Page 109 of Wanted
Dex whistled, wrapped around Hammer like a sloth around a tree. “That’s nothing. I once had this guy invite me over for sex, but when I arrived there were several men there that he failed to mention. So yeah, I planned to be out of there in twenty minutes but had only finished them all at three in the morning.”
Liv stared at him, frozen. “Are you… okay? When was that?”
Hammer stroked Dex’s back. “Before me, obviously. I would have dealt with those people differently.”
Liv decided not to question any of it and glanced at the fancy-looking square plate from a set he recognized from Ezra and Frank’s home. His crooked reflection in its polished surface seemed to wink, and he looked up, trying to ignore the intense scent of meat until he was allowed to have it. He focused on the stormy face of the man sitting across the table.
Liv had seen Hammer at the clubhouse many times, and had even worked on his car once, but the guy remained a mystery. Some of the other bikers seemed to fear him, or at the very least have mad respect for him, and while present at the party, he remained quiet next to his loudmouthed boyfriend. And yet, he was as welcome as everyone else, yet another member of this strange family made of castoffs and outsiders.
Ezra slapped Dex’s hand when it reached for a turkey leg. He looked ridiculously out of place in an elegant woolen coat and a plaid scarf. And yet, Liv couldn’t imagine him not being here either. “Wait for the rabbit! I want to take a photo when everything’s on the table!”
“Coming!” Knox yelled from the grill, already stacking the pieces of meat on a large plate.
Just seeing him come closer with that steaming pile had Liv salivating for more than one reason. He clapped. “Bravo for the master of the barbeque. Man, I can’t wait to dig in.”
“Photos first,” Ezra reminded him with a camera in hand, standing at the head of the table, where he’d sit next to Frank.
“Yes, smile, honey,” Dex said, kneeling on the bench and holding Hammer close. Lo and behold, the stormy-faced bastard looked quite handsome when his features relaxed.
Liv pulled on Knox’s hand as soon as the rabbit was on the table, and embraced him, excited by the realization that thiswould be their first photo as a couple. He kissed the back of Knox’s head and whispered it into his ear.
Dex let out a big sigh. “Look at us, one big, happy family. Frank’s everyone’s dad, Shane’s the moody uncle, you guys are the two cousins from abroad—”
“What about you and Hammer?” Liv asked as they sat down, racing for the best pieces of meat. Liv made sure to snatch a turkey leg for Knox, and dropped it onto his plate.
Dex shrugged. “The cool first cousin and his super-hot fiancé.”
You could have heard a spoon drop in the sudden silence.
“You… you never said you were engaged,” Ezra said eventually, squeezing Frank’s shoulder.
“Oh, I asked him a while ago, but we don’t have anything set up yet,” Dex said. “I wanted to get married in an inflatable castle kind of thing, thought it would be really funny if guests kept falling over, but Hammer wasn’t too keen on that.”
Hammer cleared his throat, keeping his eyes on the portion of sweet potato resting on his plate. “If we’re doing this, we’re doing it properly. At the clubhouse.”
And was that… a flush on his cheeks? Adorable.
“And me?” Jag sat up in excitement, holding a piece of meat with both hands as he ate.
Dex grinned. “You’re obviously the family guard dog. Which makes Dane your bitch.”
Dane frowned, cocking his head as if he wasn’t sure if he’d heard him right. “Excuse me?”
“Dex, what the hell?” Frank barked and slapped the back of his head, ignoring the glare of death thrown his way by Hammer. “Apologize!”
Dex spread his arms, laughing. “What? I’m just saying it like it is!”
“You take that back!” Jag yelled, dropping his food and jumping to his feet.
“No! It’s funny!” Dex bolted from behind the table when Jag reached for him.
Shane sniggered, leaning to Liv. “Oh, this is gonna be good.”
Not having any stakes in the sudden conflict, Liv focused on the flavor of his food and met Knox’s gaze from up close as the two figures passed back and forth on the edge of his vision, chasing each other around the table. “What’s a family holiday without a bit of fighting, right?” he whispered before letting his eyes roll back at the first bite of grilled rabbit. “Oh my god, Knox, this issogood!”
“And it’s the ones I caught too,” Knox said proudly, stuffing his face. “Made me feel all manly and shit.”
A spark of joy warmed Liv on the inside, and he nudged Knox with his shoulder, “I never had any doubts about your manliness, babe. Not with the way you take care of me,” he said, nodding at their feast.
