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STAR

There’s knowing you love someone, and then there’s feeling it vibrate through your whole fucking nervous system as if you’re a tuning fork that’s just been struck.

It rattled along my nerve endings like a bolt of electricity that needed to escape and the only outlet was him—so I wrapped my arms around him after I settled on his lap and held him tight.

This overwhelming surge of love was partly to do with finding him braiding my kid’s hair at an MC’s house party, a look of utter concentration on his face as he tried to get it right.

Then, there was a part that revolved around her confidence in him, which had nearly fucking broken me.

Then , there was that conversation I’d left behind with Rachel—my past, so ugly, head-butting the beautiful present I existed in.

Conor pressed his chin to the top of my head and held me. Just held me. No words were needed.

Amid the music from the party, three different types depending on where you were standing, the clatter around several tables holding various potluck dishes, and the chatter and laughter from over a hundred people, I eventually whispered, “If this had happened last year, I’d never have allowed myself to attend.”

“What do you mean?”

“Too much to do. Too many things to juggle. It’s been a long time since I’ve done something…” I chuckled as I selected the word. “…frivolous.”

“Dubrovnik wasn’t frivolous?”

“The pizza and the ice cream, sure, but the shooting in between, not so much.” Now, Munoz being a fucking Sparrow made our first date night even more memorable.

“What about the soccer game?”

“Again, partly frivolous.” I hid a smile. “I like partly frivolous. But this is totally frivolous.”

“All work and no play makes Star a dull girl.”

“We already established you’re the dull one, Con.”

He snickered as he pressed his lips to my forehead. Together, we stared out onto the living room where the Sinners were congregated, some eating, others drinking, most of them talking and if not talking, then arguing.

“I-I think,” I whispered, “these guys might have been my family and I didn’t realize it.”

“What gave it away?” he whispered back.

“They missed me.”

“Of course they did.”

“No, I didn’t think they would.” I released a breath. “I didn’t even think Savannah would.”

“You were wrong about that too, weren’t you?”

“I was and I’m glad I was wrong. But don’t tell Kat that.”

His chuckle came from the heart. “I won’t share your dirty secrets with anyone.”

“Enough of the filthy secrets and the filthy lies, hmm?”

“Only the filthy truth for us,” he agreed with a gentle squeeze of his arms.

“Do you want to do something crazy?”

“Something crazier than a house party on a Wednesday?”

“They’re an MC. They don’t work regular schedules.”

“Apparently.”

“Don’t be a product of a capitalist society, Conor.” I tutted.

“God forbid,” he mocked. “Okay, something crazy. Hit me with it.”

“Have you met Indy?”

“Yeah.” He quieted. “Ah. You want to get inked?”

I swallowed. “I’m wearing your brand.”

He reached around us and rubbed his fingers over the cameo on my hand. “You are. You want me to wear yours?”

Tilting my head back against his shoulder, I whispered, “Property of Star.”

He chuckled. “Where do you want it?”

My nose crinkled. “I’d say your ass cheek but then Indy would have to see it and your tush is mine.”

“Where then?”

“Somewhere your brothers won’t see it if you work out together.”

“I don’t care if they take a jab at me?—”

“ I care. I don’t want anyone to mock you for it.”

“If they don’t see it, how will they know who I belong to?” he drawled, but his tone was dark, deep. Like hot silk that poured over my skin, making goosebumps pop up and sending whispers of sensation coursing through my nervous system.

“Where, then?” I choked out.

“Ribs.”

“I’d like that.” I pressed my mouth to his throat. “You know what this means, don’t you?”

“What?”

“That I’ll be yours forever.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” he breathed. “You already were that anyway.”