“Yes, sir.” Penni snapped a salute before she sauntered down the steps.
Shade leaned over the stair railing. “You’re not too old to get spanked.”
“That’s what Jackal said.” Penni started to provoke Shade for his overbearing attitude then thought better of it. “Never mind.”
“Thanks. That was a TMI.”
“Sorry, I’ll be more careful next time.” She was smart enough not to poke a tired tiger when he was getting ready to go to bed.
Penni was about to sit on the couch when she heard a knock on the door. Raising the curtain, she saw Jackal standing outside.
Penni opened the door and went outside, afraid that their voices would keep Shade from going to sleep.
“I wanted to kiss you good night.”
Before she could respond, Jackal placed a scorching kiss on her lips.
“Damn, how’s that supposed to help me sleep?” she mumbled around his lips.
“Too much?” Jackal eased the pressure on her lips to place a tender kiss on the corner of her mouth.
“Not enough.” Penni jerked his face back to hers, not waiting for an invitation.
She tugged at his bottom lip, making room to explore his mouth, while pressing her hands on his chest.
Every time they kissed, she discovered something new about Jackal. His body would tense as if he were holding himself back. It was exciting to have a man who wanted you so badly he found it hard to control himself. Penni felt the same way toward Jackal. Invariably, she was the one who was unable to control herself.
“Let’s go to the hotel,” Penni panted out when she broke the kiss.
Jackal groaned. “Now you want to give in? Ice is waiting for me to talk.”
“It can’t wait until tomorrow?” She raised her hips up to notch her pussy against the bulge she could feel straining against her.
Jackal pressed his forehead against hers. “It could, but I don’t want Ice interrupting when I’m fucking you.”
“I can wait until you’re done.” Penni couldn’t understand the sense of urgency that was filling her with dread.
“I’ve waited years to get you in my bed, so I can wait one more night to make it good for you.”
Penni laid her head on his chest. “I can’t change your mind?”
“You can, but Ice will change it back if I keep him waiting much longer.”
Penni sighed, giving him a parting kiss.
“You going to dream about me?”
“I don’t have dreams,” she confessed.
“Everyone has dreams. You must not remember when you wake up.”
“I don’t.” Penni shrugged.
It was when she had heard children describe their dreams or nightmares in school that she had realized how unusual it was not to have them.
“You won’t have that problem after tomorrow night. I’m going to make your first time so memorable you’ll dream about it every night.”
Penni burst out laughing. Slapping her hand over her mouth, she turned toward the house to make sure she hadn’t woken the others up. When she turned back toward Jackal, she could make out his scar in the darkness. She thought his powerful silhouette seemed more sinister than what most women would consider dream-worthy.
“Maybe you’ll be the one dreaming of me.”
“Babe, that’s nothing new. I dream of you every night.”
28
Ice was waiting for him at the picnic tables. The front door was being guarded by two of Viper’s men, while Ice had offered to watch the back.
“What do you think?” Ice asked at his approach.
Jackal knew something was wrong when Ice had told him he wanted to talk where no one could hear them.
“I think it’s a little convenient that they managed to rig the gas when no one was watching. Viper installed security cameras when Genny was at work after she refused to move into the clubhouse.”
“Viper said he checked the security camera. Whoever it was came in through a window. They managed to avoid the security camera and knew to set the fire when Greer and Genny left the house.”
“Someone’s feeding them information.”
“Yeah.” Ice sat down on top of the picnic table.
“Any idea who?”
“No, and neither does Viper. This place is as tight a drum. Viper said his club in Ohio is, too.”
The men remained silent, staring into the dark night. Jackal speculated on who would have the opportunity to know exactly when Genny was going to the store.
“I’ll talk to her in the morning. She cooks breakfast for the men,” Jackal informed.
“Viper’s checking everyone’s cell phone, but it’s going to take a couple days to get the information.”