Not with my eyes, just seein’ them like love at first sight or some fairy-tale kinda shit.
I knew it the way certain birds know to migrate south, as if the impulse to love them was programmed in me, layin’ latent ’til the right trigger ignited it inside’a my soul.
That was how I felt about Curtains and Zeus.
And now, I had that feelin’ about Blue.
Like I’d been waitin’ for her.
Zeus read it all in me as easy as a fuckin’ picture book. A grin edged the corner’a his mouth in his dark beard as he reached forward to clap a hand on my shoulder and squeeze hard.
“You might not do shit the traditional way, Boner, my man, but you gotta way’a goin’ above and beyond for those lucky enough to have your loyalty.”
His words hit my gut like expensive rum, warmin’ me through to the bone. I reached up, slightly over Blue, to clamp my own hand on his shoulder too. It closed the loop’a energy between us so I could feel the tangible electric current’a our bond prickle along my skin.
“You give a man a good home, he’ll fight to keep it,” I reminded him ’cause he’d once said those very words to me when I was young and heartbroken with loss and so alone I thought I’d rather die than go on.
In answer, he shook me slightly, movin’ his hand up to cup the side’a my neck ’fore releasin’ me. When he stepped back, he dipped his head to grin at Blue.
“You’re welcome here.” He extended his hand and waited patiently for Blue to take it. Her fingers were engulfed in a big, tatted palm that had killed more men than I knew, but his touch was all gentleness. “You’ll find good people, you’re open to lookin’ beyond the surface.”
’Fore Blue could respond, the door opened behind us, and a blur of blonde hair streaked between us and Zeus. Loulou crashed into her man without care, knowin’ he’d catch her exactly the way he did, hands to her ass, liftin’ her into the air so she could wrap her legs ’round his waist. They kissed then, long and wet and totally uncarin’a the audience ’fore them ’cause they were totally caught up in each other.
Blue blinked at them, then looked up at me. “I forgot how, uh, affectionate bikers can be.”
I chuckled, taggin’ her hip to drag her back against me. She was so tiny the top’a her electric blue head only met the middle’a my sternum, but those sweet, soft curves pressed into me like a fuckin’ dream. When I ducked down to whisper in her ear, the scent’a sweetness like bubble gum met my nose and hardened my dick.
“You feelin’ neglected, Blue, I have a mind to show you just how affectionate I can be.”
“I think you just did,” she teased with a charmin’ kinda reluctance.
I grinned wolfishly. “I don’t mind givin’ you another reminder.”
She squirmed but didn’t move away. “You’re a slut, Aaron.”
“If bein’ a slut means I like sex and I’m talented in the sack, I’ll have to agree with ya.” My teeth found the lobe of her ear and nibbled at the edge in a way that set her hips cantin’ back into the bowl’a my groin. “You got a problem with that?”
“No.” The word was breathy, sweet as sin. “But that doesn’t mean I want any part of it again.”
“Ah, but I think you do, liar,” I countered, vaguely aware that Zeus and Loulou were pullin’ apart finally, and Curtains and Lion were discussin’ what to do about the stolen loot. “How about I play you for the right to seduce ya again? Take your pick: darts, pool, or cards.”
She peered back up at me, strands of blue hair stickin’ in her dark lashes, as vivid as those wide eyes. “And if I win?”
“You win, I drive you home like a gentleman and never bother you again,” I promised, just hopin’ to see a trickle’a disappointment in her gaze.
I was rewarded with a flash’a it, lightnin’ quick and bright across her face.
Masculine satisfaction rumbled through me.
She bit her lip as her gaze slid fearfully to the pool table ’fore dartin’ back to my face. “I don’t know, I’m not really good at any of them. Maybe you pick?”
My wicked heart rejoiced. The idea of watchin’ her bend over a pool table was too good to pass up, and if her shaky look at the table was any indication, it would be an easy win.
As desperate as I already was to feel her around me again, I took the easy road.
“Pool it is, then.”
“We’ll play with you,” Loulou proclaimed, havin’ finally unattached her mouth from her man’s. She beamed at Blue, and my heart gave a little pang ’cause it was just like her to roll out the welcome mat when one’a her boys brought a woman hometo meet the family. “I’m Loulou, but the brothers call me Foxy, and you can feel free to do the same. I have to say your hair is incredible. I wonder if I could pull off blue like that.”
