“I plan on finding a woman,” Maestro said. “And Savage makes sense to me.”
“What does he mean, then?” Blythe asked.
Maestro flashed her a grin. “He means we need to communicate the importance of her obedience in a way she can understand and not forget.” He made a grab at the chip bowl, missed and hurried out before he could be asked any more questions.
The others followed, leaving Breezy alone with the women. Blythe, Anya and Breezy looked to Lana and Alena. When they continued mixing the bowls of potato salad in silence, Blythe cleared her throat.
Lana glanced at her. “You won’t like it or agree, Blythe.”
“Maybe not, but one thing I’ve learned over the years, Lana, is not to judge others. Especially any member of Torpedo Ink. I don’t know all their stories, and I shouldn’t. That’s private between all of you and the one you want to share with.”
“Savage would probably retaliate physically.”
At Blythe’s gasp, Lana shook her head. “Not like any of you are thinking. He wouldn’t beat her, but he’d definitely react in a physical way. He’s a very physical man.”
“So is Reaper, but he doesn’t beat me,” Anya said.
“If Savage or Maestro were in a relationship,” Alena said, reaching for the enormous pasta bowls, “the relationship would include some kind of dominant-submissive crap. At least with Maestro. With Savage it would include more than that.”
Blythe shrugged. “As long as it was consensual, then it would be all right with me.”
Lana nudged Alena. “Ice is always talking about kidnapping his woman and knocking her up. He’s the one you need to talk to about the meaning of the word consensual.”
The two of them laughed. Blythe, Breezy and Anya couldn’t help laughing with them.
“One of these days, Ice is going to fall hard,” Blythe said.
“Yes, he is,” Alena admitted, sobering. “He’s got this capacity to love beyond measure. Totally. If any woman ever hurts him . . .” She trailed off.
“Give her a chance,” Blythe advised. “If he finds someone, you have to step back for a while and let them work it out. If you threaten her, she may run.”
Anya nodded. “I wanted to run when you and Lana had a little talk with me.”
“That was me,” Lana said. She leaned over and hugged Anya. “I still feel awful about that. You’re so good for Reaper.”
“You notice he isn’t back with the groceries,” Anya pointed out and burst out laughing. “There’s no taming that man, not that I want to.”
“I want to know how Breezy’s doing in that house of hers,” Blythe said. “Do you get lost in it?”
“Yes. I think Steele wants to fill it up with children. He also doesn’t like me lifting a finger to clean it. I’ve insisted on cleaning the kitchen and our bedroom myself. Even with that, he wants the service to do deep cleaning in the kitchen once a week. I love the house, though. Who wouldn’t? Right now, Maestro and Keys are staying there with us.”
“You okay with that?” Lana asked.
Breezy nodded, suddenly realizing she was more than okay with it, even more so since Steele had told her about his past and Demyan. She was definitely looking at Absinthe with far more sympathy. “Actually, it’s great having them there. It makes Steele feel better having two more pairs of eyes on Zane, especially after what happened, the kidnapping and all.” She ducked her head, concentrating on cutting up cucumbers. “I sometimes can’t breathe when I think about what happened, so having extra eyes on him makes me just as happy as Steele.”
“I can imagine,” Blythe said.
“That was so awful,” Anya said. “Reaper was very torn. He wanted to watch over Czar, Blythe and the children as well as me, but also go with the others to help out.”
“We were good. Everyone was so amazing. Maestro and Keys are wonderful. They look after Steele and I appreciate that. It must be how you feel, Blythe, when Reaper and Savage are with Czar.”
Blythe nodded. “Absolutely.”
“I can breathe easier because Maestro and Keys look after Zane too. They’re a huge help. Both even change diapers, although they’d murder me for telling you that. They’re helping with potty-training.” She laughed. “Their ideas are rather unique, but effective. He’s young to be potty-trained, especially for a boy, but he’s already trying to emulate them. He’d been doing very well, not having any problems except at night, until he was kidnapped. He went backward a bit.”
“That would make sense,” Blythe said. “He might have other behaviors as well.”
Breezy nodded. “He wakes up scared and I rock him. He likes everyone singing to him. We’ve ordered a piano because Maestro says we really need one for him, and I know the piano in particular is a really good instrument for children.”
“How do you know all that stuff about kids?” Lana asked. “You were always good with them in the club as well. I know, because I admired you for it. It always seemed so natural.”
Breezy hadn’t known Lana had even watched her, and she felt a warmth spread through her at the obviously sincere compliment. “I read lots of books. I didn’t want to be like my father, and none of the women he brought home were kid friendly, so I read tons. I still do. Every parenting book I can get my hands on. I’m determined I won’t ever be like Bridges.”
“I don’t think you have to worry on that account,” Alena assured.
The roar of Harleys filled the air. They’d been hearing the rumble growing louder for some time, and now they were in the yard. Several trucks accompanied the bikes. The women looked at one another. It was a party, and parties meant men and women they didn’t know but welcomed all the same.
Breezy tried not to tense up. She was part of the welcoming crew. It wasn’t like they had many women in their club. Heidi and Betina would be there. Both women worked as waitresses in the bar and were patch chasers. Anya was friends with them, but Breezy hadn’t really been around them.
Steele claimed he wouldn’t want anyone but her, not even when others threw themselves at him. She knew she should trust him, but it was hard to get that picture of him out of her mind—the one where he’d gotten up nude from under three equally naked women. A part of her wanted to run home and hide like a coward.
“Take a deep breath,” Lana whispered. “He loves you. He doesn’t even look at anyone else. I doubt he can see anyone but you.”
Breezy was embarrassed that Lana had recognized she was struggling with the idea of going to the party because of what she’d seen. She should have the confidence to deal with parties. Steele hadn’t been with her then. He had explained the three women, and she’d chosen to accept that explanation. She either trusted him or she didn’t, and after demanding he trust her, she had to get over this last hurdle. She was determined she would.
“I’m just being silly.” She ran a hand over the soft little spot she couldn’t quite get rid of since Zane was born. “I don’t look the same, no matter how much exercise I do. I swim every day, several times a day.” She also had sex more than once a day and she’d lost weight, but not that little soft area she couldn’t quite overcome. Okay, if she was honest, she’d had it before Zane was born, but it was nice to have pregnancy as an excuse.
Lana looked her up and down. “Breezy, you’re gorgeous. The moment you go out there with the rest of them, I guarantee Steele will be glued to your side. He’ll make it very plain that you’re his old lady, and the women will definitely get the message along with the men.”
The noise level in the compound went up several notches, although it was still somewhat muffled in the kitchen. “Czar wants Steele to talk to every man personally. All of us have,” Alena said, “but him. His opinion is very important. If he nixes even one, we’re not going through with it. Steele has a real feel for what people are like.”
Breezy nodded. She wasn’t going
to panic. She had to trust Steele. She loved him, and she believed in him. He’d insisted on putting the apps on her phone that would allow her to find him wherever he was. She had resisted looking, although she knew he had several times because he’d sent her over a dozen text messages that she hadn’t answered asking her why she was still in the kitchen and to get her ass out there.
Three women were escorted into the kitchen by Preacher. He introduced them. Two were old ladies and one was a sister of an old lady. They seemed embarrassed that they were all that were offering to help. They brought food with them though, and Breezy was happy she only had to be friendly with them while she struggled to feel confident.
Steele stomped into the room. “Woman. What the fuck?”