Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Keys deliberately brought them full circle. He didn’t ever want her to think he was distracting her by giving her his truth. He intended to have their sex life be more than satisfying for both of them, and that meant dealing with his overactive physical needs throughout their lives together. They had to start out as they meant to continue. Fortunately for him, Lyric seemed to love their sex life as much as he did, and she was willing to be led by him. Frankly, that added to his enjoyment when they were together.
“I would, Keys. I’m not the run-off-with-someone-else type, but having said that, it doesn’t mean I’m giving the green flag to your kinky need to have sex in the open with an audience around.”
Just like that she could make him laugh. He stepped back, allowing the pads of his fingers to absorb the softness of her skin as he reluctantly took his hands from her face. She had that little pixie face, so delicate with her pale skin, a dusting of freckles like scattered golden treasures. Her cat’s eyes, that vivid jewel tone with thick red-gold lashes, that straight nose, those perfect lips and that chin that could drive him wild were all things about her he was addicted to and knew he would be forever.
Why hadn’t he recognized she was exactly what he was attracted to from the first moment he’d laid eyes on her?
“What?” Lyric drew back. “You’re giving me that look again.”
“What look would that be, Wildfire?” he asked gently. Keeping his voice low. Stroking a caress down the center of her stubborn chin.
“Sometimes you look like a hungry predator about to swallow me whole. It can be a bit disconcerting.” As always, with him, Lyric was honest.
“I feel like a hungry predator when I’m looking at you,” he admitted, allowing his sense of humor to flash across his face. “In fact, more often than not, when I look at you, that’s a perfect description of how I feel. I’m always going to look at you this way, so you’ll have to get used to it.”
Lyric shook her head, but she laughed, the sound that perfect pitch a man like him needed. He knew a part of the attraction to Lyric was the way she talked in that low, sultry voice. The golden notes of her laughter. He was a man who needed music the way he needed air to breathe. Lyric claimed she couldn’t sing, but anyone with such perfect pitch had to be able to sing. She wouldn’t want to sing in public, but he’d bet his last dollar she would sing to their child when they put him to bed.
“Kinky need to have an audience around? That’s what you got out of my carefully worded explanation?”
She laughed again, this time very genuine. “You’re impossible. Tell me what you want me to do.”
“We’re going to be spontaneous. If the feeling is right, you’ll trust me to protect you and give you spectacular orgasms. If it isn’t, we’ll wait until we’re home.”
She shook her head again. “I’ll do my best to follow your lead when we’re out, Keys, but you know how difficult it is for me.”
“I know you’re amazing at taking care of your clients. You make them feel special. That’s a gift you have. Each person that goes into your shop comes out glowing. You do that, Lyric. You. You have a way of making everyone you come into contact with feel good about themselves.”
Keys shoved his hand through his hair. “You made me feel that way, Wildfire, and I thought it was impossible.”
She held up her hand. “Stop, honey. You have to stop. Everything you’ve said to me is beautiful, but I can only take so much of you being nice to me.”
“I’m just saying that you’ll do fine with Torpedo Ink. They’re just people. Clients. Think of them that way until you get to know them individually.”
“I can do that.”
* * *
Keys wasn’t the kind of man to hold hands with a woman, but as they approached the clubhouse, he threaded his fingers through Lyric’s. He’d been holding her hand a lot lately, and it felt right, so he decided the hell with anyone giving him a bad time. He knew by the bikes parked so carefully in the front who was waiting inside. Czar was keeping the initial meeting as tight as possible, a signal he was willing to work with Lyric.
Keys had seen evidence of Czar’s unique gifts many times over the last few decades. He knew Czar could spot someone who was intensely loyal, so much so that they could be tortured and they would never break. He saw that trait in Lyric. He gave her acceptance, which meant the other members would as well.
Just as he pushed open the door to the Torpedo Ink clubhouse, he felt the slight tremor that ran through Lyric’s body. He glanced down at her, instantly checking to see where she was emotionally. She looked calm. He read the anxiety. It gave him satisfaction that he knew her, the real Lyric, and she gave him her emotions.