Page 16 of Ruled By Wizard

When in the fuck had Kat climbed into bed with him?

Not caring enough to waste any more brain cells on the question, he rose and went into the archaic bathroom attached to his bedroom. At least the construction crew had left all four walls intact while they renovated the rest of his bedroom.

As he showered, he gradually shook off the cobwebs clouding his brain—ones he had been dealing with for the last two days because of his lack of sleep. Rinsing the shampoo from his hair, he remembered the bet he’d made with Celeste the night before.

Turning off the water, he grabbed a towel and dried himself. When he returned to the bedroom, Kat was still sound asleep, sprawled naked across the bed.

He tried to remember whether they’d had sex. When he drew a blank, he decided they hadn’t. Kat was experienced enough to make sure he remembered, and the few beers he’d drunk wouldn’t have erased a memory like that.

Taking a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt from his dresser, he dressed just as the sounds of the construction crew’s vehicles reached him from outside.

“Kat.” He shook the woman awake before sitting down to put on his boots. “You need to get your ass up and find another bed. The construction crew is here.”

Stretching languidly, Kat gave him a provocative look. “We have a few minutes; wanna fuck?”

Wizard stood and tossed her the shorts and top lying near the bed. “Later. I have something I need to take care of. Move it.”

Seeing her pull on her top, he left the room and strode down the hallway. As he passed Burn’s room, the brother emerged wearing a harassed expression.

“How much longer is this shit going to last?”

The crew had been there only a few minutes, and the hammering was already plainly audible.

“For a while. You might as well get used to it. I’m not any happier about it than you are.”

Walking into the club’s main room, Wizard saw several brothers already stirring. None of them looked in a better mood than Burn.

Puck’s head was buried in his folded arms on the bar. Buck’s legs dangled from one of the booths, where Wizard assumed he was sleeping, unless someone had killed his ass after Wizard had gone to bed last night. Celeste was pouring Jesus a cup of coffee as he sat next to Puck.

Taking a stool on Jesus’ other side, Wizard motioned for Celeste to pour him one, too.

“How much fucking—”

“How in the fuck would I know?” Wizard cut Jesus off. “Ask Doom. He’s the one they talk to.”

Turning on the stool, he addressed the accusatory stares of the other brothers. “Let’s get this shit straight. You all wanted more rooms. I’ve listened to your complaints for years. They’ll get done when they get done.” His voice sharpened. “You don’t like dealing with the construction? Find somewhere else to stay until it’s finished.”

Turning back to his coffee, Wizard wished he could follow his own advice. If there were somewhere else he could stay until the construction was over, he bet his ass he would.

The thought of betting made him lift his gaze to Celeste, who was preparing another pot of coffee. “I’m calling off the bet we made yesterday.”

Everyone in the room stared at him. Puck raised his head, Burn turned toward him, and even Buck pulled himself into a sitting position.

“What? Come on …” Puck protested.

After pressing the brew button, Celeste returned to the counter. “Why?”

“Because I was out of it yesterday when I made the bet.”

Wizard gave Puck the evil eye when the brother opened his fucking mouth to complain again. Puck was smart enough to close it while he still had all his teeth.

Celeste wasn’t as easy to intimidate.

“Or are you afraid of losing that big room of yours, despite all the bragging you did yesterday?”

Wizard took a calming sip of coffee and nearly spat it out. Forcing himself to swallow God only knew what, he took several deep breaths to keep it down.

Why did the coffee always taste like crap unless Tink made it? This shit tasted like sludge.