Page 100 of Whips and Chains
Maybe it was the rush of commanding that meeting and getting my own way. Maybe it was just pure and utter exhaustion from a constant work schedule, combined with grief and uncertainty.
And there was more of that to come.
I’d freaking offered myself up as bait for a madman.
That was just…great.
But tonight, I was just going to sit here, drink a few beers, and pretend my life was normal.
That felt like the best plan I’d had in years.
I took another sip before I answered Whip’s question. “Levi asked me what I was thinking.” I tapped the side of my head with my forefinger. “But my brain is off-limits to the two of you right now.”
Whip settled back, twisting slightly so his body was angled more toward me. “Bet I can guess what you’re thinking.”
I grinned. “Doubt it.”
“You’re thinking about what a badass you were at that meeting earlier.”
I laughed. “You didn’t think I was a badass when I first showed up.”
“Fair. You took me by surprise, and I don’t ever want you getting hurt. But, sweetheart, you put me in my place.” He shrugged. “Not gonna lie, I thought it was hot.”
A smug smile of satisfaction but also one of appreciation for him settled on my lips. “Thank you. But that wasn’t what I was thinking about.”
“My guess then.” Levi shifted forward a few inches to put his empty beer bottle down. “You were thinking about how beautiful you look.”
I snorted on a laugh. “Yes, that’s definitely it. I think that every single day. Especially the days I wake up with one boob escaping my tank top, my hair a mess, and yesterday’s mascara still smudged beneath my eyes, panda style. Super sexy.”
Levi coughed and took another sip of his beer. “Fuck.”
Whip groaned. “That’s definitely what I’m thinking about now. Jesus.”
I shook my head. “Trust me, boys. That is not anything anyone wants to see.”
Whip pointed the lip of his bottle at me. “Oh, I very much disagree.”
“I’m with him,” Levi added.
I was sure X would have made a joke about that.
But I let it go. “At least you agree on something,” I said cheerfully. “You both agree you want to see me first thing in the morning. Maybe you both should?”
That was definitely the second beer talking.
Whip raised an eyebrow and took a sip of his drink. His perfect lips wrapped around the opening of the bottle, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. “You inviting us to spend the night with you, sweetheart?”
Something inside me clenched.
Levi let out a long, slow breath, his gaze stuck on me, waiting for my answer. “That really what you were thinking, Vi? You were thinking about the two of us taking you to bed tonight?”
Was I that obvious?
Except I knew I was. My gaze strayed back to War and Scythe and Bliss, who’d moved into the corner, behind the pool table. They were mostly in shadows, but they weren’t deep enough to completely conceal what they were doing. Bliss’s tits were out of her shirt, War’s hands and mouth all over them. Scythe’s fingers gripped her hips, and he rubbed up against her from behind.
The scene wasn’t even unusual. It was still early, and there were plenty of people just standing or sitting around, talking like Levi, Whip, and I were.
But Grayson sat side by side with another man in a Slayers’ jacket. Grayson had his woman on his lap, but it was the biker who had his hands under her skirt. She was trying to keep a straight face, but it was very clear to me that she was very much enjoying whatever he was doing beneath it.
