I curled my hand into a familiar rude gesture, then wiped beneath my eyes with my middle finger.
“Number two,” he said, laughter in his voice. “I can’t imagine a scenario when you wouldn’t get me hard. Believe me, I’ve tried. You’re even hot as a zombie.”
“You’re so weird,” I replied, smiling as he pulled down my underwear and groaned. “I can do that, you know.”
“I’ll do it,” he replied, taking a deep breath like he was bracing himself. I lifted each foot so he could pull the pajama pants and underwear away, then did it again when he held out a clean pair of panties. “Because I’m obviously a masochist.”
As soon as I was dressed, Will got to his feet with an exaggerated sound of relief. “Number three,” he said quietly, tipping my head up.
“What’s number three?” I asked when he was silent for a long time.
“I don’t remember,” he replied, huffing out a laugh. He kissed me again, a little harder than the last time. “I have to go,” he reminded me when he was done. “Walk me out?”
I nodded and let him lead me out into the main part of the clubhouse, where there was a crowd of couples saying their goodbyes. Dragon’s lips were tipped up in a small grin at Brenna as she talked a mile a minute. Grease was kissing Mrs. Hawthorne in a way that made Will scoff in disgust. Cam was lifting Trix off the floor until her legs were wrapped around his waist, and I could hear him chuckle as Trix tipped her head down, her long hair shielding their faces.
Something about the tableau made my insides clench, but I couldn’t pinpoint what bothered me about it.
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Will told me as he pulled me forward. “Quick trip.”
“I’ll be here,” I said, meeting his eyes.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Good news,” he murmured with a grin. “Got a lot to talk about.”
I didn’t reply because he was suddenly hugging me, his lips at my throat. “Text me and let me know how the appointment goes,” he said against my skin.
I nodded as I felt my bottom lip tremble. I was glad he couldn’t see my face as I tried really hard not to cry. My hands shook as I rested the unhurt one on his waist, the cool leather of his cut smooth against my palm.
He stepped back and kissed my lips quickly.
As he pulled away, it was as if his entire body changed. The boy I’d known my entire life morphed into a stranger. I stared as he straightened his shoulders, tightened his upper body and let his face fall into a hard, emotionless mask. I knew in an instant that I was looking at the other side of Will. The side that my dad had warned me about and I’d never seen before. This was the Ace. The outlaw. The criminal.
He looked just like his dad and I finally understood why Grease made me nervous. There was the leashed violence just underneath the surface of both men.
Oddly, it didn’t scare me anymore. I didn’t fear Will at all.
With one last glance at my face, he turned and walked toward the group across the room. When he reached them, the couples broke apart and, as a unit, the men strode out the doorway.
I startled when Mel was suddenly at my side. “Did you see that?” I asked quietly as the women started bustling around.
“Yeah,” Mel replied. “It’s like they’re going off to war.”
My eyes widened. Oh, my God.
I didn’t hesitate. I was practically running for the door before Mel had finished speaking. When I got outside, I was too late.
Seven bikes were rolling away, single file down the long driveway. The gates were swung open as the first bike reached them, and without slowing, the bikes pulled onto the main road, quickly disappearing from view.
“You ready to go?” Amy asked as she followed me outside.
I didn’t answer her right away. I was too busy staring blankly at the last place I’d seen Will’s bike. Fourth in line. Three men in front of him, three behind him.
“I need to say goodbye to Rebel first,” I finally responded, turning slowly back toward the door.
“He’ll be okay,” Amy said as I reached the door. There was something in her voice. A surety. She knew exactly what was going on.
I nodded, but didn’t say anything else as I went back inside.
“Hey, Mrs. Hawthorne,” I called, interrupting her conversation with Farrah.
“Call me Callie,” she said with an easy smile. It wasn’t quite convincing. “You’re an adult and we aren’t at school.”
“I’ll try.”
“What’s up?” she asked. I glanced at Farrah, whose face was completely emotionless.
“Mel’s going to stay with Rebel, so you don’t have to keep her,” I replied. “But thank you anyway.”
“Sure. I didn’t mind.”
“Molly, we better hit it or they’re gonna make you reschedule,” Amy called.