Coming Up Aces (The Hounds of Zeus MC #9)

Chapter Ten

Rayna

Rayna’s beast was purring, and she knew Ace could hear it. If she wasn’t so content, she might be embarrassed. The margaritas were delicious, and the company was even better. Sitting under the stars in companionable silence wasn’t something she ever thought she would enjoy. Rayna was a talker. She liked conversations. That was how you got to know someone. She thought she’d screwed up earlier mentioning how she had researched the Lazlos, but when she touched Asher’s arm, she hadn’t missed the way he tensed and not in a bad way. Maybe her Cheetah was right; Asher was warming up to her.

He emptied the pitcher, divvying up the liquid between their glasses. “Want me to make more?”

“If you don’t mind. I’m not ready for bed.”

Asher rose, squeezed her shoulder, then took the empty container into the house. Rayna basked in the effects of his touch. Her Cat rumbled. Quiet. We don’t want to scare him. It huffed, and she could imagine it licking a paw haughtily. Rayna chuckled as she sipped the fruity concoction. She’d never had a raspberry margarita, but it was now her favorite. She loved the tartness.

As she gazed overhead, a shooting star flashed through the sky, and Rayna made a wish. It was similar to the ones she’d made as a young girl, only this time, she had a face to go with the mate she longed for. Gran’s love for her own mate never waned even years after he passed away. That was the type of love Rayna wanted for herself. The kind where souls were entwined for eternity. A true partnership with give and take from both parties.

Asher returned on silent feet, the ice in the glass pitcher the only sound in the otherwise silence. He had also brought fresh glasses with sugar rims. He poured her glass before filling his own. He placed the pitcher between them and took his seat. Rayna emptied her glass before taking the new one.

“I’m going to leave early to go to Oasis so I can get back and help with the garden, if that’s okay.”

Rayna turned her head in his direction. “Depending on what time Branson gets here, I might have the dirt prepared. I didn’t put any plants or seeds on the list. I would like to choose those myself. If I get finished before you get back, I’m sure I’ll be hungry,” she hinted with a grin.

“Oh, I see how it is. You just want me for my cooking skills.” Asher’s eyes were sparkling.

“You caught on to my evil plot.” Rayna kept her eyes on him as she took a sip. Asher looked away, but he was smiling. “You mentioned that Ripley is your best friend. You were going to say something earlier before Sutton called. Will you tell me about Glory’s life since she escaped Haven?”

Rayna was happy for her former cabinmate, but after hearing how Ripley and his parents had shown her such unconditional love and support? She was giddy for the young woman. “I can’t wait to hear her play. I often sang for her at night when she had a hard time going to sleep,” Rayna admitted.

“Maybe you, Glory, and Rhiannon could start a trio,” Asher said.

“Rhiannon sings too?”

“Like an angel.”

“I’m glad you told me. I can carry a tune, but I’m nowhere near good enough to sing with someone like her.”

Asher reached over and squeezed Rayna’s arm. “I bet you are.”

Rayna’s Cat rumbled in her chest at the praise. After yawning, she downed the last of her margarita. “I’m going to turn in. Maybe we can do this again tomorrow night? I really enjoyed it.”

Asher rose and stood inches away. “Anytime you want. I enjoyed it too.”

Rayna went to grab the empty pitcher, but Asher stopped her. “I’ll take care of that when I lock up.”

“If you insist.” Rayna pressed a hand to Asher’s cheek, and he turned his head, kissing her palm. Rayna swallowed a gasp.

“Good night.” Asher grabbed the pitcher and retreated into the house without looking back. Rayna stood there, momentarily stunned. Her Cheetah itched to be released, and that was the impetus to get her moving. Rayna waited until she was behind the closed door of her bedroom before she did a little shimmy, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from squealing aloud. It wasn’t a kiss on the lips, but it was affection.

Since she showered after working outside, Rayna brushed her teeth, changed into her pajamas, then slid under the covers. She pressed the same palm Asher kissed to her lips before turning onto her side and closing her eyes. She thanked her goddess for bringing Asher into her life and prayed he felt the same connection she did.

Ace

Ace washed the pitcher and dried it, then returned it to the cabinet. His heart hadn’t stopped racing since he pressed his lips to Rayna’s palm. He had never been so bold, but he’d turned his face without thinking, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. If Rayna hadn’t been affected, he might regret it, but the little hitch in her breath was the sign he needed to know he hadn’t screwed up. What was it about this female that had his cock stirring, even if it was a twinge? Those he had been interested in previously were all human, so could it be because she was a shifter? Ace had been around other Gryphons his whole life, and none of them caused a stir in his Gryphon.

Instead of standing in the kitchen questioning why, he turned out the lights, locked the doors, and retreated to his room. Ace paused outside Rayna’s door, listening. The shuffle of bedding was faint, indicating she was already in bed. He continued to his room and closed the door. As he went through his nighttime routine, Ace decided he wasn’t going to question his body’s reaction to Rayna. Everyone’s sexual experiences were different, even those like him who were demi. He had been on many forums over the years searching for answers to his sexuality. It took some longer than others to get to the point where they wanted sex. Some felt the connection quickly when they and their person clicked. His Gryphon already said Rayna’s Cheetah was onboard, so did that mean the human was as well?

Ace climbed under the covers and slid one arm behind his head, staring at the ceiling. He had a job to do tomorrow, and then he was going to focus on spending as much time with Rayna as possible. They still had to figure out what was going on with her boss and David Spencer, but in the meantime, he was going to focus on his pretty Cheetah shifter.

When the clock rolled over to five a.m., Ace got up and dressed. He had a couple of hours ride ahead of him, and he was ready to get it over with. He set the coffee pot to come on at six and left a note for Rayna. He’d prefer to tell her goodbye, but he didn’t want to wake her.

Where Haven was west of New Troy, Oasis was southeast. The ride wasn’t a bad one with all the backroads he could take, but he wanted to get there and get back quickly, so Ace took highways as much as possible. When he was half a mile away, he parked his bike next to Viper’s. Ace climbed off his Harley, searching the area for his fellow Hound. He checked his phone for a message, but there wasn’t one.

He waited a half hour, and when Viper still didn’t show, Ace stripped, stowing his clothes in his carry pouch, then shifted to his Eagle. He wasn’t going to storm the castle without knowing whether Abraham was there. Maybe Viper had found Abraham alone and decided to voice him. Ace flew over the compound several times, not seeing either male. He landed on top of the chapel, waiting and watching. People came and went, including Ruth, but Abraham was nowhere to be seen. Ace followed Ruth to the larger house at the back of the community. There was a guard stationed at each door, and the one at the front didn’t speak to Ruth as she passed him.

“Where have you been?” Ruth asked someone inside .

“Hiding, same as your husband.”

“If you hadn’t got yourself arrested, he wouldn’t need to hide. You had one job.”

“And I did that job. For ten fucking years, I played both sides, and for what? I’m done being the good little sheep. Abraham has lost control of not one but two of the compounds. It won’t be long until Oasis is also out of his hands.”

“Is that what you think?” a male asked . “I’m still in control, and you’d do well to remember that.”

Abraham was there . Where the hell was Viper?

“You’re fooling yourself if you think you have things under control. And you’d do well to remember what I’m capable of. I no longer care about you or your shitty cult. You will leave Rhiannon alone.”

“Watch your mouth, David,” Ruth scolded .

“No, Mother. I will no longer do his bidding. I wasted ten years of my life behind The Ministry’s walls, thinking Rhiannon was safe only to find out Josiah used my baby for his own gain.”

“And now where is she? With those heathen bikers. If you’d done what you were supposed to, she never would have run off.”

“I did what I was supposed to. I married someone I didn’t love. I elevated Haven’s financial status. I provided weapons. And for what? To lose my daughter as well as my job with the GIA? I’m warning you now, Abraham. Leave Rhi alone, or the Feds will be the least of your worries.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Fucking right I am.”

Ace flew to the ground at the side of the house, shifted to his skin, and dressed quickly. He skirted the side of the house, ducking back to keep from being spotted by the guard at the front door.

“Guard!” Abraham demanded. Ace peeked around once more to see the male entering the house. Ace crept closer and looked in the window. The guard and David were in a standoff, both with handguns pointed at the other. If he could get in there before they fired shots, he could voice them all. Ace eased his way up the steps, but his Gryphon growled, stopping him from going farther. Ace glanced over his shoulder to find the guard from the back of the house bearing down on him with a pistol.

“Who are you and what are you doing here? And where are your shoes?”

Ace thumbed behind him. “Gotta meeting with Abraham.” Lowering his voice, he instructed, “Put down the weapon, and get on your knees.” The guard complied. Luckily, everyone in the house was so consumed with the chaos that they hadn’t heard Ace’s exchange. He turned and stepped up to the open door. David and the guard were both yelling at the other to drop their gun.

“Shoot him!” Abraham commanded.

Ruth yelled, “No,” and rushed the guard. Both weapons fired multiple times. Ruth and the guard went down just as Ace ducked outside. He grunted when a stray bullet tore through the window, hitting him. He went to his knees, one hand grabbing his chest. Sticky liquid coated his fingers, and when he looked down, his hand was covered in blood. Fuck.

“What have you done?” Abraham yelled. “Get the fucking doctor.”

Good idea. Ace needed one, but he couldn’t hang around and count on these ass-wipes to take care of him. He struggled to his feet and stumbled down the few steps to the ground. The guard on his knees stared at Ace.

“Grab your gun and come help me,” Ace ordered. The guard did as he was told. When he got to Ace, he wrapped an arm around Ace’s waist, and Ace stumbled around the side of the house, heading back to his bike. Another gunshot went off, and Ace stumbled again. The guard tightened his grip but didn’t say anything. If Ace could shift, he might be able to start the healing process, but he needed to get to his phone.

After what seemed like an hour, they reached his bike. “Open the pack on the right and get my phone.” When the guard had it, Ace said, “Call Sutton.”

“I don’t know how,” the guard admitted.

“Fuck.” Ace was close to passing out. He tapped the screen, bringing it to life, and angled it toward his face. He pushed the call icon, and it brought up his call log. Ace tried to tap Sutton’s name, but he hit it too hard. The phone slipped from the guard’s grasp, falling to the ground, as everything went black.

Rayna

The aroma of coffee wafted through the air, and Rayna rubbed her eyes. She listened for any sign of Asher in the house, but all was quiet. Dammit. She wanted to see him before he left for Oasis. After stretching, Rayna climbed off the bed, made it up, then changed into shorts and a tee after brushing her teeth and twisting her hair into a messy bun to keep it off her neck while working outside. She padded down the hallway to the kitchen, glad the coffee was already brewed. A piece of paper sat on the counter next to the machine.

Rayna,

Sorry to leave without saying anything, but I didn’t want to wake you. Enjoy your morning, and don’t work too hard on the garden before I get back. See you soon, A

Asher’s flowing, cursive penmanship was unexpected. Most men Rayna knew printed their words. If they didn’t, it was barely legible. She brought the paper to her mouth and kissed it. Then she giggled like a teenager. Placing the note aside, she fixed a cup of coffee in an insulated mug, went to the pantry for one of the boxes of cereal Asher had bought her, then took both outside, settling on the same chair she’d used the night before. Rayna sipped her coffee and munched on fruity bits, enjoying the peacefulness. Asher’s house was in a large neighborhood, yet it was quieter than Haven, which was situated out in the middle of nowhere. While she was glad to have met Glory and Lisa Ann, Rayna didn’t miss the compound at all. She was thrilled Glory was away from the cult and had a new family who adored her. Rayna worried about Lisa Ann and wondered how the older woman was faring without Rayna or Glory to keep her company. Lisa Ann had been at Haven many years, but for some reason, had never been chosen as a wife. Rayna counted the other female lucky.

Rayna wasn’t used to downtime. Having the chance to enjoy coffee on the patio and just be was something she could get used to. At Haven, she had a job to do every morning. With the FBI, she rarely had the opportunity to do nothing. Even on her days off, she poured over cases or chased down leads. When she did take vacation, she went to see her Gran. Now, though, sitting in Asher’s backyard, Rayna imagined this being her life – not going to the office or chasing down criminals. Not answering to her boss. Rising each morning with nothing to do except have breakfast with Asher and then work in the yard. It was only her second morning at his home, and she already felt as though she belonged there. It wasn’t like she was taking advantage of his hospitality by mooching off him. Rayna had plenty of money, and if she needed to, she could hide away somewhere else.

Even if things didn’t work out with the hottie biker, Rayna could have the solitude. The peace. She could buy a house with a few acres and plant her own garden. Or she could move to Arizona to be with her grandmother. She had options, and the longer she stayed away from her job, the more she liked the idea of retiring.

A few cars drove down Asher’s street, and Rayna ignored them until a door slammed close by. She went inside and strode to the living room, peering out the window. Branson was unloading bags from the back of his truck.

Rayna stepped onto the porch to greet him. “Good morning, Branson.”

“Hey, Rayna. Where do you want this?”

“Around back. Here, let me help.”

“You can help by opening the gate. Ace would have my hide if I let you carry these.”

Rayna stuffed her hands onto her hips. “Excuse me? Are you saying he thinks I’m weak?”

Branson grinned. “No, ma’am. None of our females are weak, but we prefer to do the heavy lifting.”

“Well, I guess that’s okay then.” Rayna led the way around the side of the house and opened the gate. She pointed to the spot where she wanted the bags.

After he placed the first load on the ground, Branson studied the turned earth. “You know, we have plenty of room at Providence House for a garden, and it might be something the residents would like to learn. I’m not asking you to take on the task now, but maybe next spring, you could teach Lynette and me what to do. It’s a good skill to have and be able to pass along.”

Rayna was both shocked and touched that he would ask her to help. “I would love that.” Helping at Providence would give her the opportunity to get to know Lynette better. Rayna had Vanessa, but her bestie was often busy with her kids and salon, so having another friend would be a blessing.

Branson finished hauling the bags and took his leave. Rayna got busy extending the garden. She stopped long enough to fix a sandwich, then she added the compost to the turned soil. She had just finished when a motorcycle roared down the street. Rayna’s stomach dipped with excitement. Her Cheetah wanted free to play with Asher’s Lion.

We’ll do that later.

Rayna turned when the gate opened, only it wasn’t Asher.