Page 186 of Traitor

I groan. "Why?"

Bones smirks. "Because you had too much fun, and I'm not letting you ride on the back of my bike like this."

I pout. "I can still ride—"

"No, baby. You can barely sit."

I huff but don't argue. Mostly because I know he's right.

His phone rings, and when Mindfuck picks up, Bones sighs. "I need you to bring me a cage."

A gasp. Loud. Dramatic. I'm leaning so much into Bones that I can hear Mindfuck through the phone. "Bones? Asking for a cage? Is the world ending? Is the sky falling? Are pigs flying? Should I start building an underground bunker?"

"Just bring the fucking cage, asshole."

Mindfuck snickers. "On my way, lover boy."

He hangs up, grumbling. "I will fucking kill him one of these days."

I giggle against his shoulder. "You won't. You secretly like how annoying he is."

He groans. "I tolerate him. There's a difference."

I sigh, nuzzling into his side. "You like his annoying ass."

His arm tightens around me, and I feel his lips brush against my temple. "The only annoying ass I like is yours, baby. I actually love it."

And that...is the perfect way to end the night.

33. Home

Bones

Ilean against Temper's desk, watching as she moves around, packing up her stuff. The office is quiet, her assistant already gone for the night. It's late, but I don't mind waiting. I like waiting for her. It means I get to take her home.

It's been over a month since we started reconnecting and it feels like I'm winning at life. Dinners, coffee, late-night rides. Another paintball match at her request. I didn't let her win this time, and she pouted like I stole her last piece of chocolate. But she recovered fast, declared she'd "get my ass" next time, and that was that.

She's been riding with me constantly, to and from work at least a few times a week. It's my favorite way to start and end the day, her body warm against mine, her arms around me. I've been lucky as fuck that the weather warmed up fast. No snow, no ice, just open roads. She can ride with me anytime she wants.

Still, something's been nagging at me.

"I just have to fucking ask..." I watch her zip up her bag and turn toward me. "Where the hell are all your employees?" I arch a brow. "I know you have at least seven, but except for your assistant, I've never seen anyone else when I come here."

She looks at me like I just asked her if the sky is blue.

"Bones...how many branding projects do you think are available in a small, isolated mountain town like Silverpine?" She shakes her head, smirking. "My work is all online. My employees work from home. They're from all over the country. We design, we're not a factory. We don't need to be physically anywhere. Just a good graphics card and enough RAM to run all the Adobe apps at the same time."

I squint at her. "I have no idea what the fuck Adobe apps are, baby."

She laughs, shaking her head. "I figured. Anyway, I got this office because I needed structure. I'd just procrastinate at home otherwise. Plus, Amy keeps my life together. She's been amazing with all the organization stuff." Her lips pull into a pout. "Too bad she's leaving in two weeks. She gave me her notice last month."

That explains a lot. I never dug deep into her business, just got the basics. Now that I hear it from her, I'm even more impressed.

"This is amazing, baby." My voice is full of pride.

She shrugs, looking around like she's seeing the office in a new light. "Yeah. It's a far cry from my past self."

I push off the desk and step closer, brushing my knuckles along the side of her face. Her breath stills, her eyes locking onto mine.

---