Page 44 of Bound in the Dark

Highdive rubbed his forehead. How had he forgotten that they were in the middle of a war? He was usually the one hunting down people for meetings not the other way around. He couldn’t regret a single moment of the time spent with Diana last night but he should have been strategizing with Hawk or getting sleep so he was ready. For the first time since he had taken the position he had a fleeting wish that he could hand off the responsibility to someone else.

“Yeah. I’ll be there.”

“Okay.” Grinder’s eyes widened. “Damn. Were you hurt in the fight last night?”

What the hell was he talking about? He was about to ask then saw that his Brother’s gaze wasn’t on him but behind him. Highdive looked back and saw that Diana was out of bed, by the dresser completely naked, and doing something on her phone.

“No,” Diana answered distractedly.

Fuck she was beautiful. Sleek like a jaguar and completely unconcerned with her complete lack of clothing. Small and medium size bruises covered her body filling him with a possessive pride.

“She’s fine.” Highdive slammed the door in his Brother’s face. “Diana. You’re naked.”

She looked up from her phone. “So are you.”

He was, but that wasn’t the point. “You knew someone was at the door.”

“You’re serious?” She looked at him with puzzled eyes then threw her head back and laughed. The sound was beautiful, rich and full.

“Yes.” He wasn’t mad so much as surprised.

“Honey. I’ve been naked at Dark Secrets in front of a lot more than one person. From what I’ve heard you all like to get freaky during parties. How is this,” she gestured to her body, “bothering you?”

When put that way he couldn’t help but join her amusement. “I guess it’s not.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t have plans to start running around naked, but I also don’t care except for the fact it’s harder to hide weapons without clothes.”

He smiled considering the creative ways his woman would probably find to make sure she was armed even in the buff. Would there ever be a time when she felt safe enough to not consider weapons a mandatory part of her wardrobe?

The hours they had spent in each other's arms last night had not been enough. He wanted days alone with her where they had nothing to worry about except their mutual pleasure. Wrap her in silk rope and spend hours driving her out of her mind. Seeing her mindless with pleasure would be his reward.

“Don’t you have to get to a meeting?”

Damn, he did. “You are too distracting.”

There was no way he was going to get anything done if he continued to look at her gorgeous body covered in the marks of his passion. Maybe he owed some of his Brothers an apology. He’d ripped into many of them for losing focus over a woman and here he was just as bad. Highdive pulled on his clothes and was glad to see Diana was doing the same.

“That sounds like a ‘you’ problem.”

“Is that so?” He pulled her in for a quick kiss. “You don’t find me distracting at all?”

“I didn’t say that. Go, I’m going to grab some food. When your meeting is over you need to bring me up to speed so I can let you know how I can help.”

His knee jerk reaction was to tell her not to worry they had everything under control. It was going to take a while before his first instinct wasn’t to shelter her. Thing was she might be able to help. She probably knew Petrov personally and would have better insight into what the man might do.

He nodded and headed out of the room as he heard her phone ringing. Who would be calling Diana this early? It was just one more thing he would have to learn about her. When he had time.

* * *

Highdive was glad to see he wasn’t the last to arrive at Hawk’s office. Grinder and Sharp were seated looking worried, but Dozer and Tek weren’t there. Tek could be calling in but he doubted it. Since he'd stepped down from his position as CEO the Brother had been a lot more present and active within the Club. He gave a nod to everyone there and sat to the left of the President’s desk.

It only took a few more minutes before everyone was there and seated. Surprisingly it was Tek who spoke first.

“We’re getting chatter from across the country that something big has gone on with the Stepanov Bratva. The rumors are all over the place, but the one thing everyone agrees on is that the soldiers are all moving to consolidate their power with brutal tactics that have everyone, including their allies, turning on them.”

A loud rap was followed by the door swinging inward. To his shock Diana, not one of his Brothers, stood in the doorway. Her face looked like it was carved from stone.

“Why bother knocking if you just burst in without waiting?” Hawk growled.

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