“I can only imagine,” Lyric says, but she sounds thoughtful, her gaze focused across the yard and towards the ocean. It's getting dark out, but the fading evening light plays with orange and pink fingers across the frothing waves, highlighting the massive rocks that dot the horizon. “It's certainly been an … interesting day.”
“Not that I'm complaining, love, but I didn't expect you to be here. What changed your mind?” I watch her profile, the gentle slope of her nose, the thick curve of her lashes. And then there's that jumpsuit, diving down her chest so that the sides of her breasts are tantalizingly visible in the center. I drop a hand to Alloy's gray head and ruffle his ears in an effort to keep my hands to myself.
“I wanted to see the dogs,” she tells me, turning to stare into my eyes. Her gaze is dead serious. I think she really means that. “And anyway, you have a better kitchen.” A long pause. “And a better bed.”
“Oh, Pint-Size, you slay me,” I murmur, leaning close and getting a face full of wolf tongue instead. I push Lake gently off the bench and slide close, but Lyric stands up, turning to stare down at me with a very businesslike expression on her small face.
“We have a lot to talk about, Royal,” she tells me and I sigh, running a hand down my face. I've been talking all damn day. Last thing I want to do right now is fucking talk. But she's right. “I stopped at the store and bought stuff for chicken fettuccine alfredo. I want to cook together.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“Getting all domestic on me, Pint-Size?”
“I said cook together. Like equals. Like adults. Like—”
“Partners?” I ask as I stand up and the dogs start to twine around our legs, tails wagging furiously. I lift up a hand to brush back some of Lyric's brunette hair. It was straight and sleek and shiny this morning. Now, it's starting to wave gently around her face. Sure paints a pretty picture against the dying sunset and the navy waves. “Did you pack some clothes?”
Lyric rolls her green eyes at me.
“Do you ever stop?” she asks, but I'm already smirking.
“Not until I get what I want. I warned you, love. I'm all in. And I don't take no for an answer.”
“Well then, that's something we're going to have to work on.” I laugh. Can't help myself.
“Does that mean you're in?” I ask her as I drop my hands to her hips and she sucks in a deep breath. “Because that's what I'm hearing.”
“You have selective hearing then,” she quips, pushing my hands away and moving towards the front door. “Like a wolf.” Lyric pauses and narrows her eyes at me. “Like a dog.”
I grin and follow her into the house, my eyes glued to that curvy little body beneath the jumpsuit. As we walk past the hallway, I can't help but remember undressing her here, dropping her leather riding jacket to the floor. My cock hardens in response and I groan, reaching a hand down to rub at the bulge in my jeans.
“Johnnie Walker?” Lyric asks as she pulls a bottle from a paper bag, and I can't help it; I laugh again. “Yeah, sure. Make fun of me. But with all the crap that's gone down this week, I need more than just a glass of wine.”
“Same here, love. Pour me a big one.” I try to make myself smile, but it's not really a joke. The meeting at the clubhouse was tense, and the boys … they didn't take the news well. A group like the Saldaña Cartel is a hell of a lot more difficult to get rid of than another MC from down south. In fact, there's a good chance I might have to call up some of our boys from the other US chapters of the Alpha Wolves. There are seven of us in total: Anchorage, Alaska; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; St. Louis, Missouri; Columbus, Ohio; Billings, Montana; and of course, Trinidad, California.
Lyric pours us both healthy glasses of whisky before passing one over to me. I find myself enjoying watching her move around the kitchen, opening cabinets, testing drawers as she looks for and finds a cast iron skillet and a spatula.
“I told the boys everything I learned from the FBI,” I start as Lyric tips her drink back and I watch that delicate throat as she swallows. “Agent Shelley told me that they've been aware of Brent's involvement with the cartel for a long time now. From what I can tell, they're convinced that it's all tied together: his death, Landon's disappearance, the beating I gave Sully.” I pause and stare down at the glass in my hand for a moment. “What they can't figure out is how the Alpha Wolves tie in.” I meet Lyric's gaze head-on. “It's fucking vital now that we get Sully to cooperate. His story could change the entire narrative for us. We need to let the FBI know that we're the good guys here.” Lyric raises her brows at me. “Well, at least give them the impression that we're nothing but your friendly neighborhood pot dealers. We need to redirect their focus. Pit the cartel and the FBI against each other.”