Page 22

CHAPTER 21

GHOST

My girl. My Em.

“We’ll be fine, I promise.”

Ember stands near the front door, a concerned expression etched on her face while I talk to Anna, the clinic nurse Jackyl suggested we get to stay with Mom so we could have a night off. Anna is more than capable of handling things here at the house, I know that, but I’m not the one who needs convincing.

“I know,” I say, glancing at Em. “If you need anything, though, you know how to get a hold of me, right?”

“Oh, would the two of you just go,” Mom says from her perch on the couch. “Anna and I will be just fine, won’t we dear?”

“Yes, Mrs. West,” Anna agrees.

“See?” Mom says. “Go have fun. You deserve it.”

It’s been almost a week since the note arrived at the house, and I moved back in. Six days have come and gone since Ember and I talked about our past and agreed we’d be friends. We’ve settled into a comfortable routine, one I imagine we would’ve settled into years ago had we not parted ways, but I refuse to dwell on that anymore. The past is just that, the past. It needs to stay where it belongs if there’s any hope for a future.

I fucking want a future with Ember. But friends first.

“Unless you want me to change my mind,” Ember begins. “I suggest we go.”

Not too long ago, the edge in her tone would’ve set me off, but not now. She’s worried about my mom, and that’s just one of the things I love about her.

Love?

Fuck, yes, love. Now that I’ve had time to process what went down, how we both felt afterward, I’ve realized that I never stopped loving her. Accepting that has made things so much clearer. Like why I’ve never found another woman to settle down with or why I gravitated to undercover work as a cop. It required no attachments, demanded it. It was easy.

“Okay, we’re going. Anna, call if you need anything,” I say again.

“I will.”

Ember and I walk outside, and anticipation fills me as we near my Harley. She’s the only girl to ever ride on the back of my bike, and I can’t wait to feel her thighs squeezing me, her arms wrapped around my waist.

“I haven’t been on a bike in forever,” she says, smiling wistfully at the machine.

“Good to know,” I say with a smirk. “C’mon.” I grab her hand and help her onto the seat before settling in front of her.

“Don’t wreck,” she teases.

“With you on the back? Never.”

The ride to the clubhouse is heaven and Hell all at the same time. Having her pressed so close, her breasts smashed against my back, was the best torture. What I wouldn’t give to have her naked, squirming beneath me, writhing in pleasure.

After parking in front of the clubhouse, I help her off the Harley, and she wobbles a little. “It has been a while, hasn’t it?”

She laughs nervously. “Yep. Gimme a minute.”

“No problem.”

Music fills the air, as well as laughter from inside. The party is in full swing. It’s not an open party where outsiders are welcome, other than Ember of course, which is good because I didn’t want to overwhelm her.

“What if they don’t like me?” she asks, her voice cutting through my thoughts.

“They’re gonna love you. Besides, you already know Crow and Addison. As for the rest, I’m sure you’ll recognize some from town.”

“Knowing and recognizing someone doesn’t mean they’ll like me.”

“You worry too much.”

She scrunches her nose. “Probably.”

I grab her hand and tug her inside, deciding that we need to treat this like ripping off a Band-Aid. The quicker, the better.

“Ember!” Crow shouts as soon as we step over the threshold. He makes his way toward us and wraps her in a hug before she can stop him. “It’s about time this asshat let you out for a night of fun.”

And just like that, her nervousness vanishes. She laughs, and it’s genuine this time, not tinged with a hint of apprehension.

“He’s a harsh taskmaster, isn’t he?” she counters, grinning at Pres.

Blood rushes to my cock at her words. Okay, fine, only one word triggers my reaction: master.

I’ve never considered myself dominant or a man who needs their woman to be submissive, but maybe I should try it out. My dick certainly wants me to.

“He’s a big ol’ softy,” Addison chimes in when she joins us.

“Hey, now,” I chide. “Watch it.”

“Says the man scolding my old lady,” Crow snarls, taking a step closer to me.

“Down, boy,” Addison says, patting him on the chest. “I can handle Ghost.”

Crow grunts then turns his attention back to Ember. “Make yourself at home, have a few drinks, meet the brothers. We can catch up later.”

Sometimes I forget that Crow and Ember have known each other as long as he and I have. We all grew up in Marble Falls, as did Addison, but we didn’t always run in the same circles.

“Thanks,” Em says.

“C’mon, I’ll introduce you to the rest of ‘em.”

I lead her toward the bar where Journey is sitting with his old lady, Wren. Silently, I send up a prayer that Wren is actually Wren and not one of her alters. I still haven’t figured out who is who.

“You must be Ember,” Journey greets when we reach them. “I’m Journey, VP of all these bastards.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Wren.” She thrusts her hand out to shake Ember’s. “His better half,” she continues, tilting her head to indicate Journey.

“Nice to meet you, too,” Ember says as I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. She glances at me. “What’s wrong with you?”

“He was worried that he wouldn’t know who I was,” Wren says, saving me from answering. When Ember looks at her with confusion wrinkling her forehead, Wren explains. “I’ve got dissociative identity disorder, or multiple personalities. I’m pretty good at recognizing triggers and avoiding them, thanks to therapy and medication, but sometimes one of the twelve will pop out of nowhere and fuck with the people around me.”

“Twelve?” Ember asks.

“Yep. Aren’t I a lucky girl?” Wren teases, able to joke about it now that she’s found love with my brother.

“I have so many questions, but I’ll refrain… for now.” Ember grins. “Something tells me you’ve got stories.”

She and Wren talk for a few minutes longer, and Journey and I simply watch and soak up the fact that our girls are getting along so well.

Our girls. My girl. My Em.

Because it’s not an open party, it doesn’t take long to introduce her to everyone else. She’s friendly with each of them, even the club whores. I should’ve known she would be. Ember is the embodiment of kindness and acceptance. One thing she’s never been is judgmental or nasty to someone who is different from her.

Two hours later, I’m nursing my third beer, and she’s on her fourth. I’m learning that she’s a lightweight when it comes to alcohol, but as long as she’s safe and having fun, I couldn’t care less. I’m just happy she’s letting loose and not worrying about my mom or that fucking note.

“Please tell me you’re not gonna let her get away again.”

I turn to face Crow as he takes the stool next to me, both of us watching as Ember, Addison, and Wren dance to the music.

“We’re just friends.”

“Bro, your lips say one thing, but your eyes say something else entirely.”

I arch a brow. “And what do they say, oh wise one?”

“They’re screaming ‘mine’,” he says, chuckling, and then his gaze shifts to the left of the girls. “Aw, shit. Better claim her before that gets outta control.”

My vision blurs as I watch Python crowd Ember and wrap his arms around her waist to pull her against him. I’m off the stool and across the room in seconds, yanking him away from her.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I snarl.

“Dancin’, bro,” he counters. “What’s it look like?”

“Looks like you want my fist down your fucking throat for touching my woman,” I seethe, gripping his cut and getting in his face.

“Didn’t know you’d claimed her.”

Of course, he didn’t. Because I haven’t.

Fuck.

“Um, Ghost,” Ember says, her voice registering through the haze of rage. She rests her hand on my chest, trying to urge me away from Python, and I let her, dropping my arms. “He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Bullshit,” I snap. “He touched you.”

“Okay, but?—”

“But nothing.” I lift her into my arms, and she wraps her legs around my hips. “You’re mine, Em,” I growl possessively. “You hear me? Mine.”

Her tongue darts out to wet her lips, and she squirms against me. My cock thickens, and I’m so horny that I could fuck her right here, right now. But she’s drunk.

“I’m yours,” she says softly.

“Hear that, everyone?” I shout to be heard over the thumping bass. “Ember’s mine. Touch her and answer to me.”

Cheers erupt around us, but I ignore them. The only person existing in my orbit now that I’ve made my declaration is the woman in my arms.

“I thought we were just friends,” she says as I carry her out of the main room toward my bedroom.

Her statement causes my steps to falter. “Is that really what you want?”

Ember rocks her hips. “Right now, I wanna get naked with you.”

Groaning, I shake my head. “Em, I want that too, but not like this.”

“Like what?”

“You’re drunk,” I point out. “I refuse to take advantage of that, no matter how much I crave you.”

“It’s not taking advantage if I want it too.”

We reach my room, and after setting her on the bed, I lock the door. I shove my hands through my hair, trying like hell to hold on to every ounce of my control. When I turn back around to face her, my mouth waters.

“Like what you see?” she taunts, kneeling on the mattress, naked as the day she was born.

I shove my hands in my pockets. “Love it,” I croak.

“Take what you want, Ghost. Please.”

At least she didn’t say ‘fuck me’. I don’t think I’d have been able to resist that. But taking what I want… That I can do.

I quickly strip and join her on the bed. Pulling her down to lie in the crook of my arm, I yank the blanket up to cover us and then kiss her shoulder.

“Sleep, Em,” I whisper. “I want you to sleep.”