Page 24 of Powerless
"Not at all, just trying to gauge how to feel about him."
"He's a friend," I repeated.That I'm really fucking attracted to. "I trust him," I added.
"Jandro likes you, too," he chuckled with a squeeze of my waist.
"He's an even bigger flirt," I rolled my eyes. "But I don't know him as well. Gunner and I have actually talked a bit more."
"Ah. Well now with Gunner gone, you might have time to makefriendswith Jandro, too."
I stared at his side profile—the scruffy jawline, sharp cheekbones, and the straight bridge of his nose. But he kept looking at the path straight ahead of us.
"Why do I feel like you're implying something without coming out and saying it?" I asked. "Like you're trying to pass me off to your friends or something."
"I'm not." He stopped us, turning to face me with his arms locked around my waist. "It's not like that, sugar. I just—“ He looked down, fingers gliding across my ribcage. If I had to guess, he looked nervous.
"I just want you to get to know my friends," he said. "As a way of getting to know me. They're like family to me."
"So," I tilted my head, still not buying it. "You want me to get closer to your family? By teasing me about your two most flirtatious men?"
"It came out wrong," he sighed, releasing his hold on me as he continued walking. "Forget I said anything."
"Reaper." I jogged after him to catch up. "I'mtryingto understand you. All this is just a lot to take in—“
"I know, that's my bad." He shot me a sheepish smile. "One thing at a time. My crazy bond with my dog is enough for one day, don't you think?"
"Okay," I said, running a hand through my hair. "So what are you up to today?"
"Church for a second try," he grumbled, fishing for another cigarette. "Let's see if we can have a successful meeting without Gunner's hotheaded ass."
I had a hard time picturing my calm, reassuring swim coach as hotheaded. Something really had to be sowing discord within the club to get under his skin.
"Okay," I repeated, honestly grateful for some space from Reaper today. I needed alone time to digest everything he told me about the animal bonds, and his men. And to wrestle with my feelings for this man, growing like stubborn weeds through cracks in a sidewalk.
He slid both hands to my ass, drawing me flush against him and holding me there with his green gaze.
"See you tonight." It wasn't a request. "You know where to be."
He claimed my mouth in a bruising kiss while I held onto my sanity like a life raft, trying not to get swept away in the undertow.
But this demon was riding his way directly into my heart, and I was powerless to stop him.
Ten
REAPER
"How'sMarrriposa?"
Jandro and Shadow were the first two in the conference room. Already there when I arrived, the former had his boots up on the table. The latter sat strategically near the head of the table where he could see the whole room. Typical Shadow.
"She's great. Ruined," I smirked. "How are the bikes?"
"We'll be fine to head back, but they're gonna need some tuning once I get 'em back in the shop,” Jandro shook his head. "The elevation and terrain aren't good up here, Reap. This is what I was saying before."
"We're no longer doing business with Tash now, so it's a moot point," I said, looking up at the rafters. "I wouldn't mind keeping this place for us, though. It's nice, well-supplied, and Fischlin's just abandoned it."
"He could come back with reinforcements," Shadow pointed out. "General Tash must know we haven't been captured or killed by now. He'll send well-armed reinforcements."
“Armed thanks to us," Jandro muttered.
