Page 7 of Priest’s Sunbeam (Renegade Souls MC: Next Generation #2)
“Torture,” she groaned. “It was good to see him again.”
“He’s been different this year,” her mom shared, and Sunny looked up, confused.
“Different, how?”
She’d never wanted to know if he was dating someone. She’d made Harper promise never to tell her.
“I can’t put my finger on it exactly. But it was as if his spark had gone. And I saw him lose it with customers more than once. Seb is usually so laid back with people.”
She couldn’t stop the jump of her heart. But she knew it was dumb to think he acted that way because of her.
“That means nothing.”
“Doesn’t it?”
“I wish it did. But whatever is going on with Sebastian has nothing to do with me. He probably has dating problems.”
The snap of her heart was a physical pain, and Sunny’s wince didn’t go unnoticed because her mom covered her hand.
“I wish my firstborn was happy.”
She tried for a smile. “I’m home, so I am happy.”
“I’m selfish and always wanted you to come home, but I would love it if you were happy, too.”
“Well, you got your wish. Here I am.” She chuckled. “Under a lockdown like old times. Only this time, I’m not a toddler running all over the place.”
“The last serious lockdown we had, you were about ten, and you clung to Seb, insisting he take you everywhere because he was your superhero and no one else’s.”
Gia grinned at the memory, and Sunny groaned, covering her face.
“I was so embarrassing. I seriously had no boundaries.”
“You were adorable and still are.”
“You gave birth to me, so you’re biased.”
“It’s still true.”
Right then, her aunt Zara, Rider’s wife and the MC’s first lady, came through the kitchen and beamed a smile, seeing Sunshine. They shared a big hug.
“I hate why it’s happening, but I love having all our kiddos home again.” Zara poured herself a cup from the built-in coffee station.
Sunny spoke with her mom and Zara, then excused herself to use the restroom.
She spotted her father huddled down the hallway with Rider and Sebastian.
There was no way he could have heard her because her steps were quieter than a nun’s prayer in church, but his dark head snapped up, and across the distance, their eyes held.
Sunny’s heart galloped, and she forced her feet to move.
How would she survive a lockdown with him so close? Escape, she thought, would lessen the emotional attachment, but her feelings remained as intense, or even more so.
After using the bathroom, she pulled the door open and walked into a brick wall that was all muscle.
He’d gotten rid of his leather jacket. So, he had on a long-sleeve undershirt, a tee, and his club cut.
Even after all the years since he’d earned his patches, Sunny thought he looked incredible as a Souls biker. Like he’d been born to wear them.
“Have you eaten?” he asked.
“You’re stalking outside the bathroom to ask me that?”
“Yes.” He answered evenly, and her heart skipped.
“That’s disturbing. Book an appointment to talk about it with my mom. She might have some tools to help you with your bathroom obsession.”
“Funny girl.” He smirked, tugging on the end of her braid. “We’re ordering pizzas. What do you want on yours? Cheese and more cheese?”
Her stomach chose that moment to growl. Traitorous belly. She was about to tell him she wasn’t hungry, but now she could eat a whole pie.
“With jalapenos.”
His brows shot up. “I thought you couldn’t handle spice?”
“My tastes have matured.” She said, shimmying around his massive frame, trying not to scrape up against him, but she still caught his elbow. “I’ve developed sophisticated tastes from living elsewhere. It showed me what else was out there.”
She hoped he caught her double meaning.
Sebastian’s head dropped, eyes darkening, and she experienced a thrill as he growled, teeth bared.
“I hope you’re still talking about pizza, Sunshine, because I’m in no mood to ride back to Texas.”
It was her turn to show surprise. “Why would you do that?”
“If someone has shown you mature tastes, he’ll be dead before the weekend.”
Momentarily brain-fried, she took a second to process. And then a new confidence overcame her, and she shot her shoulders back, putting some swing into her hips as she walked away from him, calling back. “Don’t forget my jalapenos.”
He was right; she hated spice, but she’d choke down every slice if she saw that look in his eyes again.
Truly, Sunny was a masochist of the highest order for living on imaginary crumbs.
There was no way she’d survive being back in Colorado. She’d have to move somewhere else once this lockdown was over. Maybe she could transfer overseas. Australia. Or the moon.
Much to her dismay, Seb was sitting close when the pizzas came, and he watched with a little smirk as she took her first bite and nearly choked to death on the hot slice.
She got halfway through, and her entire face was on fire.
He snatched her paper plate and put down his own—three slices of her favorite double-cheese pizza.
“You look pitiful trying to prove a point, sunbeam. Eat your food. You can try again tomorrow to be a big girl.”
He was such a big jerk, and she huffed, gulping the ice water he placed in front of her. However, she was grateful for her favorite pizza.
Despite the club racket, Sunny felt like they were the only two people who existed because he never took his eyes off her.
Pretending Seb didn’t exist, she grabbed a second piece and used her other hand to text. She didn’t care if Harper was in the middle of a circus sex fest. This was an emergency.
SUNNY : SOS. Can I move in with you and your evil hubby? I’ll be quiet. I’ll even make pancakes to refuel after your sexathon.
HARPER : LOL. I’m not saying no, but tell me what’s going on.
SUNNY : Sebastian is staring at me. My stomach is on fire (from eating jalapenos). A car followed us home. Did I mention Sebastian won’t stop glaring at me?
SUNNY : Can you send your demon to pick me up? I’m an excellent houseguest! I bet you need a maid for your mansion.
Instead of a text, the phone rang in her hand, and she answered with a groan, making Harper belly laugh.
“Why is he staring at you? Do you have your shirt off?”
“Oh, my god, you’re ridiculous. Everyone is here. Why would I be shirtless? Don’t answer that. Cain is corrupting you.” She joked.
“Sunny thinks you’re corrupting me,” then she heard Cain’s deep voice answering. “I’m trying to, but my wife chooses to make a phone call instead of riding me.”
Sheesh, did her friend and favorite cousin ever put that man down?
Usually, Sunny would have hung up immediately, but she was in a crisis and close to spiraling.
“Babe, if he’s staring, pull a face or ignore him. You did the running, and he rejected it. So fuck him. Not literally. Not yet, not until he shows he deserves it. And if he doesn’t…”
She waited for Sunny to fill in the blanks.
“Then move on.” The words felt wrong on her tongue.
“That’s my girl. Cain’s friends are wild and would hit on you. We’ll host a party when this stuff is behind us.”
Catching Sebastian still staring, she swallowed and tried to imagine having her first kiss with any other man who wasn’t him, and her belly recoiled from the idea.
She’d never even considered kissing anyone but Seb; he was the only one for her.
She didn’t care that he’d aged faster and wouldn’t be able to give her his firsts, too, as long as she had his lasts. But the realization settled in like quicksand when she’d offered herself up on a platter, only for him to tell her that would not happen.
She’d saved all those firsts for nothing.
And now she didn’t know what she wanted to do with them.