Chapter 9
Kit
The next day I was in The Bunker, restocking the bar, despite it being my day off, and going over the events of last night.
A small part of me wanted to keep this to myself.
To enjoy the knowledge that Hellfire and I were a couple for a little while, so that I could revel in that fact.
But the minute he wrapped his arm around me in front of the others, they were going to know something was up.
That was if my loud-mouthed brother hadn't already spilled the beans.
Besides, my friends and his brothers were going to be ecstatic for us.
It would be almost as much fun to celebrate with them as it would to immerse myself in the knowledge that I now belonged to the man who'd stolen my heart years ago.
I was still shocked that he'd fucked me like that. It was hard to meld what I knew from the man who'd been my friend for so long and the man he was as a lover. It was a dream come true.
I'd spent so many nights fantasizing about him, wondering what it would be like to have him in my bed. Now, I knew. And it blew my mind.
He was the perfect combination of rough and tender. He'd taken control, but not in a way that made me feel powerless. He made me feel cherished and desired.
As if he knew I was thinking about him, Hellfire walked into The Bunker.
My eyes roved over him as I took him in.
He wore his usual jeans and a black t-shirt with his cut over it.
His dark hair was damp and curling around his ears and neck from the shower he'd taken that morning.
That was all mine. I was worried that I was going to wake up from this dream.
One thing about Hellfire, thanks to his job at his family company, was he showered a lot.
Often three times a day or more. When you worked with other people's feces that was bound to be a habit you built.
The job sounded disgusting to me, but it was one that still had to be done and he always stepped up when he was needed.
When his dad had asked him to take over half the company Hell had nearly turned himself inside out figuring out how to make it all work.
That was who he was. Reliable. Loyal. Dependable.
Everyone around here knew that if you needed something, Hell would be the first in line to help you with it.
I doubted he realized the reputation he built with his brothers and their families, but he was highly respected.
He grinned when his eyes landed on me. I felt myself flush under the heat of his gaze. He was so sexy it made my mouth water just looking at him.
"Hey, Hell," Seek called out. She and the others were seated at my bar.
I hadn't told them anything yet. I was waiting for the right moment. That right moment was barreling down on me as he approached.
"Hey." Though he spoke to the room, his eyes didn't leave mine as he walked over to us.
He stopped next to me and pulled me in for a kiss that curled my toes inside my sneakers.
"Isn't it a bit early for drinking?" he asked after he let me go.
I was too breathless to answer. "You bunch are getting as bad as the men around here. "
The others were too busy picking their jaws off the ground to answer his accusations. The laughter spilled out before I could hold it back. They looked so shocked. Hell joined in. "I guess you haven't told them yet."
"No," Jenny said accusingly, "she hasn't."
"When did this happen?" Seek asked with a satisfied smile.
"Last night," I said, elbowing Hellfire in the ribs for ruining my surprise.
He grunted dramatically and rubbed his side. "Sure is ornery in the morning," he declared.
"I'm not ornery," I told him. "And it's not morning anymore."
"True."
"You were gone early," I told him as the women babbled happily amongst themselves about the news.
"Sorry, Lock has me out running club errands. Probably going to be early mornings for a while." He smiled down at me, cupping my face with his huge hand.
"That's okay. I just wasn't sure where you'd gone." I'd woken up confused and insecure, wondering why he'd snuck out of my bed.
"I didn't want to wake you up. You looked so peaceful."
His words made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, melting away the insecurities and making me feel dumb for having them in the first place.
Then again, even as sweet as he was, Hell was a man, and a biker.
He was born just as wild and different as the rest of them, so maybe my doubts were just logical.
I was still holding onto that peaceful feeling when he leaned down and kissed me again.
"I'll be back later," he said against my lips.
"Okay."
He gave me another quick kiss before he left. I watched him go, a smile on my face. It was only after I turned back around that I realized the others had been watching our exchange and that the bar was silent.
"What?" I asked, pasting an innocent expression on my face.
"We've been sitting here for twenty minutes!" Jordan exclaimed. "And not a peep."
"You were all busy talking about babies," I told them with a shrug. I wasn't going to tell them that I'd just gotten Hellfire into my bed last night and didn't want to jinx it by spilling the beans so soon.
"How long has this been going on?" Gwen asked.
"He asked me last week to be his old lady," I admitted.
"And you waited this long to say anything?" Susie gasped.
"I didn't want to jump the gun. He still needed to talk to Smokehouse."
"That's why Smoke came home all bruised up last night," Dani said with a shake of her head. "What is it about these guys?"
"They talk better with each other when they're fighting," Daisha replied.
"You'll get used to it," Tori added.
"Tell us more," Sloane pleaded, an eager look on her face.
"Well, Smoke gave his blessing. Turns out he knew Hellfire was into me and was planning on doing something about it anyway," I told them.
Then I smiled at them. "So, Hell asked me again to be his old lady and I said yes.
" I looked over at Seek and admitted. "I sort of freaked out when he asked me the first time.
Well, I told him yes, then I freaked out. Seek helped me through it."
"She's good for that," Gwen said, giving Seek a side hug.
"We're so happy for you," Keely said, smiling at me. "Did you guys have sex?"
"Keely!" Dani snapped.
"What?" she asked, an innocent expression on her face. "I was just wondering how it was. A single girl needs to know these things."
"Us married girls do, too," Seek added with a wiggle of her brows.
I laughed and shook my head. "Best I've ever had." Not that I had a lot to compare to.
Jordan whooped as the others laughed. "I figured. He seems like the type to really take his time and make it all consuming."
I was shocked at how close she was, though I wasn't going to admit it out loud. Not yet. "Enough about me-"
"It'll never be enough," Jenny said with a grin, "but we'll let it go for now."
Rolling my eyes, I grinned. I was right.
It was fun sharing this news with my friends.
"I asked you all to meet up because of the baby showers tonight.
You three," I said, pointing at Seek, Sloane, and Dani, "need to be here at five.
That's it." I waved my hand, dismissing them.
"Can't have you hanging around and ruining surprises. "
"Aw man," Dani said with a pout. "We don't want to miss more Hellfire gossip."
"That's an easy fix," I told her. "We won't talk about him, or our relationship again until we're all together. But not tonight," I added. "Tonight is about you three."
"Deal," Sloane said. She came over to me and squeezed me tight. "I'm so happy for you, Kit."
My eyes misted over. I loved these women more than they would ever know. They were my friends. My sisters. And I'd do anything for them. "Thanks," I whispered back.
The other two gave me their own hugs and congratulated me. Then I got hugs and well wishes from the rest of the group. I waited until the three mamas-to-be left the bar before I clapped my hands together. "We have a ton of work to do, so let's get started.
It took hours, but we transformed the bar from a gritty biker hangout to a festive baby shower spot.
There were pink and blue ribbons hanging everywhere, balloons, the cakes had been delivered, and I was busy carrying over a pot of my famous baked beans.
The girls had decided on a potluck. I made the beans, potato salad, and a couple of pies.
I enjoyed cooking for the barbecues and family get togethers.
The others had chipped in, too, and the long table that Rip had set up for us inside groaned under the weight of all the food spread out on it as I set down the pot of baked beans.
I stepped back outside and went over to the grassy area where we had our barbecues. "How's it coming?"
Lock and Hush looked up at my question. "Almost done," Lock told me with a grin. He had stepped up and offered to grill the various meats for the meal tonight.
They’d stopped speaking when I walked up, so I was sure they were talking club business.
Everyone was on full alert because of The Italians.
I was just glad Lock hadn’t shut down the baby showers.
It would have disappointed all of us women, though we would have done it.
They did their best to keep us all safe, even if we didn’t always like their methods.
"Perfect. Everyone is starting to show up.
" I looked over my shoulder as the sound of motorcycles filled the air.
It was Friday and the guys were all getting off work and were going to be ready to party.
It was a lot different than their usual parties, but it was going to be fun.
"I'm glad all the guys wanted to come," I said.
"You kiddin'?" Hush asked. "Free food. Games. Spendin’ time with our families? Why wouldn't they come?"
I laughed. "Co-ed baby showers aren't your guys' usual speed."
"Our speed is slowing down these days," Lock told me with a smile. "Never know where we're going to end up."
Frowning, I opened my mouth to ask him what he meant by that, but someone interrupted, calling my name. "Excuse me," I told them. "Oh," I called out as I hurried back toward the bar. "Could you bring all that in once it's ready?"
"Don't worry, we'll take care of it," Lockout assured me.
I nodded, knowing if he was in charge everything would be fine.