Page 85 of Broken Skulls

“Yeah, ranch,” Charlotte agrees, going back to her own plate.

“Okay. We’ll see you guys later.” I wrap my arm around Elizabeth as we walk away from the group. “You okay? You’ve been awfully quiet.”

She glances over her shoulder. “I’m … I’m fine.”

I stop and turn around, spotting what has her attention. Her friend Danielle is sitting with Anthony and Tank around the fire pit.

“Lexie was really brave,” she whispers.

“You are too.”

She starts to argue with me, but I swallow her words as my mouth descends on hers. There are a few hushed murmurs around us, but I don’t give a flying fuck. I can kiss my woman anywhere I want.

When I pull away from her, she blinks at me. “What was that?” she asks, struggling to catch her breath.

“That was me telling you to shut up.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but she snaps it shut when my gaze goes back to her lips.

“You saw how easy it was for Lexie. It will be the same for you. I promise.” I turn her to face the group, leaning close to her ear. “Now go talk with your friends while I go bid on the coolest fucking bed I’ve ever seen. If … no, scratch that. When I win it, I’m going to tie you to it and fuck you senseless.”

She shivers against me. It makes me smile. I tap her on the ass and push her away from me.

I wait to see what she’s going to do as she stands in place. Her gaze roams over to Lexie who is grinning wide as Charlotte sits beside her, no doubt talking her ear off.

Elizabeth straightens, and then slowly, and I meanslowly, starts to walk toward the small group by the fire. She approaches them and stops short by a few feet. I sense she’s going to bail, butDanielle spots her. She jumps from her seat and rushes toward my girl, wrapping her arms around her and pulling her close.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

Tank turns, looking for me. When he spots me, he tips his head, letting me know he’ll keep an eye on her.

Most men wouldn’t like their woman’s ex to be in the picture, but I’m not most men. My brothers are as loyal as they come.

Now, time to go get our new bed.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Elizabeth

Ibury my face in Danielle’s neck as we hug. God, I’ve missed her.

“I wanted to …” I start to apologize to her.

“Stop. Don’t say it.”

My fingers wrap around her shoulders, and I gently push her away from me. “I have to.”

She waves her hands in front of her face. “You don’t.”

“I do.” I pull her to sit down beside me. “I’m sorry. For everything.”

“You don’t have to be sorry. Anthony told me what they found.”

My eyes fall closed, and I take a deep breath. It’s embarrassing. The paintings. All of me … naked … sometimes in painful stances … covered in blood.

A warm hand presses against the side of my face, bringing me back to reality. I open my eyes, finding Tank leaning over, cradling my cheek in his big palm.

“It’s over,” he says gruffly. “We’ve all made mistakes.”

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