Heartless (Steel Demons MC #6) - Crystal Ash Page 0,19

next week?"

"Then you have to be ready, Rory," Dad said softly. "Ready to fight like you never have before."

Six

MARIPOSA

"Do you mind dropping me off at the bar up the street? The one that’s been renting out rooms on the top floor?" I leaned back against Shadow, tilting my face up to look at him. "I haven't seen Tessa in a few days and I'd like to visit."

"Sure." He kept his eyes on the road, but released one of the handlebars to caress my back as he gently accelerated forward.

Every touch from him turned me to jelly. It was more than just chemistry and the newness of being together. Everything felt more meaningful, knowing how averse to touch he had been when we first met. He placed those fingers along my spine or threaded through my hand because he wanted that contact, not because it was expected of him. Knowing it was all intentional and thought out by him made me soak up every piece and hold on to every sensation.

When he pulled up to the bar, I never wanted the warmth of his chest to leave my back, nor his arms to come away from being extended on either side of me.

"Huh, looks like the Sons are here," Shadow noted, nodding at the bikes parked out front. “That’s Grudge’s ride. Pretty sure the other two are T-Bone and Dyno’s.”

"Oh, you should stay too then." I stretched up and long behind me to wrap my hands around the back of his neck. "Hang out with the guys while I visit Tess. We can go back home together, if you're up for it."

I expected him to refuse, knowing he had his limits when it came to social interaction. Eating lunch in a restaurant and window-shopping for a half-hour on a busy street would have been enough for one day, I figured.

Shadow stroked my sides, planting a kiss on me with a soft hum as I stared at him upside down. "Maybe I'll stay for a drink or two," he mused.

"You will?" I squeaked.

"Yeah, why not?" He swung a leg off the bike and lifted me out of the seat with a firm hold on my waist. It took a monumental effort not to swoon.

"Come to the upstairs room and knock if you get sick of them." I squeezed his forearm as we walked up the front porch together.

"I should be fine." He pulled the door open and stepped aside to let me through. "Grudge will tell the other two off if they get annoying."

"Well hey there, little lady—Shadow!"

Seated on worn leather couches and armchairs around a coffee table, all three Sons of Odin turned to face the door, mouths pulling into grins at the sight of the two of us together.

"So this has finally happened, huh?" T-Bone gestured between us. “Thought I saw sparks flying between you two on our little Blakeworth getaway."

"Don't you three have jobs or something?" I teased, rubbing my hand over T-Bone's shaved head.

"Hey, it's hard work being on official business from the governor," Dyno piped up. "We require lots of R&R."

"Uh-huh. Hi, Grudge!" I leaned over the back of the couch to hug the silent man around his neck. He hummed a greeting in return and smiled up at me, squeezing affectionately around my arms.

"How are you, brother?" Shadow eased into the seat next to him, accepting the empty glass and pour of whiskey the other man offered.

"Having a drink with us, Mari?" T-Bone lifted the whiskey bottle up to me.

"Later, maybe. I wanted to see Tessa and the baby for a bit."

Dyno cleared his throat. "You might want to, uh," he curled his hand into a fist and made a knocking motion as he clicked his tongue, "knock before you go in there."

T-Bone snorted, trying to hide a laugh behind his drink, his face going red. My eyes narrowed. What had they seen that they weren’t supposed to?

"I delivered her baby, Dy," I laughed it off with a wave of my hand. "There's nothing I haven't seen."

Dyno slouched into the couch cushions, hiding a grin behind his whiskey tumbler. "Suit yourself."

I ignored him, turning to run a hand along the back of Shadow's shoulders before heading to the room upstairs. "I shouldn't be long, but come find me if you need me."

"Take your time." He tilted his head up for a kiss and I happily planted a long, slow one on him in front of our audience.

T-Bone immediately started with the wolf howls, and Dyno was