Page 91 of Senseless
“You probably know we’re all dying to hear everything.” Jandro cupped my hands as we walked inside, joy and relief washing over me at the sight of the familiar walls and fixtures. “But what doyouneed right now?”
“Hmm, excellent question.” I pondered for a moment while letting my gaze bounce all over the familiar touches of our home—things I didn’t even know I’d miss, like the bronze sculpture next to the stairs, and the throw pillows on the couch.
“A bath,” I decided at last. “And then food, and then cuddles and a long night of sleep.”
“You got it.” Jandro kissed my forehead. “But tomorrow you and Shadow are telling us everything, deal?”
“Deal,” I agreed, tilting my face up for a real kiss. “Fuck, I’ve missed youguapito..”
“Bonita, missing doesn’t even come close.” He wrapped me in a tight hug, kissing me deeply. “Even before you took off, shit wasn’t right. It was just…wrong not having all of us here.”
Gunner squeezed past us right then, sending back a lighthearted smile. “I’ll get the tub filled for you, baby girl.”
“Thank you, Gun.” A pang cut through my chest. Reaper was usually the one I took baths with. Things still weren’t all better, but I hoped they would be soon.
Ididwant Reaper back. I wanted to believe he truly saw how wrong he’d been and felt remorseful. I just…couldn’t yet.
He and Shadow did seem to be getting along fine, though. The door leading out to the garage was slightly ajar, and I heard them both tending to the bikes and unpacking supplies.
“You want a different bedroom?” Reaper asked gruffly. “We can trade, if you want.”
“I’m okay with keeping it, but maybe ask Mari,” Shadow answered. “If she’s comfortable being in there, I can just rearrange the furniture to make it feel different.”
“Sure.”
Reaper sounded anything but sure about talking to me again, and guilt sliced through me at the uncertainty in his voice. Once so confident and self-assured, the Steel Demons president had nearly lost everything and couldn’t seem to find his footing again. With the chaos and senseless violence to come, heneededto be able to lead.
I got my towel and headed for the bathroom with the now-filled tub of deliciously hot water, undressing once the door closed.
“He needsme,” I said aloud as I stepped into the water. “But what about whatIneed?” My chuckle echoed off the bathroom walls at this conversation with myself. Maybe that laughing, chaos god had shaken some things loose up there.
“If he’s still the man I fell in love with,” I muttered, sliding my legs through the water, “he knows I’ll need time to let this go. And he’s strong enough to carry us all through whatever comes next.”
The longer I soaked in the tub, the smell of spices and marinated meat wafting in from the kitchen became stronger and more decadent. I scrubbed and rinsed off when I couldn’t stand it anymore, then quickly toweled off and pulled on a robe to join my men in the kitchen.
“There she is.” Jandro beamed from across the counter, steadfastly chopping a head of lettuce. “Hope you’re in the mood for tostadas.”
“I’m in the mood for anything you serve on a plate.” I ran a hand across the back of Shadow’s shoulders, who was already seated and scooping up the remains of his tostada with his tortilla shell. His hair was damp and he smelled freshly showered. I pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth before moving on to Gunner.
“How was your bath?” My golden, beautiful man leaned back and tilted his lips up, a different question in his sky-blue eyes.
“Wonderful.” I planted a chaste kiss on his lips, not wanting to rub our affection in Reaper’s face, who appeared hyper-focused on his own food and whiskey in front of him.
“Shadow was just saying he was restoring bikes out at the service center he was at.” Jandro waved his chopping knife at him in a mock threat. “Trying to put me out of business, homie?”
“Like you even have a business,” Shadow taunted back.
Gunner and I nearly choked on our food laughing, and even Reaper chuckled at Jandro’s open-mouthed, exaggerated horror.
“Out!” Jandro pointed the knife out the window to the backyard. “Get out of my house. You’re sleeping with the chickens tonight.”
“Mari will come out with me. Would you do that to her?”
“Don’t dragmeinto this!” I shrieked, swatting Shadow’s arm.
The jokes, the food, the stories—all of it was cozy, blissful normalcy for the next hours. Even Reaper was not completely sullen and silent, making playful jabs at Jandro and laughing occasionally. I couldn’t tell if it was intentional on the others’ part or it just happened, but as dinner wound down and the guys dispersed, Reaper and I ended up in the kitchen alone together.
“I’ll wash those. You should rest.” Reaper placed a light touch on my waist, but otherwise gave me space in front of the sink.
