Page 6 of Lost Lyrebird

I love both.

My body is tattooed with several of them.They all have different sayings and meanings.Like the one on my forearm, an arrow with a small dreamcatcher tied to the end with two feathers trailing behind it as if caught in the wind.

A little reminder thatwhen life is dragging you back to launch yourself forward.

I contemplate that as the two men chat.I’ve always seen moments like this as signs, not just random coincidences.Like with tarot readings, I search for hidden meanings in small things and symbols.Then I try to figure out how they connect to my life or circumstances.

So, using my knuckles, I count the months that have gone by since Deeds convinced me to move here.I’m taken aback when I realize it’s been over a year.

I met him when I’d been working in Vegas, dancing my ass off, trying to make my way up the ranks to bigger and better things.Deeds had been setting up a new chapter in the area.We hooked up a few times, and he eventually discovered I had a few men giving me trouble.Some guys I’d dated or met while dancing there.Men who didn’t want to take no for an answer when I turned them down or broke things off.He handled them, and we’d been on and off ever since until he convinced me to move here to San Diego and work for the club.

I’d hesitated for a while, not wanting to get sucked into the madness this lifestyle entails, but trouble followed me no matter where I went, I thought it might be good to have men like him at my back, just in case.

The redheaded HOC slaps Deeds’s chest.“You gonna be the gentleman your mama raised you to be and introduce me?”

Smiling, I scoot to the end of the couch to get up.Before I can, Deeds’s uncle assists me.He immediately brings my hand to his mouth and kisses my knuckles.

“Hello, darlin’.”The drawl in those words nearly sets my panties aflame.It’s that fucking sexy.

“None of that.”Deeds snatches my hand away.“I’ve been on the road for days.No way am I lettin’ you haul her off or sweet talk her with that sweet southern-boy thing you do.”

His uncle grins wickedly at me, and I grin right back.He winks, and right away, I know I’ve found a kindred spirit.So I saddle up to his side, curl my arm around his, and lay my head on his shoulder.I blink up at Deeds innocently, and his uncle plays along, placing his large hand over mine and patting it.

Deeds pinches the bridge of his nose.Under his breath, he mutters, “Fuck.Should’ve known you two would get along.Both pains in my ass.”

We laugh, and he joins in.

Deeds motions to me.“Uncle Griz, this is Gypsy.Gypsy, meet my mean—”

Reaching forward, Griz slaps the back of Deeds’s head.He’s probably the only person in the world who could get away with it.“Boy, I will take you over my knee.”

“Please don’t,” I say.“He’d like that too much.”Deeds eyes the two of us and groans.

We spend the next few minutes laughing and bullshiting until Griz politely asks to steal his nephew for a bit.After they walk away, I make my way to the bar and order a drink.

It doesn’t take long before my gaze returns to the HOC insignia, which is kind of badass and fascinating.It’s filled with a variety of different symbols.There’s a skull with a third eye and bird-like clawed feet that grip a pirate banner.The banner reads, “Revel in Chaos, Regret Nothing.”

It’s more pleasant to look at than the Greenback colors—a demented, demon-like leprechaun with missing teeth standing over a pile of skulls and bones.According to Deeds, Pappy designed it to lay claim to their Irish roots, instill fear in the “squares” who judged their lifestyle, and as a “fuck you” to those who openly opposed the war the founders nearly died in.

I’m just finishing my drink when hands wrap around my waist.A warm body presses against my back.Hot breath ghosts over my neck, sending a rush of goosebumps down my arms.“See somethin’ you like?”

Looking over my shoulder, I study Deeds’s expression and the curiosity written all over his features.

“I thought you weren’t in the mood to share?”

He shrugs.“I’m not, but if that’s what you need…”

It’s times like these when I get frustrated with him.One day, he’s possessive, and the next, he’s setting me free to explore to my heart’s content.Always a contradiction.Which is it?Does he even know?Because it’s confusing as fuck and leaves me with mental whiplash.

He’s the opposite of Finn in every way.

God,Finn.

He was always brutally honest, steadfast, and had clear intentions.I see his face in my mind and feel an instant ache in my chest.His name lives in my heart, under an invisible scar that didn’t heal right, and even thinking about his name hurts.It reopens that old wound.

Deeds turns me around, hands gripping my hips tightly.He brings our lower bodies together and stares at me in a way that would have most women swooning.He slowly draws me back to the couch.After lighting up a joint, we pass it back and forth, and resume our playful foreplay.I eventually end up in a reverse cowgirl position with his mouth running up the length of my neck.

I work him up, slowly rolling my hips above him.He takes matters into his own hands, pushes down his pants to mid-thigh, and frees himself from his jeans.My skirt is pushed up, and his fingers tease my clit in lazy circles.As the song hits the chorus, he pushes one, then two fingers inside me.