Page 1 of Vex & Suki (COSMIC CROWS MC #1)

W e’ve been working at the tavern for a few weeks now, and I was loving it. Between Lyra and me, we had the kitchens running like a well-oiled machine and were learning from each other.

Our apartments were comfortable, and Kragor had added additional security, which meant that for the first time since the ship, both Vena and Val could relax their guard and stop expecting threats at every turn.

Lyra was a godsend, and between us, we set up a menu that we changed over every two weeks so that we had a variety of meals on offer.

The week we’d added baked goods to our menu, I thought we were going to have a riot on our hands when we ran out of brownies.

Who’d have thought that brownies would be so popular, even if they were a weird pink colour?

Well, weird for me, but everyone else assured me that on this planet, it was the correct colour for chocolate.

Along with baked goods, we’d begun offering our own bread to go along with the hearty stews and casseroles we cooked.

Flour on Malimoor was cheap, and it was both filling and tasty for our customers to have a free slice of bread along with their food.

We’d all learned that Kragor wasn’t a stupid male and was shrewd in business.

The first time Luna went to the market with him, she’d ended up saving him a fortune, so he offered her a job doing all his buying and paperwork, leaving him free to run the front of the house only.

I’m not sure who got more emotional, him or her, when he did that.

It was like she couldn’t believe she’d be doing something that she loved but he hated.

The end result was that his business was running at a massive profit, and he wasn’t shy about thanking us.

It seemed he’d taken us all under his wing as daughters, almost as if we made up for losing his own.

None of us had a problem with that; we adored the grumpy Malimoorian because underneath it, we could tell how much he loved having us work with him.

We’d learned that the tavern was only one of the businesses that was run by the Cosmic Crows MC.

They also had a strip club called Promis, a tattoo/laser parlour called CC Lazrd, and a salvage yard called Cosmic Crows Salvage.

Original, I know. And on top of all that, they had full control of the shipping port called Watchers.

Needless to say, the Cosmic Crows MC was doing well, and Kragor had been forthcoming about his brothers and how they ran this town.

Anything and everything went through the CCMC, which was how it came to the attention of the President how well the Laughing Crow was doing. It raised flags with their treasurer during their monthly meeting when he showed they’d tripled their profits this past month.

Kragor had come stomping back that night to warn us to expect a visit. He’d been more growly than normal, and wanting to make him feel better, I went to his office with a strong cup of coffee and a slice of apple pie.

Walking around to his desk, I lean against him as I place it on the table in front of him.

He looks up at me with surprise. Smiling, I wrap an arm around his shoulders and squeeze, explaining, “You look like you need it, old man. What’s got you so worried?

I thought you’d be happy that your club is making money? ”

“Oh, I am,” he assures me, pulling the plate closer and taking a bite. Satisfied now that he was eating, I walked back around his desk and sat in one of the guest chairs. It was always easier to get information from the man when he was stuffing his face, preferably with something sweet.

“Then what’s got you so het up?” I ask.

“Because I know what’s going to happen,” he grumbles, taking another bite of pie. “Those males are going to come in here and turn your heads, and then you’ll leave me. I’ve gotten used to having you girls around.”

My heart warms at his words, and I can’t help but smile. The feeling’s mutual. We love working for him.

“Well,” I tell him, “I can’t speak for the other girls, but it will take more than a pretty face to turn my head.”

Kragor looks at me from under his brows and harrumphs, “We’ll see. You haven’t met them yet.”

“Don’t care,” I wave my hand. “You’re our adopted dad, so you’ll come first.”

A delighted smile crosses his face at my words, and he quickly takes another bite of pie, closing his eyes as he chews, as if I can’t see how emotional that makes him feel.

I know he loves the food we make; he’s told us often, but it’s the puddings that he devours.

I need to check if diabetes is a thing with aliens so that I can monitor him.

When he’s finished, he pushes his plate away and takes a sip of his coffee. “Best thing I ever did was have you girls work here. You’ve made this old man happy the last weeks.”

“That feeling is entirely mutual,” I assure him as I stand up and pick up his plate. “Now stop worrying. I’ll see you for supper in an hour.”

“I’ll be there, sweetheart,” he assures me with a soft smile. Nodding, I turn and leave.

After the first night here, realising how busy everyone would be and that they wouldn’t have time to eat, I insisted Kragor find us a table and chairs.

The kitchen was enormous enough for one, and I’d fed everyone before the doors opened for the evening.

It not only made sense, but it gave us a family feel that I’d been missing and that some of the girls had never had.

They are waiting for me when I get back to the kitchen with his plate. “Well, what’s wrong?” Vena demands as soon as she sees me. Always ready to rumble that one when it looked like someone was threatening one of her people.

“Stand down, Vena, it’s all good,” I assure her and tell them what Kragor said.

Vena sniffs. “No male’s going to turn my head, so he’s got nothing to worry about.”

The rest all nod in agreement, and I agree no man is going to turn our heads and tell us what to do.

‘No siree, we’ve been there, done that, and earned the T-shirt.’

But then again, fate, she is a fickle thing, and just as you think your life is going the way you want it to, BAM! She’s there to remind you it’s not up to you.

The night she decides it’s my turn begins much like any other.

Lyra and I’ve been filling orders and plating up much like any evening when the noise level in the tavern rose to double the usual amount. There’s a lot of laughing and loud greeting from what sounds like several deep voices.

I’ve just put an order in the serving hatch and hit the bell for Kragor when the kitchen door swings open with a bang, making me jump and turn, wide startled eyes towards it. My entire being stills, and I’m pretty sure I stop breathing for a hot minute.

Because unless I’m very mistaken, the gorgeous clean-shaven male with eyes of a shimmery silver standing in my kitchen is none other than Vexinor, better known as Vex, President of the Cosmic Crows MC.

Lyra’s strangely quiet as we have our little stare-down.

Him with his hands on his hips, big arms bulging with muscles upon muscles.

Dark blue chest gleaming in the bright kitchen light.

Slightly long black hair, not long enough to tie up but long enough that the tips curled against his collar, the midnight black colour making the strip of white running through from his brow a stark contrast against the black.

Leather bands across his chest holding two fighting knives and a blaster at his hip.

His leather trousers tucked into knee-high boots and the same leather vest that Kragor wears fits his broad shoulders and muscular body like a glove.

I’d learned from Kragor it’s called a cut.

But whereas Kragor’s only has his name on it, Vex’s has President on his as well as his name.

‘Yum,’ I think as my gaze travels up and down his body. I wonder if he knows a way around a woman’s body and if we’re compatible.

Behind me, Lyra sniggers, and the male standing in front of me looks amused. His teeth flash white as he arrogantly assures me, “Oh, a mhuirnín, trust me, we are more than compatible, and to answer your question. Yes, I DO know my way around a female’s body.”

“Oh hell,” I mutter, slapping my hands against my face and shaking my head. “Suki, only you would say all that aloud.”

Vex laughs a deep laugh that hits me right in the clit as he stalks towards me.

“We’re going to have so much fun, a ghrá, ” he arrogantly informs me as he enfolds me in his muscular arms and takes my mouth in a kiss that’s hotter than the sun. Definitely hotter than any I’ve ever had before. I mean, not that I’ve had many, but especially not hot, spicy tasting alien ones.

‘Fun, indeed!’ I can’t wait for it to start.