Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
“Okay.”
Tank's true to his promise, and when I'm curled up in his arms, squeaky clean, scrubbed down by him personally, I don't think I've ever felt so warm and safe. The only thing better would be if all three guys were here, but then I'm not entirely sure I'd be sleeping.
And we need a bigger bed.
“Tank?”
“Hmm?” he mumbles sleepily.
“Thank you.”
He pulls me in closer, and then I can't keep myself awake any longer.
40
KAYLEE
Well, the guys haven't claimed me. Not for real anyway. On the other hand, I'm now working at Haunted Ink, and in the position I originally applied for.
Plus missionary, doggy, cowgirl and any number of other positions that might strike our fancy.
The last customer leaves after I take their payment, and then I flip the sign on the door to “Closed.” The days here aren't any shorter or easier than they were at Mom's salon, but my boss is certainly easier on the eyes, and when all three of them are here, it's amazing that I get any work done at all. It requires willpower—willpower, I tell you.
It's been two weeks since we got back. Mom and Dad aren't thrilled about me working in South Side, or that I seem to be keeping the company of not just one, or two, but in fact three big Screaming Eagles, but they were also so ecstatic to see me home safe and alive, that we're glossing over that for now. I slept at home for a couple of nights to make them happy, but then I missed the guys too much, so now I'm back to crashing in their rooms until we figure out something more permanent.
And yeah, when I say permanent, I mean it. I know there's no way I can go back to my old life. Not anymore. Working in Mom's salon after I’ve pretty much become a private stylist to all the sluts and some of the old ladies? Touch up some plain color highlights when I've now got all the hues in the rainbow to work with? It's like growing up on… on… ugh, unsalted eggs, and then finding out that there's steak and curries and candy and everything else out there. It's… possible to go back, but who'd want to. I'm sure Mom will understand eventually.
But it's not just the work and variety, of course. There's also the three gorgeous guys in the next room over, who—if I know them right—are having a beer after the last customer left and are waiting for me to come in so we can do something wild. And once you get used to that wildness, there’s no going back. Everything else is underwhelming at best.
“Kaylee!” Wraith calls me from the other room. “Got a minute?”
“Just closing up. Be right there.”
Once I'm sure the door's locked and everything is in order for opening tomorrow, I head into the back. I still have fond memories from when they showed me how they might tattoo me, and some other things too. Suddenly I'm hopeful that maybe we're going for a repeat.
When I come in, the tattoo chair is set up as if Wraith's expecting another customer. “Touching up one of the guys?”
“Sort of, but not really.”
“Okaaay?” There's something in the air, but I'm not sure what. Just a vibe.
“We've been thinking,” starts Wraith.
“Uh oh,” I say and smile, trying to lighten the mood a little. “Am I in trouble?”
“Depends on how you define trouble,” says Tank. He moves behind me and closes the door to the front room, in effect closing me in with them. Now, normally, that's not a problem in any way whatsoever. It usually means an amazing time for all of us. But something's weird, so now I'm not sure.
“It's been a few weeks since we got back now,” says Nitro. “Wraith's fully back on his feet, Hawthorne, Harris and the rest are fading. And we're all feeling things.”
“Feeling things?” I look from one to another, trying to figure out exactly what they're getting at. “What kinds of things?”
Wraith shrugs. “Things we can't ignore any longer. So we've decided that we won't.”
“Won't ignore what? Tell me what's going on!” I can only take so much build-up here. I feel like they're ganging up on me a little. I just wish I knew what they're up to.
Wraith stops, then nods. “Okay, first up—your job's safe. You can work here for however long you want.”
“What? Why wouldn't I be able to?”
“But… we're not gonna wait any longer.”
“Would you guys just fucking say what you mean, already, before I have a fucking heart attack?”
Well, that shut them up. They blink at me like I just dropped out of the sky.
“What? I can't swear sometimes too? Is it just a biker thing?”
Tank laughs. “You know what? Fair. Fucking fair, Trigger. We've talked and we've decided. We wanna claim you. Make you ours. Fuck, we've wanted to almost since we fucking met you, but we wanted to give you a little time to settle after everything that happened. But we're not patient men, Kaylee. So tell us. Will you be ours?”