After Burn Read online

  “Regret isn’t the right word, but I understand what you’re saying. Thank you, baby doll.”

  I still don’t think I expressed the right words. “You’re fair and humble. You know when to speak and when to observe. You’re good at what you do, but you give credit where it’s due and that’s the mark of a true leader. It’s why your brothers respect you so much and why others will resent you. It’s not sycophantic allegiance you’ve earned from your brothers. It’s genuine loyalty and respect.”

  He frames my face with his hands and places a soft kiss on my forehead. “Where were you twenty years ago?” he mutters. “I would’ve been ruling the world by now if I’d had you by my side.”

  I turn my head and rub my lips against the underside of his wrist. “Well, I was in high school, so you probably would’ve ended up in jail, not supreme ruler of the universe.”

  He chuckles.

  “Besides, a big badass biker like you wouldn’t have even noticed the quiet, nerdy girl in the corner.”

  He rubs his thumb over my cheek. “I would’ve noticed you no matter what. I bet you were just as beautiful back then.”

  “Somewhere I have picture proof that’s not the case. But thank you.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Rock’s phone vibrates in his pocket and he groans. Reaching to grab it, he shakes his head and apologizes.

  “What?” he barks into the phone. His gaze slides to me and he gives me a quick smile. “Now? Yeah, all right.”

  He hangs up and tosses the phone on the dresser. “That was Z. We’re needed downstairs at the pool.”

  “For?”

  “Family fun splash time? I don’t fuckin’ know.”

  “Good thing I brought a bathing suit.”

  Finally, I’m rewarded with a smile from him. “You have my full attention.”

  “Don’t get too excited, it’s a pretty conservative one-piece.”

  “Good,” he growls. “Don’t want you showing off for anyone but me.”

  “Trust me, neither do I.”

  He narrows his eyes and I shake my head. “I’m not putting myself down. I’m saying the only male attention I want is yours.” I wave my hand at the door.

  “Believe me, you have it.”

  Rock recently mentioned he liked me in purple. More specifically a dark purple bralette I like to wear at home. But the second I spotted this swimsuit hanging from the rack at Macy’s, I knew it would be perfect for our trip.

  “Give me a few seconds.” He digs through his own bag while I slip into the bathroom.

  After wriggling into the suit, I decide maybe conservative wasn’t the right word. Compared to the outfits a lot of the girls who visit the clubhouse wear, this seemed positively matronly. Now, I’m not so sure.

  Rock stares at me when I strut out of the bathroom, stopping to pose in the doorway for him.

  “You’re stunning.” He crosses his arms over his chest and cocks his head. “That’s your idea of conservative?”

  “Well, it has a sarong that goes with it.” I wrap the sheer purple scarf around my waist and tie a knot at my hip.

  “It’s not your bottom half I’m worried about.”

  The crochet suit has a high neck, but the woven material is almost see-through down the center and at the sides, giving it the illusion of being more sheer than it actually is. The back is mostly open with double ties that meet in the middle.

  Ignoring the look he’s giving me, I turn and point to the back. “Tie me up?”

  He groans. “I want to tie you up all right. To that bed. While I spank your ass for torturing me and fuck you until you can’t walk.”

  I cover my mouth with my hand to stifle my giggles. “Missing our fun room already?”

  “Fuck, yes I am.”

  Heat from his body sears my back as he presses closer. He drags the ends of the ties over my shoulder leaving goose bumps behind. “Most of your back is bare.” He strokes from my neck, down between my shoulder blades, stopping to press two fingers into my lower back, right above my butt. “I can almost see those cute little dimples I love so much.”

  “I don’t have dimples.”

  “Yes you do.” He presses against the spot harder. “Sexy as fuck. Gives me a nice target.”

  A soft moan slips out of me. “I love your filthy mouth.”

  “I want to put my filthy mouth on every pretty part of you.” He reaches past me and picks up a bottle of sunscreen. “You feel so soft and silky. Shouldn’t be putting my big, rough paws on you.”

  “I love those big, rough hands all over me.”

  He groans and tugs at my ponytail. “Pull your hair all the way up so I can get your back. I can’t have my girl getting sunburned.” He traces his finger between my shoulder blades making me shiver. “So soft, and delicate.”

  “Thank you,” I whisper.

  He takes his time rubbing the sunscreen into my skin, making sure not to miss an inch, knowing I’ll burn before I ever tan. “All done,” he finally says after working his way down my legs.

  “Your turn.”

  He’s patient while I give him the same treatment. When we’re both coated, he pops the bottle in my tote bag, adds a towel, and a few other items, then holds out his hand. “Sooner we make an appearance, the sooner we can escape.”

  Downstairs my concerns about my suit being too revealing vanish. The outfits on the other ol’ ladies are skimpy enough to make me feel like I’m wearing a parka.

  Where the hell is Trinity? I scan the area and fail to find her bright blonde and blue hair anywhere. She also bought a one-piece, so at least I won’t feel so out of place next to her.

  Rock surveys the vast pool and picnic area with a bland expression I can’t read behind his sunglasses.

  “Does the owner of the smallest suit win a prize or something?” I mutter.

  He laughs and shakes his head. “Z said they had a picnic table in the shade, in the far corner. Let’s circulate first.”

  Goodie, just what I want to do.

  But that’s what I’m here for, so I follow Rock as he stops to greet members from other charters and their wives or old ladies.

  One thing these women don’t lack is self-confidence. Most are bubbly and welcoming as if I’m a long-lost sister instead of a stranger among family. It helps me pull the stick out of my ass and relax.

  Since there’s so much skin on display, I take the opportunity to admire the “property of” tattoos some women have branded across their backs. The small “Mrs. North” on my hip, doesn’t seem so daring now.

  “That something that interests you?” Rock asks against my ear.

  His smooth, raspy voice heats me more than the sun beating down on us. “Maybe.” I move my hair to the side and tap a spot on the back of my neck. “Something smaller, though. Maybe right there.”

  He makes a low, growly sound of approval and scoops me up, raining kisses over my neck and shoulder. “You surprise me every day, woman.”

  “Here he is,” someone rumbles behind us.

  Rock gently sets me down and takes my hand, turning us to face the national president. “Hello again, Mrs. North. Having a good time?” he asks.

  “Oh yes. The hotel is lovely. It’s great that you’re able to rent the whole place for everyone.” Nerves makes my cheeks heat up and I shut my mouth before I continue babbling.

  Priest doesn’t seem to mind. He nudges the woman at his side forward. “I wanted to introduce you to my wife, Valentina.”

  Valentina. A perfect name for the statuesque beauty. Long, sleek, black hair falls to her waist, and even though she’s already a tall woman, she’s wearing stilettos, without so much as a wobble, that I’d break my neck in. Her warm smile highlights bronzed cheeks as she pushes her large mirrored sunglasses up to rest on top of her head. While she doesn’t seem as terrifying as Tawny, that doesn’t make me any less leery of her intentions.

  We share some introductory small talk before Priest asks Rock if they can locate Z and spe
ak privately.

  Ask is stretching it. What Priest issues is more of an order.

  Valentina smiles as our husband’s walk away, then turns her inquisitive copper eyes my way.

  “You two haven’t been married long, right?” she asks.

  “We just celebrated our two year anniversary.”

  “Ah, nice anniversary trip,” she says with enough sarcasm to make me warm up to her a whole lot more.

  “It’s been fun so far.”

  A little girl runs up and wraps her arms around Valentina’s legs, begging her to go in the pool with her.

  “Later, Mina. Grandma is busy right now.”

  Grandma? Holy shit. She certainly doesn’t look old enough to be a grandmother.

  Don’t you dare say that out loud.

  “But later this afternoon I’m all yours,” she promises the little girl.

  Mina only pouts for a second before racing off to play with other children around her age.

  Valentina straightens up and smiles. “She’ll either keep me young or be the death of me.”

  I chuckle but don’t have a lot to offer on the subject. She takes my arm and leads me around the edge of the pool. I’m introduced me to several old ladies from around the country, giving me an even better idea of how large the Lost Kings really are. Somehow I magically keep my foot out of my mouth.

  “How do you like upstate New York?” Valentina asks when we’re alone again.

  “Oh, I love it except for the summers and winters.” I consider her question again. “Did you mean the geography or the club?”

  She smiles. “Both.” Her gaze searches the crowd before landing on Rock, Z, and Priest. “My husband says Rock is national board material.”

  “Oh.” I’m not sure what to say. “That’s good.”

  “Our clubhouse isn’t far from here. Hopefully there will be time for you to visit before the end of the weekend.”

  “Oh, sure.”

  “The national meeting usually takes place near wherever the president’s club is based.”

  “Oh.” God, I sound like a moron. Surely I can come up with a better answer. “That must mean a lot of work for you.”

  “It means more people stopping by. But this.” She raises her hands to indicate the hotel. “The board plans this out.”

  Across the patio, I catch Trinity and try to wave her over. She smiles and nods before turning back to her conversation with Charlotte.

  Wench.

  “That’s our SAA’s wife,” I explain.

  “You’re close?”

  “With Trinity? Oh yes.”

  “That’s good.” She glances around the pool area. “We have our own sisterhood, right? Whether we like each other or not, we have each other’s backs. But it’s easier if we get along.”

  “There are only four of us, so we’re pretty tight.”

  “Good. I like to hear that.”

  While she’s pleasant about it, I can’t help feeling that Valentina’s judging me. Assessing whether I’m fit to be the wife of a national board member.

  Just when I thought I was getting the hang of my current role.

  So many questions run through my head. How long has she been married to Priest? How long has he been national president? How the fuck is she the most wrinkle-free grandmother I’ve ever seen? Stuff like that.

  Wrath stops by and nods to Valentina. “Good to see you,” he says in probably the most pleasant voice I’ve heard Wrath use with someone outside of our clubhouse.

  “Been a while,” she answers. “Good to be here and see everyone.”

  He rests his arm on my shoulders, giving me a reassuring squeeze that I appreciate more than he probably realizes. “You seen Trin?”

  I point over my shoulder. “She was over that way with Charlotte a little while ago.”

  “See you ladies later.”

  After he’s gone Valentina nods in approval. “You have the other members’ respect.”

  “Well, Wrath hazed me pretty good at first. He didn’t like that I was a lawyer.” Shoot, maybe I shouldn’t have said that? “Actually, I think he just didn’t like me in general,” I add because I’m pretty sure that’s true too.

  “That’s his job. Protect the club and his brothers from outsiders.” She stops and allows her gaze to wander over the crowd, before returning to me. “Priest’s brothers gave him shit about me back in the day.”

  “So, it’s customary?”

  “No. I’m half-Mexican and they didn’t care for that,” she states plainly.

  What the … how the heck do I respond to that? Everything I come up with in my head sounds stupid and useless. It hasn’t escaped my notice how women are treated in this world, but I’ve never given a lot of thought to how much harder it might be for women of color.

  My brain blanks on any sort of intelligent response. “But you won them over?” I say to fill the silence.

  Her lips curl up. “Not exactly. Priest shot one of the brothers in the foot for calling me a border bunny among other colorful terms. It seemed to do the trick.”

  “Oh. Wow.” I cover my mouth with my hand and laugh. “That’s effective.”

  “I still get the occasional hola, momacita thrown at me.” She shrugs. “A hard stare and firm ‘fuck off’ usually works.”

  “Damn, you’re brave.”

  Her face hardens, losing the girls-getting-to-know-each-other look of a few seconds ago. “Don’t engage, don’t apologize, don’t take any shit, Hope.”

  “The three D’s?”

  She smiles again. “You got it.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Priest returns Rock to me an hour or so later. Valentina takes her husband’s arm and waves, promising to catch up with me again later.

  “How’d that go?” Rock asks, watching them walk away.

  “I like her. She’s a lot less terrifying than Tawny,” I whisper. Lifting my gaze, I stare him straight in the eyes. “Although I do have some questions for you when we’re alone later.”

  The corner of his mouth twitches. “I can only imagine.”

  “Let’s go find Heidi. I want to see how Alexa likes the pool.”

  He takes my hand and we move closer to the pool, finding Heidi in the shallow end with Alexa in her arms.

  “She seems to like it,” I call out to get Heidi’s attention.

  “Yayayaya!” Alexa babbles, reaching for my hand. Heidi floats her over to us and I playfully splash some water at them. Alexa squeals and slaps her hands in the water even faster.

  “Have you seen Murphy?” Heidi asks. “He was worried she’d be scared of the water, but she’s loving it.”

  “He’s on his way,” Rock assures her.

  Heidi turns and points to a table in the corner. “We set up over there. Charlotte and Trinity are around somewhere. Wrath returned from where all the other Wraths went.” She grins at her joke about the SAA meeting. “I’m not sure where my brother is.”

  We bump into Teller and Murphy on our way to the table.

  “Oh my fuck, is that Heidi?” Murphy stops in his tracks, staring slack-jawed at Heidi as she carries Alexa out of the pool and over to a small group of women with children about Alexa’s age.

  “What the fuck is she wearing?” Teller grumbles.

  I scowl up at him. “A suit that she looks lovely in.”

  “Did you do this to her, Hope?” he asks.

  “Yup. She’s almost twenty, Teller. What would you like her to wear to a pool party? A bag?”

  He sweeps his gaze over me. “You’re covered.”

  “Watch yourself,” Rock growls from behind me.

  I fix my stink-eye stare on Teller. “I’m also thirty-something.” Dipshit. “Don’t make me tell Charlotte you’re giving Heidi a hard time,” I warn.

  He laughs but doesn’t have a chance to respond before Murphy slaps his arm.

  The look on Murphy’s face is all possessive, protective male who’s not fucking around as he beckons Teller closer. “She�
�s still self-conscious since having Alexa,” he explains in a low, threatening voice. “So if you say one damn thing about what she’s wearing, I will seriously fuck you up.”

  Teller blinks and stares at his best friend while I bite my lip and try not to laugh.

  “I’m not joking,” Murphy adds.

  Teller holds up his hands. “Okay. Okay. I’ll just pretend my baby sister’s not on display in front of the entire organization. No problem, bro.”

  “Fuck off.”

  “Murphy.” I grab his arm and pull him closer before he hauls off and punches Teller. I lean up on tiptoes. “I know Carter’s busy, so bring Alexa over to us. We’ll watch her for the afternoon so you two can have some grown-up alone time if you want.”

  Murphy hesitates. “You sure you don’t mind? Don’t you want your own alone time?”

  “We had alone time earlier and I’m sure we’ll have more later.”

  Teller groans, but Murphy’s already stalking over to the pool and tapping Heidi on the shoulder.

  A couple of the girls try flirting with Murphy, but he brushes them off. He takes Alexa in one arm and wraps his other around Heidi’s waist.

  Teller shakes his head. “Can’t even be mad at him since he’s so good to her.”

  “You just like starting trouble.”

  “I’m a guy. I don’t want to see a chick, think ‘oh, she’s hot,’ then realize it’s my baby sister.” He shivers.

  Rock cocks his head and stares at Teller. “What the fuck’s wrong with you?”

  Charlotte sneaks up behind her man and grabs his shoulders, jumping up to kiss his cheek. “Were you checking out girls?”

  He turns and sweeps her into his arms, staring down at her. “No, I was looking for you.”

  Charlotte throws her head back laughs. “It’s all good. You can tell me the truth. Found a couple guys who fill out their shorts quite nicely for me to look at too.”

  Now she has Teller’s full attention. “That right?”

  They take off for the pool, teasing each other while Rock and I shake our heads.

  “She’s probably the best thing that ever happened to him,” Rock says.

  “I love that she gives it right back to him.” I watch them playfully teasing each other for a few seconds. “He’s good for her too, I think.”