Helpless (Steel Demons MC #5) - Crystal Ash Page 0,51

the sergeant asked with a grin. “Bet I can take down a buck before it gets dark.”

“No, get something light.” Dyno shook out a blanket. “We’ll be in and out tomorrow, right? Don’t need to carry half a buck along with a girl.”

“On that note,” I leaned against my pack, stretching out on my own blanket with Freyja at my side, “is there a plan for tomorrow? Josh mentioned not knowing where she actually is.”

T-Bone nodded, his smile faltering. “I have some ideas, but let’s eat and relax first.” He checked a rifle before cocking it and leaning the barrel over his shoulder. “Settle in and I’ll find us something light.” He gave Dyno an affectionate shove before walking off toward a densely wooded area.

A half-hour later, Grudge had a cozy fire going and the two Sons cuddled up while waiting for their third to return. A pang of longing hit me at the sight of them, knowing I wouldn’t be sandwiched between my own men tonight.

Larkan caught me staring wistfully and nodded in my direction with a smile. “Yeah, I’m missing my favorite snuggle partner too.”

I returned his smile. “For what it’s worth, I really hope Reap patches you in soon. You deserve it, and you and Noelle are already official in every way but the title.”

“Yeah,” he sighed, tilting his gaze up toward the stars. “It’s cheesy as hell, but the Demons, her—it feels like my destiny, you know? Even though I thought I was gonna fucking die when I ran into all of you.”

“I thought the same thing when Shadow tied me up and put me on Reaper’s bike.” I laughed, tossing a glance over to the man in question. “Remember that?”

“Yes,” Shadow huffed with air of amusement. “And I was just following orders.” He poured something from a flask into two mugs, then squeezed lime wedges over the drinks before dropping the fruit in. “Vodka tonics?”

“Sure, if you’re offering.” My insides fluttered as he handed one mug to me, the other to Larkan.

“Sorry I don’t have ice, and it’s not the same as that tequila you like.”

He remembers, I realized. And pays attention.

“It’s tasty,” I assured him, smacking my lips at the lime’s tartness and bubbles of the tonic water. “You can sit closer to us if you want.”

Shadow eyed Larkan and my tents set up right next to each other, while his bedroll and bike were several paces away.

“Um, if you’re sure.”

“Man, if anything, I should be the one on the outskirts,” Larkan said. “I don’t have a patch or nothin’. Hell, I should be the one getting food and making drinks too.”

“Normally you would be,” Dyno called from across the fire. “But we’re leading this mission and luckily, you’re not our prospect.”

“Consider yourself on vacation.” I elbowed Larkan playfully. “My guys aren’t here to boss you around.”

“Yeah, but is their old lady gonna tell on me?” He grinned.

“My lips are sealed.”

While we bantered, Shadow dragged his stuff closer to us and settled down on my other side. Now I was sandwiched between two men again—neither of which were mine, and only one I was entertaining the idea with.

Freyja couldn’t be more pleased at Shadow setting up next to us. She rose up from my blanket and crossed over directly to his, climbing up his torso to rub her head directly under his jaw.

“Hello again, kitten,” he chuckled, stroking a hand down her spine. “I guess you’re not really kitten-sized anymore. You’re getting bigger.”

Larkan choked on his drink. “Dude, a cat is one thing, but never tell a woman that.”

“Why not?”

“It’s just not what they ever want to hear.” He poked me in the arm. “Help me out here.”

“Not all women are the same, Lark.” I poked him back. “But generally speaking, yes. Most women aren’t happy to hear it if they’re gaining weight.”

“I used to be rail-thin, much thinner than Gunner.” Shadow scratched Freyja’s cheeks with both hands. “But I gained weight quickly and got a lot stronger as a result. I was happy to get bigger.”

I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Not that I couldn’t believe Shadow was ever thin, but the fact that he was sharing something about himself, unprompted. I wanted to curl up on his chest like the cat and listen to anything and everything he had to say.

“Yeah, same here,” Larkan nodded, oblivious to the fact that there was anything groundbreaking about this conversation. “Lifting did wonders for my confidence. I think getting bigger is a different