Page 89 of Cinder
“Hmph.” Mrs. V. shakes her head. “You must be blind or just plain stupid if you can’t see how that boy can’t help himself when he’s around you. If you’re in the room, his eyes are on you. If you’re talking with any of his brothers, he’s one wrong word away from upending the table if one of them speaks out of line, or heaven forbid, puts a hand on you.”
She’s wrong. Lars doesn’t have feelings for me.
And it’s a good thing.
He was right to turn me down.
Because I will be gone soon, and this place will be nothing but a memory.
I breathe in and then let out a deep exhale. Yep, that’s a good way to look at it. Why complicate it with anything else?
I’m about to reply when Sticky and Dani walk in, kissing and pawing at each other like they can’t get enough of each other. Mrs. V. rolls her eyes as we watch them kiss all the way across the kitchen to the dining table. But they don’t sit. They continue to kiss each other fiercely and moan like they’re starving for one another.
Mrs. V. clears her throat, and they stop kissing long enough to look in our direction. Dani looks kiss-drunk, while Sticky looks put out by the interruption.
“Sorry, I’ve been working the night shift at the radio station,” Dani says, taking in Mrs. V’s disapproving expression.
They’re an interesting match. Sticky is old jeans and motorcycle boots. While Dani is wearing Chanel and a pair of Louboutin heels.
“And I’ve been counting the minutes until she got here,” Sticky says to us, then turns back to look at Dani. “Told her we needed to get some breakfast because she’s going to need all her energy for when I get her back to the bedroom.”
They both do that aroused chuckle couples do when they share a dirty inside joke, and all Mrs. V. and I can do is stare at them thanks to the graphic image he just gave us.
They start kissing again, and it’s very physical. I half expect him to bend her over and do her on the table in front of us. And they’re so vocal, I might have to bleach my ear drums later.
Mrs. V. clears her throat again, and the lovebirds reluctantly part. And it reminds me of the night Lars and I met and how Balls and his date fell into the room kissing and interrupted our moment.
“Might I suggest you take this to your room,” Mrs. V. says sternly. “Maybe send down for room service later.”
“I thought room service was only for the Prez,” Sticky says.
“I think we can make an exception today, Sticky, for all of our sakes.”
Dani looks up at Sticky and they both chuckle again, and then he lifts her up in his arms and carries her out of the room.
“What do they call him Sticky?” I ask.
“Because he could steal your lips from under your nose without you realizing it. Been in and out of prison for robbery before he joined the Knights.”
“And Dani?”
“She works at the radio station. Got quite the following. Belle used to be a nanny for her little girl, Aurora. Dani and Sticky met a few months ago through Belle, and next week they’re getting married.”
Mrs. V. disappears into the pantry for something while I finish up the dishes.
Other people start coming in for breakfast. Bikers. Old ladies. Club girls. You never know who is going to show and who isn’t. Some bikers are out taking care of club business while some are getting some shut eye. Others are doing exactly what Dani and Sticky are about to do.
But this morning, there’s quite a few of them around the giant dining table.
Including Beast and Belle, and their daughter Lucy.
As I wash pans and tidy the counter of breakfast dishes, I watch them eating breakfast with the others. The perfect little family among a chaos of bikers and club girls.
Beast clearly only has eyes for his wife. And his level of scariness drops when he looks adoringly at his baby daughter. But it’s easy to imagine how terrifying he’d be if anyone tried to hurt his wife or child. I’d bet my life he would go from zero to demon in a matter of seconds.
I look at the club’s first lady, envious of her confidence and uncomplicated life. She’s beautiful, with a heart-shaped face and a thick blonde plait hanging down her back. Her eyes are big and bright blue, and her lips full and glossy. She looks like a Disney princess. Except she’s dressed in apair of tight jeans, knee-high boots, and a Led Zeppelin T-shirt.
God, the way Beast is looking at her tells me exactly what he’s going to do to her when he gets her back to their room. And by the way she’s looking back at him, she’s going to let him do whatever it is he wants.
