Page 26 of Sinful Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #9)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Daisy

" Y ou got a package in the mail,” Brody says, making me look up from the painting I’m working on for Willow.

I wipe my hands on my towel. “Oh, I bet it’s the stuff I left behind in Paris. My roommate was going to mail it to me.”

Brody hovers over my shoulder, looking at the painting I’m working on. “It’s Willow.”

“It is. I’m going to give it to her tonight. I know she’s been sad over Rachel being sick. I thought it would cheer her up.” I glance at the package in his hand. “That’s not a very big box.”

“Because it’s not from your roommate.” His gaze remains on the painting. “I’ll never get over how you do this.”

“Thanks to you I’ve been feeling free to let my creativity expand.” I stand up and begin rinsing out my brushes.

“She’s going to love it.”

“I just need get dressed, and then I’ll be ready to go.”

He lies on the bed watching me change clothes. “Rachel and Raffe blamed Jackson for the frogs.” He tips his head back and laughs.

“When Jackson tells her it wasn’t him, I’m not taking the fall with you. I’ll throw you right under the bus,” I tease.

He stands up in front of me and finally hands me the package. It does have my name on it, but I don’t recognize the return address. Brody watches me carefully as I rip off the paper and then open the lid. My heart stops, and my gaze jumps to his.

He reaches out and slowly wraps his fingers around my neck. “Do you like it?” he asks.

“It’s beautiful. What exactly is it?”

“Let me show you.”

I love that Brody never makes me feel embarrassed by my questions.

He wraps the chain around my neck and then slips the small black heart on one end through the hollow heart of the other.

He loosely lets the chain fall between my breasts.

His fingers dance over it before his gaze locks on mine.

He tugs on the chain to pull me close, and it cinches tightly around my throat.

“Oh god,” I whisper, my heart suddenly beating between my legs.

“You like?”

“I love.”

“When we play, I want you to wear it for me.” He bends forward and presses his mouth to the corner of mine. “Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

He kisses me long and slow, holding the chain in the palm of his hand. Brody has me nice and worked up before we walk out the door.

I stand by his truck pouting. “You could have waited and given me the gift after the party tonight.”

His disarming smile makes me melt. “Where would the fun in that be?”

When we get to the warehouse, he pulls my painting out from the back of his truck.

“Do you think Lexie and Ash will be here tonight?”

“I’m not sure. They’ll probably be here for supper, but they’ll more than likely leave before the partying starts. If you want to leave then too, we can. We don’t need to stay for the rowdiness that happens afterward.”

“No that’s okay. I want to see what your world is like.”

The warehouse is gorgeous inside. The dinner is small enough, and everyone is very welcoming.

Everyone laughs as Rachel relays the frog debacle. “The fucking things are everywhere.” Her gaze narrows on Brody, and she wags a finger at him. “I even found one in my cereal this morning.”

“It was all her idea.” He throws a thumb my direction, and my mouth falls open.

“Oh, you lie!” I squeal.

The group chuckles because they know Brody well enough. They’re not buying into his story.

“There’s still time to run.” Jackson laughs and then turns to Brody. “How many did you hide?”

“A thousand or so.” Brody shrugs.

“A thousand!” Rachel and Raffe look at each other as everyone erupts in a fit of laughter.

“You’ll be thinking of the two of us for days,” Brody says, winking at them.

After the meal, Brody brings the painting in from the other room.

“Oh, Daisy. This is beautiful.” She begins to cry.

It’s a portrait of her standing under a willow tree, holding her stomach in her hands. She’s in a sundress and barefoot, standing in the grass.

“Look what’s carved into the tree,” she says, weeping even harder. Jackson wraps his arms around her and rests his chin on her shoulder to see where’s she’s pointing. He smiles at the heart engraved with Willow + Jackson in the middle.

Jesse moves to my side. “That’s really beautiful. I paint too.”

“Oh, yes, I saw the mural in the baby’s room. It’s amazing.”

“Why don’t you come downstairs, and I’ll show you my studio. You’re free to use it anytime.”

“I’d love to. Right now, I’m painting at Brody’s kitchen table. Not that I’m complaining, but it is nice to have some privacy when creating.”

Brody kisses me on the forehead before I follow her down the stairs. “I’ll be out back. Take your time,” he tells me.

When she opens the door, I instantly feel a comradery with her. “Oh my gosh. You have a great space. Are all of these yours?” I begin to flip through the paintings leaning against the wall.

“Yeah, these are my lighter pieces. The darker ones are kept across the hall.”

I abruptly stand upright.

She chuckles sadly. “These are the pieces I let the world see, but sometimes we create things others might not understand. At least I do.”

“Did Brody talk to you about my art?” I accuse, taking a step away from her.

She holds her hands up. “Nope. Just one artist talking freely to another. I’m sorry if I offended you.”

“You didn’t … I just … I also paint things I don’t show everyone.”

“I thought so. I’m excellent at reading people.”

“Well, you’re spookily good at it.” I laugh nervously, still unsure how she knew about my darker paintings.

“My dark creative side was born out of necessity.” She waves for me to follow her.

My brows pull together as she pulls a key from around her neck to unlock the door. My fingers begin to tingle, and suddenly it’s not Jesse, but Henry unlocking the door.

When it opens and she turns the light on, it sends him back to the corners of my mind. This is not the same thing , I remind myself. But it does make me wonder how many artists have works they keep to themselves.

I walk in and spin in a circle. It’s not the same as my dark art. Not even close. This doesn’t come from her imagination. It doesn’t even come from someone who sees the darkness in the world. This is something she’s lived. It tells a story … one that makes me very sad.

“It’s incredible.”

She walks around the room. “I’ve added to it over the years, but I don’t spend as much time in here as I used to. I’ve healed a lot through my art. I don’t go to this headspace much anymore.”

“My darkness is more imaginative, and maybe, oh I don’t know, sensual.”

Jesse nods without judgement as she pulls her long silver-black hair over her shoulder.

“If you ever want to talk about your art, just know I’m here.

Brody did mention you were kind of in a bad place when he found you in Reno.

He only told the club because he didn’t want anyone to worry why he was going to be gone so long.

We all look out for each other around here. ”

“Yeah, I had just found out I was adopted. I was kind of in a bad headspace, but I’m okay now.”

“He really likes you.”

“I like him too.”

Her gaze roams over my face. “I feel like I already know you. You’re so familiar to me.” She shakes her head. “Anyway, you’re free to use the studio anytime you want. The door is always open.”

We talk a little bit longer about technique and mediums, but eventually we head back upstairs. Jesse pulls me to a stop when we hear whispering. She holds her finger over her mouth.

“Did you hear Brody is back?” a woman says.

“Oh my god. You’re lying.”

“Nope, but I heard he brought someone back with him.”

“So?”

“I heard it’s serious.”

“We’ll see how serious it is after I’m finished with him.”

Jesse looks back at me and rolls her eyes. My stomach tightens, and darkness washes over me.

“Have you seen her yet?” someone asks.

“No, but it doesn’t matter. Brody isn’t one to take an old lady.”

“That’s what you said about JD, and look, he bagged a fucking super model.”

“I don’t know. I heard this chick is living with him,” another voice chimes in.

Someone makes a snotty little noise. “That can’t be true. Brody doesn’t take anyone to his house.”

“You’re just jealous because he hasn’t taken you home with him.”

The woman ignores the statement. “It’s probably just a rumor. I was just outside, and he’s alone.”

“I call dibs,” someone says quickly.

“Not if I get to him first.”

I hear several bottles clink together. “May the best woman win.”

Are they fucking toasting their chances with my man?

Their voices fade as they walk away.

Jesse’s eyes bounce over my face and she smiles, pulling a knife from her boot. “Initiation time.” Her eyebrow raises, and she smirks.

I roll the knife in the palm of my hand, and a shiver runs up my spine. “Um, are you serious? You think I’ll need this?”

Her eyes narrow on me. “I’m curious. What do you think Brody would do if he heard a bunch of men talking about you like that? Do you think he’d let them get close enough to even hit on you?”

My mind goes back to the parking lot at the beach. “No,” I say quietly.

When we get outside, my gaze scans the party. Brody is standing with Jackson, Elijah, Dirk, and Petey. Then I spy a group of scantily dressed women. They’re all staring at my man.

I’ve never felt this way before. I take a deep breath as Jesse walks around me and sits on top of a picnic table with her sister, Katie. I follow her.

I watch as the group of women laugh loudly, obviously trying to get the men’s attention. Dirk’s gaze roams the space, landing on his wife. She blows him a kiss, and he scowls. She laughs. “He knows I’m up to something.”

“What are you up to?” Katie asks.

“Just watch.”

One of the women approaches Brody, and Dirk shakes his head, finally realizing what’s about to happen.

The second her hand lands on Brody’s chest, I move. He has her by the arms, trying to push her back, but she’s persistent.

“Come on, baby, you know I love that big …”