Winter's Touch
Page 7

“Summer break is a month away. Let’s plan a vacation, where we can get naked and drunk.”
“The fun about going on vacation is getting to do something you can’t do at home,” she teased.
“I haven’t seen you naked on the beach before.”
“I’d have to be more than drunk to do that. I’d have to be comatose.”
Viper laughed. “Just pick a place. I’ll schedule the time off.”
“Okay. That sounds like fun.”
He placed a kiss on her lips.
“Now you kiss me?” Winter teased softly.
“Pretty girl, I was too afraid you were still mad at me to kiss you when I came in.”
“You’re not afraid of anything,” Winter mumbled, before falling asleep.
Viper stared down at his sleeping wife. “That’s not true. I’m afraid of losing you.”
 
 
4
 
 
Winter’s empty stomach woke her before her alarm went off the next morning. She stared at Viper’s face as he continued sleeping. The dark shadow on his jaw made him look dangerously attractive.
She was relieved Sasha was gone, and his lovemaking last night had eased her fears.
After dressing, she left him sleeping. She would call him when she got to work to make sure he wasn’t late for his appointment.
Deciding to grab a cup of coffee to drink on the way to school, she stopped in the kitchen. When she saw the red light on the screen beside the door, she was glad she had stopped. She had forgotten the alarm would still be on. The noise from it was so loud it could be heard through the entire house, even to the bedroom in the basement, where Willa and Lucky slept, so it would have woken everyone. Usually, Genny would already be there, and have breakfast cooked and hot coffee brewing, which would mean the alarm was off for the day. Winter missed waking up to Genny’s shy conversation.
After starting a pot of coffee, she was reaching for a mug when Jewell came in.
“I miss Genny.” Jewell sighed.
“We just have to get used to doing things for ourselves again.” Winter handed Jewell a coffee cup before taking one for herself.
They then leaned against the counter, waiting for the coffee to brew.
Winter caught a sidelong look on Jewell’s face. “What?”
“You seem in a better mood this morning than last night.”
“I am. I know I made an ass of myself last night.” Winter blushed, disappointed in herself for overreacting.
Jewell shook her head. “You only did what the other women were dying to do.”
“Well, it’s good she’s not here anymore, then.”
Jewell avoided her eyes as she poured coffee into their mugs. “I better get to work. We have a big order to get out today.” She turned from the counter, heading toward the door where she keyed in the code.
“Jewell?” Winter called out, before she could leave. “Did something happen after I went upstairs last night?”
Winter saw Jewell’s hand tighten on her coffee as she turned back to her. She could practically see the wheels turning in her mind as she decided whether to tell Winter something or not.
Sighing, she stepped back from the door. “Winter, I love you like a sister. We’ve shared the same table, and even though it was a long time ago, we’ve even shared the same man.”
Winter stiffened in shock, a chill of foreboding going down her spine. She knew Jewell and Viper had shared a sexual relationship before he had married her, as well as all the women in the clubhouse; they just didn’t talk about it. None of the women had made any overt moves on him since they had married.
“I love you, too. If you think there is something that I need to know, please tell me.” Winter wanted to hear what was bothering Jewell, but at the same time, she wanted to run from the hurt she was afraid Jewell was going to disclose.
Her hesitation had Winter’s stomach sinking.
“Did Viper touch Sasha?”
“No! Or… I don’t think he did. He went into the kitchen after you went upstairs, so did Moon and Sasha. I went to tell Viper that Train was on the phone…” Whatever Jewell had seen brought a worried crease to her forehead.
“What did you see?”
“Viper was hugging Sasha.”
The coffee in her mug splashed on her hand.
“When they saw me, they broke away. It was the guilt on their faces that made me question if it might have been more. After Train’s call ended, Viper told us that Sasha would be taking Raci’s place at the factory, and Raci is going to stay at the clubhouse in Ohio for a while. The reason Sasha and Moon were leaving was so Sasha could pack the rest of her clothes and get out of the lease for her apartment.”
Winter felt numb from Viper’s betrayal. He wouldn’t have cheated on her—her husband loved her—so why had he told her Sasha left because she didn’t want her there? Why had he lied, instead of telling her Sasha would be a permanent fixture in the club?
“When will Raci leave?”
“Viper said Rider will take her to Ohio when Moon comes back with Sasha.”
“Maybe you misunderstood. Viper would have told me when we talked last night if Sasha was coming back. He’s taking me on a vacation when the term ends—”
“Wow. That’s cool. Maybe I was mistaken about everything. Whew.” Jewel gave her a delighted smile. “To be honest, I was dreading having Sasha permanently around the club. All the other women get along with each other. Hell, most of us are like best friends. The only friends Sasha wants all have dicks.” She looked down at her watch. “I’ve gotta go. Shade may be busy trying to find Raul, but since I have taken over the running of the factory, he checks the timesheets to make sure I’m not playing favorites.
Winter looked down at her own watch. Setting the mug down on the counter, she decided to confront Viper about Sasha returning. Why had he lied?
She opened their bedroom door to see the bed empty and heard the shower on. She was going to call work and tell them she was going to be late, but before she could reach for her phone, she heard Viper’s cell phone pinging.
Going to the nightstand, she picked it up, keyed in his password, and then covered her mouth as she sunk onto the unmade bed.
Let me know when you get rid of Winter. Don’t worry; I’ll make sure you don’t get lonely.
What did Sasha mean?
Scrolling upward, Winter saw the messages that had been going on between them.
The one above hers read, Give your landlord a month’s notice. Winter is madder than I thought.
How can she not be jealous of this?
A picture below her text showed the bitch knew how to take a selfie. Winter wondered if Moon knew Sasha was texting pictures of her fucking him. Then she decided he probably didn’t care.
I’ll get rid of her. You just handle your end and get back here when I send you the date.
Winter set his phone back down on the nightstand when she heard the water turn off. She then quickly jumped off the bed, making her way out of the bedroom and closing the door softly behind her.
Winter went down the long hallway numbly. The text messages showed that Viper and Sasha were intimate, and if not, then it was only a matter of time.
Holding on to the rail, she was afraid her shaking legs wouldn’t be able to hold her. Stopping, she turned when she heard someone on the stairs behind her.