10
BLOOM
M y new bed was way too comfortable. When I squinted my eyes open, yawning, the clock on the bedside table revealed it was close to noon. Not one to usually sleep soundly, I could only attribute my sleeping in to staying up until late last night. More people had kept showing up, and my homecoming had turned into a party.
I’d mostly sat in a corner with Logan and the twins, playing card games, even though I was shit at it. Logan helped me to cheat, but the twins didn’t call us out. Most likely because they cheated as well. They had a way of looking at each other as if reading each other’s minds. When they’d scampered off somewhere and I’d told Logan their secret, he hadn’t believed me. I didn’t blame him. If I hadn’t seen the two of them fucking with my own two eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it either.
The other boys, as usual, were the life of the party. The skinny one, Cass, had almost started a fight between his husband and another man when he was drunk and started a stripper routine on top of the bar. I’d found it hilarious watching Grimm, the huge burly biker, play peacemaker. Mort had eventually left with Cass under his arm, but the boy had been smiling all the way out the door.
It’d been late when Logan finally convinced me to go to bed. Curling up next to him with his arm around me was the highlight of the day. Waking up alone was a bit of a disappointment. The sheets next to me were cold, so he must have gotten up a while ago. I reached for his pillow, and a piece of paper crinkled. Puzzled, I picked it up and smiled.
Logan had doodled an image of a stick figure holding a heart. His attempt looked way better than the one of a broken heart I’d slipped under his door that one time. Did he still remember that? It seemed so long ago that he’d chased me out of his office and reprimanded me for being rude to his boss.
I spent way too much time staring at the doodle, but I couldn’t help it. That Logan remembered something so insignificant made my insides warm. I traced the lines with my fingertips, my heart beating a fast rhythm.
He’s the right man for me, and no one can make me believe otherwise.
I placed the paper on the bedside table, then carefully got out of bed, moving gingerly. My ass hurt from yesterday’s fucking with nothing but spit as lube, but I didn’t mind the reminder of spreading my legs for Logan. The annoying pain in my chest bothered me more. I’d missed the scheduled time to take my painkillers by almost four hours. I grabbed them from the drawer along with my antibiotics and brought them to the bathroom, where I swallowed the recommended dosage.
My appearance in the mirror made me grimace. Weeks spent in the hospital had not been kind to me. Sweet Satan, how did Logan stand looking at me?
For the next hour and a half, I occupied myself with my usual grooming routine, trimming and dyeing my hair to its usual inky black. I plucked my eyebrows, then shaved my legs and pubic hair. Satisfied, I hopped into the shower. The hot water eased some of the soreness from my body, but I didn’t dare to linger for too long. I needed food, or the pills would fuck up my stomach for the entire day.
At the vanity, I applied my makeup. Black eyeliner extended into a dramatic wing contrasting against my pale skin. I added black mascara and light powder to set my foundation. A small smear of black lipstick completed the look.
Next I styled my hair, pulling the sides back into braids laced with tiny silver skull-shaped beads that clinked together with every movement of my head. The rest I left to flow freely down my back.
Damn, no wonder Logan wants to do me. I’d do myself too.
I snickered, feeling a lot better with the familiar reflection. My wardrobe looked sadly lacking, something I’d never noticed before. Although I dressed well, I never hesitated over my outfit, but I wanted to look good for Logan. I wanted that man to take one look at me and jump my bones.
I riffled through my closet, discarding option after option. Jeans? Leather pants? Cargo pants? A pair of sweats I’d never worn? Nothing seemed right until my fingers landed on the perfect pair of ripped-to-shreds jeans with studded chains and patches of sequins that shimmered in the dim light. One leg was almost entirely shredded, showing off just enough skin to make Logan’s gaze linger. The other leg was decked out with shiny, rebellious details that would catch his eye. Yeah, these jeans were trouble and exactly the kind of statement I wanted to make.
The rough fabric and cool metal against my skin. There. Now I felt like myself again, with a little extra edge just for him.
In my T-shirt drawer, tucked all the way at the back, I found a top I’d been sent by mistake in one of my orders. It wasn’t like anything I would’ve chosen—dark, ripped, and nearly sheer with fishnet panels that left little to the imagination. The snug fabric left slashes of bare skin beneath the torn layers with crisscrossing laces down the sides, eyelets glinting in the light. Paired with the fingerless fishnet sleeves, it had an unapologetic edge that was equal parts daring and dangerous.
With the jeans and this top, I looked like trouble, the kind of trouble I hoped Logan wouldn’t be able to resist.
The way I craved that man’s attention was like nothing I had ever experienced. Just the thought of him looking at me, desiring me, made my pulse quicken.
I stepped into a pair of black combat boots, the laces long and winding, the leather worn and comfortable. They were gifts from Crowe. Not that I’d ever bring that up.
Digging through my jewelry box, I found the perfect adornments—black stacking rings. I slipped them on, one by one. A thick black band rested on my third finger while a sleek, coiled snake, its head poised as if ready to strike, wrapped around the index one. The subtle weight of the rings felt grounding. To finish, I fastened a choker around my neck, a thin black band with a small metallic spike that settled coolly against my skin.
The finished look was a bit dramatic for the clubhouse, but I shrugged off the thought. For the past weeks, I’d been forced to wear a hospital gown. If anyone made any remark about how I dressed, I would just have to slice their tongue out.
Oops. Almost forgot my knife. I placed it into my boot and had my hand on the doorknob when my phone rang. I debated letting it ring off, but worried it might be Logan, I turned back to pick it up.
Winter.
I almost broke my finger, swiping the screen.
“Hey, Win.”
Like the Winter I remembered, he wore an easygoing grin while his eyes carried shadows. He had dark circles under them, and his face looked leaner. My throat thickened, and I inhaled sharply as the image of him lying unconscious, convulsing from a drug overdose, flashed through my mind.
I wasn’t the only one lucky to be alive.
“Hey, Bloom. Heard you got out of the hospital.” His deep, husky voice washed over me. Until my eyes burned, I didn’t realize how much I’d missed him. I fought with him more than any other biker, but he was and would always be my brother.
“Yeah, got out yesterday.”
“You really got yourself shot for that doctor, huh?”
“Well, it wasn’t planned.”
He laughed. “I should hope so. I can’t stay for too long on the call. We’ve got limited external calls here. I just wanted to let you know I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Me too. Listen, Win—”
But he was gone. The call disconnected. I stood rooted to the spot, phone clutched in my hand. I let out a long breath, a shudder rippling down my spine. At least he was getting help, and Crowe wasn’t putting up with his usual bullshit. He visited every week and gave the rest of us updates, since Winter refused to see us.
I pocketed my phone and left my room. After chatting with Winter, my high spirits had dipped. I needed Logan. I needed his arms, his hugs, his kisses. What if I were in Winter’s position? I would have wished I were dead if that happened to me. Just the thought of another man touching my body made my skin crawl.
I couldn’t imagine what Winter was going through, but it couldn’t be good, and I hated that for him. It made me want to kill that fucker all over again.
“Bloom?”
I blinked, surprised to find myself in the mess hall. I remembered leaving the bedroom but not walking down the hallway and through the door into the main area. My steps had been on autopilot, my mind consumed with what had happened to Winter.
“Bloom, are you okay?”
I shook my head to clear the mind fog away and focused on Logan, frowning. He was standing over Ben, who had his shirt off and his arm propped up on the table. Next to Ben, Gunner hovered, his face white and jaw clenched.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Because he didn’t seem to believe me, I smiled. “Just thinking. What’s going on here? You weren’t in bed when I woke up.”
He looked good, dressed in dark jeans and a snug burgundy shirt. “You were sleeping, and I didn’t want to wake you. I went out for a bit and got back to find this one bleeding out on the floor.”
Gunner balled his hands into fists. “Fuck, Ben,” he growled. “I thought I told you to be careful. What are you doing getting stabbed by some punk?”
“It’s just a graze,” Ben said. “Will you calm down? Dr. Collier, please tell him you were joking about me bleeding out.”
“That remains to be seen.” Logan winked at me. He was teasing Gunner, loving to see the biker president on edge over his man getting hurt.
“Does he need to go to the hospital for stitches?” Gunner asked.
“I don’t need stitches,” Ben said. “Just a Band-Aid.”
“Actually, you need a few stitches, but nothing I can’t do here.” He tossed me his car keys. “Bloom, do you mind getting my medical bag from the trunk of the car?”
“What do I get for being your errand boy?” I asked.
“Whatever you want.”
“You’re on.”
“For god’s sake, stop flirting and get the damn medical kit!” Gunner yelled.
I excused him. He was obviously worried about Ben. Before, I wouldn’t have understood it, but I would be the same if it were Logan.
To put Gunner’s mind at ease, I didn’t follow the evil voice in my head telling me to walk as slowly as possible to the car. I retrieved the medical kit and rushed back.
“What took you so long?” Gunner griped.
“I was gone for two minutes! You want me to take it back, and you go for it yourself?” I jutted out my chin, challenging him.
“Don’t provoke him, Gun, and stop overreacting, for god’s sake. I’ve been shot before, you know. This is just a minor wound.” Ben took Gunner’s hand and squeezed it. “I promise you. I’m fine.”
“You better be.”
“You’re acting like a lovesick fool.” I put down the medical kit and sat to watch Logan work.
“Says the guy who jumped in front of a bullet to save another man.”
“That’s not even what happened! A cop shot me.”
“Oh, I forgot. How many gunmen did you take on alone again to save your doctor?”
I glared. “I still have room to take out one more.”
“For the love of god, both of you either stop right now or take it outside,” Logan cried.
I rose to my feet, feeling hot under the collar. “All right, let’s go.”
Logan shot me a stern look, eyebrows knitted. He didn’t need to say a word. I gave him a sheepish grin and sat back down.
“You have to teach me how to do that, Doc, when Gunner here refuses to shut up,” Ben said, sounding impressed.
“I’m worried about you, you dumbass.” Gunner’s tone was full of hurt, and he stalked away, his back ramrod straight as he got behind the bar. Maybe I should join him for a drink. Watching Logan patch up Ben wasn’t as interesting as I thought it would be.
“Don’t even think about it,” Logan said without looking up from where he’d pierced Ben’s skin with the needle. “You’re on painkillers and antibiotics, remember?”
“I wasn’t thinking of drinking.”
He grunted his disbelief, his attention solely fixed on the wound he was closing with quick and neat stitches. He made it look so easy, but Ben grunted each time the needle pierced his skin. By the time Logan cut the thread and taped a piece of sterile gauze over the wound, he was awash in sweat.
“Gunner, bring him a bottle of water,” Logan said.
Gunner was at Ben’s side almost instantly, providing the water his boyfriend needed to down the painkillers Logan gave him.
“See? I’m as good as new.” Ben grabbed Gunner’s face and kissed him quickly. “Take me to bed, will you?”
“Don’t you do anything to pull those stitches out,” Logan warned.
“Don’t worry, Doc. I’ll take care of him.” Gunner placed an arm around Ben and helped him to his feet. Ben was also limping. Damn, he looked rough. Just what had he gotten involved in? He was taking on security jobs, but for how long, given how over the top Gunner was about the whole thing?
“Well, this is my life now, I guess.” Logan packed away his medical kit and wiped his hands with a sanitizing gel. “You did this to me.”
“Does it bother you that much?”
“Honestly, no.” He sat across from me, and I didn’t give him a second to settle before I was straddling his lap. “I don’t mind helping, especially now I’m probably out of work at the hospital.”
“Want me to fix that?”
He spanned my back with his hands. “And how are you going to do that?”
“Hmm, there are so many ways.”
“Like?”
“Like holding a blow dryer over the tub while the CEO is taking a bath. I’m sure he would agree then. Or I can tamper with his brakes—”
“No.”
“No?”
“Exactly, no. To be honest, I’m enjoying the break a lot more than I’d thought. We get to spend more time together, and it feels good not to be responsible for a bunch of people for a change.”
“If you want, you can be our club doctor. I’m sure the pay’s good. Crowe’s great with handling club money, and this chapter is finally turning a profit for a change.”
“I’m not there yet. I’d have to think about it.”
“Okay. I get it.” He probably didn’t want to work with Crowe.
“By the way, I forgot to tell you that you look stunning. Makes me want to show you off, so how about we go somewhere for brunch?”
“Really?” My chest swelled with a rush of pleasure. “Where’d we go?”
“Doesn’t matter as long as the food’s good and I get to flaunt my gorgeous boyfriend around.”
“You think I’m gorgeous?”
“Not just me thinking. All the guys had their eyes on you when you walked in.”
What other guys? I glanced around, noticing for the first time that other bikers—mostly new prospects—sat at the table in the back, their gazes on us. I’d been so caught up in Gunner’s and Ben’s drama that I’d failed to see them.
“Let’s go.” Logan squeezed my ass, then gave me a gentle boost out of his lap. He stood and tugged on the front of his jeans, which were a bit too snug. He was hard. Just from me sitting on him?
I reached for his cock without thinking. He caught my hand and pulled me toward the door. “We’re in public. You can’t just feel me up whenever you like.”
“I sure can.”
“Behave. If you’re good, I’ll take you shopping after brunch. I want you wearing some sexy goth-looking lingerie that only I get to see.”
Sexy gothic lingerie? I’d never thought about it, but from the intense look in Logan’s eyes, he had. “Yeah? You think about me in that kind of lingerie?”
“Of course I do. There’s this one costume in my mind of you coming to bed dressed like a witch—a beautiful witch or a sexy vamp.”
I liked the sound of being his sexy vampy a little too much. “All right. You’re on.”