“I shouldn’t take you away from hanging out with the band and—”
I stop him again, this time with a finger on his lips. “I’ll see plenty of them on the road. It’s fine.” I lean in and give him a quick kiss. “Thank you. For everything.”
He brushes his knuckles against my cheek for a brief second before gripping my hips and sliding to the edge of the couch. In one smooth movement, he stands, lifting me in the air. Startled, I squeal and wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. He rumbles with laughter and palms my butt.
Jiggy flashes an angelic smile—or demonic, considering what’s probably about to come out of his mouth. “Pool table?”
“No, fuckhead,” Rooster growls, lashing out with his booted foot, kicking Jiggy’s shin as we pass.
“Where are we going?” I ask, resting my head on his shoulder.
My question’s answered a few seconds later when something hard presses into the back of my legs. I untangle myself from Rooster and discover he’s perched me on top of the bar. He rests one hand on either side of my hips and leans in. “You want something to drink before we leave the party?”
“Rooster, you bring us a new bar decoration?” a biker I don’t recognize asks.
“No. This is my ol’ lady.” The warning in Rooster’s voice can’t be missed.
“Well, fuck. Sorry, brother.” The man nods to me and returns to flirting with one of the girls behind the bar.
“We’re leaving?” I ask, curling my fingers in the back of Rooster’s hair.
“You seem uncomfortable.”
“I was…am…I guess. I’m not used to having glittery va-jay-jays shoved in my face.”
He blinks, then bursts into laughter. “Okay.”
Something awful occurs to me. Why haven’t I thought of this sooner? “Do you…Is that what you did before me?”
He glances over his shoulder briefly. Another brother has joined Pants and the redhead. It’s quite a show, and they’re attracting a crowd.
“No,” he finally answers.
It took an awfully long time for him to answer what should’ve been a simple question.
Jigsaw sneaks up behind Rooster and slaps his shoulder, shouting, “I did not need to know that Pants shaves his balls.”
“Then why’d you shove your face up there?” Rooster asks.
“Good grooming is just the polite thing to do, Jigsaw,” I say sweetly.
His jaw drops, and his eyes widen for a brief second before his mouth curls into a smirk. “Such a funny little songbird.” He slaps his hand on Rooster’s shoulder. “You planning to lay her out for body shots?”
“Fuck no.” Rooster shrugs off Jiggy’s hand.
“Then get her off the bar before someone assumes she’s a fuckin’ party favor.”
“Aw, such a sweetheart.” I curl a finger, inviting him closer. “Quick question. Is this the kind of thing you two got up to before I came along?” I jerk my chin toward Pants, the redhead, and the new guys who’ve joined their party.
His gaze shifts to Rooster, who shoots him a death glare.
“You see,” I say in a teasing, singsong voice. “I asked Rooster, but he took an awfully long time to answer.”
Jigsaw scratches his hand over the back of his head. “Of course not. In fact, I think he was a virgin until he met you. Yup. Almost positive I heard that somewhere. Choirboy.”
I break into giggles. “So you two never…?”
Jiggy makes an X with his index fingers. “Crossed swords? Hell no.”
“Crossed…ewww.” I groan as the meaning sinks in. “No, I meant have a threesome.”
Rooster closes his eyes and rubs his temple. “What exactly did I do to deserve this?”
“Aww.” I loop my arms around his neck again. “I’m just teasing.”
“You know what? I’m so happy to see you smiling that I don’t even care that you’re busting my nuts over something that probably didn’t even happen before I met you.”
That’s probably the kindest ‘yes’ anyone’s ever received to such an invasive question.
He leans in closer. “I don’t want anyone but you.” His dark gaze shifts to the side, his voice a deep growl. “Alone. Where I can focus all of my attention on the only person who matters.”
“Aww,” I breathe out.
“However…” He leans down, pressing his forehead to mine, forcing me to maintain eye contact. “If you’re feeling curious or adventurous. If you need something else…” The determination burning in his eyes steals my breath. “…I’m not built that way. Not when it comes to you.”
“I don’t want anyone else.”
“Good.” He flashes a tight smile. “We’ve been around this sort of party before and it didn’t bother you so much.”
I shift my gaze to my lap. “Yeah, but my feelings are way, way bigger for you now. And—”
He cuts me off with a kiss.
Loud, orgasmic shrieks pierce through the noise of the clubhouse. Shouts of approval follow.
Laughing, I pull away from his embrace. “And this is way more, uh, in-your-face.”
“I can’t even tell anymore.” He shrugs.
Jigsaw elbows him in the ribs.
Rooster throws him a glare and signals one of the bartenders over. “You got a few bottles or cans of Sprite back there?”
“Sure thing,” she drawls. “Coming right up.”
A few seconds later, four cans of ice-cold soda thunk onto the bar next to me. I glance down as a short stack of plastic cups lands on top of one of the cans like a party hat.
My vision narrows as I stare at a bead of water rolling down the side of one shiny, green aluminum can.
The noises around me fade in a sucking rush. My heart slams against my ribcage. Sweat dots my forehead. Suddenly, I’m right back in the log cabin kitchen with no hope of escape.
Breathe. I can’t get any air.
“Shelby?” Rooster’s voice sounds so far away. “What’s wrong?”
I squeeze my eyes shut but that only intensifies the helpless feeling. Air—I can’t draw in any air.
My hands flap uselessly around my face while I gasp and wheeze.
“Shelby.” Rooster cups my cheeks. My eyes pop open. He’s close. So close, staring into my eyes like the calm inside a hurricane. “Breathe, baby. It’s okay.” He takes a long, deep, exaggerated breath, encouraging me to do the same.
Tears roll down my cheeks.
Someone squeezes my hand. “Relax, little songbird. We got you.”
The frantic drumming in my chest won’t settle down.
“Shhh. Breathe with me. Come on,” Rooster encourages. “You’re okay, Shelby.”
I suck in a long, ragged breath. My lungs burn in relief.
“There ya go,” he praises. “In and out. Nice and easy.”
I take another breath.
And another.
All the sounds and scenery come rushing back with a wallop.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I lean over and rest my elbows on my knees. God, I hope no one else noticed my freak-out.
Rooster runs a soothing hand up and down my back. “You’re okay.”