Page 71 of On The Rocks

Pagan laughed, deep and throaty, jerking his chin toward the clubhouse. “You heard the man. We got places to go and people to see.”

My hand slid down Maeve’s arm to take her hand and I pulled her to fall into step behind the others. It was freezing, there was the promise of snow in the air, and she’d left her coat in the car, seeing as we doubted the Kings would have a cloakroom.

“Here, baby,” I murmured, slipping my leather jacket off and tucking it around her shoulders.

“You’re so sweet,” she whispered, snuggling into it and shooting me a bright smile.

I grinned down at her, thinking it was crazy how, a month ago, putting somebody else first who wasn’t my mam or sister wasn’t something I even thought about. Now, everything I did had Maeve in mind. Jesus, I was turning into a sap, and weirdly, I didn’t have one fuck to give.

Four men stood at the entrance to the clubhouse. As soon as they saw Pagan, they parted like the Red Sea, holding the door open for us to enter. The thud of a deep, heavy bassline gave us a hint of what was inside.

I’d already talked to Maeve about what to expect. The Demons were mostly settled now, and their parties were a lot more sedate than they used to be. Still, back in the day when the guys were single, things could get wild at their shindigs.

I expected loud music, heat, gyrating bodies, and sex, and I’d warned her as such.

We walked through a small hallway, through another door, and directly into a vast room.

Studying it, I was immediately impressed at how it appeared more like a slick nightclub than a biker clubhouse.

The vibe was definitely different from the Shamrock. The walls, instead of my preferred buttery cream, were a deep, flat,dark grey. My countertop was a classic, polished oak, whereas the KOA’s was metal, industrial, and purely functional in a modern, space-age way. It ran the entire length of the room, the backlighting shining off the chrome, which inadvertently lit up the rest of the space.

The main lights were turned low, which added to the sexy, dark vibe. The stage was still empty, though filled with the band’s instruments, indicating they were set up and ready to go. The place was so big that I couldn’t see to the other end, though it didn’t help that the place was packed. Groups of scantily-clad women—some of whom I assumed were club girls—were already in groups dancing and laughing while KOA men and their buddies stood around the edges of the dance floor, drinking beer and shooting the shit.

Pagan turned toward the bar and jerked his head, and within minutes, we were all handed bottles of Bud, and the girls had cocktails in their hands.

Maeve’s eyes darted around the room, taking everything in, from the nearly naked women and the rough, tattooed men in cuts to the futuristic-looking bar. “This place is awesome,” she exclaimed. “It’s a completely different vibe from the one we’re going for, but it’s perfect for your men. It’s got a modern, trendy feel, but it’s still practical.” Her eyes went to Pagan, who was listening intently. “It’s nothing like I expected a biker clubhouse to be.”

He flashed her a grin, showing straight white teeth, and I was sure I heard Maeve sigh.

Instantly, it hit me that he’d probably charmed a thousand women into bed with that damned smile, and my fingers involuntarily tightened around my wife’s.

This fucker was as stealthy as they came.

“We’re a young chapter,” he stated. “I don’t have an officer over the age of thirty-eight. A lotta my men have come upfrom prospecting at other places, and the other brothers have relocated here on the promise of something fresh and new. We’re all finding our way, so why not start with a home we’re comfortable being in? Because that’s what this place is, ultimately, our home.”

“That’s beautiful,” Maeve murmured, peering up at him. “Everybody needs a place to call home. Even big bad bikers.”

He peered back down at her and muttered, “You got pretty eyes, and I like your top.”

My chest began to heat.

Yep. Stealthy fucker.

Slowly, she blinked, seducing him into her web of charm, and exclaimed, “You’re just the sweetest man in the world!” She glanced at me. “Isn’t Pagan just the sweetest, Callum?”

I positioned my front to her back and slid my arm across her chest. “Yep,” I bit out sarcastically. “He’s just perfection.” My jaw tightened.

Atlas threw his head back and busted a gut, while Breaker stared down at his boots with his hand covering his mouth and his shoulders shaking in silent laughter.

Pagan’s eyes slid from Maeve to me, his expression thoughtful and asked. “You two solid?”

My answer—and a whole lot more—must’ve flashed across my face because he took one glance at me and raised his hands defensively. “Just askin’. You never know these days. I got a boy who loves to share.” His mouth twisted into a smirk, his expression turning lazy. “You should try it.”

A growl escaped my throat, and my hands clenched into fists.

Maeve giggled.

Tristan, who’d been watching the scene with interest, snickered along with Kennedy. Even Sophie turned her head to laugh into Atlas’s chest.

---