Page 52 of Forbidden Harmony

“Gideon?” Grace stuck her head out thewindow. “Can you come in here and help me carry some stuff out? I’ve got thebeers, but I’m gonna do some munchies for us too and I need you to grab thechips from the top shelf.”

“Sure.” Gideon stood. “Be right back.”He squeezed Preacher’s shoulder before disappearing into the house.

Preacher stared moodily at Tank. Fuck,what was he thinking? He couldn’t talk to Gideon about this. Addison would beembarrassed if people knew she’d asked him for sex lessons, and just the ideaof causing her embarrassment made that churning stomach acid rise up and burnhis throat.

“You’re kidding me.” Gideon’s voicedrifted out of the kitchen window.

“I’m not,” Grace said. “She took the busto Willington. Kira just told me when she called. Said she offered to drive herbecause she still doesn’t have a car, but Addison said she was fine to goalone.”

Preacher sat up straight when he heardAddison’s name.

“Why didn’t she just book an appointmentwith Preacher?” Gideon said.

“I don’t know,” Grace said after a slighthesitation. “Maybe he was all booked up.”

“Yeah but to go to Willington just for apiercing? What’s she getting pierced anyway?”

Preacher jumped out of the lawn chair and headedfor the door. He stalked down the hallway and stood in the doorway of the kitchen.

“She didn’t say. I’m assuming her bellybutton.” Grace poured chips into a bowl.

“That doesn’t seem like Addison,” Gideonsaid. “Is it just me or has she been acting weird the last little while?”

“It’s been tough for her since she andHarrison broke up,” Grace said. “She had her life all planned out and now -”

“What piercing shop did she go to?”

Grace and Gideon turned at the sound of hisvoice.

“What’s wrong?” Gideon said.

“What shop did she go to?” Preacher staredhard at Grace who gave him a thoughtful look.

“I don’t know the name of the shop, but Addisontold Kira it was on Peach Street.”

“I have to go.” He turned and strode outof the kitchen, slamming the front door behind him.

* * *

The usual forty minute drive to Willingtontook him twenty. His bike roared down Peach Street and he parked in front ofPaul’s Piercing Palace before shutting off his bike. He yanked off his helmet,threw it on the seat of his bike and stalked toward the door. If anyone inthat goddamn place had their hands anywhere near Addison’s pussy, he’d cut themoff and shove them up their own goddamn ass.

He whipped open the door. There was nosign of Addison and he stomped up to reception. “Where is she?”

“I’m sorry?” The woman, she was short withbright blue hair and multiple piercings on her face, stared nervously at him.

“Addison Moore. Where is she?”

The woman just shook her head, but her gazedarted to a door to their left. He glared at her and marched toward the door.

“Mister, you can’t go in there!”

He ignored the receptionist and pulled openthe door. Addison was sitting on the piercing bed talking to a bearded man.She was fully clothed, thank God, and she gave him a startled look when hewalked into the room.

“Preacher? What are you doing here?”

“Taking you home.”

He lifted her off the bed and set her onher feet, holding her arm in a tight grip as she glared up at him. “Let mego.”

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