"Bedside table."He nodded toward it."Had to move it after it nearly stabbed me in my sleep."
"Poor baby."I strapped the knife to my thigh, the leather holster a comforting pressure against my skin."Next time don't sleep so close."
"Next time?"His eyebrow raised, a small smile playing at his lips.
I ignored the question, grabbing my phone from the nightstand and checking the screen.Three missed calls from Ghost.Great.As I crossed the room to retrieve my keys from the counter where Rocky must have put them, my boot caught on something at the corner of the couch.I looked down to see a backpack tipped onto its side, contents partially spilled out."Sorry," I said, bending to right it."Didn't mean to kick your shit around."
"It's fine," Rocky called from the bedroom, where he was finally putting on a shirt.Pity."Nothing breakable in there."
I gathered the scattered items and stuffed them back inside.As I zipped the main compartment, something caught my eye in the front pocket.A flash of copper threading against black fabric.Curious, I pulled it out slightly, just enough to see what it was.
A patch.Not just any patch, but one with a distinctive copper snake design coiled to strike.I'd seen patches like this before.Copperheads MC colors.But what would Rocky be doing with one?It wasn't attached to anything, just a loose patch sitting in his bag.
"You collect club patches?"I called out, keeping my voice casual as I examined it.The craftsmanship was good, definitely official, not some knockoff.
Rocky appeared in the doorway, pulling a fresh T-shirt over his head.His eyes flickered to the patch in my hand, then back to my face."Yeah, something like that."His smile was friendly, but his expression, once open and welcoming, now looked shuttered and I knew I was in trouble.
I shrugged and tucked it back where I found it.The Copperheads were bad news.Ghost had warned me about them plenty of times, said they were into shit that crossed lines Bound in Blood always respected.“I really do need to go.Thanks for the breakfast.”I gave him a cocky smirk.“And the late night activities.”
Rocky slipped a leather jacket on as we headed out.“I’ll walk you out.”He placed his hand at the small of my back as we navigated the hall and stair ways.The touch felt proprietary and possessive.I wanted to shrug him off but the fact was, I liked the weight of his hand.I liked him touching me.If I never saw him again, or if he turned out to be playing me to get to my club, I wanted to enjoy this last moment.I wanted to remember the perfect night and not remember it ending in a devastating heartbreak.For me.Because, like it or not, I doubted I’d ever experience a night like I had ever again.I was willing to admit I was in over my head with Rocky, but such was life.
The morning was bright and cool as we stepped outside, the parking lot quiet except for a few birds arguing in a nearby tree.My bike stood where I'd left it, purple paint gleaming in the sunlight.
"She really is beautiful," Rocky said, running an appreciative gaze over the machine."You did all this custom work yourself?"
"Every bit."I couldn't help the pride in my voice."Ghost taught me the basics, but I figured out most of it on my own."
"You’ve got talent."He stepped back, giving me space to mount up."So, about that next time..."
"You asking me out, Rocky?"I grinned, pulling my hair back to put on my helmet.
"Might be."He looked almost bashful, which was a strange look on a man with his size and presence."If you're interested."
“You’ve got my number.”I wasn’t committing to anything.Not until I did a little digging into Rocky.If he really was Copperheads, I needed to know before he sprung whatever trap he was setting.
Rocky stepped closer, one hand on my bike, the other lifting my chin."Ride safe, lioness."He kissed me quickly, just a brush of lips that somehow felt more intimate than everything we'd done the night before.Then he stepped back, giving me space to start my bike.
The engine roared to life beneath me, the vibration familiar and comforting.I gave Rocky one last look, trying to memorize the way he stood there watching me, the morning sun glistening in his dark hair.
With a nod, I pulled away, feeling the his gaze follow me until I turned the corner.The wind whipped around me as I accelerated onto the main road.
One night stands weren't supposed to linger like this, weren't supposed to make you already anticipate seeing them again.Especially knowing this was likely a set up.
I pulled into the compound, cutting my engine as I rolled to a stop in my usual spot.A wave of guilt washed over me as I dismounted, knowing Ghost had probably been worried.Three missed calls wasn't like him.He usually respected my space, which meant something was up.
A couple of prospects nodded at me as I walked past, their eyes quickly darting away when they noticed my rumpled dress beneath my vest.Great.The gossip mill would be churning by lunchtime.I climbed the metal stairs to my apartment above the garage, fishing for my keys.Ghost had set me up here after the incident I’d told Rocky about, giving me my own space while keeping me close enough to protect.Independence with a leash shoved up my ass.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside, freezing when I saw him.Ghost sat in my armchair, elbows on knees, hands clasped in front of him.His silver-streaked hair was pulled back in its usual neat ponytail.His face was carved from stone, eyes hard as he watched me enter.
The living room suddenly felt tiny with his presence filling it.Ghost wasn't a large man.His power came from something else, something in the way he held himself, like a coiled spring ready to snap.Even sitting still, he radiated controlled danger.
"Hey," I said, tossing my keys on the counter with forced casualness."Didn't expect you to be waiting up here.In my apartment.You know I'm not sixteen anymore, right?"
Ghost didn't smile."Where were you?"
"Out."I shrugged off my vest, hanging it carefully on the hook by the door."The Valentine's Ball ran late, crashed at a friend's place.No big deal."
"Which friend?"His voice remained calm, but I knew that tone.It was his interrogation voice, the one that made prospects piss themselves.
