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18

Phoenix

T onight, Dad called a meeting with the guys at the bar. So Lace and I decided to surprise them with a family-style dinner since everyone would be in the same place at the same time. When we pull up, almost everyone is there already. She shoots me a bright smile as we grab our totes of food and head inside. "They're gonna love this, Phoenix."

I can't help but mirror her excitement. "I hope so. It's been so long since we've seen everyone. I hope they like what we made."

"They will." She beams at me.

The place is packed when we get inside. All the guys are scattered around tables and seats at the bar. When Lace and I walk in with armfuls of food, they all perk up. "What's all this?" Dad asks, grabbing the box out of my hands.

I shrug. "We thought we'd surprise you all with dinner. It's been a while since we've all been together."

The corner of his mouth ticks up, and he has the guys grab the rest of the food from the car. "This is great, Phoenix. Thank you."

He has the guys start pushing tables together while Lace and I set out plates and food. When everything is ready, Dad calls Raven and Jesse out from behind the bar to join us. It's only us inside right now, and there are no customers to take care of, so our timing was perfect.

Rae grabs a seat next to me as she talks to Jesse. On my other side, Raptor snags the chair, flashing me a quick smile as he digs in. We haven't had time to talk about our almost-kiss since it happened, but the hand he places on my bare knee tells me he wanted it as badly as I did. My breath hitches as he squeezes my leg, and I'm instantly thirty degrees warmer.

As if he knows it, Raptor watches me as he brings his fork to his mouth. I lick my lips as his tongue juts out, wiping every morsel of food from the utensil. Oh, the things I want him to do to me . . .

A gentle kick from Raven reminds me that we're not alone, jerking me back to reality as I grab my water. The rest of the meal continues with pleasant conversation, heated looks, and more than one under-the-table touch. Each time Raptor's hand moves against my leg, I forget how to breathe.

By the end of the meal, I've worked up the courage to return his scandalous teasing by sliding my fingers halfway up his thigh. I feel giddy when he tenses at my actions, and his answering look has me ready to melt. I need to be alone with him again.

Before I can suggest anything, Dad comes over to thank me and Lace for putting everything together. He even surprises me by pulling me into a hug. Raven watches wide-eyed as she heads back behind the bar.

After Dad and the rest of the guys filter into the back room, Lace and I slide onto empty barstools to chat with Raven while she works. Looking at the door the men disappeared behind, I wonder aloud, "What do they talk about in there anyway?"

Lace and my sister share a look before Rae quickly says, "It's probably better we don't know."

"What do you mean?"

"It's probably just shop talk and lame dude jokes," Lace answers. "You know, the guys talking about whose engine is bigger and that kind of thing. I'm sure it would bore us to death."

I notice a strange look cross Raven's face. When she sees me watching her, she plasters a fake smile on her lips. Weird. I know there's something they aren't telling me. They're shielding me from it for some reason, but I choose not to bring that up. For now.

After a while, the meeting finally ends and the guys start filtering out of the back room. Dad stops to talk to a few of the guys as Bear greets Lace before she heads out. I notice Stitch leave right after her, as do several of the others.

"You heading home?" Dad asks.

I nod. "Yeah. I still have some homework to finish up."

"Alright. I'll have Raptor head back with you and make sure you get home okay."

My eyes flit to where Raptor is standing, talking to Jesse and Raven. I try to hide the excitement in my voice as I reply, "Okay, sounds great."

Dad thanks me again for dinner before whispering something to Raptor. When Raptor's eyes meet mine, I look away, saying bye to Raven and Jesse.

"You ready?" The timber of Raptor's voice has my skin prickling as he appears next to me.

I nod, letting him walk me outside. Before the door closes behind us, I look back and see Raven gnawing on her bottom lip, looking worried. Then, I see Reaper lingering inside. His eyes seem to scan the room as if looking for a threat.

The giddy anticipation I felt earlier gives way to something darker, something sinister.

Raptor follows close behind me the whole way home, and I try to push aside the feeling of impending doom that's settling in my stomach. But seeing how worried Raven was when I left, I can't help but think something bad is going to happen. I just don't know what.

When we get inside, Raptor locks the door behind him. He has a playful look on his face, but I can tell it's a mask. He's worried about something. Whatever my dad told him before we left has him on edge.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"What do you mean?"

I level him with a look. One that I hope conveys how serious I am. "Why is everyone so on edge after the meeting? What did my dad tell you before we left?"

He sighs, coming closer. "It's nothing, babe. Don't worry about it." His hands brush down my arms as he tries to pull me in for a hug.

I put a hand in front of me, stopping him short. "Raptor, please tell me."

He sighs again, pulling his lip between his teeth as he debates for a moment. I hold my ground, watching him expectantly. Finally, he relents with a huff, "We got some bad news about a business competitor, that's all. It's got Viper and the others all worked up."

I sense he isn't telling me everything, and when I say as much, he tells me it's nothing I should worry about. He's keeping me in the dark about something. They all are; it's so frustrating.

I try to look tough, channeling my inner Raven as I put my arms over my chest and glare at him. Raptor looks me over and smiles. "What're you doing?"

"I'm putting my foot down. I want answers, and you're going to give them to me," I say firmly.

He smirks as he comes closer, making me shift nervously when he towers over me. "You know, you're awful cute when you do that."

"Do what?" I huff.

His hands slowly slide around my waist as he leans in. "When you put on a stern face and try to look all tough."

"I am tough," I grind out, trying to hold my ground as his fingers find my bare skin.

He smiles wider. "I know you are," he tells me, pulling me closer.

He's only a breath away, and I can't help but shudder. My memory starts to fog as his mouth comes closer to mine. I can't remember what I was doing. All my senses are going wild with his proximity. He knows it, too. "Now, what was it you wanted me to tell you?" His lips move against mine as he asks the question.

I swallow hard. "Uh—um—I—" The words won't leave my brain. I can't breathe, can't think.

"What is it beautiful?"

I look into his eyes, only able to think how badly I want to kiss him.

So, I do.

When my lips crash into him, he wraps me up, deepening the kiss. Our tongues clash as we blindly make our way toward the couch. My calves hit the front of the cushions seconds before we topple over. Raptor sprawls on top of me, his lips still sending me into a tailspin.

It's the best kiss of my life as we become a mess of lips, tongues, and teeth for what seems like a lifetime. Neither of us is willing to part now that we've crossed that line. I can't get enough of him, and he can't get enough of me. I've got it bad for this guy, and all I want is more.

When we finally break apart, he smiles down at me before shifting our bodies so our positions are reversed. I lay my chin on his chest, studying the colors in his eyes. Blues, grays, greens, so wildly beautiful, I can't look away. I don't know how long we lay there in silence before he breaks it, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Why do you look sad, Phoenix?"

I take a deep breath before confessing, "I like you, Raptor. A lot."

He smiles sweetly at me. "I like you too."

I bite my lip before adding, "I need you to promise me something."

He waits for me to continue. "I know everyone is keeping things from me about the club, and I know something is going on. I get that you don't want to talk about it, but . . . " His arms tense around my waist. "I need you to promise that you'll be careful and that you'll talk to me about it when you're ready."

He looks at me seriously, studying my face. Finally, he nods. "I'll be as careful as I can be. I have more reason to be now that I have someone waiting for me."

I bite my lip. "Sooo, does this mean we're . . . "

Raptor's crooked smile melts my heart as he finishes my question. "Together?"

I nod.

His hands drift up my back as he lifts his mouth to mine, meeting my lips. This kiss is slow and lazy, so unlike before. I'm content letting the question go unanswered if he wants to do this the rest of the night.

Too soon, though, he pulls away. "I'm yours, Phoenix. As long as you want me, I'm yours."

I can't help but glow at the thought. An excited sound escapes my throat as I answer, "And I'm yours."

Our lips reconnect, and I decide to let my worries rest for the night, choosing instead to enjoy this moment.