Page 96 of Knot My MC
“I’m starting to think you all are a little high maintenance.” The edges of her lips quirk, but it’s not a full smile.
“Did I mention we’re stopping for mani-pedis on the way home?”
The grin takes full hold and she lifts her eyebrows, chuckling under her breath. “Don’t tempt me. I could use a new set.”
“Are you ready?” I push away from the counter and prowl toward her. She tips her head back, holding my gaze and staring me down. I stop a hair’s breadth away from her and lower my face toward hers. “Because if we don’t leave, I’m going to fuck you and that’ll ruin the surprise.”
She sucks in a breath and her cheeks turn pink. “There’s a surprise?” she manages to ask.
“Mmmhmm.” I grip her throat and pull her toward me, claiming her mouth with a rumbling purr.
The way her body softens, yielding the careful control she holds herself with, has my dick hardening in my pants. Rich and sweet perfume plumes around us. I bet if I slipped my hand between her legs, she’d be wet and ready for me. Any other day, I’d say fuck it and blow off what I have planned.
“Angels aren’t supposed to be so tempting,” I whisper against her lips.
“Oh, you’re blaming me?” She leans back and narrows her eyes. “You’re the one giving out hand necklaces like it’s Mardi Gras.”
I flex my fingers on her neck and her pupils dilate. “You look so gorgeous with my hand wrapped around your throat.”
She gives me a lazy smirk. “You think I’m gorgeous?”
“Always have.” I kiss her again then force myself to drop my hold on her and take a step back. It might be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. “Let’s go for a drive, Angel.”
* * *
We drive out to the park. It’s not the same as before. The city tore it down and rebuilt it. They took our picnic table, but there’s a new one that’s splinter free. I park next to a gleaming black motorcycle.
“Nice bike,” Kiki murmurs as she gets out of the car and glances at the new playground. “This place has changed.”
“A bit, but the essence of it is the same.” I grab her hand and lead her to the picnic table. We sit next to each other, and I fill two foam cups with coffee and set the container of treats on the table. Kiki snatches two cookies before I get the lid all the way off.
“It’s been years since I’ve had Crow’s baking.”
Some kids run by, screaming as they race for the swings. A frazzled mom chases after them. She didn’t even notice us in her hurry to get to her gremlins. They’re cute, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t know that I trust myself to be a good parent. I didn’t exactly have the best example. I don’t do drugs, but that doesn’t mean I’d know how to give love to a kid. For me, it’s safer not to have any rather than have one and fuck the child up.
“She looks tired,” Kiki comments, noticing where my gaze has strayed.
“Yeah, but she’s a good mom.”
Kiki squints. “How can you tell?”
“She’s worried about them. She’s not screaming at them for being excited. She’s exhausted, but she has a handle on her emotions.” I glance away from the kids. “And some might say she’s hovering, but underprotected moms become overprotective moms.”
I don’t know if the same can be said for dads, but I’d like to think so. I still don’t want to find out what kind of parent I’d be. Maybe I’m a chicken shit. Too scared to face the full truth of how awful my parents were.
“You deserved better parents.” Kiki wraps her arm around mine and offers up a cookie. “Want a bite?”
Her words make it hard to respond, but she’s given me a way to change the subject, so I take it. Our histories are no secret. We’ve all shared the skeletons in our closet, and it’s never changed how we felt about each other.
I take the bite and hum in approval. “Crow’s a damn good baker.”
“He is.” Kiki takes a sip of coffee. “You don’t ever get tired of cinnamon?”
“Nope.” I watch her take another drink. “Cinnamon reminds us of you.”
Her gaze jerks to mine before dropping to the cup in her hand. “My anger?” Wrinkles line her forehead.
“Yeah. It was cinnamon or vanilla. We preferred the spice.” I pick up my cup and take a big drink. “And maybe we thought we deserved a bit of your anger.”
