41. Adrian
By the time they pulled up to the dorms, the afternoon had grown colder, and clouds billowed dark and shadowy across the sky. Ivory sighed and leaned into him, her arms wrapped snug around his waist. She was still all soft and cuddly, and he wanted nothing more than to keep his sweet witch all to himself for as long as he could.
He’d offered to take her out for lunch, but she said she’d rather stay in, and he had no protests. Once she picked up a change of clothes and her schoolwork, they would head back to his apartment, where he could look after her for the rest of the night.
They rolled to a stop by the back entrance and he shifted gears, placing his foot on the curb.
“Are you sure I can’t convince you to let me do my homework tomorrow?” she asked, taking off her helmet and nuzzling the nape of his neck.
He clicked his tongue and removed his helmet, too, allowing her more room to try and convince him. Even though it wouldn’t work. “What kind of chivalrous knight would I be if I enabled you to procrastinate?”
He turned to tuck his finger under her chin and looked her in the eyes. Dark brown eyelashes swept over her cheekbones, makeup gone, and nothing left but natural beauty to take his breath away. “Plus, I want you all to myself tomorrow,” he added. “If you’re good and finish your work early, then maybe we can play more later.”
She bit her lip and pouted.
“Don’t make me punish you again.”
“All right, fine.” She held back an eye roll just in time and, much to his chagrin, winced as she slid off the bike. “I’ll go grab my bag—textbooks included. Be out in five.” Her attention flicked down to the seat, and her face paled. “Also, I’m sorry about…you know…” She motioned to the leather. “I’ll clean your bike later.”
It took him a moment to register what she meant—the mess she’d made at the warehouse. Or, more accurately, the mess his fingers had coaxed out of her.
He grinned and hooked his hand in her jeans to pull her close. “Sweetheart, don’t apologize. This seat is never going to get washed again.”
Her jaw dropped, and she stumbled over her words. “I’m sure that’s not necessary.” Darting her gaze away, she blushed. “But if you’d like, we can always…do it again after it's washed.”
He laughed. What a dirty girl. Fuck, he loved her for it.
“I’ll take you up on that.” Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, “Next time, I’ll have you come on my boot and make you clean it off with your tongue.”
Face scarlet red and eyes wide, her expression was all he needed to verify it turned her on more than she’d admit. He let her go, and she dashed into the dorms.
As he watched her disappear, a nearly forgotten ache panged in his chest. Not so many months ago, he’d watched the same scene but assumed he’d never see her again. That Halloween had been fittingly dark, chilled with winter on its wings and a curse drifting in the air. So much had changed for him since then.
Even though the warmth of summer lingered, new growth budded all around, and a seedling of hope had been planted in his heart, not all their problems were solved. He’d sworn not to act on it, but he still wanted to dig into the circumstances behind his father’s murder. He wanted to know who that ring belonged to five years ago and who pulled the trigger. If he couldn’t find a way to bring down justice himself, then he wanted that man behind bars.
Just as his hand reached for a pack of cigarettes that wasn’t there, the building’s door swung open, and Ivory bounded out, practically skipping down the sidewalk with a purple backpack strapped on her shoulders.
“All set,” she declared, settling back on the bike and taking her helmet.
“Good. Let’s head home.” The bike purred as he revved the engine, but the ring of those words echoed louder in his ears.
Home.
???
Once they got to his apartment, the first order of business was tending to her finger. And tending to his after she insisted on it with the same cute stubbornness that had become his ultimate weakness. He took a quiet moment to brush her hair until it fell in silky tresses, then watched her drink a glass of water before letting her claim the kitchen.
While Ivory happily made sandwiches, he cleared off his desk to give her enough space to work. The clutter was easily sorted, mostly paid bills and junk mail that needed to be filed or thrown in the trash. Except for the printed copy of the police records. He shoved them unceremoniously in the back of the drawer without a second glance.
That bitter taste crept into his mouth again. Maybe he should tell Raptor about the ring and Jace’s admittance that it symbolized the Yu family. If nothing else, Raptor had to know something about who could’ve passed it down.
But that would have to wait until after the weekend because wasting his time with Ivory would be a crime in itself.
Ceramic plates clanked against the wood kitchen table as he walked into the main room, shrugging off his persisting dark thoughts. Barefoot and with purple hair spilling over her shoulders, Ivory had her back turned, ass poking out as she picked through the fridge. He watched with hungry eyes, noticing the two immaculate sandwiches that sat across from one another on the dining table.
“What do you want to drink?” she asked. “Beer? Juice? Water?”
“Juice sounds great.” Good thing he stocked up on groceries for this weekend. He’d even managed to find those canned margaritas she liked so much. “Feel free to take whatever you like.”
“I’ll have juice, too,” she said. “Although I did notice my favorite treats on the shelf.” Her lips curved into a smile as she turned and closed the fridge with her hip, holding a carton of orange juice. “Better to not get too distracted from my studies .”
“Good call.” He walked over and took the juice from her. One of his hands automatically gripped her hip, slowly sliding down to squeeze her ass through her pair of sweatpants. “Feeling better already, are we?”
Her eyes sparkled as he pressed her into the counter. “Still a bit sore,” she admitted, her voice breathless and sweet.
Despite the lingering soreness, she curved towards his touch, arching her back and giving him no choice but to lick the bite mark on her neck. She’d removed the ribbon, and as much as he loved to see it on her, she tasted even better without it. He kissed up her jaw and settled over her mouth. “I like this meal,” he rumbled.
She giggled. “But I’m not—”
He cut her off with a nip on her bottom lip, then reached behind her to pull out two glasses from the cupboard. “Sass me one more time, and you’ll see who’s eating what.”
Her hair still smelled faintly of rain, skin warm and fragrant with her natural aromatic scent and hints of sex. He’d never been into candles, but he’d put one in every room if they could replicate her.
A much sweeter scent wafted from the oven, and he backed up to peek inside. Raising his eyebrows, he shot a questioning look over to Ivory.
“I like to munch when I study,” she explained with a shrug, face painted with a half-guilty expression as she sat at the table. “I just used what you had on hand. Although I found it odd you’ve never opened your vanilla extract. Hope you don’t mind oatmeal cookies.”
“No raisins?” he asked, knowing he’d end up eating them regardless.
“Nope,” she said, popping the ‘p.’ “Just plain oatmeal with extra butter.”
“Sounds perfect.” He took a seat across from her, disgruntled that the table created too much space between them. “Pretty sure the vanilla extract was part of the supply package my mom and sister brought for the kitchen when I first moved in. I’m glad you found a use for it.”
He lingered before taking a bite, pouring his juice as Ivory picked up her sandwich. His father had always insisted on waiting until their mom started eating, and the habit still stuck with him. “If you ever need extra stuff to cook with, let me know,” he offered. “I’ll try anything you make.”
She nodded around a mouthful of food. Satisfied she was happy, he started on his own plate. Sandwiches were a daily item on his menu, which was why he had the ingredients in the first place, but damn, Ivory made this taste better than the deli. He narrowed his eyes at the stack of bread, cheese, and meat.
“How did you make this taste so good?” He was almost afraid to ask.
Her smile radiated from across the table, and he was pleased she’d become better at accepting compliments. “Most people forget sandwiches can be seasoned, too,” she replied, sipping her juice like a true connoisseur. “Adding a little of the right herbs goes a long way.”
“Mm,” he hummed after swallowing another bite. “My sister is going to love you. Her spice selection is as big as the grocery store. Maybe bigger.”
“What’s she like?” Ivory asked. “She’s married to Raptor, right?”
“Yeah,” he replied. “Riri is…” He frowned. “Even more stubborn than you are. Hot-headed. Incredibly irritating and irrational. But I’m sure she’d beg to differ.” No doubt she’d say the same things about him if asked. Or even if she wasn’t.
Ivory laughed. “Is Riley a member of Royal Flush too? How did she meet Raptor?”
He shook his head. “She’s not officially sworn in, but with her habit of sticking her nose into things she shouldn’t, and now that Raptor has the VP patch, she’s well informed, to say the least.” He sighed. “As far as their story…it’s a long one. After our dad died, we were both a wreck and in a way, Raptor came through for both of us. Of course, a little more so when it comes to her.”
Ivory set down her sandwich and ran a finger around the rim of her plate. “If Royal Flush is a motorcycle club…and you obviously have a passion for riding, why didn’t you join? Seems like a no-brainer when you have family involved.”
He finished his bite, chewing long enough for a pause. “It is. And it isn’t.”
After another bite, he leaned back and met her gaze. “You know that’s what it was all about, right? The shooting? It’s Yu and Cortez fighting for power. They tried to keep it quiet, but now I have proof.”
Empathy warmed her mossy eyes. “Then why doesn’t Cortez want to help? If it’s his family, and Royal Flush has the resources…”
“It’s never that simple.” He exhaled. “It’s business for them. Make one wrong move, and it sets off a string of bad events. More people die, and it never ends.” He pushed away his plate. “That’s why I have to handle this on my own.”
He hated to admit it, but Cortez could’ve known more than he let on this whole time. He didn’t want to think that Raptor—and Riley, by extension—knew all these years who had been behind it and stayed silent while he suffered. Of course, abiding by club rules would tie their hands…but even after he’d offered evidence, Royal Flush wasn’t willing to do anything. It was too convenient to let him take the fall so they could keep the club looking clean.
“No one else has to die.” Ivory reached over and placed her hand over his, a bandage wrapped around her pointer finger—because of the cut from his knife. “And if they do, you don’t have to bear that burden alone.”
Hell, if only life worked that way. If only she didn’t need to think about sharing the weight he’d dragged around for so long. He’d chop off his own limbs to keep her the way she was, unburdened and full of life and love.
He opened her hand and traced the lines in her palm. “I had this dream when I was a kid,” he murmured. “That one day I’d have a family. One day, I’d be able to protect them and love them and watch them grow up like my dad had wanted to do with us.” Her skin felt so soft, so pliable, as he ran his fingertips over hers. “Raptor has his reasons for accepting what Royal Flush is. I suppose Riri does, too. But that’s not what I want my story to be like.”
Looking up, he saw her face—not the same four walls of the apartment he’d paced for years, and not the lost girl who’d followed him at the Halloween party—but a woman who took his darkness and turned it into light. A supernova at the center of the universe, burning so bright that she could thrive where he hadn’t been able to see, much less function.
And he knew.
He knew the future he’d wanted all along had been her.