Piece of Tail by Celia Kyle Page A

eyes. Still. Two months and still Daniel's betrayal, and possibly Patrick's, cut her to the quick. “I know, Ryan."
    Ryan rubbed his knuckles along the arch of her foot, kneading deep into the sore muscles. “I'm just thinking that maybe it's time to move on, baby."
    She froze. It'd been coming. Sure, she'd seen the signs. She didn't imagine that a guy like Ryan would want some woman to live with him without a little somethin’ somethin’ in return. If she was honest with herself, she was pretty surprised they hadn't had this conversation before. Now, she'd have to go crash Meg's little leather-lined party and possibly fuck everything up. ‘Cause the truth of the matter was, no matter how fucked in the head it made her, she still wanted Daniel and Patrick.
    She cleared her throat. “Listen, Ryan… I don't think you and I getting involved is a good…"
    Ryan talked over her. “Jacob's been asking me about you…"
    "Jacob?” The cook at the diner?
    "You what?"
    She bit her lip and looked into the distance, praying their conversation could just be over now, fire burning her cheeks. “Nothing."
    Her feet were still resting in his lap and he squeezed them. “Nuh uh. So, is it my looks, my lack of charm or the fact that I only have one cock and not two?"
    She jerked, feet breaking free of his grasp and whacking into his groin. “ What? "
    "Ow, dammit, Gina!” Ryan shoved her feet off his lap and cradled his package. “That hurt. Though, it does answer my question."
    Gina couldn't miss the shit-eating grin on Ryan's face. She knew that look and she didn't like it. Not for one second. “What are you talking about, Ryan?"
    "Nothing.” His grin widened.
    She hauled off and slugged him in the arm. “Jerk."
    His smile turned into an all-out laugh as he clutched his bicep. “Seriously, it's nothing."
    "So… Jacob?"
    His laughter slowly faded. “Naw. I was just bustin’ your balls.” He leaned back against the swing and pushed against the porch, putting them in motion again. “Truth is, I just needed to see how torn up you were about those two, that's all."
    "I don't want to talk about it, Ryan."
    He nodded. “Figured as much, but I told Meg I'd ask since I found out a few things and… well, since…"
    A car turned into Ryan's driveway. Dust covered from the trek down the dirt road to the home well off the beaten path, the once grey car looked brown. The setting sun reflected off the windshield, causing a glare so bright she couldn't see into the car or recognize the passengers.
    The car idled in the driveway for a few minutes and Ryan slid her feet back to the floor. “I'll be inside if you need me, Gina. No matter what, I wouldn't let this happen if I thought there was any danger to you or the prides, okay?"
    It felt as if a boulder dropped into her stomach, and her pulse sped up in a mixture of anticipation and fear. Her palms started sweating in the crisp autumn weather and she breathed as if she'd just finished a five-minute mile. Not that she'd ever actually been able to run that fast. “I don't… I don't… I-I-I…"
    Ryan squeezed her shoulder and stooped to her level. “It's okay, Gina. I promise. Just hear them out. One word and I'm on this porch, ready to kick ass if you want."
    She tore her gaze from the car and looked into Ryan's eyes. “Which?"
    "Which what?"
    "Word. What word will have you furry and ready to bust some ass?"
    "Caramel. I'd kill for some caramel."
    She whispered the word to herself and watched as the car's passengers exited the vehicle. Two men, one bulkier than the other, one light while the other was fair, unfolded themselves from the car. Two. Men. It didn't take a second look to see that they were her men. The guys she'd been pining for the last two months. Tears formed in her eyes and she brushed them away. She wasn't going to break down like a blubbering idiot. Ryan said they weren't a danger to her or the prides, so she'd listen to what they had to say and then send them on