Page 7 of Burned in Stone
I bite back a grin, still staring at the magazine.
Leave it to Kya to call her out immediately.
Bones finally stops pacing and drops into the chair next to mine. “You look like shit.”
“Thanks, brother. Really what I needed to hear.”
“You’re welcome. I meant it as a compliment.”
“Of course you did.”
He claps me on the shoulder. A silent acknowledgement that he sees right through me, the same way he has since the night he dragged my sorry ass off the street and into the club’s world. Back when I was sixteen. Bones taught me to take control of my life, to never let anyone use me again. To take what I wanted instead of letting it be taken from me.
And what I want is sitting ten feet away, pretending she didn’t just melt against me in the elevator. Moan for me back at the bar. I’m done being patient. Done waiting for her to come to me. Tonight proved she wants this as much as I do.
I glance in her direction. She’s laughing at something Ginger is saying, but it’s strained. Her hand lingers at her throat. My cock twitches. She’s thinking about it. Thinking about me. About what we almost did.
The elevator opens again and our president steps out, followed by the club lawyer. Josie Bright looks impeccable as always—not a hair out of place, her suit perfectly pressed—but there’s an energy to her tonight, a softness I don’t usually see.
Stone, on the other hand, looks like he’s been running his hands through his hair. Rumpled. Restless. There’s a charge between them, impossible to miss, even in a room this crowded.
Guess I’m not the only one coming apart at the seams tonight.
“Jesus,” Lee mutters from across the room. “Everyone’s getting laid but us.”
Kya elbows him in the ribs. “We got laid three hours ago.”
“That was three hours ago. I have needs.”
I’m still pretending to read—this time about hospital renovations—but laughter threatens. At least Lee’s honest about his priorities.
Bones nudges my shoulder while everyone else catches up. “Wanna tell me what’s going on between you and that one?” He nods toward Mercy. “Lee’ll have your balls if you screw over his old lady’s best worker.”
“I’m not gonna screw her over.” My voice comes out low, tight. The words taste like a lie, because what I want to do to her is anything but respectable. “And Lee knows better than to get between me and what’s mine.”
“What’s yours?” Bones raises a brow. “That’s…new. Is she aware?”
“She’s getting there.” My gaze drifts to where she’s deep in conversation with Kya. “She’s just…complicated.”
Bones snorts. “Story of my life. Just be careful, brother. Don’t mistake a good fuck for something more.”
“No mistake, Bones. It’s more.”
Saying it costs me something I don’t want to examine too closely. More means complications. More means she could get under my skin in ways I don’t normally allow.
But I’ve been watching her for months, and she’s not like the others. She doesn’t look at me like I’m something to use. She looks at me like I’m a man.
Bones studies me for a long beat, then gives a slow nod. He knows what that means to me—being seen as more than the pretty face too many people mistook for an invitation.
I turn my attention back to the magazine, but the words blur. I can’t focus on anything but her.
“How long have you all been here?” Josie’s voice cuts through the low hum of conversation.
“Since about ten last night,” Bones answers, both of us turning our attention to where she sits on the other side of Kya now. “Axel called when Poppy’s water broke, and here we are.”
“It’s sweet,” Josie says. “The way you all show up for each other.”
“That’s what family does,” Duck says from his corner. “Show up.”
