Outcasts (Badlands 3)

I looked down and saw a perfect bump beneath a silk nightie. She wasn’t that big at all, though since she was normally the size of a toothpick, she probably did feel like a hippo.

“I missed you,” I said, quietly, trying to hold back tears and failing. Huggin her back, I felt a light sheen on her skin.

“Are you okay? You’re sweaty.”

She laughed and stepped back, right into a shirtless Romero.

His dark eyes flickered over me, and the fucker actually half-smiled. “Blood looks good on you. Welcome to the fam.”

I blinked. Was this real life?

Cali moved onto Grimm, inspecting him closely, then full on embracing Cobra, who lightly rocked her back and forth.

“This place wasn’t the same without you guys.” She smiled sheepishly, her blue eyes curiously stopping on Katya and Blue for a brief second.

She looked between me and Grimm and her smile grew. I had so much to tell her, and knowin I could tell her anything because she would understand it all better than anyone else. Seein the huge ruby on her ring finger, the bump, and overall aura she had, I knew she had her fair amount to tell me too.

But it was three in the morning.

I was dirty, she had obviously been busy, and Blue and Katya looked like they were about to fall asleep on their feet.

And then the acolytes came in.

We all moved out of the way as the Venom men, plus Noah, were dragged through the front door and towards the hall that led to the ‘playroom’, as the boys called it.

None of them were lucid, their heads lolled, feet limply following behind their hoisted bodies as they went past.

“Get them settled, and then meet me down here,” Romero said, walkin Cali back towards the stairs.

Grimm wordlessly took my hand and did the same, keeping a few paces behind them.

“I wasn’t done talking.” Cali yawned.

“You guys need sleep,” Romero replied as we branched off at the top of the stairs.

“Aw,” I softly sighed when I realized he’d meant her and the baby.

Grimm shook his head at me, stopping at a black door, and pushin it open.

The smell of him hit me first, and I knew right then that this would be my favorite place to be. His huge blacked out tufted bed sat against a wall, neatly made up in silk linen and a plush lookin comforter.

The metallic dresser and armoire matched it perfectly. There was a closed door on each far wall. He sat me down on the cushioned ottoman bench at the foot of his bed, not bothering to turn on a light.

Kneelin, he pulled my socks and boots off my feet, and carried them off where they made a lil thunk on the hardwood floor. I dug my toes into the silky soft, faux fur rug under me. I leaned over; resting on my elbow with my chin in my hand, closing my eyes when a soft light spilled from what I assumed was his bathroom.

“Come on, Brat.” He lifted me off the ottoman and practically carried me to the shower.

It took me way too long to realize he was ass naked. I felt the alluring steam and attempted to help him undress me.

“Why so tired all of a sudden?” I yawned.

“You’re crashing from your sugar high.”

“I haven’t eaten any sugar.”

He chuckled softly, placing me inside a glass shower with slate walls.

“It doesn’t matter. You’re home now, where you belong.”