Page 29 of Cyrus

“You knew I called him to let him know you were here. He’s concerned about you. Likely thinks he’s bringing you home.”

“But he has patients to see. Did you tell him we were together?”

Cyrus snorted. “If I had, I have no doubt the whole of Salvation’s Bane would be here instead of Blade alone. No. I thought it best to get you inked and wearing my property patch before I tell him. Still might cause a war between our clubs.”

I bit my lip. “I don’t want to cause you problems, Cyrus.”

“You ain’t, baby. Besides, once you’re inked, we’ll have the whole of Iron Tzars at our backs. Besides, it might take some convincing, but I don’t think your brother will kill me too much.”

I blinked. “Did you… Did you just make a joke?”

He was silent, looking at me with a blank expression for several seconds. Then he grinned. We both chuckled.

After stretching and protesting appropriately, I walked naked to the bathroom. Soon after that, I found myself facing the vanity while Cyrus railed me from behind. As always, I loved watching the intensity of his expressions. Cyrus might not be able to relate to emotions or understand exactly what he was feeling, but they were there. And, by the look of his face while he did it, the man loved fucking me. I was good with that.

After our morning delight, we met Ace in his shop. The man was covered in all kinds of artistic ink, even up the sides of his neck and into his hair. There were instruments and ink laid out neatly on a table beside the lounge chair, along with a few sketches he’d made in anticipation of our arrival.

“Wylde said this was a rush job,” he said to Cyrus with a grin. “You expecting trouble?”

Cyrus shrugged. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

I rolled my eyes. “My brother is on his way. Cyrus thought it best to get this done before he tries to take me back to Florida.”

“Should I be concerned? ‘Cause I have no desire to be collateral damage if he doesn’t accept his sister being old lady to this asshole.”

Cyrus took a threatening step toward Ace, but I twined my fingers through his. “My brother only wants me happy, Ace. He’s not going to hurt anyone if I’m happy.”

The man glanced from me to Cyrus. “Just out of curiosity, who’s your brother? Anyone I know?”

“Donovan Muse,” I said with a smile.

Ace actually took a couple steps back. “Wait. Donovan Muse. The Donovan Muse. Blade. From Salvation’s Bane.”

I frowned. “That a problem?”

“Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me? His name’s Blade, for Christ’s sake! I wasn’t there, but I heard a guy tell the story of how he got his road name. I have no desire to be the one to give his sister a property tattoo without his knowledge.”

“You can be afraid of a man who’s not here, or a man who is. Me.” Cyrus had a thunderous look on his face. Like he was ready to do murder. It was as alarming as it was charming, in a crazy kind of way. Cyrus saw this as the last barrier keeping me from him. All he had to do was make it happen and I was his.

“I’m afraid of that girl’s brother. Ain’t too proud to admit it. Isn’t she his baby sister? Cause she don’t look old enough to be anything but. She even legal?”

“I’m eighteen.” I glanced at Cyrus, unsure of the protocol. “Do you need my driver’s license?”

“No. Don’t need your license.” Ace grumbled, scrubbing his hand down his face. “I’m not sure about this, Cyrus. Blade know you’re with his sister?”

“He will. When he gets here and sees her ink. Now. You gonna do this the easy way or the hard way?”

Ace and Cyrus stared at each other a long time before Ace backed down. “Fine, you bastard. But this is all on you. I’m not taking responsibility for any of it.”

“Good.”

We started going over designs and I chose one he’d designed with a colorful hummingbird holding a red heart dangling from a thread. Above it in elegant script were the words, “Property of” and below it woven into the branch the bird was perched on “Cyrus.”

“It’s so lovely,” I said, my fingers lightly grazing the design. “But I have a question before we begin.”

“Ask anything you like. I want you sure and confident of everything before we start.”

“I’m close to seven weeks pregnant. It’s safe to do this. Right?”

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