Page 41 of A Brother's Secret

“No worries. We’ll see you tomorrow. I’m going to have to leave part way and get back to the shop… I’ve got clients.”

“No worries,” I repeated him. “I appreciate everything you’ve done, everything you’re doing.”

“Ain’t nothin’ you ain’t done for me, brother. It may be easy for citizen motherfuckers to forget when they’ve been done a good turn but isn’t that part of why we’re in this life, to beginwith?”

I nodded, “Too true, man, tootrue.”

“All right, get a good night’s sleep.”

“Not a problem.”

I embraced him and Reave each on their way out, the rush of water going off behind me causing me to look over my shoulder. Mali was drawing a bath, and I had to wonder if I smelled, suddenly secretly self-conscious about it. I’d been sweating my balls off just about all day resetting and fixing cameras around the club’s compound so it was likely.

“Enjoy,” Reaver said with a wildgrin.

“I know that’s right,” I shot back and he ducked out. I shut the door behind them and it was like an almost physical shift, the way the energy of the building, the mood, changed. Like I’d suddenly just hermetically sealed me and my girl into some much-needed solitude together despite the clear rumble of the bikes starting up outside.

I went over to Mali who was running her hand through the water filling the trough. She straightened and let me pull her close. Her mouth still tasted of the sweet, sticky teriyaki sauce and I smiled againstit.

“Need to brush your teeth,” I murmured.

“Fuck you, then you need to brush yours, too.”

“Hmm, grab our shit and meet me backhere?”

“Yeah, where you hidingit?”

I chuckled, “Figured you would have gone through my things out of sheer boredom bynow.”

“Hey, just because I have no shame or real expectation of privacy doesn’t mean I don’t value other people’s,” she argued.

“Fair enough, baby.”

She was right. She didn’t care what people thought of her and she had no need for secrecy when it came to material things. I knew that much and more about how she operated. She didn’t keep objects as secrets. All of her secrets she kept locked away inside of herself and if she didn’t want to share, she wouldn’t. Still, that being said, I didn’t ever remember a time she didn’t share her secrets with me. Up until she disappeared, thatis.

I pulled my tee off over my head and kicked out of my boots. I felt naked without my cut, but it was locked away safe in the footlocker at the base of my bed in my clubhouse room. None of us liked going incognito, the Sacred Hearts had always been a force to be reckoned with and it felt disingenuous to all of us to hide our colors. Still, we had more to think about than just our own skins and if anything happened to the women or children…

I shuddered. I’d been a prospect when the shit had gone down with Tillie and the rest, and I didn’t ever want to see that kind of thing happen again. I got into the trough, easing down into the hot water, muscles starting to tighten up and get sore on me already. Mali dumped the last two bath bombs in and set the rest of the soaps and shit onto the stool to the side of the tub within easy reach.

“Bottle of water there,” she said indicating it and the tooth brush and paste next toit.

“Get in here,” I demanded and she smiled.

“Thought you’d never ask.” She stripped down slowly and stepped in, gasping. “A little hotter than I expected.” She sank down between my knees and eased back against my chest, sighing in contentment as I put my arms around her, cradling her close.

I closed my eyes and just relished the feel of her in my arms. The tub filled slowly around us, wrapping us in warmth and soothing aching muscles. I don’t think a single one of my dreams compared to the reality. Not even close. She sighed lightly and relaxed completely and we didn’t have to speak. It was like all those times, under our tree. We would lay there for hours, listening to the leaves rustle in the breeze and never even had to say a word. Yet every time we got up to drag ourselves reluctantly home, I got up feeling like it was the best conversation we everhad.

She cuddled back into me and I smoothed my hands along her skin beneath the water. She groaned and sat up, turning off the tap before settling back against me and without the cascading sound of the filling trough, the echoing silence in the building resounded.

“It’s supposed to storm tonight,” I murmured and she didn’t say anything, just gave a faint “Mm,” in response. I smiled to myself and chuckled lightly, letting my hands sweep over her in a gliding touch beneath the surface, kissing the side of her neck. She sighed out but it didn’t sound like a good thing; if anything it sounded frustrated as all get out. I frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ahhhh,” she groped for what to say, and I kneaded her shoulders, patiently waiting her out. “You’re all grown up…” she said finally and I wasn’t catching whatever double entendre she was putting out there.

“And so are you…” I said tweaking a knot in her back. She gasped and made an adorable growly sound that quickly turned exasperated.

“Fine, I was trying to be subtle and save us both some embarrassment, but since you won’t get with the fucking program I’ll just come out withit!”

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