After Glow (Lost Kings MC 11)

The testosterone overload triggers my need to pee. I grab Trinity’s hand and drag her toward the bathroom.

When I shut the door behind us, I find her laughing.

“See? You’re a hot mamma.”

“Ugh. Shut up or I’m going to make you help me pull my Spanx down.”

She shakes with laughter. “That’s what sisters are for,” she says, reaching for me. “Come here.”

“Get away from me. It’s not funny.” I slam the bathroom stall door. “Stop laughing.”

“I can’t help it.”

“What. The. Fuck, Trin?”

“The proof of your obvious fertility must trigger some lizard brain instinct to breed.” She laughs some more.

“Gross.”

I finish and trade places with her. “What’d you think of the show?” I call over my shoulder while I’m washing my hands.

“Bitch must have abs of steel.”

I chuckle at that.

“No, seriously, it was really cool. I’m glad Z took the risk. I hope it paid off for him. Some of the guys razzed him pretty hard about it, but I think it was a success.”

Mental note—make sure to congratulate Z before leaving.

“Should we even go back out there?”

“Well, I’m not staying in here.”

Rock

Fucking Sway. He’s fucking with me because he knows I won’t cause a scene in front of Loco or all these other people. Looking at my girl like that. Talking to her that way. I’m ready to kill him.

Loco’s working my last nerve too, but it’s different. He thinks he’s showing Hope respect by complimenting her in his creepy ass way. I’m not as bent about his behavior.

But Sway? He’s a brother. He knows better.

After a few minutes of tense conversation, Loco finally wanders off to meet with other, less testy people. I take the opportunity to push Sway farther down the hallway. Away from prying eyes, knowing Wrath has my back.

Wrath steps behind me, forming a wall of privacy so I can have a private “chat” with Sway.

Sway’s ability to read the room must be off, because his eyes widen when I place my forearm across his throat, driving him backwards. His back hits the wall with a thump. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” The words scrape from my throat, low and furious.

He chokes and makes a futile attempt to remove my arm.

“All the years I’ve known you, have I ever shown Tawny that kind of disrespect?” I press a little tighter and his eyes bulge.

“Rock,” Wrath’s warning rumble signals me that it’s time to ease up.

Sway staggers to the side, choking and gasping, then makes the mistake of trying to punch me in the gut. I’m quicker though. I grab his fist and twist his arm, laughing in his face. “What’s your next move, Sway?”

I sense someone else come up behind us and I’m almost certain it’s Teller.

“If you need to talk to Stella, do it,” I say in a low voice. “You want to say thank you to Z for helping out your girl, that’s fine. But you even fuckin’ look in the direction of my wife again tonight, we can take this out back and settle it for good.” I lean in closer. “And I don’t think you have it in you, old man.”

“Fuck!” He finally pulls free from my hold, staggers backwards and rubs his arm. “The fuck is wrong with you, Rock?”

“Probably the breaking of fifty years of biker code by hittin’ on his ol’ lady that’s got him riled up.” Wrath shrugs.

“I didn’t hit on her.” Sway waves his hand in the direction the girls disappeared. “Aren’t pregnant gals all crazy, hormonal, and stuff? I was trying to make her feel good.”

“Bull fucking shit. That’s a weak-ass excuse, Sway. I’m surprised at you,” Teller says.

Sway raises an eyebrow. He was already an officer of the club when Teller patched in and Teller’s always shown him the respect an older member usually deserves. Until tonight. Sway seems to come to the realization that backing down is the only option here.

As if nothing happened, Sway adjusts his cut and brushes off his sleeves. “Sorry,” he finally says.

It almost sounds sincere.

Hope

When we emerge from the bathroom, Wrath’s waiting outside for me. I glance down the hall, searching for Rock and find him in a heated discussion with Sway.

Wrath nods. “You can go over, Hope.”

Gee, thanks.

I approach slowly. Rock takes my hand when I reach his side.

“We’re done with this,” he says to Sway.

Sway doesn’t even look my way. “You didn’t mind, right, Hope? You’re a good girl. Know not to get involved in her man’s business.”

I look from Rock to Sway. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Rock helping me out with Stella’s films,” Sway explains. Still not looking at me.

“Uh, no.” What the heck am I supposed to say?

“Since when do you involve ol’ ladies in club decisions, brother?” Rock’s tone sounds more like a warning than a question.

Sway’s insincere smile sends a chill down my spine. “I’m not.” He pats Rock’s chest. “Just looking out for my brother. Making sure I didn’t cause problems on the home front.”

Like you give a fuck. I almost blurt out.

“My home front is fine,” Rock says. He glances down at me. “Get your book?

“Oh, shoot. No, I forgot.”

I spin around, happy to have a reason not to be in Sway’s presence any longer.

As I approach the office, I smile, remembering the fun Rock and I had in there earlier.

Z is apparently not as cautious as Rock. The door isn’t locked and after a quick knock, I open it without waiting for an answer never expecting the scene in front of me.

Stella. Stark naked. Sitting on the edge of the desk. Legs spread. Z standing in front of her with his jaw on the floor.

Guess he wasn’t expecting whatever’s going on either.

What should I do? Leave? I can’t leave. They both saw me.

“Uh, sorry.” I clear my throat and avert my eyes. “We’re about to leave and I uh, wanted to pick up my book.”

While I’m frozen in place, Stella’s completely unfazed. She crosses her legs and slips what amounts to a satin nightie on. “Hi, again.”

Somehow I pretend I didn’t just walk in and get an up close view of her girly bits. “

The show was amazing, Stella. Really beautiful. I can’t imagine the strength it takes to do all those moves”

“Thank you,” Stella says. “I’ve been doing some form of ballet, or aerial art since I was little.”

Z still hasn’t moved or said a word.

Time to get out of here.

Finally, Z seems to shake himself out of his trance. He reaches over and grabs my book from the shelf and pushes it into my hands. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper.

He flashes a dimpled smile at me. “No worries. You and Rock headed home?”

“Uh, if he doesn’t kill someone first.” I tip my head toward the hallway.

“Shit, what’s wrong?”

“The usual.” I’m not sure how much I should say in front of Stella. From what I understand she has a personal/business sort of relationship with Sway.

He follows me out and Rock’s waiting for me on the other side. Stella stays behind. Guess she wasn’t finished with Z.

Once we’re in the car, I yawn and close my eyes.

“Take a nap now, baby doll.” His voice a sexy dose of masculinity. “You know I need to fuck you hard when we get home.”

Excitement shivers down my spine. “Think we’ll make it home?” I ask without opening my eyes.

“Fuckin’ fuckers,” he growls obviously still annoyed about earlier. “Loco really thinks he’s showing you respect, so I’m not as pissed about him. But Sway knows better.”

“What was all that nonsense about causing problems in our home?”

When he doesn’t answer right away, I open my eyes. “Rock?”

“I told him I didn’t appreciate Stella asking me to be in one of her films and that he should’ve warned me.”

“Jeez, I hope he’s not going to give her a hard time now.”

He glances over with a smirk on his lips. “You more worried about her than me?”

He’s teasing me, but I answer anyway. “Of course not. I get why you’re annoyed, but I expect nothing less from Sway. He seems like his brain never really progressed beyond sixteen.”

Rock snorts. “That’s probably true.” He reaches over and grasps my thigh, shoving my dress up until he reaches bare skin. “Love my beautiful girl, but fuck does it piss me off having anyone look at you the way half the men in that room were.”