Page 28

I throw the SUV into park and walk toward the hospital entrance. My mind restless with all that happened today. The only positive has been claiming Ashley, making her officially my old lady. Mine. A smile sneaks across my face, the thought of her does that to me. I never imagined I’d want or need anyone the way I need her and fought tooth and nail against my feelings for a time, but now, I struggle to imagine my life without her. The last twenty-four hours or so have been gruesome and a little hair-raising. I’m looking forward to seeing her beautiful, expressive face, hopefully smiling at me.

She turns toward me as I open the door. She sits fully dressed on the bed, her discharge papers signed. As she spots me, she sobs and throws herself at me. What the hell? That was not the greeting I expected, and it pains me to see her this upset. Anger rises inside me, and I wonder who I have to kill for upsetting my girl like this. I feel protective as hell over her.

“Hey, baby, what’s going on?” I ask quietly while stroking her hair. Her tear-stained green eyes look into mine, and there’s a world of hurt in them.

“I’ve been to see Carl, but I don’t want to talk about it just now, honey, so take me home please.” Her broken voice reaches my ears. I’m glad she asked to be taken home because that’s precisely where I’ll take her.

On my way to the hospital, I stopped at her house and packed up her clothes and some personal items, all of which are now in the back of the SUV. She’ll stay with me now and I won’t take no for an answer.

I pull her tight into my side as we walk out to the SUV. I open her door and help her inside. She looks at the back seat, full of her stuff, looks at me and smiles the sweetest smile, making me feel ten feet tall. As I start the engine and pull out of the parking lot, I take her hand and place it on top of my thigh, holding it there. Slowly, she relaxes a little and the tears stop falling.

We make good time on the short journey home, and as we arrive, I see bikes parked outside the house. Well, I guess the location of this place is no longer as secret as I would like. Behind us, I hear a horn beep, and as I look in the mirror, I see Ally’s now bright pink hair and big smile, with Sparks following on his bike behind her. A get-together it is.

We get out of the SUV, and everyone rushes to hug Ashley, which makes me growl and shoot daggers at the brothers. Which makes them hug her longer and harder, just to wind me up a bit more. Much as I hate it, can’t say I blame them, I’d have done the same. Raven is the first to grab Ashley, lift her up in a bear hug, and swing her around.

“So glad you’re okay, pumpkin,” he says, relief written all over his face.

“Me too, Jamie, me too. I wish I knew what happened,” Ashley states.

“I’ll tell you later,” I reply to the unspoken question and open the door. “Let’s get you inside first,” I tell her as I watch everyone grabbing boxes and bags of her stuff and following us inside. We deposited all her clothes on the bed, and they put boxes with personal items in the spare bedroom. Ally has brought food, enough to feed an army, and everyone is digging in. I show the brothers my man cave, where Dougal and Dawg immediately start up the game station while Sparks and Caroline grab the other controllers and vow to kick ass.

Ally stayed in the kitchen with Raven and Sarah, who came as well when Dougal told her that Ashley was home. We sit around the kitchen Island, Sarah and Ally cleaning up the mess from the meal and are chatting quietly.

“Raven, I need to talk to you,” Ashley says, looking from Ally to me, then to Raven and back to me.

“What’s up, sis?” Raven asks, sitting up straight.

“I went to see Carl today.” She looks at Ally for support, and Ally smiles at her, nodding imperceptibly.

Taking a deep breath, she continues to relay the conversation she had with Carl. Now I realize why she was so upset. I walk around the island and take her in my arms, holding her tight. She leans straight into me, seeking comfort, and Raven looks stunned.

“What are you trying to tell me, sis?” he asks, shaking his head in disbelief. “I don’t think I quite get it.”

“He doesn’t want so many visitors. He’s tired, Raven, really tired and in a lot of pain. They set up a morphine pump for him today because of it. He feels he’s not pulling through this and needs support, but also time to process his thoughts and feelings. Times where he doesn’t have to appear to be brave and strong. He believes he’s dying, Raven.” Ashley swallows hard and forces herself even closer into me.

She continues, “He asked for a ‘do not resuscitate’ order to be put in place and wants us all to honor that.” I can see tears wetting her lashes again and gently stroke her arm while holding her, making sure she knows I’m here for her. This is so hard for her. I know she loves Carl dearly. To have had this conversation with him and then having to repeat it all again must take it out of her. I’m so proud of my warrior princes, and at the same time, I feel incredibly guilty for knowing I gotta heap more on her plate.

Sarah has left the kitchen with none of us noticing, and Ally is standing next to Raven with her hand on his arm.

“He needs a bit of space, Raven,” she tells him in a low tone. “When we saw him, the change in him was really clear. He needs time to come to terms with his own mortality, whether or not it’s going to hit.” Ally’s no-nonsense tone keeps our emotions in check.

“Okay,” Raven replies, “I get it. I’ll call the prospects off for now and we’ll arrange shorter visits with him as a club.” I can feel Ashley relax against me.

“Thank you, Raven, he needs this,” she replies quietly.

“No, thank you, Ash, for telling me and keeping me straight,” he responds before walking toward the man cave.

“Be back in a second, sweetheart,” I tell Ashley, who looks exhausted. “Just gotta chat with Raven real quick.” She nods, and I place a kiss on top of her hair. I stride after Raven, catching him in the hallway, where he’s grabbing his bike gear.

“Can you tell her what happened and why she passed out?” He raises his eyebrows in question.

“Of course, Prez. I’ll do it as gently as possible. I think she’s had about all she can take for now,” I reply. Raven slaps my shoulder and walks out, and I close the door behind him.

With Raven’s bike roaring to life, the others emerge from the man cave. Caroline and Sparks whooped Dawg and Dougal at the shooting game they were playing.

Dougal grouses. No one likes a sore loser.” Sparks says, standing there with his hand open. “Come on, pay up, boys. We won fair and square.” He can’t hide his triumph as both Dawg and Dougal get out their wallets and slap fifties in his hand. He smirks and hands a fifty over to Caroline.

“I love this club. Come on, old man, take me out. I’m paying.” Caroline winks and grabs Dawg’s arm. He’s still grumbling but follows his crazy wife outside. Ally and Sparks make their excuses and leave, too.

“Now then, big boy,” Sarah challenges me, “make sure you look after my bestie here, or else I’ll come and kick your balls into the middle of next year, and we wouldn’t want that now, would we?” Her threatening tone scares me slightly.

I realize she’d have no problem making good on her threat. My respect for her climbs a few notches higher. She’s fierce and extremely loyal to Ashley.

Walking to her, I hug her quickly, smile, and say, “Goodbye, Sarah, it was nice to see you. Come again soon.” I finish with a wink.

Sarah picks up on the not-so-subtle hint, hugs Ash, and leaves. Then, we decide to sit outside by the fire pit. It is getting dark, and the quiet is blissful. I start a fire, go back inside, and grab some smores supplies. Who doesn’t like smores?

The night is peaceful and as the stars come out, the fire keeps us warm. We’re sat on a swing chair, snuggled up together, relaxing.

I know I have to burst her bubble of peace, but I’m struggling to do so. Instead, I sit with Ashley ensconced in my arms, her head on my chest, and breathe her in, enjoying the peace for now.

After making multiple s’mores, furnishing her with a glass of white wine and grabbing a beer for myself, I look into her eyes, knowing I have to tell her.

“Ashley,” I start, “I need to talk to you about something.” She sits forward, arms on her knees, chin resting on her hands, and looks at me expectantly.

“Go on, what is it?” she asks. I clear my throat, feeling extremely uncomfortable. “I know my drink was spiked, Vince. The doctor told me, and Chloe confirmed.”

I sigh. “Yes, honey, but that’s not all.”

Wanting to sit opposite her, I grab a chair and pull it over. When I tell her we found the culprit, and that it was Karen who spiked her drink, her eyes grow wide in surprise, anger, and disgust.

“That bitch, I should have put her out cold,” she seethes. I’m debating whether to tell her the rest, as it’s club business and we usually don’t share that with anyone, not even our old ladies, but since it affects her directly, I make an executive decision.

“We’ve dealt with her, Ashley. Neil found out and made sure she didn’t leave the bar. The club picked her up and made her a guest of honor in the dugout.” I see Ashley blanch at that. She grew up in the club and knows what we use the dugout for.

“Is she alive?” she whispers.

“Of course, she is,” I reply, “but a severe lesson was taught, and we made sure she won’t show her face here again. Prospects accompanied her to the city limits and let her go there, watching to make sure she actually left. You have nothing to fear from her now. We made sure of that,” I reassure her.

She lets out a deep, relieved sigh. I know she hates some of the club’s methods, and the violence, although admittedly it happens a lot less frequently now. Sometimes, the club’s gotta step up to right a wrong.

I can feel the exhaustion radiating off her, pick her up and carry her inside. I gently place her in the shower, help her wash, soap, and rinse her hair, dry her, hand her a pair of her pajama shorts and one of my T-shirts. She sighs in relief as she puts them on and snuggles under the quilt. I get undressed and follow her in on my side. I’m so grateful to Sarah, who put all Ashley’s clothes away, and I remind myself to thank her.

Ashley is burrowing into me. However, I have other ideas. I turn her onto her front and crouch over her, my knees on either side of her hips. I take the bottle out of the warmer next to the bed and spill the warm oil into my hands, letting it drip onto her back. Her moan of pleasure makes me instantly hard. I place my now warmed hands on her shoulder and slowly massage my way across them, paying special attention to her neck and her temples. I slowly work my way down, loving the little groans and moans coming from her. My hands kneed and stroke my way down her back and sides. I can’t help but tickle her a little, evoking a happy giggle from her and causing her to writhe under me as my reward. Not quite the writhing I would like, but hey, who cares? I smirk when she hisses as I hit a sensitive spot. Taking note of that for later, I move down her body, missing her glorious butt, working my way down her thighs and calves, all the way down to her toes.

“Oh wow.” She sighs. “Your hands are magic.” I chuckle at her words.

“Only for you, princess.” I take in the sight before me, a stunning, naked beauty from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. And she’s all mine. My chest swells with pride as much as my dick does with need.

“You don’t have to do this, you know,” she murmurs.

“I don’t have to do anything , princess. I want to. I get as much pleasure out of giving you pleasure as you do,” I respond to her.

Slowly, I massage my way back up her body, replenishing the warm oil and dripping blobs into the divots of her lower back. Drawing patterns with the oil on her sensitive lower back makes her moan and shift under me. I drip the warm oil onto her delicious rear end and watch as her fists clench the sheets and her head turns to the side. She arches her cheeks into my hands as I start to stroke and massage her rear. Her moans are lower and longer, and she can’t keep her back from arching. I let some of the warm oil run between her cheeks and spread them a little to watch the oil run down her ass and to her wet entrance.

It takes all my self-control not to release my rock-hard dick and push into her. Instead, I continue my slow, teasing massage on the globes of her ass, and work my way down in between her cheeks, running my well-lubricated finger against her puckered hole, teasing it, while the other hand continues to massage her cheeks.

“Oh god, Vince, more,” she groans, and I oblige. With the next lifting of her ass against my hand, I insert my digit into her hole, passing the tight ring and holding it there. I feel her tensing and continue to massage her cheeks. Moving between her legs, I push them open with my knees. My hand travels from her butt cheek to her folds. My fingers gently massage her wet folds around the labia, all the way up to her hard clit, and back down past her entrance. She’s panting with need now and not paying attention to my other finger. I start circling her clit with my fingers, and a deep groan leaves her throat.

“So, good! Please, don’t stop.” She’s almost begging.

Moving my finger in and out of her tight puckered hole while my other finger keeps rubbing her clit slowly, I continue to ratchet her up. Changing the position of my hand a little, I enter her wet entrance with two fingers whilst my thumb keeps teasing her clit. I can feel her tighten around my fingers.

“So close,” she whimpers on a moan. I have to restrain myself and adjust my position, giving room to my throbbing cock. Pushing back into me, I push my fingers deeper inside her. When I think she’s ready, I push harder into her front and insert a second finger into her tight backside, moving them back and forth, scissoring them. She whines in frustration, and I can feel her start to flutter around me. Removing my thumb from her clit, I insert a third finger deep into her entrance. She’s so wet, the sheets are drenched with her juices.

My fingers fuck her ass harder. One day, it will be my cock in there and I’ll own every inch of her. The thought makes my dick pulse. Her moans have turned into little cries of pleasure as she pushes back onto both my hands with abandon.

I know she’s close, so I twist my fingers around and find the little rough spot inside her and fuck my fingers as hard against it as I do inside her ass. She explodes with a scream into the pillow, and I can feel her moisture pouring all over my hand.

I continue to ministate to her like this until she calms before I remove my fingers. She’s boneless and silent, and the only noise in the room is her panting. I get off the bed, walk into the bathroom, wash my hands, and wet a washcloth with warm water. I return to the bedroom and find that Ashley hasn’t moved at all. I gently place the washcloth between her legs and clean her up, throw the cloth in the open hamper, then crawl into bed next to her, pulling her into me. I can feel her breathing deepen as my cock slowly softens, and within a few minutes, we’re both asleep.