Arrow's Hell (Wind Dragons MC #2)(16)

“Going out like what?” I ask, watching him as he puts his hands behind his head.

“Dressed up like . . . that.”

I bite my lip to stop my grin. “Dressed like what, Rake?”

“Christ, Anna,” he growls. “All the men in that place were watching you. We were lucky we made it out of there with only one guy getting hit.”

My lip twitches. “Aren’t you happy I came back home?”

His eyes soften at that. I’d said it as a joke, but I could see he didn’t take it that way. “I’m beyond happy, Anna; trust me on that.”

He puts his palm over his heart. “Everything feels right, you know? I was unsettled when you were gone.”

And this is why I love my brother.

I clear my throat. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

I look away, staring at his door. “What happened to Bailey?”

He’s silent.

I look back at him to see a weird expression on his face. “That was years ago, Anna.”

“I know,” I say. “I was just wondering.”

“I don’t know where she is,” he says. “After high school finished we went our separate ways.”

“Did you love anyone after her?” I ask him.

“I’ve loved a lot of women, Anna,” he says with a cheeky grin.

I roll my eyes. “Not like that. I mean love.”

He shakes his head. “Why all the questions?”

“Just something I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while,” I say, shrugging sheepishly.

“It’s in the past, Anna,” he says, his voice barely a whisper. “Doesn’t matter anymore.”

I thought it did, but I didn’t want to push any further.

“Lana’s in the shower and we’re going to catch a cab home.”

“I’m taking you both home,” he says, his tone final.

“Bossy.”

“I thought we could grab some lunch or something on the way,” he says.

“Sushi?” I ask, perking up.

“No,” he replies, laughing. “Definitely not. How about we grab some sushi for you, then go to another restaurant where I can get a decent meal.”

I gasp. “Was that you compromising? I can’t believe it.”

“Don’t get used to it, baby sis,” he says, picking up another pillow and throwing it at me—this time I catch it in my hand.

“Mature, Rake!”

I hear Lana call my name and I stand up.

“Oh, shit,” I mutter. “The reason I came here in the first place was to get some clothes for Lana to borrow.”

Poor thing must be waiting in a towel like I’d been doing earlier this morning. Rake gets out of bed and pulls out a T-shirt and boxer shorts. “Looks like we’re taking you to your house first to get dressed before we can go out for lunch.”

“Or,” I say, “we can get drive-through and go to my apartment and stuff our faces.”

“I like how you think, Anna.”

“Glad you approve,” I say, taking the clothes and walking toward the door.

“Thanks, bro.”

“Anytime, sis.”





FIVE

WHEN I get a call from Summer a few days later, I’d forgotten that I’d given her my number in hopes of a job at the bar. She tells me to come in for a trial. I’m sitting in the kitchen with Lana, about to get ready to go, when she speaks.

“Have you ever been spanked?”

I choke on my piece of toast. Lana taps me on the back until I turn and look at her. “Why the hell would you ask me that?”

She grins and pushes her glasses up on her nose. She’s a picture of innocence until she opens her mouth. “I was just reading a book.” She points to the trashy romance novel she’s left next to the toaster. “And I was curious.”

I blink slowly a few times. “No, I can’t say I’ve ever been spanked. Why? Does it tickle your fancy?”

Her face turns red, the heat creeping up from her neck. “I didn’t say that!”

I start laughing. “Never mind Tracker, you should hook up with my brother instead! Apparently he’s into that stuff.”

She punches me in the arm.

“Ow!”

“Shut up,” she mumbles.

I try and keep a straight face. “I’ve heard it’s enjoyable though.”

“What’s enjoyable?” my brother asks as he walks in.

I look behind him. “How the hell did you get in?”

He’s wearing all black, jeans and a T-shirt and his cut. He holds up a key. “I got a key made when you moved in.”

I bite the inside of my cheek.

“Five, four, three, two, one,” Lana mutters under her breath.

“You’re psychotic, do you know that?” I yell. He has a key to my house? He needs to learn the word boundaries.

He just grins at my outburst. “It’s just in case of emergencies.”

“And what emergency is it today?” I ask, sitting back down and picking up my other piece of toast.

Rake gives me a shy smile. “Breakfast?”

Charming bastard.