Page 9 of Deviant

I had a bad habit of blurting stuff out when I was nervous, and it had been the cause of embarrassment more often than I wanted to admit. And this was no different.

Any hope that my question was too low for anyone but Grady to hear was dashed when the other guys laughed along with him, and the women giggled. One of them stood and hurried over to us. “Don’t be embarrassed for saying what us old ladies have thought many times before.”

“Um…I wasn’t just talking about the guys,” I confessed, my cheeks filling with more heat.

“Aw, thank you.” She started to hug me but was gently pulled back by one of the men, who tugged on the hem of her shirt and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“You better have been talking about me and only me, angel,” he muttered, brushing his lips against her temple.

The woman twisted around to roll her eyes at him. “We’re married, I’m wearing your property patch, and I’m carrying your baby. You’ve put every claim on me that you can, and the only guys here are your club brothers. Plus, I only have eyes for you. There is no need to be all over-the-top possessive, Hayes.”

He settled his hand over her slightly rounded belly. “You could give me a dozen babies, but that’s never gonna change.”

One of the women laughed. “If he’s anything like his president, he’s definitely not lying.”

“Or his VP,” the woman next to her added.

The redheads had the same color eyes and pale skin, so I assumed they were related. My guess was quickly confirmed later as Grady introduced me to everyone.

Pointing at the first woman who spoke, he explained, “Dahlia is married to our president, Fox. Her sister, Molly, belongs to our VP, Maverick. And these two are Ice and his wife, Marnie.”

“Nice to meet you all,” I murmured, doing my best to put faces to names so that I would remember them all later. “I’m Alice Payne.”

“What about us? Are you really not gonna introduce us, Deviant?” one of the guys he hadn’t pointed out asked.

“Fine,” he grumbled, pulling me against his side as he jerked his chin toward the other four men in order of their names. “This is Wrecker, Phoenix, Viper, and Stone.”

“Just pee around her and get it over with,” Viper teased.

Wrecker nodded. “It does seem to be an Iron Rogues tradition now that so many of our club brothers have claimed old ladies.”

“I didn’t call you all in so you could gossip like women,” Fox muttered. “We have club business to discuss.”

His wife glared at him. “As if you guys don’t gossip more than we do.”

“She’s got you there,” her sister chirped with a grin. “I know we’re the ones who are called old ladies, but the term applies to you guys even more when it comes to gossiping.”

“Really, baby?” Maverick asked, shaking his head.

Molly quirked a brow. “Yes, really.”

He dipped his head to claim her lips, and didn’t lift his head again for at least a full minute, effectively ending the conversation. “You gonna be okay while I go take care of some club business?”

She nodded. “I always am.”

Grady pressed his finger against my chin, tilting my head back until I met his concerned gaze. “How about you, gorgeous? You sure you’re good to hang out with the old ladies while I’m in my meeting?”

While trying to wrap my head around how easily they all used the term “old ladies” without laughing, I nodded. “Yup, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t worry, Deviant.” Marnie tangled her fingers in mine. “I’ll stick close to her.”

“Thanks.” He flashed her an appreciative smile that made Ice growl.

“See you soon,” Grady promised before following the other men out of the room.

Molly clapped her hands. “Now that it’s just us girls, you have to tell us how you and Deviant met.”

“Yes, and how long you’ve been dating,” Dahlia agreed as Marnie led me over to one of the couches.

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