Page 93 of Nest Of Lies

“Come with me!” Ranger barks, merciless, unexpected.

My body obeys his words instantly, and I arch, gripping him tighter as my body clenches around him. Tighter and tighter, I tilt my head back, silently screaming as I find heaven.

Instinctively, I know he’s right there with me.

He slows and stops moving, and then lifts his chest off mine.

“Lia?”

“I’m okay,” I say breathlessly.

He drops his head down and puts his lips beside my ear so no one else can hear.

“I love you.”

Chapter thirty-three

Lia

I smile up atBadger and pat his arm. The giant is slowly becoming one of my favourite people. He’s treating me how I imagined a grandfather might. A bit stern, with a lot of teasing, and a general comfort to be around.

I can see why everyone loves him, but it’s not just him. It’s the whole club. Jolie was standoffish, but he’s a proper artist, and once I got him talking, he was loud and almost impossible to shut up. Valen was so shocked he walked into a wall.

Rojers, Neil, and Dog are funny and kind. They treat me like I belong here, slapping my back and touching me in impersonal ways that make me feel like one of the club. They talk about their families and have invited me to dinner with the girls. I accepted, of course.

The prospects are fun. Nick, Kyle, Luka, Rhys, and Liam are a group that just work well together. They tease the older guys with affection and good-natured fun. There is a joyfulness in their enthusiasm that calls to me, and I’ve found myself slyly teaching the young ones how to create really epic pranks.

An hour ago, Zaden announced we were having a party.

I’d stared at him before meekly waiting to see if perhaps he was going to ask me to leave, but he kissed my forehead and walked off while I turned to watch him. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I swear, I felt faint.

Io had put an arm around my shoulders and dragged me to the downstairs bathroom, where she and Pasley did my hair and makeup.

Now, hours later, I’m sitting on Ianto’s lap, while the MC parties around me, and it is everything I ever dreamed. The music is loud and people are laughing and having fun.I’ve already asked Io and Pasley to teach me to dance like that. We’d danced until Zaden had pulled me away from them and told me to sit down.

I’d pouted and asked why, and he said if he wasn’t allowed to leave, then I had to behave so that he could remain here and think not murderous or sexy thoughts.

The women have welcomed me with open arms, and the MC has accepted me. Tonight has proven it. I keep waiting for someone to drop the other shoe on my head and steal my joy away, but it doesn’t come.

Gradually, I relax and start getting louder, laughing and teasing the guys back. We’re in the lounge room, and on the five long couches are people who I’ve come to recognise as part of the MC family. Io is sitting on Badger’s knee having a political argument with Jolie. While Rojers and Dog are talking about the latest shooting game and how to beat it. It’s delightfully mundane, and I love every minute of it.

Ianto strokes my thigh, reminding me that I’m safe. Ranger walks past, and as he does, he winks at me, and I swear, that gesture goes straight into my heart and lodges there. I still can’t believe he said those words to me. I’m not sure anyone has told me that they loved me before, not for who I am.

I clear my throat a couple of times and stand up, only to find Mills waiting for me. He holds out a muffin, and I take a bite, ignoring all the jeering that turns my cheeks pink.

“Ignore them. They’re just jealous!”

Badger stands up and carefully moves me out of the way and opens his mouth to Mills. “My turn.”

I snort a laugh as Mills shakes his head and pops the rest of the muffin in his mouth.

“You had three,” Mills snaps, but I can tell he doesn’t mean it.

Io lets out a snarl and slaps Badger’s ass. He lets out a wild shriek and swings her up into his arms. They tussle, but in the end, he presses a fervent kiss to her lips, and she calms, wrapping her arms around his neck. They look so good together that it nearly brings tears to my eyes. Badger moans as he returns to his seat, pulling her down and whispering in her ear.

Valen walks into the room with a beer in his hands. He pulls me into his arms and starts dancing with me.

“I saw your moves earlier. Show me?”

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