Warmth flooded my chest as my smile grew. “I love that.”
Francine nodded, attempting to hide the moisture pooling in her eyes. She was right, of course. Today was a day of celebration, and what better way to rejoice than to face your fears?
Francine twisted so I could see the outline. Charlie’s name was written in a flowing script. It was beautiful, classic, and perfect for Francine.
“It’s going to look amazing.” Francine gripped my hand before she righted herself in her seat.
“Go say hello to your man so he won’t be distracted when he’s permanently marking my body.”
I giggled as I stood, squeezing Francine’s shoulder in thanks before I placed a kiss on Kellan’s cheek. My mouth barely brushed his skin when he turned, capturing my lips with his and deepening the kiss. Before I knew what I was doing, I was perched on his lap, my hands threading through his black curls as I pressed my body against his. He growled into the kiss, his gloves coming off before he scooped me up and carried me into his office.
Nicholas’ and Francine’s laughter echoed from the shop as Kellan placed me on his desk and spread my legs so he could step in between them. It was so tempting to ask him to send them away so we could continue our exploration of each other’s bodies. I knew he would do it, but that wasn’t what I came here for. They always seemed to tease me on fight nights, and it was finally my time to return the favor.
My hand slipped down to his waistband, and his hips jerked into my touch. He was already hard, his length pressing against the fabric of his jeans.
“Let me just—” He pulled away as though he was about to close and lock the door, but I hopped up off the desk and shot him a wink.
“I just dropped by to remind you about tonight.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek and swallowed the laughter begging to bubble out as he stared back in shock.
“Giana,” he said my name on a low warning growl, like he was mere seconds from caging me in.
“See you tonight.” I blew him a kiss as I strode out of the office. “I can’t wait to see the tattoo when it’s finished. See you at the club tonight, Nicholas.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Nicholas chuckled as Kellan stalked behind me like a predator locked on his prey.
“Love you, babe,” I said over my shoulder, but he caught me around the waist as I pushed the front door open.
“I’ll remember this,” he warned, his sable eyes glittering as though he was imagining just how he’d get me back tonight.
I’d like to see him try.
He slammed his lips on mine, stealing my breath as he deepened the kiss, sending a scorching wave of lust straight to my core as his tongue stroked mine.
He kept a firm grip on me as my feet wobbled, as if he knew just his kiss would leave me weak in the knees. I narrowed my eyes on him as he pulled away, a sly grin tilting his lips.
Oh, I would get him back for that later.
“Love you.” He kissed me again, and the tender way he gazed at me, like I was the most important person in his world, was the only thing that quelled my annoyance. Driving each other mad with need was a game we’d keep playing for the rest of our lives, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
He tapped my ass as I turned, and I cocked my brows as I glanced over my shoulder, but he only grinned. Oh, he was going to pay for that tonight. But probably not. I always forgot about my retribution when they had their fingers or tongues between my legs.
I hopped back into my car and stopped by the flower shop before I drove around the corner to the diner—well, the place the diner used to be. It had taken a while, but we’d hired a team to demolish the old diner and construct the self-defense studio in its place. The parking lot had been completely redone. The pavement was fresh, without the multitude of weeds poking out between cracks and the deep potholes littering the asphalt. The building was twice the size of the diner, with offices, training rooms, and a gym. It had become a place for the community to gather, whether they were attending the self-defense classes or just working on the machines.
Spade had built something incredible here, and he got to gift others with the tools to keep themselves safe. Even the woman we saved in the alley, Lena, had joined the classes with her friends.
The parking lot was quickly filling up as people got off work, and I pulled into a spot closest to the small garden. After I showed Spade the drawing for Anne’s memorial, he’d had the idea to make a little garden so he could spend his lunches out here, and it had turned out beautifully. There was a stone path that led to the angel, a sword clasped in her hands, long hair falling down her back as she stared up at the stars. There were stone benches lining the path as lush green grass sprawled around them. Spade and I had spent more than a few nights curled up here on a blanket just like we had a year ago, watching the stars and talking about his sister, making sure her memory lived on.
I bent and placed the bouquet at the feet of the angel, wiping a hand over the dust that clung to the dedication.
‘To a beloved sister who was taken from this world far too soon. May the stars guide your way, and love fill your heart wherever you go. Anne Spade.’
A hand wrapped around my waist as I straightened, turning me so swiftly I knew it could only be one person. Spade’s lips crashed on mine, consuming me as he lifted me by my thighs and backed me up against the cement wall of the gym. My legs encircled his waist as I twined my arms around his neck, my fingers playing with the ends of his platinum-blond hair.
“I missed you, sugar,” he said into my mouth, each stroke of his tongue sending tendrils of lust straight to my core. He was dressed in his workout clothes, so he must have just finished teaching a class when he saw my car pull up.
He rocked his hips against me, the friction of his hard length rubbing against my clit igniting a fire across my skin, my body burning for his touch.
“We can’t,” I whimpered as his hand cupped my ass, his fingers slipping under the hem of my panties to dip into my soaked center.
