“So, they’re going to let you get the kids?” Savannah asks as she pulls glasses from a box and places them in the cupboard.
I’m currently in nesting mode. I need to get this house settled and looking like a home before the home inspection. Maggie said that there will be another person with her when she makes the visit. Apparently, this is protocol. I guess it takes a majority vote to place kids in homes.
“I think so.” I stack some Tupperware in the lower cupboard. “She seems confident. The background check came back clean on Tylan.” I drag another box along the floor pulling out old pots and pans. Some of it was from Bianca’s house while other stuff came from old members long since gone. Most of this stuff has been in storage for years. It may be old, but it’ll work to fill the cabinets and make it look like we know what we’re doing. Bianca insisted on filling the living room with new furniture. Tylan didn’t like it, but one look from me and he conceded.
The house Cut gave us is larger than the one that Sin and Savannah are currently in. This is a four bedroom, three bath house, with both a family room and a living room. I can appreciate the extra room because I remember the chaos my brother and his friends would make in our house. It was awful when they were over, taking up the living room with their smelly socks and boy farts. The more room we have for the kids, the better. I’m shooting for normal with them. As normal as growing up in an MC can be for two kids. I believe that these kids’ lives will be different, better than what Tylan and I both had. That’s why we’re doing this, isn’t it?
“Are you worried?” It’s been seven months since Savannah gave birth to Grace and she’s turned into such a worry wart. I’m not sure if the events leading up to Grace’s birth has jaded her, or if she’s always lived her life looking over her shoulder waiting for something to happen.
“I’m not worried.” I stand, placing my hands on my hip. “Why would I be worried? They’re kids. Not patients from a psych ward.”
“They have baggage,” she whispers like it’s a secret.
“They’re kids. They’ll adapt. Why are you so against this?” I cross my arms over my chest.
“No.” She points at my arms. “Don’t get all bulldog, Jenni. I’m only asking. I’m worried about you and what you’re doing here.”
“I’m doing what’s best for those kids. Don’t they deserve to have a chance?”
“Yeah, but–”
“Hey,” I hear Cruise’s voice call from the front door. “Brass said you guys need help hauling some stuff from the storage unit?”
I give Savannah a look, hoping that she’ll take a hint and help me out with him, but the shrug of her shoulder tells me that isn’t happening. I wipe my hands on the front of my shorts, heading out to meet him.
He’s leaning against a wall in the living room. His dirty blond hair is up in a slick ponytail, and his tattoos are on full display as he’s only wearing his cut and a pair of worn jeans. He’s nice to look at, but I can’t get over the odd feeling I get when he’s around, and I’m not going to push any type of friendship with him.
“What do you need?” His voice sounds flat. Annoyed, even.
“Okay, um…” I look around the room, ticking my nail at my teeth while I think of where he can start. The room needs a thorough painting, but with the time crunch, we’re going to have to tackle that after the kids are here. His hand wraps around my wrist, pulling my finger from my mouth.
“It’s not hard, Jenni Girl. I’m here to move the storage unit.” His voice has a rasp to it. At times, I think I hear a southern draw to it, but he tends to cover it up.
I start to pull my hand away, but it only causes his grip to tighten. “I need to, um…”
He misunderstands my speechlessness and gives me a sly grin. He thinks he affected me in the way he affects most of the woman around here. “You know you don’t have to do this.”
I rip my hand away, rubbing my wrist. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I don’t?” He takes a step closer towards me, placing a hand on my hip and pulling me to his body. “How is it that you’ve gone twenty-four years with this fine ass, yet you haven’t given it up to anyone?” He tilts his head, waiting for my answer.
Blinking my eyes, I swallow down the feeling of betrayal and humiliation. I know Twist, Poppy, and Scarlet wouldn’t tell him. I know it was either Kimmy or Britt. Shaking my head, I finally find my voice. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Are you really going to play it like that, Jenni Girl? Don’t you see what he’s doing? He’s cock blocking the entire club because he can’t stand the thought of one of us sinking into that sweet pussy when he can’t.”
“Get your fucking hands off her,” Tylan’s voice booms, making me jump. He’s heaving, body shaking and his eyes hold the fury that his body portrays. “How many times do I have to fucking tell you, huh?” He stalks towards us. The hand that Cruise still has on my hip rotates my body so that I’m facing Tylan with Cruise at my back. His eyes grate down my body and land on Cruise’s still gripped hand.
“The only reason you’re even taking those kids in is because it will keep her too busy with your shit to worry about living her life and looking for someone for her untouched pussy. You gonna tell me I’m wrong?”
Tylan’s hand flies up and grabs Cruise by the neck. I yelp, Cruise’s nails digging into my skin as I duck out of the way.
“You’re such a shit eating dickhead, you know that? Always in my fucking business. Stirring up trouble because you’re fucking pissed that she keeps turning her back on you to look at me.”
“You think you can keep her?” he grits out as Tylan tightens his grip around his neck. “She isn’t a possession. And she doesn’t need to clean up your shit.”
Tylan drops his grip on Cruise and immediately swings his fist, connecting with his jaw and knocking him on his butt in the middle of the living room. A scream rips from my throat.
“Get the fuck out,” Tylan seethes. “Get the fuck outta my house, away from my family. Next time you come sniffing around,” he bends down, “I will end you.”
I watch as Tylan stands, turning towards me. His face is unreadable as he passes me, and right when I think he’s going to continue alone, his hand shoots out, grabbing at my arm and taking me with him. He literally pulls me down the hall as I stumble to follow. Savannah, now on her cell, probably calling Sin, eyes us as we pass her. When I look back, I see Cruise shooting daggers at our retreating forms. A sudden yank on my hand has me turning back towards where I’m heading.
“Get in,” Tylan commands as he shoves me into the hall bathroom. My body jerks as the door slams behind him.
Turning around, I can see the emotions flooding his face. His lips are a tight, thin line as he stares down at me. “Wh–” I stammer, trying to get my own emotions and racing heart in check. “What are you doing?”
His eyes scan my face before grabbing the same wrist that Cruise had in his grasp. My wrist is red, and I can see the splotches of blood his grip brought to the surface of my skin. “Motherfucker, goddamn fucking cocksucker.” He feels up my arm, then searches my other arm.
“I’m fine.”
“Where else?”
“Where else?” I’m confused.
“Where else did he fucking touch you?”
I let my head fall back and blow out a long breath. “Here,” I say as I pull the waistband of my shorts and show him the scratch.
His eyes flare with additional anger, and he squats in front of me and inspects my injury. “He’s never to touch you again.” He lightly rubs the pad of his thumb over my skin, and I feel the touch of warm, soft lips against the skin of my hip.
“Never again,” he whispers against my flesh, making my skin pebble.
I watch in awe as he gently places the band of my shorts back in place before working his way up my body. His hands start low as they softly glide over my bare legs, up over my cotton shorts. The slight touch of his pinkies as he continues his way up, reaching his full height. He leans into me, searching my face.
Swallowing back the emotion, I will my voice to come. “I’m okay, Lick.”
His eyes dilate, turning his unusual brown hues into melted chocolate. He gently pulls a stray curl between his fingers before placing it securely behind my ear. I watch as his tongue darts out, wetting his lips. Tearing my eyes from his lips, my breath hitches when I’m met with the look of lust floating in his eyes. With sudden movement, he crashes his lips to mine. I tense at the action, but once the feel of his tongue sweeps along the seam of my lips, every worry dissolves as I melt into his touch.