone nearby let out a whistle, the kind of thing I’d heard guys belt out toward pretty girls. I glanced around to see who they were doing that to, but no one else seemed to be standing by the pool. Forrest was rolling his eyes at me when I looked back, and Grant had his hand over his mouth, but I could tell he was trying not to laugh.
