Page 52 of Crush's Fall

“He is a bit of a gossip.”

“Just like his big brother,” Pinky said into her beer bottle as she lifted it to her lips to take a sip.

Axle glared at her. “I don’t gossip. I just need to know everything that’s happening in the club so I can—”

“That’s bullshit, and we both know it,” Crush blurted as she slid off the stool. “Every member of my club has known for hours because I claimed him at church this morning, but not one of them have said a word.Oneof the Howlers finds out, and it spreads like wildfire. Admit it, Axle. You lot are the biggest gossipy bitches around.”

Instead of addressing her accusation, Axle hiked a brow. “You claimed him?”

Suddenly realizing what she revealed, Crush crossed her arms over her chest and looked away from Axle. After a long moment where she beat down her panic and frustration, she met his gaze again, and replied, “Yes, but I haven’t told him yet. We didn’t… we didn’t have time to sort stuff out.”

Axle’s expression cleared of any amusement. He gave a nod. “Understood. I’ll see what I can do to get Trip to shut his mouth.”

“That’s a feat of monumental proportions,” Pinky commented with a snort.

“Right?” Axle nodded at Pinky.

Leaving them to commiserate about how hard it was to deal with Trip, Crush headed out of the clubhouse and across the street.

As she rounded the building, headed for the door to her stairs, her stomach was in knots and her hands were shaking. It may be a foregone conclusion that they were mates, but what that meant for their lives was up in the air.

Whether or not they would spend their lives miserable or in mated bliss depended heavily on the conversation they were about to have. She sent prayers up to whichever fucking God was listening in that moment and asked for guidance. She wasn’t known for her tact or diplomacy, and she sure as hell wasn’t good at intimacy or vulnerability. If left up to her, it could very well turn into a shit show.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Lucifer

Lucifertookthestairsup to Crush’s front door two at a time. He couldn’t wait to get their talk out of the way, so they could move forward and finallybegin.He wouldn’t be okay with being her dirty little secret for long, not that he was a secret. Her entire club knew exactly what was going on between them. He suspected the Howlers did, too.

At the top of the stairs, he punched in the code she gave him and swung her door open. He was a bit surprised to see Crush standing at her kitchen counter. She had her hands planted, palms down, on the top. Leaning over it, she just seemed to be staring down at the surface.

Confused and a bit concerned, Lucifer set his clothes and the small box down on the arm of her couch and made his way over to her. Standing at her side, he bent down a bit, trying to catch her eye.

“Crush?”

“I won’t change.”

More confused, Lucifer replied, “Okay.”

“I mean it, Lucy. I won’t change. I am who I am.”

He let out a sigh. “Did I ask you to?”

“No, but I’m sure you will.”

Lucifer turned and leaned his ass against the edge of the counter. Crossing his arms over his chest, he stared across her kitchen. “Why are you so sure I’ll ask you to change?”

“Why wouldn’t you? What man wants a woman… like me? I’m not sweet or affectionate or…”

Lucifer rolled his eyes and barked out a laugh. “Sugartits, the kind of affection I want is exactly what you give me. It’s the glare and the death threats that do it for me.”

Crush turned her head and glared at him, which only caused him to laugh harder. “Be serious, Lucy.”

“I am.” He shrugged. “I don’t want you sweet and innocent. I want you feisty.”

“Are you trying to tell me you wouldn’t rather I be kissing all over you and cuddling up next to your side?”

Lucifer grinned. “You will. The kissing might involve your teeth, and you might have a knife to my neck as you’re cuddled up to my side, but it will happen.”

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