Tainted Bastard (Tainted Knights 4)

“You look beautiful. Wear what you have on,” I told her.

Pleasure made her cheeks pink. “Just text me when you decide on a place,” she told her friend. “I’ll see you later.”

Dropping the phone back onto the table, she picked up one of the beers. “Do you want to invite your friends?”

“Nah. I went out with Cash the night before last. We can only take so much of each other at a time before I want to punch him in the face. Gray and Kas are hermits right now, and Kale is so far up Santana’s ass, it’s hard to get him to go out anywhere these days.”

“How is Kassa?” she asked, compassion in her eyes. “Will she be able to have another baby?”

“I don’t know. Gray hasn’t offered up that kind of information, and I haven’t asked. Kassa’s doing better, though. The last time I saw her, she wasn’t all puffy from crying, so that’s a win in my book.”

“Yeah, it is. The emotions will kill you after something like that.” She took a drink of her beer, seeming lost in thought.

I nudged her with my elbow, disliking the sadness in her voice. “Kas is a strong chick. She’ll get through this. Don’t worry about her.”

Roanna smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Jace and Kin wouldn’t want to come?”

I snorted in amusement. “Jace and I don’t hang out, and Kin can barely stand me.”

“Maybe it has something to do with this constant scowl you have on your face.” She traced a finger down my nose. “It can be kind of intimidating sometimes.”

That had me laughing, hard. “Kin isn’t intimidated by me, sweet girl. If anything, I’m a little afraid of her.”

She moved closer, and I wrapped my arm around her, tucking her against me comfortably. Leaning her head back against my shoulder, she grinned up at me. “Ah, poor baby. Don’t worry, though. I’ll protect you from the big, bad redhead.”

“Can you protect me from the fire-breathing one too?” I half joked, because Emmie scared the absolute fuck out of me.

“Sorry, but she terrifies me.” Roanna kissed my cheek. “You should probably invest in Kevlar and wear it whenever you have to be around her.”

My head fell back against the couch, and I laughed hard. “No shit.”

Chapter 13

Sin

Handing over the keys to the valet outside of the club Aubree texted Roanna she and the other Blondes would be at, I took Roanna’s hand and headed for the line outside the entrance. After I slipped the bouncer a fifty to let us in without having to wait, we walked into the place. When Cash and I hung out, we sometimes ended up here. They had a different DJ every night, and it was anyone’s guess what kind of music was being played tonight. Two nights before, it had been classic rock night, and I vaguely remembered the DJ had good taste in music.

Techno music so loud it made the fillings in my teeth rattle to the base, flashing lights on the dance floor, and a pussy-to-cock ratio of ten-to-one had me wishing I’d said no to going out with Roanna’s friends tonight. I would rather have been at my place with her cuddled on my lap watching crappy movies on Netflix.

As we moved through the crowd, I kept her hand firmly in mine, my eyes scanning every face, looking for any possible danger to the chick at my side. It seemed like every fucker in the place zeroed in on her the minute we walked in. Their hungry gazes made my hands ache to put a fist through their faces.

Leaning down so she could hear me, and to show everyone looking that she was mine, I kissed her temple before asking her if she wanted a beer.

“Aubree said she already ordered for us,” she said, leaning against me. “They’re up there.” She pointed to the second floor, and I lifted my gaze to where Genesis was already making out with some douchebag.

Beside her, Aubree waved at us, and Roanna waved back.

Feeling how tense Ro was, I put both hands on her hips and let her lead the way. She didn’t like crowds, but I figured after a few drinks to loosen her up, she would relax a little more.

Upstairs, we found London standing at a high-top table close by, two bottles of untouched beer in front of her and a vodka cranberry in her hand. As she saw Roanna, her bored expression lifted. “Hey, about time you two got here. I was tired of holding down the table so no one would steal it.”

Roanna moved into the corner. Now that she was half hidden from everyone, the tension in her shoulders began to ease.

“What have you two been doing all day?” Aubree asked as she joined us.

I grinned at the pink that instantly filled Roanna’s cheeks. She flickered her eyes up to mine for a second before quickly looking away. “Nothing much,” she mumbled, taking a deep drink of her beer.

Lifting my own to my lips, I moved closer until one of her legs was between mine. Leaning into her, I whispered close to her ear, “You’re so adorable when you blush like that, sweet girl.” At the feel of her shiver, my cock hardened. Groaning, I kissed her cheek. “Drink your beer, woman.”