Page 163 of Burning Ember

Me drunk + four inch heels = an accident waiting to happen.

Nevertheless, I bite my tongue and watch Lita behind the bar do her thing.

Beside me, excitement radiates off Lily. So much so, she can’t sit still. She’s standing, tapping her foot to the beat of “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” by Cage the Elephant. Her hair is in a sleek ponytail and it sways, along with her silver earrings, as she moves.

Lily catches me looking at her and smiles. “How are you feeling? You ready to dance yet?”

My skin’s a bit warm and tingly. I’m definitely buzzed, but maybe not intoxicated enough to make a fool of myself just yet. “Nope. Not yet.”

On the next shot, I raise my glass to meet Lily’s, and then toss it back. The kick isn’t as bad and the cherry flavor goes down smoother than the last shot.

Both Lily and I give Lita a thumbs up.

As Lita moves away to make a new round, my gaze lands on the hot biker chick in the mirror with red hair, smoky eyes, and rose pink lips. The white HD tank I’m wearing shows off my freckled cleavage. My hair’s in waves and the sides are loosely pinned away from my face. Another style I’ve never tried before. It’s somehow both flirty, and sultry, which is a far cry from my usual braid or a messy bun.

It feels nice to fit in though, and I can’t help but wonder what Mav will think when he sees me.

A sense of anticipation is in the air as we all wait for church to end and for the guys to fill the main room. The clubhouse feels almost bare without them, and yet nearly twenty people occupy it.

“I hope that’s not what you expect me to do,” I say and gesture toward the hang-arounds grinding on the dance floor. I love to dance. But that isn’t exactly what I’d call dancing.

Before she can respond, HOCs begin to flood into the main room from the hallway, their demeanor somber. Each one wears a haunted expression.

Contradictory to the mood and tension settling into the room, Bodie yells, “Turn the radio up, Rigor, and get these boys all the beer they can drink and pussy they can eat.”

Coming close, he spots Lily. “Bird, will you call your girlfriends at the club and see if a couple of ’em will come pay us a visit?”

“What’s going on?” Lily asks. She waves toward the solemn HOCs still entering the room.

“Just club business shit. All I can say is we’re gonna need some good entertainment to liven up this place tonight.” Wiggling his eyebrows at me he adds, “Lots and lots of tits and ass. And preferably girls that look as young and as sexy as my friend ginger here.”

Bodie catches me rolling my eyes. He takes the seat to my left. “What? You don’t like me no more ‘cause you’re a taken woman now? What happened to shamefully flirting with me?”

“I never flirted with you.”

Chucking, he replies, “Oh, I call bullshit. Not too long ago, you wanted to rub your cum all over my face, remember?” He elbows me as I scrunch up my nose and lips in disgust.

“I seem to remember Griz sayin’ it was your cum,” I quip.

Lita places my shot in front of me. But Bodie snatches it and throws it back in one swallow before I can reach for it.

“Hey!”

“Holy shit that’s good. What the fuck was that?”

Glaring at him, I say, “My drink.”

Lita answers, “Cherry Bomb. Want another?”

“Yeah, make that three of ’em,” Bodie replies. “Wait. Four. I owe ginger snack here one.” He throws around his panty-dropping smile and his eyes roam over my face. “Aww, you’re cute when you’re pissed.”

“And you’re annoying.” He throws his head back and laughs. Then playfully nudges my ribs.

“Hey, baby.” Goose wraps his arms around Lily and makes that half-groan half-growl sound he does as he starts kissing her neck. “Mmmm, miss me?”

She’s fighting to hold back a smile, as she answers, “No.”

“Liar,” Goose replies.