by Alex Grayson
“I love your hair,” Jenny sighs beside me.
We’re in front of Trouble’s doctor’s office waiting for Remi to come back out. She went inside with Elijah to check in with her husband before we head to The Hill for lunch. We actually managed to get out of the house today without an escort. Not that I’m complaining about having protection with us with Diego God knows where in the area, but it’s nice to be with just women. The only reason JW, Judge, and Trouble allowed it is because we’re in the center of town, surrounded by a shit ton of people. Not to mention, we were made to promise we would check in at least once every thirty minutes. Ordinarily, I would balk at the demand, but not in this situation. I’m no dummy. I know the danger Diego presents. I don’t want to die or get hurt, and I for sure don’t want one of my newfound friends to get hurt either.
“Eh.” I pinch the end of the curl and let it bounce back. “It looks fine now, but it’s a pain to take care of. It normally takes me a good thirty minutes to brush after a shower, and I have to keep it pulled up or braided to keep it from tangling too much.”
“Is that why you normally have it wrapped in a scarf?” she asks, petting my hair like it’s an animal.
“That and I normally can’t go anywhere without people commenting on it or trying to touch it.” I laugh when she drops her hand with a contrite grimace. “I don’t care if you do it because I know you. It’s the complete strangers who come up to touch it with hands I don’t know where they’ve been.”
I’ve had long hair since I was a little girl, only trimming the dead ends. It’s thick and reaches just below the curve of my butt. As much as I may bicker about taking care of it, I do love my hair. I’ve thought about cutting it over the years, but I know I’ll probably feel naked without the long locks. It’s as much a part of me as my hands and feet. I can’t imagine not having long hair.
Jenny’s nose wrinkles. “Eww… that’s just nasty,” she says with a shudder.
“Agreed.”
She looks past me and tilts her head to the side, a frown pulling her brows down. “I wonder who that is. I’ve never seen him before.”
I whirl around, half scared to see Diego behind me. I release a breath when it’s not him I find, but another man I’ve never seen walking our way. He’s about a block away, but there’s no mistaking his extremely good looks. Dark hair, cut short, tanned, black cargo pants, tight white V-neck shirt stretched across a massive chest, and black boots. As he gets closer, and his eyes light on both Jenny and me watching him, dimples pop out on both cheeks.
“Hello, ladies,” he says smoothly, his voice a delicious deep timbre.
“Hi,” Jenny replies a bit breathless.
My reaction is only marginally better when I barely get out a “Hello” without a stutter.
“I was wondering if you might be able to help me.”
Jenny snaps out of her stupor first and steps forward, offering her hand with a huge grin plastered on her face. “I’ve no doubt I could help you with something. I’m Jenny.”
I scarcely hold back my choked laugh as he takes her hand. “I’m Ki.” He introduces, his beautiful browns dancing in amusement. Releasing her hand, he turns it to me. “And you are?”
I place my hand in his. Warm and rough, just how a man’s hand should feel. “Eden,” I supply.
His eyes run over my hair, down my body, and back up, once again meeting my eyes. The look isn’t lewd, just appreciative, earning him brownie points.
His eyes flick to Jenny’s before coming back to mine. “Pretty names for such gorgeous women.”
I flush from the compliment then realize he’s still holding my hand. One corner of his full lips tips up when I gently pull my hand away and take a step back.
“I’m looking for—”
“Who in the fuck are you?”
The guy turns around quickly at the growled words, and I see JW barreling across the street. He doesn’t stop until he’s on the sidewalk and in the guy’s face. He looks pissed. No, he looks livid. The easy going look on the new guy’s face disappears, something hard replacing it.
“The name’s Ki. And who in the hell are you?” Ki says, not backing down from the ire practically seeping out of JW’s pours.
“The sheriff of this town and your worst fucking nightmare if you don’t tell me what you’re doing in Malus.”
I step forward, getting ready to try and diffuse the situation, when JW’s eyes snap to mine.
“Stay back, Gypsy,” he grunts, before locking his eyes back on Ki. “You gonna answer me?”
I bristle at his tone and narrow my eyes, getting pissed myself.
“If you’ll step the hell back, I’ll be happy to answer. I don’t take too kindly to people getting in my face and acting all growly and shit when I haven’t done anything.”
“My fist is going to meet that pretty face of yours if you don’t answer my fucking question in the next three seconds.”
My eyes widen, because I’m pretty sure JW’s not exaggerating. The look in his eyes suggests he’s ready to kill the guy if he doesn’t answer.
“JW, that’s enough!” I bark.
“Kian?”
We all turn and spot Remi standing behind us with Elijah in her arms. As soon as she sees Ki, a big grin forms on her face and she squeals. She rushes to Jenny and gently deposits Elijah in her arms before sprinting to Ki.
“Oh, my God! I can’t believe you’re here!” she yells, launching herself against him. He chuckles and wraps his arms around her in a tight hug.
“It’s good to see you, little sis,” he murmurs against her hair.
Realizing the man isn’t a danger, JW takes a step back, but he doesn’t lose the scowl. If anything, it deepens as he crosses his arms over his chest.
Remi pulls back but keeps her hands on Ki’s chest and stares up at him with eyes full of love. “You were supposed to tell me when you were coming,” she accuses good-naturedly.
He tweaks the end of her nose with the tip of his finger, his dimples popping out once again. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, you certainly managed that,” she responds with a laugh.
“Someone better tell me who in the hell the guy is who has his arms wrapped around my wife.”
Remi spins around just as Trouble walks into our small group. His hands are casually shoved into his pockets, but from the hard set of his jaw, the relaxed look is deceiving. He looks about ready to throw his own punch.
Remi leaves the curve of, who I’m guessing is her brother’s arms, and walks over to grab Trouble’s hand from his pocket. She tugs him with her.
“Trouble,” she begins, her smile widening, “This is my big brother, Kian. Kian, I want you to meet my husband, Trouble.”
Some of the displeasure leaves Trouble’s face when Kian holds out his hand for him to shake. Once he lets go, he puts a possessive arm around Remi’s waist, even though the act is wasted because the man is her brother, not potential competition.
Out the corner of my eye, I notice JW moving to my side. I cast him a contentious look to let him know I didn’t care for his attitude of before.
Remi introduces her brother to each of us. When they turn to JW and me, his arm locks tighter around my waist, and I get tugged into his side. I think about shoving him away, but if I’m honest with myself, having his solid frame against me feels entirely way too good to move.
The lucky bastard.
Kian holds out his hand to JW, and at first, I don’t think he’ll take it, but after a slight hesitation, he does. However, the hostile look stays on his face, and I can’t help but wonder about the reason behind it.
Remi takes Elijah from Jenny and turns to her brother. “And this little man is Elijah.”
The look of awe and instant love on Kian’s face as he stares down at his nephew would melt anyone’s heart. There’s nothing more beautiful than watching a tough-looking grown man fall in love with a baby.
“He’s perfect, Remi,” he says softly.
I think all three of us women blink several times to keep back the moisture in our eyes.
Judge walks up just then, and he’s introduced to Kian as well. He interlocks his fingers with Jenny’s, but I don’t get the sense it’s out of possessiveness, but more of a natural reaction of being close to her.
“I wanna talk to you,” JW murmurs, interrupting my perusal of his family and friends.
Before I can answer, he’s tugging me away from the group and around the corner of Trouble’s office building. I open my mouth to ask what in the world he’s doing, but I’m stopped short when I’m pressed to the brick building and his lips are devouring mine.
All thought escapes me as he attacks my mouth, demanding entry with the rough swipe of his tongue. I open immediately, because I’m weak and have no chance, let alone no desire, to deny him. JW can be very persuasive, especially with his talented tongue.
His arms band around my waist, tugging my chest against his, at the same time my hands lace through his hair, yanking his head closer to me. The man is impossibly addicting. I love his taste, and I love the way he makes me feel. Like I’m the only person in the world. Like I’m special.
His groan is deep and growly when he pulls away and begins trailing his lips over my chin and down my neck. I tilt my head to the side to give him easier access to the tender spot he’s laving.
“You taste so fuckin’ good,” he whispers. “I could live forever just from the sweet taste of you.”
I breathe out a sigh of pleasure. “JW.”
His hand smoothly moves across my butt to the back of my thigh, where he pulls my skirt up to my knee, lifts my leg, and wraps it around his hip. Feeling the hard bulge behind the zipper of his jeans feels so good I shamelessly grind against it. All reason has fled my mind as soon as his lips touched mine again. There’s nothing and no one who can make me feel as good as JW.
“We gotta stop,” I whimper, both hoping he heeds my words and ignores them.
“In a minute,” he mutters, gently biting down on my collar bone.
I bite my lip to keep back the pleasurable cry wanting to slip free. His face moves to my cleavage, where he buries it between my boobs. I toss my head back against the brick wall and nearly come undone when his hips press harder against my center. I’d give almost anything to have him pull up my skirt, slip his cock free, and take us both to heaven as he plunges his hardness inside me.
He lifts his head from my boobs and lays a biting kiss against my lips. “Wanna know something?”
I open my eyes and regard his through a lust-filled gaze. “What?” I gasp.
“I almost killed Remi’s brother.”
The seriousness of his tone says he’s not joking.
“Why?” I ask through a dry throat.
“Because I had no clue who he was. He could have been one of Diego’s men and could have hurt you.”
This is something that crossed my mind as well. It could have been so easy for Kian to hurt me. Yes, he probably would’ve been caught with so many people around, but the damage would’ve already been done. Diego is just the kind of guy who would sacrifice one of his men to do his bidding.
“That wasn’t the only reason though.” He nips my lips once and pulls back, giving me his eyes. Ones that are grim and shining with intent. “He had his hand on you.”
“It was just a simple handshake,” I scoff.
“He had his hand on you and looked like he wanted to do a fuck of a lot more than shake your hand. No man touches what’s mine or looks at you the way he did.”
“I’m not yours,” I retort irritably.
“Like fuck, you aren’t. Every single Goddamn inch of you is mine. Deny it all you want, Gypsy. It won’t change that fact.”
I don’t know if I should be offended or delighted at his barbaric words. Either way, I’d be lying if I said my panties didn’t just get a little more wet with his caveman claiming.
What’s it going to be next, Eden? my pesky inner voice chides. Are you going to drop your drawers and beg him to take you if he starts dragging you around by your hair, beating his chest while he grunts “mine” to all the other cavemen in the area?
I ignore the crabby bitch in my head and lift my chin stubbornly. “And what about you? Are you mine?”
I want to slap away the smug look that comes across his face, but what he says next pushes the need away.
“For as long as you’re in Malus, I’m all yours, baby.”
He emphasizes this by tugging my leg up higher and pressing himself against me harder. I bite back a moan when he hits that perfect spot.
“JW!” someone yells, and I jerk my head around to look at the front of the building.
I just manage to pull my leg from his grasp and drop my foot to the ground when Judge walks around the corner. With cheeks blazing red, I turn my head away and brush down my skirt.
“What?” JW barks in irritation.
“Rita just called. She’s been trying to get in touch with you.” Amusement laces Judge’s voice.
“Shit. I left my phone in my truck.”
“Oscar and Frank are at it again.”
He steps back from me and roughly rakes his hand through his hair. “Those old bastards are going to be the death of me. Seventy-year-old twins, and you’d think by now they’d learn to get along.”
Without another word, Judge spins and walks off, leaving me alone with JW. A frustrated growl leaves his lips when he looks at me. “This isn’t over.”
“It is if it’s up against a brick building,” I reply, smoothing my hand down my skirt.
He steps into my space again, leaning one hand against the wall by my head and gently gripping my chin with the other, tipping my head back. “The next time I have your pussy pressed against me, we’ll both be naked and in my bed.”
I’m finding I’m more and more okay with the thought of being in JW’s bed. In fact, I’m very much looking forward to it. Of course, I don’t tell him this. The man’s head seems to be big enough.
I smile sweetly at him. “We’ll see.” I pat his chest and roll to my toes to peck his lips. I slide from between him and the wall.
“Gypsy!” he calls when I’m just about to turn the corner. I look at him over my shoulder. “That wasn’t just a simple statement. It was a promise.”
I can’t stop the small smile that curves my lips.
“Oh, and—” he begins, letting his hand fall from the wall and turning to me. “I love the hair and nails. I’ll love it even more with your hair tickling my chest and seeing those blue tips wrapped around my cock.”
JW
ME – WHERE IN THE HELL ARE YOU?
Emo – Home. Still not done with the tapes.
Me – Get your ass to Trouble and Remi’s. You’ve been at it for days. You need a break.
I pocket my phone and turn around to face the crowd in the backyard. Remi invited everyone to welcome her brother to Malus. Emo will show. He’ll show, because he knows if he doesn’t, one of my brothers or I will drag him here by his inky black hair.
When I stopped by to check on him yesterday, my worry over what he’s been tasked to do grew. He looked haggard and half unhinged. Thankfully, Grace has been there as often as she can, and she’s been giving us updates on his behavior.
Judge and Trouble know what’s on the tapes and have been checking on him as well. Since I gave him the tapes three days ago, one of us has been by his house at least once a day. When I first told Trouble about them and what I asked of Emo, he about tore my head off. He and Emo have always had a special bond because of Rella. Judge and I loved Rella like a sister, but Emo was attached to her because of the pain they often shared together. Rella, the sweet and beautiful girl she was, never held what Emo had to do to her against him. She knew he was forced and had no other choice.
Soft laughter pulls me from my thoughts, and I look over to where Eden is standing with Remi, Trouble, Kian, and the Tanners. She has on a long white skirt with little p
owder blue flowers and a lavender tank top. I can’t see her feet because the skirt covers them, but I know she’s wearing a pair of white sandals. Her gorgeous red hair is pleated and tossed over her shoulder.
I scowl when I notice Kian standing too close to Eden.
The day I saw him with Eden and Jenny on the sidewalk outside of Trouble’s office, my vision clouded with red, and I barreled across the road, thinking he was one of Diego’s men. Once I found out who he was, I wanted to break every one of his fingers, slowly, and shove them up his ass. Jealously is an emotion I’ve never felt before, but I damn sure did then. Kian was touching something that was mine, and I’m a greedy bastard who doesn’t share well with others. Especially when it comes to Eden.
Eden laughs at something he says and before I know it, I’m stalking down the stairs and across the yard. I place myself between her and the bastard, firmly securing her against my side with an arm around her waist. When I look down at her, she rolls her eyes. Leaning down, I plant a kiss against her lips, leaving Kian with no doubt who Eden belongs to.
“Behave,” she whispers against my lips.
“As long as he stops fucking you with his eyes. I’m about ready to gouge them out with a dull knife.”
“You’re being ridiculous.” Her voice is too low for anyone but me to hear.
I nip her bottom lip. “No, just letting him know you’re off limits.”
“You don’t know me well enough to make that claim,” she quips.
“I know all I need to to know you won’t deny me when the time comes. Face it, Gypsy, you want me just as much.”
She scoffs and rolls her eyes, but I see the secret thrill she’s trying her best to hide. The woman likes me claiming her, even if she doesn’t want to admit it.
“So, Kian,” Amelia Tanner says, breaking into my hushed conversation with Eden, “How long do you plan to stay in Malus?”
“Only for a few days. I’ve got drills coming up soon, so I need to get back to the base for those.”
My eyes slide to Trouble’s. The sooner Kian is gone, the better. We don’t welcome outsiders to Malus for a reason. There are secrets here that, if came to light, could tear the town and its people apart. It’s already dangerous enough having Eden here. The chances of someone finding out our secrets are slim, but taking that risk is something my brothers and I don’t like to do.