Chapter 13
Kit
Isighed happily as I watched the women coo over the paint job.
Giving Seek this gift, and later the other two, was something that made me nervous.
I'd been painting since I was a kid, but very few people knew about it.
My therapist had suggested it as a way to let out some of the hurt and frustration of our mother leaving us.
Smoke had just scoffed and did his own thing.
Once I started I hadn't been able to stop.
Even though I didn't share my paintings with anyone, it meant so much to me. It was my heart on a canvas. Which was why I kept it locked away. Smoke wasn't the only one with mommy issues. I just hid my pain in different ways than he did.
"You did such a good job," Sloane said, giving me a hopeful look. "Is there any way this will be our present, too?"
Dani gave me a pleading look. "Please say yes."
I laughed. "That was my plan. If that’s what you want?"
"We do," they exclaimed together.
My heart was so full I swear it was about to burst. I knew the guys were on the verge of a huge fight, and while that worried me, it was hard to dwell on it right now.
Not with everything that's happened over the last couple days.
It was like all my wishes were being granted.
"Then that's what I'll do. You'll have to let me know what you want done. "
They discussed ideas while the group headed downstairs. We all paused at the bottom of the stairs while we watched the men knocking back drinks and celebrating.
"What's going on?" I asked, unsure of what I'd missed while I'd been locked up in Seek's apartment for most of the afternoon.
"Not sure," Seek said, frowning.
I watched, eyes narrowing, as Scarlett sashayed over toward the group with pitchers of beer on a tray. She set the tray on a table, then smiled up at Hellfire. It was too loud in the room to hear what she told him, but she leaned her curvy little body into him and placed a hand on his chest.
My biker was busy chugging back a glass full of beer, but he glanced down when she touched him.
Whatever she said made him toss back his head and laugh.
It took a minute for the buzzing in my ears to fade enough for me to realize the women surrounding me weren't saying a thing.
They were standing, waiting, quietly. The sweet butt wasn't touching any of their men, so they were waiting to see how I wanted to handle this.
Anger simmered in my stomach as Scarlett scurried back to the bar to refresh more drinks. I didn't like seeing her touch him. I hadn't liked it before he'd made me his, but now it was unacceptable. The men were laughing, and taking a seat around the tables as they talked.
"Oh, hey," Syl said, stopping near our group with more pitchers of beer in her hands.
"What's going on?" I asked. They didn't usually pull out a keg unless they were throwing a party.
Sylvia shrugged. "Priest just came back a little while ago. The guys have been celebrating ever since." She gave us a quick smile, then hurried over to one of the tables to refresh their drinks.
"What are you going to do about that?" Seek asked, voice tight.
I glanced over and my stomach dropped down to my feet. Scarlett was back flirting with Hell. To his credit he was ignoring her, but she wasn't taking the hint. He was busy talking with Lockout and Static, but she was leaning into him again and batting her lashes.
I'd had enough. With a growl, I stomped across the room. I didn't care if it made me look like an idiot in front of everyone. I was not putting up with this shit. Not when it came to him. "Scarlett!" I snapped as I got closer.
She jumped at my tone and whirled around to face me, eyes wide.
"What are you doing?"
"Uh- I'm working," she said, glancing around nervously.
"Since when does your job include rubbing your tits all over a member who's taken?" I put my hands on my hips. It was either that or strangle her.
"Wha-what?" she asked.
Since I helped Rip run The Bunker and stocked up everything I had naturally ended up taking over scheduling the shifts for the sweet butts who worked here.
It was only three for now, but in the past there'd been a lot more.
They looked at me as sort of a boss and they, other than Pixie, didn't like to piss me off.
Syl and Scarlett were sweet women. I actually got along with them really well and hoped they'd eventually find the loves of their lives.
But right now, after seeing her rubbing all over my man, I wasn't feeling so warm toward Scarlett.
"He-" Her eyes were wide and darting around, looking for help. She didn't find it. Everyone was silent, watching me handle this. "I- I didn't know he was with someone." She swallowed.
"Why don't you get back behind the bar?" I suggested, my tone cool. I was doing my best not to lay into her. She was right. This thing between Hell and I was brand new and she probably hadn't known. But Hellfire did.
"Sure thing, Kit," she said, sounding grateful to get off the hot seat. She hurried back to the bar and the conversations started back up again.
"Vixen."
I turned my head and gave Hellfire an icy look. Without a word, I walked over to where the old ladies were sitting. Those who could, had drinks sitting in front of them. Seek walked over as I sat down and set a cocktail in front of me.
"You look like you could use this," she told me with a grin.
"Thanks. You didn't have to do that."
She sat down gingerly, looking uncomfortable. She tossed her chin toward where Hellfire was sitting. "How long are you going to make him suffer?"
I pondered that. "A while," I told her with a feral grin.
"He deserves it," Susie said with nod. "He knows better than to let a club girl touch him after he's claimed an old lady."
"It's disrespectful," Tori added.
It was. And I'd put up with years of watching women flirting with him. Touching him. Getting further with him than I ever did even though he was everything I ever wanted. Sure, I'd kept my distance the same way he had. That didn't mean it hadn't killed me each and every time.
I glanced over at Hellfire and found him watching me. His eyes were dark and intense. My heart skipped a beat and I had to look away before I gave in.
"You know, you could just talk to him," Gwen suggested.
"I don't want to talk to him."
"He deserves to stew a bit," Jordan said with a laugh.
Shooting her a glare, I picked up my drink and sipped. "I'll speak with him. Eventually."
"He's a sweet man," Sloane said. "I don't know why he didn't set her straight to begin with."
Sighing, I set the drink down. Talking about this was making it turn bitter on my tongue.
"He's been single nearly his entire life.
They're all excited." I shook my head when Butcher toppled backward in the chair he'd been tilting back on two legs.
"And drunk already." Something eased in my heart. "He wasn't thinking."
"That better be his excuse," Keely said.
"Doesn't mean he's not going to hear about it," I grumbled, shooting a glare his way. Hell's eyes narrowed on me. He knew he'd fucked up, but he wasn't about to address it now and ruin everyone's good time.
"Good for you," Jenny said with an evil little grin. "Setting your boundaries now just means he'll know not to cross them in the future."
"Pretty sure Scarlett's not coming near you again for a while either," Seek said with a laugh. "And she probably won't ever touch Hell again."
"You looked like you were about to murder her," Gwen said in a low tone. "I can't blame her for being worried."
"Good." My eyes shifted to the bar and Scarlett ducked her head, pretending to be busy with something.
My gaze shifted back to Hellfire and I was happy to see the grim look on his face while he watched me.
I stood up, turned my chair away from him, then sat back down.
"Everyone's celebrating," I announced. "No reason for us not to. "
I wasn't sure how long we sat down there, or how many pitchers of margaritas we had, but the night passed in a blur. Groaning when the world shifted, I rested my cheek against a strong chest. The scent of leather had my eyes opening. "Go away," I muttered.
"You're not sleeping down here, Vixen."
"Mad at you," I told him.
"I know."
He carried me upstairs. I let him manipulate me as he saw fit and soon I was in my comfy pajamas and tucked up in bed with his huge body surrounding mine. I was lying with my back to his chest, head tucked under his chin.
"I'm still mad," I slurred, but I shifted back into him until I was in a comfortable position.
"Go to sleep, Baby. We'll talk about it tomorrow."
Lying in his arms made it too difficult to resist. I closed my eyes and let the darkness sweep over me.