After Glow (Lost Kings MC 11)

The asanas are much slower and gentler than our regular poses, which works since I’m slower lately myself.

After class, Swan swears we need to relax with tea and muffins before starting our day. I actually like the new ritual she’s added.

Wrath joins us, stealing a muffin from the tray. “Ladies, are you ready for the grand reopening of Furious?”

“You have a date?”

Trinity flashes an apologetic smile. “It’s about a week before you’re due.”

“Oh, that’s awesome. I’m so excited.”

“We’re gonna do a big party. Big event,” Wrath says.

“I’ll probably have to sit it out.”

Wrath frowns at me. “Why?”

I shrug, embarrassed to voice my fear to Wrath, who fears nothing. “What if I go into labor and ruin the whole thing?”

He lifts his hands in the air as if the idea is absurd. “My niece’s arrival won’t ruin a damn thing. And at least you’ll be closer to the hospital.”

My throat tightens with emotion, and I reach over to pat his hand. “Thank you.”

Trinity taps on her cell phone and brings up her calendar. “Are you and Rock still planning to stay at the hotel near the hospital the week of D-day?” Trinity asks.

“I think so.”

“Are you nervous?” Swan asks.

“Terrified.”

Wrath squeezes my hand. “I have faith in you. You’re gonna do great.”

Rock swears Wrath’s allergic to anything baby-related. But he’s been nothing but sweet to me during my pregnancy. Even so, I didn’t mean to detract from his excitement about the gym, so I try to steer the conversation back. “So are you excited or nervous about the reopening.”

“Ready to be back in business. This year has fuckin’ sucked.”

“I’m so happy you’re almost ready to re-open.”

“Me too. Forgot how much I hate working for other people.”

Rock joins us, coming up behind me and settling his hands on my shoulders.

Wrath lifts his chin at him. “Rock’s the only one I can tolerate taking orders from.”

I tip my head back in time to see Rock’s eyebrow quirk. “Why are you always giving me lip, then?”

“To keep you humble, Prez.”

Their banter is interrupted by a ton of noise from outside. Heavy machinery. Backup beeping.

The heavy, oily scent of tar fills the air.

“Oh, gross.” Trinity runs over to shut the window. “What the hell are the guys up to now?”

Wrath and Rock share a look. “What the hell’s going on?” Wrath asks.

“What is that?” I sniff. Closing the window didn’t help. My poor nose is more sensitive than ever and my stomach rolls. I take a sip of tea, hoping to calm the nausea.

Wrath slams out of the kitchen and returns in a few minutes laughing his ass off. “You believe this shit? We’ve been after Z for months to get working on that driveway. Now all of a sudden he’s finally having it paved.”

Heat sears my cheeks. “Oh my…”

“What?” Rock asks.

“Nothing.” Surely Z didn’t do that because I told him how uncomfortable the bumpy driveway made me.

Did he?

“You should go back to the house, baby doll,” Rock encourages.

“I have to get to Crystal Ball,” Swan says, clearing the table.

“We need to go down to your studio.” Wrath lifts his chin at Trinity. “A little notice from Z might have been nice. How the fuck we supposed to get in and out of here without tearing up the grass?”

“I guess you guys shouldn’t have picked on him about the driveway then.” A little guilt stirs inside me, since I have a feeling I’m responsible for this more than any heckling the brothers gave Z.

But Wrath laughs it off.

Before leaving, I steal another muffin, maybe two, stuffing them in a small brown paper bag. Rock just smiles. “I would’ve run out and gotten you muffins.”

“Swan made these. They’re heavenly. If you’re nice, I’ll share.”

He chuckles and wraps his arm around my waist, guiding me out the back door. Outside, the smell hits me even harder and I gag.

“Shit,” Rock mutters.

“I’m okay. You know everything bothers my nose lately. I’ll be fine.”

He growls and steers me toward the garage and the path beyond leading to our house.

Teller’s parking his truck in the garage and waves to us. “Hold up.”

He jumps down and opens the back door, grabbing something off the seat. “What the fuck is Z doing?” he calls over his shoulder. “If my paint gets scratched, I’m kicking his ass.”

Rock shakes his head. “I’m trying to get her home away from the smell, so hurry it up.”

“Oh, shit. Sorry.” He approaches with a sheepish smile.

My gaze drops to his heavily inked arm holding out a huge bouquet of sunflowers and irises. “What’s this?”

“For you.” His gaze skitters away once I take the flowers. “I’m sorry about taking off the way I did.”

“Oh, Teller,” I sigh and hold out my free arm, pulling him in for an awkward half-hug. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

I sneeze and Rock tugs on my hand. “Come back to the house with us,” he says to Teller over his shoulder.

Teller follows along, almost as over-protective as Rock at helping me through the path and up our stairs. “I’m fine,” I huff, brushing their hands off once we’re in the house. “Sheesh.”

My lips twitch as I stare at the two of them side-by-side with matching concerned expressions. Is it too soon to make a like-father-like son joke?

“Poor Charlotte’s going to have her hands full when you two start having kids.”

Teller smirks. “Like I’ll let her leave the house.”

“Oh, boy. Where is she? I better warn her.” I pull out my cell phone and fake-threaten to text her.

Rock takes the flowers. “Let’s put these in water.” He nods at Teller. “Thank you.”

Teller shrugs and runs his hand over the back of his neck.

“Come on.” I motion him to follow us. “Rock can make coffee for you two and I can sniff it.”

He glances down the hallway leading to Murphy and Heidi’s room. “They’re out, right?”

“Pretty sure.” I drop into my chair and play with the vase of flowers Rock sets in front of me. “These are so beautiful. Thank you, Teller.”

“I feel awful about you going to the hospital and—”

“It had nothing to do with it.” I wave off his concern. The doctor’s weren’t sure about the cause and I’m sure as hell not going to make Teller feel any guiltier than he already does.

But Teller’s not dumb. He leans forward. “You realize anyone can do a five-second Google search and discover Braxton Hicks are caused by stress.”

“You left out a key word—can be.” I tip my head in Rock’s direction. “They can also be caused by horny husbands.”

Rock chuckles and leans over to kiss my temple.

Teller blinks. “You know, before when we joked about you keeping your sex life to yourselves, it was kinda funny. Now, in light of the new information, it’s mandatory.”

Rock

Rock

The call I’ve been dreading for weeks comes a couple days after I return from the Demons’.

“We’re all set,” Sway says. “Room 808 at the Diamond.”

I whistle long and low, both to mock him and to give myself time, so I don’t tell him to fuck off. “You went all out, huh?” Surprisingly, there aren’t a lot of upscale hotels in Empire.

“Nothing but the best for her.”

“The Diamond know you’re filming skin flicks there?”

“No, and they’ll probably throw her out if they learn about it, so you gotta make sure she’s discreet.”

Fan-fucking-tastic.

“Sway—”

“I need your help on this, brother. I’m still on Priest’s fucking radar after that clusterfuck down in Alabama.”

“Sorry, brother.”