Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“Incredible,” I praised, giving her a light squeeze.
Patriot reached for the drawing, and I quickly snatched it from his grasp. “Mine,” I growled. Then I lifted Kiara off the stool and took her hand, guiding her out of the shop and taking her back to my studio. I couldn’t help grumbling about her using her art to help Patriot instead of me. Apparently, I wasn’t quiet enough about it because Kiara burst out laughing.
When we entered the studio, I guided her around the work tables and large machines until we reached the same area where I’d first shown her the proof of her father’s dirty dealings. I hoped to make happier memories here so she would want to be with me while I worked.
“I think it’s super sweet that you want me all to yourself, Shane,” she giggled. “But I doubt you make things like this.” She pointed at the bejeweled drawing.
“Is that so?” She raised an eyebrow at my smug tone.
I walked to a cabinet where I stored finished pieces and retrieved an oblong box before returning to the table. I opened the lid to reveal a dagger, and Kiara gasped in awe. “You made this?”
I nodded, practically preening under her approval…like a jackass.
“The pommel, handle, and crossguard are antique silver-plated cast metal.” A detailed swirling design engraved in the metal incorporated rubies and sapphires into many of the curls. “The blade is spring steel since this is a medieval reproduction.” On it were elaborate, black-colored medieval designs engraved from the hilt down to the central ridge.
“It’s breathtaking,” she whispered as she took the dagger and studied it from different angles. I noticed she was careful not to touch the blade, impressing me even further. When bare fingers touch the blade, some of the natural grease/oil of the skin is left on it. This grease was slightly acidic and would corrode it if left uncleaned. Just one night uncleaned would leave a corroded fingerprint on a sword or dagger.
“I took an art history class that spent some time on weaponry,” she admitted with a soft laugh.
I grinned and leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. “You couldn’t be more perfect for me if you tried.”
Kiara’s cheeks flamed with pink, but she smiled back at me with sparkling blue eyes. I loved seeing her so happy, especially after the devastation she’d been hit with the day before.
“I have a client who wants a set of Katana swords for his father. Would you like to help me with the design?”
Kiara jumped up and clapped her hands excitedly, then plopped back down in her seat with skin flushed from the roots of her hair down to where it disappeared beneath her sweater.
“You’re cute as fuck,” I told her with a chuckle. Then my smile turned devilish. “But you’re also hot as sin.” I swept her into my arms and stalked across my office to the staircase, jogging up to my apartment. We’d sleep at the clubhouse for her safety, but first, I was gonna worship her sexy curves in our bed.
9
Kiara
Settling into life in an MC compound turned out to be much easier than I ever could have expected. Everyone had been so accepting of me, even Rom. In some ways—like never having to cook because someone else always took care of it—things were even similar to my parents’ house. And in others, it was wildly different. Especially my nights spent in Shane’s bed.
A few days after he’d come to get me, he felt as though it was safe enough to stay in his apartment instead of the room in the clubhouse we’d been using. We’d visited it a few times, but I didn’t see much more than the bed back then.
For the past week and a half, we’d been mostly in a private bubble between his workshop and bedroom, except when we headed back to the clubhouse for meals. Although that only started up a week ago since food had miraculously appeared on his doorstep for several days.
It turned out that bikers weren’t just sweet with their women. They also liked to matchmake for their friends. Not that Shane really needed any help in that area since I’d already fallen hard for him. How could I not when he was so darn attentive and had no problem telling and showing how much he wanted me?
Lifting his welding helmet off and setting it on the steel workbench, he tugged off his thick gloves and stalked across the room toward me. He’d set up a space for me to draw as far away from where he did his forging as he could make it so that I’d be safe from any sparks.
Setting my sketchbook next to me and tilting my head back to stare up at him, I asked, “All done?”