CHAPTER 16 #2
Her face scrunches up and she shakes her head slowly. “How about you call me Ezra? I don’t think I can handle you calling me Ms. Lyons while surrounded by debauchery.”
Bolt grins at her and shakes his head slightly. When he looks down at her shirt, he does snort out a small laugh. I’m not an insecure man, but I don’t like anyone else getting her smiles. I’m aware of how unhinged that makes me sound.
I don’t really give a fuck.
When I lean down, my nose sliding along her neck, my words whisper against her skin, “I don’t think you have any idea what debauchery is.” Bolt puts her beer down with a nod before moving away to serve someone else. “Careful, don’t smile too wide at anyone else. Especially him.”
“Why him?” She asks me, her wide blue eyes looking up at me while she blinks. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“He’s young,” I grumble.
She scrunches up her face. “Exactly,” she points out. “He was my student far too recently; it would be wrong,” her voice drops slightly, “and gross.”
I chuckle under my breath and lean down to kiss her lips softly. When I stand up to my full height, I’m very aware that the move has earned a lot of attention from those around us. I’m not surprised.
There’s a quiet hum in the air, one that tells me everyone is just waiting to see what happens next. If they’re looking for a show or drama, they’re going to be disappointed.
“Ryker,” Dad calls out to me from a nearby table.
When I turn toward the sound, Ezra does as well. Jackal is sitting at a table with my mom, Vera, and Snake’s parents—Warden and Patsy. I give my dad and Warden a chin lift before leaning down to whisper in my woman’s ear, “Time to meet the parents.”
Ezra’s eyes widen slightly as she looks up at me. “Okay, great,” her voice is bright, but wobbles slightly.
The way she’s putting on a brave face and squaring her shoulders is sexy as fuck.
She allows me to lead her over to their table, but I can see the worry in every step she takes. My thumb brushes back and forth along her back and I feel her relax slightly. It’s not enough, but it makes me feel like a fucking god.
Just as we reach the table, Freak and Dorothy, Scratch and Bolt’s parents, walk up. All of their eyes are on Ezra. They completely ignore the warning look I shoot them.
“Fucking hell, people,” I admonish them.
Ezra’s eyes go even wider and rounder. She looks up at me and then smacks my arm, her voice laced with admonishment, “Language.”
Everyone around the table freezes for a moment. When all I do is cut my eyes at her while one side of my mouth tips up, they all burst out laughing.
Mom stands up and practically rips my woman out of my arms. “I’m going to be honest, I never thought I’d see this day.” She grips her and holds her at arm’s length. “I also would not have predicted it would be you, but it also makes a strange sense.”
Ezra makes an oomph sound when Mom clutches her against her chest in a fierce hug. The awkward look on Ezra’s face is priceless.
“This is my mom, Vera,” I introduce them, my words filled with amusement.
“I’ve gotta say,” Patsy pipes up as she steps up next to where mom is still hugging Ezra, “the sheriff’s daughter and the motorcycle club president is definitely a book I’ve read. Talk about a dramatic combo. I can’t wait to enjoy the fireworks.”
Just then Opal walks up and lets out a groan. “Please don’t start,” Opal says pointedly to Patsy.
Ezra looks a little dazed as everyone is introduced, but it doesn’t take long before we’re sitting around the table chatting. Just as Bolt delivers another round of beers to the table, Snake walks in with his hand on Graycie’s back.
Graycie lights up when she sees Warden and walks faster to get to him. The big man is up and out of his seat so fast. He sweeps her up into his arms and hugs her with gentle hands. Gentle is not something I would have associated with Warden before Snake and Graycie got together.
The man is the former VP, and he earned all of the whispers and the fear which surrounded him when he was in his prime. Still, it’s not like I would want to go up against him even now. No fucking thank you.
I stand up and hug Snake quickly before asking, “How’s it going man?”
“I should be asking you that,” he teases me.
“Life is good.” I say the words easily and realize how true they are.
Opal grabs Ezra’s hand, pulling her up and heading toward the bar, snagging Graycie along the way. “Come on,” she implores, “I need something other than beer, and it’ll be fun to watch Bolt fumble through my instructions. You can’t drink with me, Graycie, but Ezra can.”
The sing-song quality in Opal’s voice has me glancing at Snake. The man is already wincing. Between his sister and his woman? He can’t seem to win.
I’m smiling without even realizing it. When I look over at Jackal, one side of his mouth tips up.
“Be careful, Teach,” I call out after her.
She glances over her shoulder at me, her lips curling up into a smile just for me. Then she teases me, “I’ll be fine.”
I scoff and look at Dad when he gives my shoulder a squeeze. He keeps his voice low, the question filled with curiosity and not judgement, “You sure about this?”
My eyes stay on Ezra. Opal is saying something, her hands flailing around and Ezra laughs.
We’re nowhere special. It’s almost too loud. The lighting is low.
Still, she glows.
“Never mind,” Dad says before I can answer him, caught up in her for a moment. “It was a stupid question in the first place.”
I look at him and smirk.
Rumble, Playboy’s dad and the former enforcer for the club, walks up with a few glasses and a bottle of Hammond whiskey. He glances up at me and nods, “You gonna have a drink or run after your lady?”
Even though I try to keep my eyes on Rumble, who is grinning from ear to ear, my eyes move to Ezra. I can’t help myself.
Still, I pull out a chair while Snake takes the one right next to me because they have the best view of the bar. Rumble barks out a laugh and pours me a drink.
I want to walk over to my Ez, throw her over my shoulder, and carry her away, but I take pleasure in just watching her.
For now.