Page 64 of Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway
Einstein stirred, and she shook free fromher thoughts, gaze on his face as he woke. His arms tightened,pulling her close with a heavy sigh that eased out of him alongsidea happy hum. When he opened his eyes, he immediately found herface, and a line appeared between his brows as he studied her. Thenthat fell away, and a smile took over his expression, those linesshe’d noticed in full view now, deep slashes across each cheek atestimony to the depth of his emotions.
Daring greatly, she leaned closer and liftedher chin. He didn’t make her wait, immediately bending his neck tobrush his lips chastely against hers. They touched once, twice,then he groaned, and a hand slipped up the back of her neck,fingers tangling in her hair as he angled her head for a deeperkiss. They were both breathing unsteadily when he pulled back andpressed their foreheads together. As Marian opened her eyes, shefound him staring at her, a softer version of the smile stillcurving his lips.
“Morning, baby.” His lips pursed, and hepecked another kiss at the corner of her mouth. “You’re so fuckingpretty.”
“I slept in your lap.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Are you comfortable?”
His arms squeezed as he nodded, then peckedher mouth again. “Very. Altogether comfortable like this. Did yousleep okay?”
“Feels like it.” She stretched her shouldersup to her ears. “You don’t mind me using you as a cushion?”
“Baby, not only do I not mind, but I’m alsogonna encourage it as often as you might want. I’m entirely onboard with us sleeping together from here on out. Cozied up likethis.” He tightened his grip on her hair and gave a tug. “Or in abed. Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be.”
A dish rattled behind them, and she twistedto look over Einstein’s shoulder. Gunny and Sharon were near thestove, an array of dishes on the counter in front of them. Gunnynoticed they were awake and lifted his chin in his typical manlygreeting. He called out softly, “Mornin’.”
Sharon’s head whipped up, and she bustledaround the island towards the couch, bending over to slip her armsaround Marian’s neck. Mid-hug, she asked, “Hey, honey. How are youfeelin’?”
“I’m good.” She squeezed back, marveling athow her life had changed from only a few years ago. She’d gone fromno friends and only a single, unhappy relationship with her father,to this. Seated in the lap of a man she loved, with good friendsgoing out of their way to do what they could to ease the burden ofwhat had happened.
A tap at the side door preceded a few mencoming inside, some faces she knew well mixed in with some shebarely recognized. That small group turned into a trickle, then astream, and finally a flood, until the room was wall-to-wallbikers, black vests next to denim ones, boots discarded near thedoor or worn inside—it was overwhelming. Sharon pulled back andreleased her hold, squealing as she raced towards one of the men,leaving Marian to bury her face against the side of Einstein’sneck.
His hand cradled the back of her head,fingers threading through her hair as he pulled her close. “Shhhh,baby. It’s okay. These are all friends.”
A tug at her fingers had her peeking out tosee Luke sitting upright, looking around in amazement. “Hey,Monday,” he greeted one of Bane’s men, then brightened even more.“Blackie! Hey!” He gave her fingers a final squeeze, then was offthe couch and darting towards the burly national president ofBane’s club, disappearing into the man’s arms.
“Marian?” She glanced up to where Monday wasstanding close. “When you have a minute, I’d like to chat.” Heshook his head as his gaze moved to Einstein. “Nothin’ bad,brother. I have a message from Noah for her, that’s all.”
“Why isn’t Noah here?” Forgetting to beafraid, she shifted to better face Monday. “Is he okay? Scar didn’thurt him, too, did he?”
“Not Scar, no. His stepbrother, Zipline,bashed him in the head.”
Marian’s heart raced as fear for her friendflooded her system.
Monday’s palms patted the air. “He’s okay.Bit of a headache is all. He’s resting—” Monday hesitated, his gazeflicking between her and Einstein. “He’s resting at my house. Ididn’t want him to be alone last night.” Pointing a thumb over hisshoulder at the door, he took a step backwards. “I’ll be here foranother thirty if you have time. Otherwise, I’ll come find youtomorrow. No rush.”
“Is it personal?” At Einstein’s question,Monday shook his head. “Then now is good, brother.”
Monday grimaced and glanced around the room,his gaze coming back to rest on Einstein. “Might not be best.”
“Now, or nothing.” Einstein’s muscles tensedunder Marian’s bottom, his arm around her waist tightening. Hisother hand still played in her hair, and she relaxed against him,hoping he’d unwind, too.
“Aww, man. You sure?” Monday crowded closerand sat on the edge of the couch, perching in what looked like anuncomfortable position. “So…Noah, he didn’t know Zipline was headedhere, had no idea the man was in town. The two of them were waitingfor him when he got home yesterday, pushed their way into hishouse. From what he said, Scar held a gun to his head while Ziplineasked questions. The men asked about all kinds of things, and fromthe sounds of it, nothing was specifically directed towards anyone,so other than the gun and fearing for his own life, it didn’t raiseany alarms for Noah. Then Scar and Zipline left in a van that hadsomehow appeared in front of Noah’s house. He’d chalked it all upto another weird encounter with his peculiar stepbrother until theycame back and hauled you”—he indicated Marian with a liftedfinger—“inside.”
“And then? Why didn’t he pick up the phoneand dial? Three buttons.” Einstein flicked up a finger. “Call.” Asecond finger joined the first. “Nine.” His hand formed the salutebest known for a national boy’s club. “One, one. Isn’t hard. Shewas there for hours, brother.” The arm around her waist hitched hercloser. “You’re telling me that in all that time, he didn’t have asingle chance to make a call?”
A memory swam up, clouding Marian’s vision.A needle, flashing in the light. “They dosed him too, didn’t they?I remember a shot, like a syringe.”
“Yeah. Yeah, they dosed him, too. Not asheavy, but enough it sidelined him for too long. He was trying toget help when we showed up. That’s what earned him thepistol-whippin’. Trying to get you safe, Marian. ’S what he wantedme to tell you. He’d never hurt you, never let you be hurt, if hecould help it.” Monday’s face twisted. “He couldn’t help you quickenough.”
She stared at Monday, taking in his postureand expression, and let a tiny smile slip. “You like him.”
“Well, I don’t dislike him.” He lookedaround the room, avoiding her gaze. “Not even after what happened.I don’t think it’s any fault of his, honestly.”
“I don’t either.” Einstein sighed heavilyand shifted under Marian. “Much as I’d like to. Man was losing hisshit. Took me a minute to realize it wasn’t on his own behalf, buton hers.”
