Coveted (Charming Bastards #2)
Page 10
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Scarlett had a nice meal with Joker’s mom and Gail Riggs. The interview was simple and she did exactly what Joker had told her. Dr. Riggs seemed impressed that she was prepared and offered her the chance to personally work with her for the upcoming summer. It wasn’t a paid internship like the one she had wanted, but it was an opportunity, and she took it without question.
The whole college pending situation needed to be resolved as soon as possible too, which meant filling out applications and trying to get a coveted spot in a good program. There was no words to describe how relieved Scarlett felt that Dr. Riggs was going to give her a chance, despite everything going on in her life. She called Joker to tell him the news but he didn’t answer. She thought he was still with Torque doing club things so she went to his house. Katrina had the same idea and followed her there. The two of them parked off to the side of the furniture truck in the drive and watched as the men unloaded the goodies.
“Where did that stuff come from?” Scarlett asked.
“It’s something I threw together.” Katrina walked with her to the house and entered, making herself known to the delivery people. She wanted things to go a certain way and she demanded that of them.
Scarlett was surprised when Joker walked around the corner. He looked tired and stressed. She didn’t know what Torque wanted with him, but she was glad he was here with her now.
“How did it go?” Joker asked when he saw her.
“I got the internship. I’m working with Dr. Riggs personally this summer. I’m also applying to different colleges to try and get a spot to finish my degree.” She smiled at him. “You were right. It did work out in the end.”
He nodded but he didn’t look too enthused. She watched him a moment before realizing that something was bothering him. She glanced down at his knuckles and saw bruising and cuts. Torque’s little powwow resulted in Joker beating someone up. From his demeanor, she figured it was Ollie.
“You could at least smile.” Scarlett went to him and smoothed her hand along his chest. “It’s a good thing out of a very long list of bad things.”
“I know.” He kissed her forehead and pulled away.
She watched him a moment. “So, how was your meeting with Ollie?”
He snorted, but didn’t say anything. “What makes you think I had a meeting with him?”
“Bloody and bruised knuckles. Doesn’t really take a genius to figure that out.”
He nodded. “There’s too many people around to have that conversation.” Joker glanced over at the furniture people and his mother before grabbing her arm and leading her to the master bedroom. He closed the door behind them and kissed her.
“What happened?”
“I can’t tell you that.” He brushed her hair from her face. “I can tell you though that we’re now in a war. Eddy is being protected by the Reaper Boys and we’re considering that stunt he pulled with you and Marrow retaliation against us. It’s not going to be pretty, but you won’t ever have to worry about him again.”
“I understand the mess he created, but,” She smoothed her hands along his sides. “Why do you look so sad?”
He pulled away from her. “Marrow said some shit that got into my head. I can’t shake it. It will be dealt with though. I promise you that.”
She stared at him. “What did he say?”
“Nothing.” He met her eyes. “Don’t ask me again.”
Scarlett pursed her lips. It had to be bad to upset him so much. He looked like someone kicked his puppy. She moved toward him.
“You know that’s not going to happen.” Scarlett leaned in to kiss him. “If you keep frowning, you’re going to get wrinkles. You’ll look like you’re a hundred at thirty-two.”
He rested his hands on her shoulders. “You wanted me to be pissed off.”
“At them. Not me.”
“I’m not pissed off at you.”
“But you’re in a foul mood.” She pulled his arms down and around her body. “I wanted to celebrate tonight. Maybe get some wine. Break in the new house now that’s it’s done.”
She wanted to be happy but dwelling on the situation didn’t afford her that much. Joker needed to let it go, even though the so-called war was going on. Torque was the president. He could handle it.
Joker leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “We’ll celebrate.” He smiled. “I’ve actually got a surprise for you. Something you don’t know about.”
“I like surprises.”
He led her up the stairs and to the room at the end of the hall. Pulling out his keys, he unlocked the door and opened it just enough that she could get inside. When she turned on the light, she gasped, smiling at what he’d done.
Along one wall was most of the implements at the club. Several she favored and several he favored. He also had a bondage bed in the middle of the room with suspension ropes hanging from the tall ceiling. She glanced over at him with a huge smile on her face.
“How did you do this without your parents finding out?”
“Most of the people didn’t bother me because they knew I was pissed off. I built the bed myself. I also have another pair of restraints attached to the master bed if we’re in a lazy mood and don’t want to come in here.” He swallowed. “Since that smile on your face grew wider, I guess I did a pretty good job?”
“Oh yeah.” She ran her hand over the stiff leather bondage bed. “I want to try this out tonight. Celebrate with wine and bondage. Could anything be more fun?”
He pulled her to him and held her close. She could still feel his need to protect her. He wasn’t in a joking mood and she respected that. Whatever Ollie had said to him, it was enough to get in his head and stay there. She wanted to take his mind off it. To remind him that the bad was in the past and the good was in the future. A future with him.
“I love you.” Scarlett rested her chin on his chest as she looked up at him. “I don’t know what he said, but it doesn’t matter. It’s all in the past and our future together is what we need to focus on.”
He leaned down and kissed her. She still had a lot to learn about the club lifestyle but for now, she’d simply let him take the lead. He never failed her before and she didn’t count on him doing so now.
“I love you too,” he said. “Let’s go downstairs and get these people out of the house. I’m looking forward to celebrating with you.”
She grinned. “All night?”
“All fucking night long.”
The End
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