Page 18 of Savage Fire

“Yes. Odin is out on a run with Trouble and Slick, so I have some time if you want to stop by.”

“Good.”This just might work out perfectly.“Do you still have your pre-pregnancy bad ass bitch outfits?” Skathi was a several inches taller than Tessa’s five-foot-eleven at six-foot-two, but they were thick in the same areas, which meant Tessa could find something sexy and comfortable that fit well enough to not look like she was wearing her mommy’s clothes for dress up. It also meant she could get ready for her night out with Fang with Skathi there to talk her down from the ledge…the one hanging right out over a big pit of “go home and watch Netflix.” She knew that she was going to need someone to keep her thoughts and emotions from spiraling, and Skathi—with her pragmatism, killer instincts, and ability to compartmentalize like a goddamn military trained machine—was the best at making Tessa figure it the fuck out.

“Yes,” Skathi answered. “Did you want to borrow something…for tonight?”

Tessa rolled her eyes. She knew she couldn’t keep it secret from Skathi, not with the way the MC brothers gossiped like a knitting circle. She wasgoing totell Skathi, she was just going to wait for the last possible moment. Of anyone, Skathi knew just how deep Tessa’s hang ups went…and how she felt about Fang, despite not wanting to feel anything for him.

“Yeah, if you don’t mind.”

Skathi laughed. “I don’t mind at all. If anything, it gives me a chance to catch up with you. I haven’t been able to just sit and spend time with you in too long, Tessa.”

Guilt roiled in Tessa’s chest, dropping into her gut.

“I know, Sky. I’ve been busy with work, trying to get back into the gym, and trying not to lose my goddamn mind without MMA to focus on. And you’ve become the little Danish housemater, with your sexy behemoth boyfriend and your unborn baby battle tank.”

Snickering, Skathi replied, “He isn’t quite as big as a tank yet, but with the size of both his parents, odds are he will be. And you know I am never too busy for you, Tessa.”

Yeah, she knew that, but she also knew that Skathi was moving on, she was finally living the life she deserved after the shit she went through with Aaron, her cheating, asshole of an ex. And Tessa didn’t need to be there, getting all up in the way like a third wheel on their Harley of love.

When she arrived at the apartment in the west wing of the large, spacious clubhouse compound, Skathi held the door open for Tessa, then wrapped her in her arms, squeezing until Tessa swore she felt the baby’s feet kicking her.

“Come on in, I just pulled some butter cookies out of the oven,” Skathi offered, smiling. She knew Tessa’s weakness for the traditional Danish sweet treat. “You can have a few, but the majority are for Odin. He loves them.”

“That isn’t the only Danish cookie he likes to eat,” Tessa teased, making Skathi’s cheeks turn bright pink.

“Before you make me kick your ass, go ahead into the bedroom and look through the closet. You should be able to find something you can wear.”

Tessa barked a laugh. “Oh, my God, you said ass! I never thought I’d see the day that prim Miss Denmark would use an English swear word.”

Skathi’s blush deepened. “Well, living with a bunch of bikers opens the eyes to all the colorful and crude possibilities. Also, Odin’s bluntness is rubbing off on me.” She shrugged.

Tessa, smirking mischievously, purred, “That isn’t the only thing that—”

Skathi clicked her tongue, narrowing her cat-like golden eyes at Tessa. “That’s enough of that, lady. Go pick out what you’re going to wear for your date with Fang, then we’re going sit down on the couch, eat cookies, and you’re going to unload your anxiety about tonight so we can deal with it together.”

Tessa blinked back tears, and her heart pulsed as warmth filled her chest. God, she loved her bestie!

Offering Skathi a grateful smile, Tessa grumbled playfully, “Oh, alright. But I get at least four cookies.”

“You should be glad I didn’t tell Fae or Liz what was going on. They’d be here in a flash, begging for cookies and inserting themselves into every bit of your date preparations.”

Lord. Tessa rolled her eyes, cringing. She loved Fae, the freaking sweetheart, but the woman had about as much fashion sense as a toddler. And Liz…le sigh. That woman lived in boxy skirts that hid her lush figure, and blouses so…blousyTessa sometimes wondered if she was hiding a weird boob disfigurement. Needless to say, neither of those women would be getting anywhere near Tessa’s fashion pick for the night.

Skathi hummed knowingly, the witch! “I can see from the look on your face, you are picturing it, yes?”

Tessa cringed again.

Chuckling, Skathi waved Tessa off to the bedroom before turning to head into the large chef’s kitchen.

Tessa headed toward the master bedroom and the closet, excitement building within in her right along with the trepidation. She knew she couldn’t wear something too form fitting, because she liked to be able to move her arms and legs freely. And she knew Skathi didn’t own a single pair of booty shorts or a skirt that went any higher than her knees. The woman was all badass class, something Tessa could only aspire to. As someone who grew up wearing clothes from the donations at the soup kitchen, and then the sturdy working clothes on the ranch, Tessa was more at home in jeans and shitkickers than silk, leather, and lace. But she couldn’t wear her sittin’ around clothes on a date with a guy who looked like Fang, not is she didn’t want to feel like an imposter on his arm. That meant biting her tongue, pushing herself out of her comfort zone, and wearing something a little revealing—but not too much.

Gazing into the cavernous closet before her, she groaned.

“This is insane,” she muttered, before diving in.

An hour later, Tessa was dressed, her face and hair made up, and she was hoovering another butter cookie into her mouth. Damn, she never realized she was a nervous eater, but once she got the last text from Fang, her anxiety hit the roof.

He’d told her he was headed to the clubhouse and was looking forward to seeing her once he finished up some business with Toke, the newest patched brother. Previously Brady, Toke was the brother in charge of growing the different strains of marijuana the club sold illegally through their bordello and strip club, and legally through their brand spanking new dispensary, Valhalla.

---