Chapter 12
Fiona
Cece met us at the clubhouse bright and early, and after just a few hours of work, Charlie hustled me out and over to her parents’.
She had a variety of scary-looking tools she was threatening to use on my eyes and hair, and I dutifully sat through the process.
Charlie had brought the clothes she picked out, giving me no other option but to wear what she wanted, with the addition of a necklace and a belt from her closet.
When I finally looked in the mirror, I was shocked by what I saw.
The outfit was simple, but the shape of the pants made my waist look tiny, before flaring out at my hips and ass.
The shirt was silky, and the V-cut was riskier than anything I had worn before.
The emerald color made my skin glow and red hair pop.
With my contacts in, Charlie had taken advantage and given me a subtle smoky eye with winged liner.
I felt like a retro pinup doll as she passed me some rosy lip gloss to finish off the look.
Charlie looked effortlessly sexy in a black halter top and jeans, leaving her back bare.
Her long hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, falling straight down her back.
We both wore heels, causing her to tower over me even with my own shoes on.
Before I could second-guess anything, Charlie had me out of the house and into the car faster than Hades.
When we pulled up to the clubhouse, the vibe was already vastly different than earlier. Bikes filled every space in front of the building, and smoke was billowing from the back of the club, where I knew there was both a fire pit and a BBQ. The music was loud and could be heard from outside.
There were Brothers hovering up front, smoking in groups or checking out each other’s vehicles. As we got out of her car, a few of them greeted Charlie, who shot them a sultry smile I would never have been able to imitate. Once we got into the clubhouse, Bash made a beeline for us.
“Holy shit. You look amazing. You always look beautiful, but fuck, my night just got ten times harder.”
I couldn’t help but feel the same. Bash hadn’t done anything to change his appearance, but there was something about that night, seeing him fully in his element, that heightened everything.
His dirty blonde hair was slightly overgrown, hanging longer in the front, making his blue eyes pop.
He had a five o’clock shadow from working late all week that only added to the appeal.
Wearing a black T-shirt under his vest with his standard jeans and boots, he was an intimidating sight.
Match walked over to our group with beers for Charlie and me, Bull and Scythe following shortly after. The clubhouse was packed. Large men in leather vests filled the entire space, and each cluster seemed to have at least one, if not more, scantily clad women wrapped around them.
The bar area was packed with two prospects working to get drinks out quickly, and the air nearly vibrated with the deep bass of all the voices.
Before I could get too far, Guard intercepted the group and swept me over to a table, where Cece was sitting with a few other women.
Bash stuck close to my side as his mom got up to greet us.
“Fee! I’m so glad you could make it. You look stunning. Just so lovely. Come, let me introduce you to the girls.”
“Hi, Mom, nice to see you too,” Bash grumbled, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Pfft. Let us have some girl time, then I’ll make sure she gets back to you in one piece.” Bash was studying my face, and I gave him a smile to let him know I was fine on my own.
“Alright, but you keep her out of trouble. No summoning spirits or running around naked. We want Fee to want to come back here.”
“It was the solstice, dear. It would be disrespectful to celebrate with clothes on,” a woman around Cece’s age said from across the table.
“Really, Seph? Alright, I’m out before I hear anything else that will scar me for life.” He gave me a quick kiss before heading off, leaving me alone at the table of women.
“Did you really dance naked outside the clubhouse?” I couldn’t help but ask, a large smile on my face.
“Of course! Just as Dionysus would demand,” the woman replied. She had a very hippie vibe to her, wearing a long skirt and a colorful shirt made of eclectic fabrics. Her arm was decorated with several beaded bracelets, and her long grey hair flowed down her back.
“I assume there was wine and animal sacrifices as well?” I asked, and she laughed.
“Oh, we have a live one here. Knows her history too! My name is Persephone, but everyone calls me Seph. Reaper is my Old Man. I’ve heard a lot about you, Fiona.” I shrugged, unsure if what she had heard was good or bad.
“Hi, Seph, it’s nice to meet you,” I replied.
“She isn’t just Reaper’s Old Lady. Don’t let the patches fool you. She’s the one keeping everyone in line,” the woman sitting next to Persephone said.
She was closer to my age and had jet-black hair full of tight braids twisted up in a large knot at the top of her head.
Her dark mocha skin was flawless and made her soft brown eyes pop.
She was tall and willowy, and had on a simple white top that exposed her midsection, paired with silky pants in a vibrant print.
“Name’s Eve. I’m X’s Old Lady. Nice to meet you.” She reached her hand over to shake mine, her nails perfectly manicured.
“X?” I asked.
“Short for X-Ray. He’s an ER doctor. He treats the Brothers if they get injured.” She shrugged, and I nodded along, appreciating the correlation.
The last girl at the table was a tiny blonde woman whose hair was cut in a pixie style. She had freckles all over her face and a cute summer dress on. Even with the leather cut over her outfit, she looked like she was ready for afternoon tea.
“Hi! I’m Bailey. My Old Man is Diesel. No clever story behind it. Sorry to disappoint,” she chirped, and I laughed at her introduction.
“Nice to meet you. I love your dress,” I said genuinely.
“Oh! I like you already.”
“She’s just saying that because she’s pregnant and thinks she’s fat, even though she’s barely even showing,” Eve replied sarcastically. I watched as Bailey cupped a bump I hadn’t noticed before.
“Congratulations. Do you know what you’re having?” I asked, and she shook her head.
“We want it to be a surprise.”
“Which, thankfully, means we don’t have to deal with a gender reveal at the baby shower next month,” Seph replied, and I sat back, listening to the women discuss their plans for Bailey’s baby shower.
No club girls allowed, peanut butter chocolate was the current flavor craving, and no gender-specific gifts.
It was an eclectic group of women, but the bonds between them were undeniable.
They were discussing baby-proofing the house when Bailey shared her difficulties coming up with an idea for the nursery.
“It feels like I need a theme, but I don’t know what to pick. I’ve looked at every website and store out there for ideas, but I keep coming up empty-handed.”
“Why don’t you ask Match to design something?” I suggested, thinking about the accent wall he had done for me. The women were quiet for a second before they started replying excitedly.
“That’s a great idea,” Seph replied.
“Dare said he’s really talented and they’re going to start training him next month. If you ask now, you might be able to get him to start before he’s working at the shop full-time.”
“They’re hiring him?! He didn’t tell me! Oh, I’m so excited!” I gushed, only slightly miffed that Match hadn’t told me himself.
“He doesn’t know yet. Dare had to go out of town and is gonna talk to him when he gets back, but it’s all been approved,” Seph declared.
“Oh! I love this idea. I wonder if he would actually do it.” Bailey turned to me, her eyes widening. “Will you ask him? He won’t say no to his big sister,” she pleaded with me.
“What?” I laughed until I saw all their expressions.
“You didn’t know? He talks about you all the time. Charging the Brothers for plates of that mac and cheese you made him. He volunteered to stay on morning duty too. You may not be related by blood, but that boy loves you like a sister.”
I blushed from head to toe, warmed by the news. I didn’t know why I was surprised. I saw Match as a brother. Our relationship was totally different from the one I had with my brother growing up.
“I’ll ask him,” I said, and all the women cheered.
“Mom, you’re hogging Fee. The other guys want to meet her,” Charlie said, coming up to stand beside me.
“Hello, Charlotte, dear.”
“Hey, Seph. Hey, chickies,” she said, giving Eve and Bailey each a kiss on the cheek.
“Alright. you can take her away as long as she keeps her promise to Bailey,” Seph said, looking right at me.
“Promise! I’ll ask him first thing tomorrow,” I said, and Bailey did a little dance before giving me a tight hug.
I waved goodbye as Charlie dragged me to a table across the room, where our small group had converged.
It didn’t pass my notice that I was flanked by Bash, Charlie, or Match at all times.
I knew they were worried about me, which was heartwarming, but also a bit unnecessary.
Needing to pee, I started for the bathroom on the main floor, only to have Bash stop me.
“Use the bathroom attached to my room upstairs. It’s private and cleaner. Do you want me to take you there?”
I knew where the room was from setting up earlier in the day.
I shook my head, determined to prove I didn’t need a babysitter the entire night.
I made my way upstairs and down the hallway that led to the rooms the Brothers slept in.
As I turned the corner, I was startled to see Crow, pants around his ankles, balls-deep in Dolly.
Both turned to look at me. His eyes tracked me lasciviously as he never stopped pounding her against the wall. I scurried around them, rolling my eyes at Crow’s clear desperation to prove himself as some sort of alpha male.