Haunting Magic (Book 6 of the Ink Series)

Skankzilla

I hate tour buses.

But I hate being without my husband even more.

We bounce down the dirt road pulling into the next stop of the tour.

"This is going to be awesome," Oz announces to the entire bus. Oz is the only one pumped up about tours and performing.

Slade is concerned with my mental health and Kidd is concerned Karsen will hate him if he ever admits to enjoying himself.

Karsen struggles with getting Pilot into his swaddle so she can follow everyone off the bus to watch the guys prepare for the show.

"You okay?" Slade asks, kissing me on the cheek.

He's so goddamn beautiful. How could I not be okay standing next to him? "Of course I am. Now please for once enjoy the show. We have everything under control."

Karsen finally succeeds at swaddling her baby and nods in agreement. "Everything will be fine." Kidd kisses her and touches the baby's head, placing soft kisses on Pilot.

"You are a superhero, sex kitten." He shakes his head in disbelief. "And you look amazing."

I roll my eyes. No matter what these two are so goddamn sweet to one another.

"Hey, hey, keep that up and you two are going to have another one in no time," Slade says, pulling Kidd away before he can slip Karsen anymore tongue.

"What's that supposed to mean, Slade?" Karsen says, settling into the sofa. "Would our procreation get in the middle of your plans for taking over the music industry?"

I raise an eyebrow. It seems like a dig.

"I'm saying with how long you took to swaddle that baby you need all the practice you can get." He opens the refrigerator and takes out two beers. "Not to mention we'd never make it to practice waiting on you to swaddle two babies."

Everyone laughs and Karsen picks up a stuffed animal and chucks it at Slade. "I know jealousy when I hear it. Maybe you're mad because you didn't knock Hope up first."

I cross my arms, this is taking on a life of its own. And somehow I am a part of it.

"Oh, fuck off. I'd much rather be fucking my wife than changing diapers, asshole." Slade shakes his head, grinning at Karsen.

"I'm just saying maybe you should get the sperm checked. Or has Hope sucked it all out of you?"

I pick up the stuffed animal and chuck it at Kidd.

He looks at me. "What was that for?"

"Well, I couldn't hit her she's holding a baby." I sigh, this will be a long couple of months. "Not that my sex life is any of your business let's stop talking about what I suck."

"It wouldn't be our business if you weren't so goddamn loud. He can't be that good." Oz laughs, pleased with his own dig.

I roll my eyes and stand up just in time to see a tall redhead coming. She is holding a clipboard.

"Who is that?" Karsen asks, just as intrigued by her as I am.

"Guys I wanted to come in and make sure everything was okay before you go on." She reads down the paper on her clipboard. "And that everything is to your liking."

Karsen raises an eyebrow at me. "Kidd, why don't you give the baby a kiss before I put him down for a nap."

Kidd stands up. "Sex kitten, this is April. She's the band..."

April steps forward and hands Karsen a card with a cute little emblem on it. "I am a jack of all trades. Whatever these guys need I can give it to them. My job is to make sure everything runs efficiently."

Karsen doesn't hold back. "Let's get something straight before I say it's nice to meet you. Kidd is a married man with a happy family. And I am not afraid to cut a bitch. Keep your hands and vagina off of my husband."

Kidd shakes his head and kisses Karsen on the cheek.

April smirks after Karsen threatened to kill her. "I think I like your wife, Kidd. She's got spunk."

"That's just one thing that has me so infatuated with her." Kidd kisses the baby and Karsen again. He grins.

"Well nice to meet you, April. Now that I have peed on my property I can tell you I think you are really beautiful and I love those heels." Karsen pays her compliments and hurries off to handle the baby.

April looks at me. For maybe a nice hello but I'm not sure what to say. I am always awkward when I have competition. And April is stunning. She's voluptuous, energetic, and can pull off hot red lipstick without looking tacky.

"And this is Hope." She extends her hand and a card. "I give these to all my clients and their significant other, in case you ever need anything." I take the card and shake her hand, noticing the French manicure. "You are as beautiful as Slade described you."

I can't help smiling. Slade ties up his boots and takes the spot next to me. "Are you hanging with Karsen or going to watch me rock the house?"

He kisses my forehead and adjust his shirt.

"Oh I want to see this." I grab him by the shirt and kiss him. I tell him he will do great and watch the band take off for their first official performance since the baby.

"They are amazing." April straightens the bowls of candy and water on the table. "I see big things for them. Really big things."

I nod in agreement. "If anyone deserved it, it would be them. They've worked hard to get here."

Karsen texts me. Is Skanzilla still there?

Yes, gushing about how amazing our men are. I bite my cheek to keep from laughing out loud.