Page 98 of Whips and Chains
The alternative was going back to Fang’s place and hanging out with Vaughn and Kian while they changed diapers and sang “The Wheels on the Bus” a thousand times because it was the only way Lavender would fall asleep each night.
Or going back to my place and sitting there with my memories, all alone.
Alone and unprotected.
I’d just made a big show of being an independent woman and storming the meeting and being a boss bitch, who wouldn’t take no for an answer, but going back to that apartment still made me feel sick.
Staying here with Levi for the night felt like a much more appealing offer. “Okay.”
His fingers threaded through mine, and he led me up the hill.
I didn’t miss the way he didn’t invite the others to stay for the party though.
Nor could anyone miss the awkward tension that crackled between him and Whip.
Well, maybe X missed it. He was too busy yammering about zone something running and metronomes and other exercise-related words I didn’t understand.
Grayson and Scythe were the first to reach the clubhouse, War meeting them at the top of the hill, a slow grin for his partner that heated even my blood so I could only imagine what it was doing to Scythe. Grayson kept going, disappearing inside, but Scythe stopped close to War, the two of them exchanging a couple of low words with their mouths close to each other’s ears.
I couldn’t see Scythe’s face, only the back of his head, but I saw War’s expression change from neutral to a sly smirk, and I had a feeling I could probably guess what the two of them were whispering about.
I doubted it was PG rated.
They threw off the same sort of chemistry as the two men walking either side of me did.
Not that my two would admit it.
I was more curious than anyone as to what had happened between them in X’s bedroom. But unlike X and his murder squad friends, I wasn’t going to push them. They would tell me if and when they wanted to.
Even if my brain was in overdrive conjuring up a whole host of situations involving the two big men, hands and tongues everywhere, and whole lot of clothes hitting the floor.
That shouldn’t have got me as hot as it did. It felt vaguely pervy and inappropriate and like it wasn’t any of my business.
Except when I was sandwiched between them like this, and it was so thick in the air I could practically lick it, ignoring it felt impossible.
Still, I bit my tongue.
We reached the top of the hill just in time to hear War invite Trigger, Ace, and Torch to the party. They declined, in favor of going off on their killing spree.
It still surprised me how many of these people didn’t even blink an eyelid at announcements like that. War just nodded like it was an every day occurrence and said he’d see them all later.
He turned his attention in our direction and jerked his head toward the clubhouse. “What about you guys? You staying for the party?”
X shook his head. “I’ve got a body to go deal with.”
War nodded. “Grayson told me. I’ll send a couple of prospects up to the gate to help you if you want?”
X saluted him. “Thank ye, kind sir. I can return the favor in ice cream. Only slightly blood-tinged.”
War wrinkled his nose. “I think we’ll just call it a no-strings-attached favor, yeah?”
“Suit yourself.” X turned to me. “Love you. Miss you.” Then he lowered his voice to a stage whisper, as if it were only for me, though everyone around us could hear. “Find out which of them is the top and which is the bottom. I need to know these things so I can make them personalized Christmas presents.”
“Is there a way your prospects could bury him while they’re burying the body?” Whip asked War. “I’m happy to pay extra.”
X walked backward with a shit-eating grin and pointing a finger at Whip. “You’re just jealous because I was planning to give Levi the T-shirt that says ‘Flip me over, Daddy,’ aren’t you?” He rubbed his hands together. “My Cricut machine is going to getsucha workout.”
War and I both bit back a laugh, but Levi and Whip didn’t seem quite as amused.
