Page 43 of Pirate

“Holy shit, really?” Bulldog’s dry voice was laced with sarcasm. “Maybe we should call youPirate,” he added pointedly towards Fletcher.

Fletcher’s cheeks pinkened.

“Run along, little boy,” Bulldog said, waving his hand at Fletcher. “Papaw’s waiting for you. And don’t let the name or his age fool you. You’ll be bleeding and crying by the time he’s through with you—and that’s before Steel gets his hands on you.”

Fletcher opened his mouth, no doubt to say something nasty as if they were in fucking high school, when his eyes landed on Bulldog’s cut. His eyes nearly bugged out of his head when he saw Bulldog’s title.

Then he turned and ran towards his bike with his tail between his legs.

Bulldog and Pirate were about to start laughing again when Abby came running outside. “Harper’s going back for an emergency C-section!”

All humor forgotten, Bulldog and Pirate went running back into the hospital.

CHAPTER 8

Stephanie Elizabeth McCoy was born by cesarean at 7:32 p.m. that April evening. Though weeks early, both mom and baby were reported to be doing fine. At this announcement, the entire waiting room rang out in loud cheers.

Sissy, who had arrived just after they’d learned about Harper needing the C-section, and Scotty were allowed back first. Then Tessa, whom Bear had insisted stay home until they knew what was happening, went back with Cindy and Ronald Hannigan. Though she worked at this hospital in the emergency department, Tessa was already on maternity leave due to the high stress of the job and her own doctor being concerned about her high blood pressure. She wasn’t ordered on bedrest, so long as she could lower her blood pressure and keep it down.

It was nearly two hours later by the time the rest of them were allowed back. The club did so much for the hospital that the visiting hours were extended so long as they did not cause a ruckus.

As the sea of club members made their way down the hallway to Harper’s room, Pirate slipped his way behind several of them until he was just behind Sophia. When they came to a hallway opening, he snagged her wrist and pulled her into it with him.

Sophia let out a squeak of surprise, which Pirate quickly covered with his hand as he pressed her back against the wall. Pirate peeked around the corner and saw the others continuing on, oblivious that he and Sophia were no longer following.

He leaned back towards Sophia. She was wearing a pair of jeans, knee-high boots, and a tight tank top with a big collar that showed off her belly while hiding his marks on her neck. Removing his hand from over her mouth, he took her lips with his own while sliding a thigh between her legs.

Sophia clung to him, nothing about her actions hinting at the cold shoulder she’d been giving him most of the afternoon and evening. Her mouth opened for him as it always did and she ground her hot core down on his muscular thigh.

Aware that they were standing in a hospital hallway where anyone could walk by them, Pirate lifted his head. Spotting a supply closet, Pirate took her hand and led her down the hallway. He was half expecting the closet to be locked, but the door opened for him. He coaxed Sophia inside before following in.

“What are you doing?” There was no anger in her voice. The little minx was enjoying herself. The single lightbulb above them provided enough light for Pirate to see her smile.

“What areyoudoing?” he asked her in return. “What was with the cold shoulder earlier?”

Her smile dimmed some. “It was nothing. I just saw you were busy with Scotty and didn’t want to bother you.”

“Bullshit.” He caged her in against the shelf filled with toilet paper, paper towels, soap dispenser refills, and other bathroom supplies. “We were fine last night when we talked. What changed?”

“Nothing,” she continued to insist.

Pirate ground his teeth in frustration. Why was the woman being so infuriatingly stubborn?

Sophia tilted her head. “Why do you always leave your pants on?”

He blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Your pants. Other than the first time we slept together in San Francisco, you never take off your pants when we have sex. Why?”

Pirate had no idea why she was asking him that. It seemed so random. He also did not have a good answer. “I have no idea. We’re usually fucking quick and dirty. Doesn’t give a lot of time to take off clothes.”

“Yet I always seem to be naked,” she quipped.

“Well anatomy has a bit to do with that. You’d stay more clothed if you wore more skirts,” he suggested.

She glared up at him. “I am not changing my attire just so you have easier access to fuck me.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Why not? I’ve noticed you certainly wear a lot of turtlenecks that you didn’t before. What do you plan on doing during the summer?”

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