Joker (Hell's Ankhor #8) - Aiden Bates Page 0,75

A relationship. Brennan with his arms around my neck and his smile against mine, even after he knew my biggest, secret shame. He didn’t seem to think it was shameful at all. He knew me, and still wanted to be with me.

“Let’s start planning,” I said. “Two weeks isn’t a lot of time to put a Halloween fundraiser together.”

“Hm, I think we can wait just a few minutes,” Brennan murmured as he deepened the kiss and shifted his hips against mine.

Warmth swelled in my chest. I definitely couldn’t argue with that.

24

Brennan

“You ready for this?” I asked as I slipped my arms around Joker’s waist, then dropped a kiss onto his neck, his chest pressed to my back.

“As I’ll ever be,” Joker said, folding his hands over mine.

I hooked my chin over his shoulder and adjusted the devil horns headband I was wearing as I looked out over the parking lot. Somehow, we’d managed to put together a hell of a party in just two weeks, with the help of the club and the hospital administration. All of Joker’s brothers-in-arms were present, from both the Elkin Lake chapter and the Junee chapter, and everyone had dressed up in costumes for the kids.

Blade looked a little spooky in his skull face paint, but the effect wasn’t nearly as powerful when he grinned at Logan, leaning against his motorcycle. The bikes were all lined up, saddlebags open and full of candy and trinkets to hand out.

Nix, Tru, Beau, and Dawson were finishing setting up the last of the tables and chairs, while Star and Siren checked over the face-painting station. Dante and Heath were laying out an insane amount of Halloween-themed baked goods: cupcakes with gummy worms, skeleton sugar cookies, and eclairs like witch’s fingers. Maverick and Jonah had organized a toy drive and were setting up the display near the food.

Gunnar and Raven were handling the on-site financial donations, Gunnar manning the donations bucket dressed like Frankenstein, and Raven the mad scientist. Rebel and Coop hooked up the speakers and started bickering over the playlist, with Jazz and Tex refereeing—Tex was not wearing a costume, and Jazz was dressed as Tex, Stetson and all.

The whole parking lot looked amazing. Bigger than I’d imagined when I’d lobbed the idea impulsively to Joker. I’d thought we’d have a few guys in costumes, a few bikes, a few ways to make the kids laugh. But the club had jumped at the opportunity to get involved, and it only took two church meetings—apparently—to dole out the tasks.

The kids were due to come down any minute now, and community members were planning on attending, too, thanks in large part to the fliers that had been handed out at Stella’s all week. It was going to be a hell of a party.

“It’s going to be so fun,” I said, nuzzling into Joker’s neck again. “The kids are going to flip.”

“I hope so,” he murmured, then laughed when I kissed the smooth skin of his neck again. “You’re a devil, not a vampire.”

“Can’t help it,” I admitted. “You smell too good.”

“I smell the same as I always do,” Joker said through a laugh, some of the tension easing from his posture. “You’re just addicted to me.”

“So what if I am?” I said. “Do you mind?”

Joker untangled himself from my arms, only to turn around and kiss me for real. When he pulled away, his expression was open and soft. “Thank you. For helping with this… and for everything.”

I adjusted the halo headband Joker was wearing. He looked so fucking cute in it. Still couldn’t believe he’d agreed to this silly angel-and-devil idea. I couldn’t help but kiss him again.

“Come on,” I said. “Let’s test out some of Dante’s cookies.”

I tugged Joker over to the table where the goodies were set up. Dante and Heath were finishing up unboxing the last of them, and the display looked delectable, overflowing with treats. Both Heath and Dante had worn aprons from the bakery and had headbands that made it look like they had knives sticking out of their heads.

“Spooky costumes,” Joker said with a grin.

“Yours is ridiculous,” Heath said. “Suits you, though. Come here, try these Linzer cookies, they’re shaped like coffins.”

Joker laughed as Heath tugged him to the far end of the display and pointed out the cookies, explaining how he’d decorated them with his hands moving quick and animated as he spoke. Joker watched him with a soft expression and a warm smile before he broke a cookie in half