Hooked (Viking Bastards MC #1)(28)

She stirs her fried rice. “It’s not like that. I didn’t even mention resigning when I saw them the other day. It was more of a prolonged dissection of why I wanted out of the engagement.”

“What about your ex? Was he there as well?” I don’t want her anywhere near him. I don’t need a reason.

“God, no.” She gives me a strange look. “It’s over between Russell and me, Zach. You don’t need to worry about that.”

I laugh and almost ask her why the f*ck should I worry about something like that, but the words lock in my throat. We’re alone, and I don’t have a rep to uphold when it’s just Grace and me.

Fact is, it does kind of bug me that she might get back with him. How crazy is that?

“Okay.” I accept her word, the way I would a brother, and that takes the crazy to a whole new level. Not that she appears to find anything strange about it, and I guess it’s not so bad. After all, no one’s going to challenge me about it.

…

It’s late the following morning, and Grace is snuggled up on my lap in the living room as I sprawl on the sofa. I told her not to wear anything, since only the two of us are here, but she wasn’t having any of it. And when I saw the sexy, deep blue and silver corset and matching thong she was wearing as she strolled out of the bedroom, I’d been more than happy to let her win this round.

“Aren’t you going to your club this morning?” She circles her fingers over my chest as though she doesn’t realize what she’s doing.

“I’ll go later.” There’s no church so there’s no rush. And I sure don’t want to leave Grace alone if there’s no need.

“Do you go there everyday?”

She’s playing with my nipple now, and it’s getting hard to concentrate. “Most days. Depends.”

“How many members are there?”

“You ask too many questions.” If any other chick dared give me this kind of inquisition she’d be out on her ass. My arm tightens around her, which goes against everything I believe in, but what the hell.

“Only because I’m interested.”

“Nosy, more like.”

She abandons my nipple and strokes my jaw. I’ve no idea why it feels so good. “So it’s a state secret?”

She’s laughing at me, and I don’t mind. “Yeah. If I told you I’d have to kill you.”

“Guess I’m not that interested.”

“Give up easy, don’t you?” I pull her toward me for a lingering kiss, and cup her gorgeous tit. It doesn’t matter that we f*cked all night. I need her again, right now. “There’re nine of us, including me.”

She rakes her fingers through my hair. “Now you have to kill me with orgasms.”

I laugh, only too happy to oblige, and the downstairs door bangs shut.

She freezes, a look of horror on her face. If it wasn’t for the fact it means my cock’s going to remain in agony for longer than a few minutes, it’d be funny. Kat’s timing really sucks.

“Let go of me.” Grace tries to wriggle out of my arms. “I’m nearly naked.”

“Bet you wear less on the beach.”

“I’m not on the beach.”

There’s a thumping on the stairs, which doesn’t sound like Kat at all. Ah, shit. It’s not my sister.

Gage appears at the door of the living room, and Grace goes rigid. He sweeps a calculating glance over her, which for some reason gets my back up.

“You need something?” There’s no way I’m releasing her while my brother’s in the room.

“Just passing. You going to the club?”

Grace’s car is outside, which means there’s only one reason he’s here, and that’s to check her out. Even though he’s looking at me, he sure as hell can see more than enough of Grace, with her tits all but spilling out of the sexy corset and her red hair tumbling over her shoulders.

“Later.” I don’t know why I’m so pissed with him. It’s not the first time he’s walked in when I’ve been with a chick, but that’s when we’ve been at the club, and who gives a shit there. This is different, and I’d never take Grace to the club in any case.

I look into her blue eyes, and something twists deep inside my chest. She doesn’t say anything, but it’s obvious she wants to sink through the floor. Most of the girls I go with would be giving Gage flirty glances, and it’s not unheard of for us to share women. If he thinks for one second he’s got a chance with Grace, I’ll break his f*cking neck.

Before I can stop myself I throw him a challenging look.

“Princess, this is my brother, Gage.”

“Pleased to meet you.” She sounds cool and collected as though she isn’t wound up so tight I can feel her bones vibrating. The same strange warmth surges through me like it did when she got her tat.

“You, too.” There’s an odd note in his voice, one I’ve never heard before, and I narrow my eyes at him. He doesn’t notice, since he’s staring at Grace, but not as though he wants to nail her. More like he’s trying to work out what’s she doing here, as it’s obvious she stayed the night and who wants a chick hanging around all morning?

I ignore that thought, as I want to spend a few more hours alone with Grace before she leaves. “You know where the door is.”