Nix: The Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club, Book 7.5 Read Online Free Page A

because holding it settles me, centers me. I’ve spent a good portion of my life holding a gun and centering myself before a competition, and the feel of the grip, the weight, the smell — it all works like the bell did to Pavlov’s dogs, except it calms me instead of producing saliva.
    When I was no longer in danger of crying, I put it away, used the restroom, blew my nose, and went out to wash my hands. I wasn’t dressed for a date, nor did I have much makeup on, and my hair was in a ponytail. No matter, this was just dinner, right?
    Thankfully, Nix kept our conversation to guns and ammo for the rest of dinner.

5
    N ix

    T aking her to my house instead of back to her car was a gamble, but I had to try. The poor thing had practically cried when I’d mentioned the fact wolves don’t fuck around. I wanted her in my bed and I didn’t want to have to wait.
    Could I hold up in bed beside an Encantado? The most charming species on the planet, known for their ability to charm and seduce anyone who catches their fancy? Encantados are freshwater dolphin shapeshifters, and the mythology says they must wear a hat in human form because they retain their blowhole. Their name literally means enchanted one , and their skills in bed are legendary. The Encantado she was married to is also a famous musician who’d have his choice of women even if he were human.
    Tippy and her former husband had lived in a mansion just north of New Orleans, right on the Mississippi River — which made more sense knowing his species.
    And her scent when she told me what he was… regret and grief.
    The major networks aren’t a fan of guns, so you have to seek out the Olympic shooting competitions if you want to see them. I’d followed Tiffany Mason through World Cup competitions as well as the Olympics, and to have her sitting in front of me at dinner? It’d been like sitting with a rock star. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye just yet.
    She noted I wasn’t taking her back to her car and tapped me on the stomach a few times to get my attention, but I ignored her. Finally, I heard her yell, “Isn’t the gun store the other direction?”
    As long as I kept my speed up, she was trapped on the back of my bike. She’d probably be spitting mad when I got her home, but surely I could charm her into looking at my guns while she was there. Or… something .
    But then I felt steel at my side and realized she’d drawn on me. Damn , but I wanted this woman in my bed.
    I was almost to the interstate but didn’t dare get onto it with a gun pointed at my kidneys. I’d smelled silver on her and I didn’t know if it was a knife, or in the bullets, but it was probably best I didn’t chance it.
    She jumped off the bike the instant I stopped in the parking lot. She put her weapon in her pants pocket and kept her hand on it. She didn’t want to draw attention to us but she wasn’t letting her guard down, either.
    “Where are you taking me?”
    “My house.”
    “No.”
    “Brain — our hacker — drove your car to our compound and put it in our garage where it’ll be safe and you don’t have to worry about it. I’ll take you back to it whenever you insist, but I’m hoping you won’t insist just yet.”
    She shook her head no as she asked, “How’d he drive my car without the keys?”
    I grinned. “He’s a hacker.” She shook her head no again, and I said, “Look, I enjoyed our dinner conversation and I wasn’t ready for it to be over yet. Nothing will happen unless you want it to, but you can’t be uptight about sex if you were married to an Encantado — and don’t you owe it to yourself to see if anyone else is going to be able to hold a candle to him in bed?”
    I smelled resignation and my heart hurt for her. I gentled my voice to say, “That’s it, isn’t it? No one else has been able to?”
    She looked at her feet and I said, “Sweetheart, you were married to one of the most enchanting beings on the planet, and possibly the most