Chapter 7
NORA
It’s always the quiet ones who surprise you. Still waters really do run deep when it comes to Nickel Tin.
Running my hand across the bed next to me, I’m somehow not shocked to find that Nickel isn’t there. I’m not sure if the man sleeps much at all.
No, what surprises me is that I didn’t wake up when he left the bed, just like yesterday when I woke up to him and coffee.
It isn’t lost on me that I feel safe enough with him to let my guard down and to sleep with ease.
I didn’t even have my knife under my pillow last night, and I slept like a baby.
Turning my head, my lips turn up in a smile.
The man sees so much and instinctively seems to know what I need.
There on the nightstand, next to an insulated travel mug, is the knife that rarely leaves my side.
The knife I’ve slept with under my pillow for years.
In my experience, it’s rare to find a man who doesn’t mind that you’re able to take care of yourself.
That I’ve found an entire club of them is something for the books.
Pushing up on the bed to sit with my back against the headboard and taking the sheet with me, I tuck it under my arms and reach for the coffee. I take a sip and tilt my head to listen for him. When I hear nothing, I wonder where he is.
I glance at the clock on his side of the bed to see that it’s gone six in the morning, meaning he’s been up for a while.
I’m finishing my coffee when I hear them. I’d think I was back in the army if it weren’t for the fact that they’re singing an American marching chant and not a British one. It gets my heart beating, and I smile.
Hurriedly, I get out of bed and rush to the bathroom. It doesn’t take me long, and I’m washed, dressed, and out his door only to see them disappearing over the horizon.
“They’ll be back.” Turning, I see Bee sitting in a chair on the deck of the home next to ours, wrapped in a blanket.
She’s still sporting faded bruises, and I know her ribs aren’t healed, or I’d imagine she’d be out there training with them.
Wondering if I can catch up with them, I do some stretches.
“If you head off that way, you’ll catch up to them. They come back this way, then go to the obstacle course behind Coal's house,” Bee says.
“Thanks, Bee,” I reply, shaking out my arms.
I jog down the steps to the road.
“Nora.”
I look back at Bee, who’s now leaning on the rail of their deck. “I’m glad you’re here. Nickel is a good man. If you let yourself, you’ll be happy here.”
A smile breaks across my face.
“Wow.” Bee sounds shocked. “I’ve never seen you smile like that before.”
“Haven’t had much to smile about in recent years. But I do now, and I know you’re right. Nickel kind of took me by surprise, but he and I are on the same track as you and Copper.”
Bee grins. “They kind of do sneak into your heart a bit like the Wraiths they are.” She sobers before continuing. “I’m happy for you, Nora. And selfishly, I’m fucking thrilled for me. Means I get to keep my best friend close.”
Warmth fills my heart at her words. “Same for me, Bee. It’s been a while since I’ve admitted to having a best friend, and thank fuck, you’re not one who wants to have long, meaningful talks about feelings.”
Bee chuckles and drains her coffee as I finish stretching my hamstrings and jog on the spot. “See you soon, Nor. Have fun with the boys. If Noah wakes up before you finish, we’ll walk over to the obstacle course and watch you give them a run for their money.”
Saluting, I run backwards so I can still see her. “Hurry and heal, Bee. I could do with some competition.”
She laughs and waves me off.
Grinning, I turn and jog away. I feel alive for the first time in years. My blood is pumping, and the echoes of last night’s orgasms still linger. I’m happy. My family is at rest, my best friend lives next to me, and I’ve found a man determined to make me his.
I hear them before I see them, and put on a burst of speed, running towards them. What a sight it is. They’re all good-looking men. And they keep in shape, but I have eyes for only one man—the man at the centre of the pack.
I home in on him. Waving at Cross, who’s in the lead, I speed up, then slip between the men’s sweaty bodies until I’m next to the one who’s mine.
Nickel turns his head and smiles down at me. “Morning, darlin’.”
Familiar flutters of need float through me, mixed with happiness and, dare I say it, the first sparks of something more. I’m not ready to admit what they are. Not yet, but soon.
“Morning, handsome. Thanks for the coffee. Could’ve done with more orgasms instead of waking to an empty bed, though.”
“Fuck,” Bolt mutters and stumbles.
Coal and Copper groan in disgust, but the rest of the men are laughing.
I smirk at their discomfort, and Nickel grins at me.
“Too much information.” Bolt glares at me. “I don’t need you and Nickel in my head this early, not with the way it’s banging. At least now I know why the fucker’s so cheery this morning.”
I forgot the men tied one on last night because Nickel was sober, but looking around, I see that some of them look a little green. The only ones who don’t are Blue, Cross, and Nickel.
I smirk. “A little hungover? That will teach you to drink on a school night. You need to drink some water.”
“There’s water waiting for them at the obstacle course,” Cross calls out. “Come on, people. Step it up. Nearly there.”
Something about running in a pack calls to the feral part of me. I fucking love it. We pass Bee, who waves and gives us a thumbs-up. Cross veers off and takes us over some rough terrain. Then we’re running past Coal’s house, where Thea and Jeanie are sitting on the veranda drinking coffee.
I wave, and they smile, returning my wave.
“Yes!” I shout when I see the obstacle course.
Breaking from the ranks, I sprint ahead so I can get a proper look.
“This is amazing,” I call as I slow to a jog, then to a walk to cool down—not that I’ve run far, but I know better than to let my muscles get cold.
They have a full-on assault course that includes climbing walls, rope swings, water jumps, crawling tunnels, balance beams, and monkey bars, plus more. But I’ve seen enough.
Turning, I jog back to where the men are sipping their water.
“Love the course,” I say, coming to a stop next to Nickel and leaning against him. “Do you go one at a time or as teams?”
“Usually, I have them run drills one at a time,” Cross replies. “But as they’re feeling worse for wear this morning, we’ll do teams.”
I look at Nickel. “Want to be my buddy?”
“Any time.” He grins, then leans down to whisper in my ear, “Any place. Just say when.”
I shiver and press closer. Turning my head, I nip his earlobe. “Thirty minutes, in the shower, after we’ve beaten their arses.”
A growl rumbles through Nickel. I sometimes wonder if he’s more beast than man.
“Nora and I are ready, Cross,” he says. “Who are we up against?”
That’s my man. A shiver of arousal streaks through me, but I bank it because I’m nothing if not competitive.
Cross eyes us and shakes his head before he assesses the men gathered around. “Blue and Iron, you’re up first against Nora and Nickel. The team with the best time is the winner. Blue and Iron, you start. Nora, you don’t know the course, so watch. I don’t want any training accidents.”
“No worries,” I agree, turning to watch as Blue and Iron take off for the first of the course.
The obstacles start easy with tyre runs, followed by the monkey bars, before it gets progressively harder the further into the course you get. I note straightaway that the two of them know what they’re doing. They’re used to working as a team, reading each other, and helping when needed.
It won’t be that easy for Nickel and me, having never trained together.
Iron and Blue come flying down the last stretch, and I hold up a hand for a high five. “Awesome job, guys.” Turning to Nickel, I ask, “Ready?”
He nods. That’s it; a nod. Then he walks to the start of the course. Got to love a man of few words.
I should have more faith in my man. Instead of coddling me like I expected, he takes off, leaving me in the dust until the climbing wall.
He waits for me there, holding his hand out for me to step onto.
Lifting me, he tosses me over before pulling himself up and over to land next to me with a smile.
A smile I’m growing to love with each one he gives me.
“I get it.” I grin. “Teamwork where needed, but otherwise, it’s up to each of us to get through.”
“You don’t need me coddling you, darlin’. You’re better trained than me, but I’m stronger than you, so if I can make up our time by using that strength, I’m your man.”
“It’s a good plan,” I agree. “Let’s go, big man.”
I slap his butt and take off, with him following me.
We have a lot of fun, and I laugh as happiness bubbles through me. We reach Cross, who has the stopwatch.
“Not bad, you two. A second slower than Blue and Iron, but still good. A few more times through, and you’ll be golden. Excellent teamwork. You can hit the showers.”
Dismissing us, he turns to Coal and Brass, who are lined up to go next.
I squeal when I’m suddenly airborne and tossed over a hard shoulder.
“You promised me fun in the shower,” Nickel rumbles, striding back towards home.
“I did, didn’t I?” I hum, running my hands over the globes of his arse.
Two can play at this game.
We barely make it through the front door—never mind into the shower—because we’re so hot for each other. I’m on him as the door shuts behind us, riding his cock as soon as I get him out of his pants. The next round is just as fast and needy as he pounds into me in the shower.
“Fuck,” Nickel mutters against my throat as water from the shower head beats down on us. “Not sure I’ll ever get enough of you, Nora.”
“Right back at you, handsome.”
He lifts his head and flexes his hips. I bite my lip and shudder when I feel him still hard inside me.
He eases out of me, then surges forward, pressing his forehead to mine. “I’ve just realised why you feel so good. No condom.”
My eyes meet his. “I’m clean.”
He closes his eyes. “Me too. I got checked a month ago, and I haven’t been with anyone.” He opens his eyes. “Babies?”
I shake my head. “I’m on birth control.”
“Pity,” he says with a grin. “Let’s put it to the test.”
I’m stunned and not a little turned on by a man who seems hell-bent on testing the limits of my implant. I hope to hell it holds up… at least for now.
Because once Miles Burres is dead? I’ll be open to further discussion about babies.
Maybe I should let Nickel know that I’m falling for him.