Tainted Bastard (Tainted Knights 4)

“You don’t know shit,” London growled in my direction.

I met Roanna’s gaze, brows raised at how united they suddenly seemed. “They’re frenemies,” she explained. “More enemies than friends most days, though. But mess with one, and the other will slit your throat.”

“You gonna let them slit my throat, sweet girl?” I asked, kissing her lips.

“Barf,” London grumbled.

Roanna flipped them off. “No,” she answered me. “I’ll save you from them.”

Aubree flipped through the channels, unconcerned with the bickering of the bassist and guitarist. “Dinner or not?” she asked no one in particular. “Because I have no problem eating a bowl

of ramen and spending the night in my pajamas.”

“I’ll cook,” I announced, not in the mood for more bitching from those three.

Four pairs of surprised eyes gawked at me.

“You can cook?” Roanna asked in disbelief.

“You can’t?”

She shrugged. “Eggs and toast. I can boil noodles for spaghetti and heat up a jar of marinara. And my ramen is pretty good.”

“Yeah, okay. I’m definitely cooking now.” Opening an app on my phone, I ordered all the groceries needed. “Alfredo with broccoli—and chicken for those of us who like a little protein. Garlic knots. Wine. Beer.”

“Dessert?” Roanna asked hopefully.

“I’m no good at desserts. I’ll order you some cheesecake and have it delivered,” I promised.

“How do you know how to cook?” Aubree inquired, her eyes still wide.

“My mom. She figured I eventually would have to feed myself, and she taught me everything from scratch. Including the bread.” I checked out of the grocery app and paid with a swipe of my thumb. “Everything will be here in an hour.”

“Ro, your man can make homemade garlic knots,” Genesis groaned. “I think I’m a little in love with him.”

“Hands off!” she growled in the other girl’s direction.

The entire room went silent, and Roanna gasped, realizing what she’d just said. Pink filled her cheeks, but she didn’t say anything else. Laughing at how adorable she looked, and the hint of jealous possessiveness in her beautiful eyes, which made me want to howl at the freaking moon, I kissed the top of her head.

Beside me, Aubree snickered. “Keep your mitts off the merch, Genesis.”

Genesis snorted. “He’s not my type anyway.”

“You have a type?” London quipped.

“Yeah, I don’t fuck around with the guys my friends are in love with.”

Every nerve in my body was suddenly standing at attention, and I waited, practically holding my breath for Roanna to deny it.

“Shut up, Genesis!” she hissed.

That wasn’t a denial.

My chest filled to capacity, splitting at the seams. Roanna didn’t know it, but in that moment, I’d never been so happy in my fucking life.

The next few days flew by, and Thursday arrived in the blink of an eye. All week, I’d been with Roanna.

All week, her three bandmates had tagged along. We hadn’t been alone since Monday, and I was itching to get my hands on her without being interrupted before I could get my sweet girl off again.