Page 13 of Crash & Burn

“Crash, when you’re done playing with the Double Deuce, why don’t you let Spark go.I’m taking Willow out front.I think she needs some fresh air.”

Burn grabbed Willow’s hand and led her out of the room.They were only halfway down the hall when the Double Deuce began to scream.Willow pressed closer to him and Burn stopped, swung her up into his arms, and carried her out the front door.When they stepped out onto the porch, he sat on the steps with her in his lap.

“I’m so sorry we weren’t here to protect you,” he said, smoothing her hair back.“Can you ever forgive us?”

“It’s not your fault.You had to go.I’m just glad you returned when you did.He was whispering filthy things to me, telling me about the good time he was going to have before he killed me.”

“I hope Crash makes him suffer,” Burn muttered.

The roar of bikes filled the air and his club brothers pulled into the parking lot, each pausing before coming up the steps.Blitz pushed his way to the front and folded his arms over his chest.

“Something you want to share with us?”Blitz asked.

“I don’t know if the Prospects are alive or not.There are three dead Double Deuces inside the boardroom, assuming Crash has finished playing with the last one.They came after Willow.”

Blitz looked at Willow then back at Burn.“We failed to protect your mate, and I apologize for that.If you knew something was wrong, you should have let us know.”

Burn snorted.“You were hell-bent on revenge, no way in hell you’d have come back to the clubhouse just because of my gut feeling.It’s why Crash and I pulled off to the side and the rest of you kept going.Those behind us had to have figured out what was going on.Even the Road Captain didn’t bat an eye.No one stopped us, so we came home to protect our mate.”

Blitz nodded.“And is this still your home?”

“We’re going to look for a house, and I’ve got a hotel room for us for a week.I think Willow needs a break from the M.C.And maybe Crash and I do too.”

“Fair enough.We’ll go inside and clean up.I’ll make sure Crash comes back.I take it those are his clothes?”Blitz asked pointing to a pile on the porch.

“Yeah.He went tiger for this one.And I’m damn glad he did.”

Blitz looked at Willow and held out his hand.“I’m sorry I doubted you, that I didn’t believe your story.If I hadn’t been so pigheaded, then none of this would have happened.If I’d ever thought you were truly in danger, I wouldn’t have kept your mates from you.I hope you accept my apology and are willing to come hang out with us sometime.”

“I’d like that,” Willow said.“But Burn is right.I need a break, even if it’s just for a week.”

Burn cuddled Willow close as his club brothers trooped past them and into the clubhouse.It wasn’t long before Crash joined them, quickly pulling on his clothes.The lack of blood and damp hair told Burn that his twin had felt the need to shower before seeing their mate.It made him wonder just how bloody things had gotten in the boardroom, but he wasn’t going to ask.

Crash took Willow’s hand and pulled her up into his arms.“Are you all right, sweetheart?”

“I’m fine now that the two of you are here.I was scared, and I knew the two of you had gone with everyone else.”

“We’ll always come for you,” Burn said, rising to his feet.“Now, what do you say we get out of there?”

Willow’s stomach rumbled.“I never got a chance to eat the burger you had asked the Prospect to make for me.Do you think we could pick something up on the way back to the hotel room?I’m not picky.Anything will be fine.”

Crash mumbled something under his breath and Burn elbowed him.“She’s been through a trauma, dickhead.Besides, you know as well as I do that she’s still sore from earlier.No more playing in the bedroom until she’s healed.”

“As long as I get to sleep with her cuddled between us, I’m fine with that,” Crash said.“I’m just feeling the effects of my shift.”

Willow frowned.“What effects?”

“It makes us horny,” Burn said with a grin.“But no worries, baby, we don’t expect anything from you for a few days.Right now, we just want to take care of you.”

Her cheeks flushed a becoming pink and Burn couldn’t resist the urge to kiss her.He was every bit as anxious as Crash to claim her again, but he could be patient.It was more important to feed her and get her settled for the night than to slake his lust.With one bite, she had become his entire world, and he knew Crash felt the same.

“There’s something I should tell you,” Willow said.“When that man had me by the throat, when I thought I was going to die, all I could think was that I wanted to be back with the two of you.I’m going to do my best to be a good mate to you both, and I think a good start would be some self-defense lessons.I don’t want to ever put the two of you in danger again just because I don’t know how to defend myself.”

Crash kissed her cheek.“Honey, we’ll get started on that first thing tomorrow if you want.But right now…” He shared a look with Burn.

“Right now, we’re going to pick up some fried chicken and have a picnic in bed while we watch movies all night.Sound good?”Burn asked.

“It sounds perfect.”

Crash and Burn cuddled her between them.

“Every night with you is perfect,” Burn said.“You’re everything to us, Willow.And we’re going to spend the rest of our lives spoiling you and showing you just how much you mean to us.”

“I think I can get used to that,” she said softly, then went on tiptoe to kiss first him then Crash.

As they mounted their bikes, and Willow wrapped her arms around Burn’s waist, he knew this was exactly where he belonged—with his brother by his side and their woman wrapped around him.It all might have started with an act of revenge, and a bit of arson, but he was glad Crash had heard Willow’s screams last night.Because now they’d get to spend the rest of their lives with an incredible woman who would probably surprise them over and over again.The “L” word was on the tip of his tongue, but it was too soon, and he didn’t want to frighten her, or make her feel like she had to say it back.They would have the rest of their lives together—plenty of time to say what needed to be said.

---