Page 231 of At the Edge of Surrender

I snatched her hand again and walked out in front of her, turning around and pulling her along with me. “Nah, baby, I told you before and it’s never going to change. The only thing I’ve got for you is pleasure.”

And maybe I was too wrapped up to notice the movement in the distance.

Lurking in the trees.

Too smitten to remain alert.

Because I barely glanced over my shoulder when I felt the disturbance, peering into the shadows of the lapping trees before I hurried Emery up the steps and into the club.

Inside, we sat at the large horseshoe booth that I kept reserved for my crew. Music pounded from the speakers, the drinks flowed easily, and satisfaction simmered in every recess of my being.

My girl was tucked under my arm and the rest of my family were gathered around.

The booth was at the far-left corner of the club, looking out over the rambling expanse that was packed as always, bodies crammed together on the dance floor, the energy alive as the band played from the stage.

Emery and I sat in the middle section of the booth, flanked by Charleigh and River to our left and Raven and Otto to our right. Theo and Cash capped off each end.

We’d been here for the last two hours, catching up and sharing stories of our pasts, some far more sordid than others.

Our laughter rang just as deep as the ease that played through the hazy atmosphere.

“Can’t believe you finally tamed the beast,” Otto razzed as he took a sip from his beer, gesturing his chin at Emery who hadn’t stopped grinning. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Guess I was waiting for the only person who could do it,” I supplied for her, hugging her close. Loving the rush of heat that burned across her flesh as I did.

The girl was still shy, but she was steadily sinking into this family the way she’d been meant to do.

“It still kind of gives me whiplash myself, considering I hated him the first time I met him.”

I was surprised by her ribbing, and my chest glowed as I nudged myself a little closer to her.

“Oh, I’m pretty sure you didn’t hate me thefirsttime you met me.” I didn’t hide the suggestion, lifting my brows as I smirked down at her.

Toffee eyes went wide, and that energy blazed as she realized what I was referring to.

Charleigh giggled from my other side. “Love at first sight.”

Maybe.

Maybe that’s exactly what it’d been.

“Think that’s called lust at first sight.” Theo grinned with the taunting.

From under the table, Emery clamped her hand over my thigh as she peered up at me.

A silent message passed between us.

Our truth that this binding was profound.

That the connection we shared—the familiarity and comfort? We’d fallen into it that first, fleeting moment.

I shifted my attention to Theo. “Nah, brother, it was so much more than that. You’ll know when you feel it.”

He shook his head as he took a sip of his whiskey. “I can guarantee you that is not going to happen.”

Cash chuckled. “Yeah, because any sane woman would go running the other direction.”

“Says the guy who won’t come down from his cabin hidden in the mountain,” Theo razzed, chuckling under his breath.

---