Carys breathed a sigh of relief. Neither had to settle to be together. She smiled to herself. She never worried about condoms with him because of her IUD, and he didn’t because he couldn’t get her pregnant.
Monster pulled away, interlacing their fingers and led her inside.
As soon as they were through the door, everyone shouted and cheered. Color her confused. She looked up at Monster, but he was just smirking down at her.
“What is this?” She looked around and there were streamers that weren’t there before and balloons and … “Is that …” She turned to Monster in confusion, then understanding started to dawn on her.
“Your mom’s annual strawberry lemon cake? Yeah.” Monster pulled her against him. “Happy birthday.” He kissed her breathless. When the kiss ended, he said, “Belated birthday.”
Carys cast her eyes downward. Her birthday was two days ago, but she didn’t want anyone to know, so she deflected.
“It looks like the birthday unicorn exploded in here.”
Taylor approached and placed a birthday girl crown on her head. “How did they find out?” She whispered.
“Your mom, of course.”
“But I told her not to say anything. It was not my day to steal, neither is today.”
Ghoul draped his arm over her shoulder, leading her to the bar. “That’s what Linda said. You didn’t want to steal anyone’s day and swore her to secrecy.” He leaned in and stage whispered, “FYI, Mom is shit at keeping secrets.” He leaned back as if he hadn’t just called her mom his mom. “Anyway, she planned all of this, said we had to wait until she left or you’d be a buzzkill about it.”
“You can take your dirty mitts off my woman any time now, asshole,” Monster growled from behind them.
Ghoul threw up his hands in surrender. “Geez, down boy. It’s not official yet, so I had to shoot my shot.” He winked at her and ducked just in time to avoid a projectile object that landed somewhere behind the bar. Everyone laughed, and Cypher poured tequila shots as she sat.
Monster said from right at the back of her stool. “It will be in a few.” He licked and salted the back of his hand before handing her a shot. “Here, babe.” As soon as she took the shot glass from his hand, he picked up a lime wedge, placing it backward between his teeth.
He wiggled his eyebrows as he held out his salted hand. She licked it, then downed the shot. He bent over her face, pulling her head back and offered her the lime. She bit before he turned his head to the side and spat it on the bar. He was back at her mouth in no time, his hands snaking over her shoulder and down to her breasts. She’d never kissed anyone upside down before, and it was hot, but also a little difficult.
A moan escaped her throat as he pinched her nipples.
“Give her your gift already and take her to your room unless you want this to be an audience participation situation.” Boogeyman’s words broke through her lust-addled brain, and she realized Monster’s hands were inside her shirt and bra.
Shit.
Carys wrenched her lips from his, but he still had his hands in her bra. “Arden.” She scolded and gripped his wrists.
“Fuck you, Boogey,” Monster cursed, but pulled his hands off her tits. Someone handed him a box.
“Thanks.”
He turned to Carys. “For you, Pixie.”
She was too choked up to even say thank you, so she just took the box and untied the Kings of Anarchy ribbon with care.
Peeling back the black tissue paper, she was met with a Property of Monster on black denim.
She pulled it out, and someone grabbed the box.
“Up.” Monster encouraged her to stand. Taking the cut from her, he slipped it over her shoulders. “Perfect fit, Pixie. Just like you.”
“Thank you.” Was all she could manage as she held back happy tears for the second time that night.
Taylor was the first to give her a hug. “We’re sisters now. We need to brainstorm a badass name for us ol’ ladies soon.”
A few of the other guys raised a beer at her and she nodded back.
When Prowler stood in front of her, nerves threatened to make her faint. This was the man who had the final say on her being “family” or not, and well, they didn’t come into each other’s lives in the best of circumstances.
