Chapter Eleven #3
Keys deliberately brought them full circle.
He didn’t ever want her to think he was distracting her by giving her his truth.
He intended to have their sex life be more than satisfying for both of them, and that meant dealing with his overactive physical needs throughout their lives together.
They had to start out as they meant to continue.
Fortunately for him, Lyric seemed to love their sex life as much as he did, and she was willing to be led by him.
Frankly, that added to his enjoyment when they were together.
“I would, Keys. I’m not the run-off-with-someone-else type, but having said that, it doesn’t mean I’m giving the green flag to your kinky need to have sex in the open with an audience around.”
Just like that she could make him laugh.
He stepped back, allowing the pads of his fingers to absorb the softness of her skin as he reluctantly took his hands from her face.
She had that little pixie face, so delicate with her pale skin, a dusting of freckles like scattered golden treasures.
Her cat’s eyes, that vivid jewel tone with thick red-gold lashes, that straight nose, those perfect lips and that chin that could drive him wild were all things about her he was addicted to and knew he would be forever.
Why hadn’t he recognized she was exactly what he was attracted to from the first moment he’d laid eyes on her?
“What?” Lyric drew back. “You’re giving me that look again.”
“What look would that be, Wildfire?” he asked gently. Keeping his voice low. Stroking a caress down the center of her stubborn chin.
“Sometimes you look like a hungry predator about to swallow me whole. It can be a bit disconcerting.” As always, with him, Lyric was honest.
“I feel like a hungry predator when I’m looking at you,” he admitted, allowing his sense of humor to flash across his face. “In fact, more often than not, when I look at you, that’s a perfect description of how I feel. I’m always going to look at you this way, so you’ll have to get used to it.”
Lyric shook her head, but she laughed, the sound that perfect pitch a man like him needed.
He knew a part of the attraction to Lyric was the way she talked in that low, sultry voice.
The golden notes of her laughter. He was a man who needed music the way he needed air to breathe.
Lyric claimed she couldn’t sing, but anyone with such perfect pitch had to be able to sing.
She wouldn’t want to sing in public, but he’d bet his last dollar she would sing to their child when they put him to bed.
“Kinky need to have an audience around? That’s what you got out of my carefully worded explanation?”
She laughed again, this time very genuine. “You’re impossible. Tell me what you want me to do.”
“We’re going to be spontaneous. If the feeling is right, you’ll trust me to protect you and give you spectacular orgasms. If it isn’t, we’ll wait until we’re home.”
She shook her head again. “I’ll do my best to follow your lead when we’re out, Keys, but you know how difficult it is for me.”
“I know you’re amazing at taking care of your clients. You make them feel special. That’s a gift you have. Each person that goes into your shop comes out glowing. You do that, Lyric. You. You have a way of making everyone you come into contact with feel good about themselves.”
Keys shoved his hand through his hair. “You made me feel that way, Wildfire, and I thought it was impossible.”
She held up her hand. “Stop, honey. You have to stop. Everything you’ve said to me is beautiful, but I can only take so much of you being nice to me.”
“I’m just saying that you’ll do fine with Torpedo Ink. They’re just people. Clients. Think of them that way until you get to know them individually.”
“I can do that.”
Keys wasn’t the kind of man to hold hands with a woman, but as they approached the clubhouse, he threaded his fingers through Lyric’s.
He’d been holding her hand a lot lately, and it felt right, so he decided the hell with anyone giving him a bad time.
He knew by the bikes parked so carefully in the front who was waiting inside.
Czar was keeping the initial meeting as tight as possible, a signal he was willing to work with Lyric.
Keys had seen evidence of Czar’s unique gifts many times over the last few decades.
He knew Czar could spot someone who was intensely loyal, so much so that they could be tortured and they would never break.
He saw that trait in Lyric. He gave her acceptance, which meant the other members would as well.
Just as he pushed open the door to the Torpedo Ink clubhouse, he felt the slight tremor that ran through Lyric’s body.
He glanced down at her, instantly checking to see where she was emotionally.
She looked calm. He read the anxiety. It gave him satisfaction that he knew her, the real Lyric, and she gave him her emotions.
He slid his thumb over the back of her hand and tugged her a little closer to his solid frame.
He didn’t tuck her under his shoulder because she was so small and it would add to the illusion that his woman was a weak link and would need to be protected at all times.
Torpedo Ink members tended to believe that meant she couldn’t be privy to anything they did.
He intended to include Lyric in as much of his life as he possibly could.
He knew being open between them was the only way a woman like Lyric could give him the kind of trust she would need to be his partner.
“You good, Wildfire?” He asked for verbal confirmation with one hand on the door.
“Yes.” That was firm. “You were right. I wasn’t looking at this meeting properly. I’m kickass when it comes to clients.”
He shoved open the door but sent her a frown of disapproval. “What did I tell you about your foul mouth? You have that temper and you swear. Now I find out you do the same when you’re in a stressed state.”
Lyric walked through the door laughing. Czar was leaning against the curved bar and turned toward them at the sound.
Beside him, Savage and Destroyer did the same.
Keys knew Czar deliberately had Destroyer there because Lyric would recognize him and be that much more at ease.
Steele was present and with him were Code and Absinthe.
Keys looked around the large, cavernous room.
If Steele, their vice president, was there, Maestro would be close.
Like Czar, Steele had guards. Keys and Maestro were the usual.
Maestro was tucked back in the shadows, up against the wall, where he could easily command the room should he need to defend their VP.
He didn’t move, not even to acknowledge Keys with a chin lift.
He clearly was hoping Lyric wouldn’t notice him.
Something was up and it involved his woman. Keys didn’t like being blindsided.
“Thought we were going to introduce Lyric to a few of the women,” he said, keeping his voice even. “Told Lyric all about Blythe.” He made certain that didn’t sound challenging, but he knew Czar would get his message.
“Blythe is hoping to meet Lyric a little later. We’re still working on Jimmy’s teeth. She took him to the dentist. Ordinarily, I go with them, but I considered welcoming your woman very important.” Czar smiled down at Lyric, his eyes turning almost a glittery silver.
There was no way for Lyric to appear taller, and she didn’t try. She flashed her million-dollar smile right back at Czar. “That was kind of you, giving up taking your child to the dentist.”
Savage and Absinthe gave a little snort of derision. “No one wants to take Jimmy to the dentist,” Absinthe informed her. “Czar sounds like he’s being sweet and kind, but don’t let him fool you. He deliberately scheduled this visit for the exact time that kid was going to be seen by the dentist.”
Czar didn’t look in the least uncomfortable or remorseful at being called out. “Blythe let me know I owe her big-time.”
Lyric laughed. “I look forward to meeting Jimmy. He sounds like a handful.”
“Be nice if you could give the kid a haircut,” Czar said. “He kicked the last hairstylist. I had to do some fast talking to keep her from suing us for damages.”
Lyric raised an eyebrow. “Damages?”
“Her ego, mainly,” Czar explained. “She’d bragged to Blythe countless times she could cut Jimmy’s hair with no problem. We told her how he was. He doesn’t like being touched.”
“He wants to wear his hair long like Czar’s,” Steele explained. “It’s just that there’s no taming that boy’s wild hair.”
“Is that why I’m here?” Lyric asked, sounding innocent. “You’re going to set me up to take on the child from hell? My equipment is brand-new. I just had everything burn up in a fire. I’m not certain I want little Jimmy to smash my equipment.”
“Little Jimmy?” Absinthe echoed. “He’s nearly as tall as you. Kid’s growing like a weed.” He sent her an engaging grin. “You cut many kids’ hair?”
Lyric dropped her teasing and nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been lucky; most kids like me.”
“You cut hair for any of the members of Headed for Hell?” Absinthe asked. He nodded toward what Keys knew were the most comfortable chairs in the room.
Keys walked Lyric over to them while he contemplated the question. Absinthe was a human lie detector. There was no reason for Lyric to lie about anything, but just having Absinthe question her made Keys uneasy.
“Pretty much all of them eventually. And their women. The women came in first and the men followed.” She was matter-of-fact, sinking into the chair, looking perfectly at ease, but she didn’t pull her hand away from his.
Keys brushed his thumb over her inner wrist, a soothing caress, telling her she was doing great. He was proud of her. He wasn’t certain where this was heading, but Lyric was just as aware as he was that the conversation had a point.
“You actually spent time with club members and their women?” Absinthe persisted.
“Ask me what you want to know,” Lyric said.