Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Relaxed. Lazy. Content.
A hot stone massage. A pedicure. A manicure. A facial. Warm, skilled hands and hot towels. Bottomless mimosas.
She’d had all of them before but not all on the same day.
Complete euphoria was the only way Lyric could explain her state of being before walking into the clubhouse.
Now that bliss was ruined.
She stared up at Rage and caught a flurry of emotions crossing his face before he was able to rein it in.
Of course she felt guilty. If it hadn’t been her birthday, none of the men would’ve been in a panic. If her club sisters hadn’t wanted her to be spoiled at a spa on her twenty-fourth birthday, the men wouldn’t be so pissed off right now.
Even so, Rage had been worried that someone had really kidnapped her.
She understood why, especially after what happened to Kyra and Ledger. Especially with the looming threat of the Twisted Souls and the Russos.
When her club sisters had “kidnapped” her, she hadn’t had her cell phone on her, so it must’ve been left back at the shop. But even if she’d had it, Lexi confiscated everyone else’s phones so they could all unplug and enjoy a relaxing time at the spa.
Big mistake.
While most of her club sisters hated being considered “property” of the Dirty Angels, whether they liked it or not, it was fact.
Her mother had been considered club property, too, long before becoming her father’s ol’ lady. All due to Lyric’s late great-grandparents. Grizz and Mama Bear had been a cornerstone of the DAMC since its inception back in the early 70s.
Unlike some of her “sisters,” Lyric did not hate being considered club property since it was a well-known part of the MC lifestyle. If she didn’t want to be a part of the club, she wouldn’t have followed in her father’s footsteps of becoming an ink slinger and taking over the club-owned business.
Deep down in her bones, she knew she was living her life the way it was meant to be.
The DAMC was her world. The people in it, her family. And it was a huge family. No, it wasn’t perfect, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
However, belonging to that family came with a sense of both safety and danger.
And the dangerous man towering above her was the man responsible for their safety. She couldn’t be upset with him for being pissed.
“I’m sorry you thought something happened to me. To all of us. They were only trying to do something nice by surprising me.”
He grunted. “There’s nice and then there’s fuckin’ stupid.”
“I agree that it should’ve been more well thought out. It seemed to be planned last minute. But…they said my father knew. So did my employees.” She slapped a hand to her forehead. “No wonder my staff didn’t contact Crow.”
“Carl must have fuckin’ brain damage, then, cause he was goddamn clueless when I asked where you were.”
“Well…” She sighed. Carl was a great tattoo artist but he wasn’t the brightest. “Why didn’t you contact my parents?” That would’ve avoided this whole mess.
His jaw shifted. “Didn’t want the OGs involved.”
“Why?”
“‘Cause…” His lips flattened out and shook his tattooed head. “Don’t matter. You’re safe now. That’s all that fuckin ‘matters.”
“I can’t speak for any of the other women, but I’m sorry you were worried.”
“Pretty fuckin’ sure some of them don’t give a fuck. Prolly think it’s funny.”
“You know how they are.” They liked to serve the men shit sandwiches whenever possible. That was because the men acted like they knew everything and thought they were always right.
Their level of cockiness was always high and that annoyed the women.
“Didn’t know where you were, baby. Didn’t even know where to fuckin’ look cause we didn’t know who took you. Didn’t know if you were being tortured…” He pulled in a breath, held it for a few seconds before releasing in a rush. “Or worse.”
“Like what happened to my mother,” she said softly.
“Yeah,” he breathed, dropping his head for a moment. When he lifted it again, he whispered fiercely, “Don’t ever want you to be hurt.”
The intensity of his words caused a flutter in her stomach and her heart to swell.
Ash cupping her cheek and brushing his thumb back and forth over her cheekbone made her forget whatever she’d been about to say.
It had always been obvious that Ashton cared about her. She just hadn’t realized how much.
Or that it went beyond being a club sister.
Because that was why he was reacting like this, right? Why he pulled her into a private room and not any of the other women who planned the birthday celebration, like his own cousins?
“Sorry we worried you,” she reiterated in a whisper, holding his eyes with her own.
“Sorry your birthday’s ruined,” he whispered back.
She shook her head, but not enough to dislodge his hand. She liked it there. She liked the warmth of his touch. While his hands could be considered dangerous, he’d always been gentle with her. “It’s not. We had a good day so far and the day’s not over yet.”
Her heart fluttered when he stared intensely at her mouth. Did she have something stuck between her teeth?
The flutter turned into a violent thumping in her chest as he dropped his head until his mouth hovered above hers and his warm breath slid across her parted lips.
“Didn’t get you shit, but can give you this…”
Holy shit! Was he going to kiss her? Was something she never thought would happen finally about to happen?
She held her breath and waited. When he hesitated for too long, as if he was unsure on whether to follow through, she took the initiative by grabbing the back of his shaved head and pulling him down until their mouths met.
Her lips tentatively moved over his for a few seconds. Only, he didn’t move his at all.
Was she wrong? Did he not want to kiss her?
Blood rushed to her cheeks.
But before she could pull back, his hands gripped the side of her head and he tilted his own, taking over the kiss, sealing their lips even tighter. She opened her mouth wider to give him more access as his tongue swept through it.
She had only kissed a few boys when she was younger, and more recently, one man she secretly went on a date with. But never…never had a kiss been like this. Or made her react the way she was.
Kissing Ash made her toes curl and her pussy twinge, her pulse race, and warmth swirl through her and land between her legs. Her nipples pebbled and her breasts felt heavier, aching for his touch.
He’d always been overprotective of her, but she never thought he was interested in her romantically. Or even sexually.
Despite his road name, she had always felt safe around him. She’d always been attracted to him and hoped one day he’d see her as much more than a club sister.
She had wanted him to see her as a potential ol’ lady. A partner. She was someone who knew the ins and outs of club life. Knew what was expected of an ol’ lady. Who had pride in being a part of the DAMC.
She envied what her parents had and still have decades later. The love. The devotion. The respect.
Despite the large age gap between her parents, they simply fit, as if they were made for each other. Jazz and Crow were a great example of relationship goals.
She pressed against Ash’s erection, hard and hot, trying to encourage him to take the kiss further, but that was her muddled brain trying to convince her to do something that couldn’t happen.
They couldn’t take it further in the room where the officers met. In the clubhouse when a majority of his brothers and her sisters were just outside the door.
No.
Plus, the clubhouse was not a place where she wanted to have sex for the first time, anyway. She didn’t want to rush.
But, wow, she was on fire. She burned for the man. Did he burn for her in the same way?
Undoubtedly, he had so much more experience than her. Tons more. She’d never fool herself into thinking he was pining away for her and abstaining from sex with others. Because she’d seen him go off with plenty of other women, including sweet butts, since he was a teen.
And knowing that could be a bit intimidating.
As their tongues connected and twisted, she hoped she was a good kisser. If not, would he have pushed her away by now? The man could be brutally honest, but would he be honest with her?
She had a strong desire to touch him all over. Just as strong as her need for Ash to touch her.
But again, this was not the time or the place for that.
He moved his head enough to break their kiss before pressing his forehead to hers. She could only guess that he had been affected by their kiss the same as her, since he was breathing just as heavily.
He gripped her tightly by her shoulders, as if trying to resist pulling her closer, and she tucked a hand between the flaps of his cut and placed it on his chest. Oh, yes, his heart was racing under her palm and his chest was pumping.
The kiss had affected him, too.
“Ashton,” she breathed, wanting to know what this kiss meant for him. Where did they go from there, if anywhere?
He shook his head and his deep voice, now even huskier, was as addictive as his kiss. “This ain’t smart, baby.”
Of course reality was setting in. However, she was not ready for that reality. Instead, she imagined him hovering his weight over her and whispering in her ear before sliding between her thighs and taking her to new heights, giving her an experience of a lifetime.
She’d been waiting for that experience.
For her first time.
She had waited because she didn’t want to lose her virginity to just anyone. She wanted it to be special.
Worthwhile.
With no regrets.
And most of all, she wanted it to be with a man she had a connection with, not some random guy.
“For fuck’s sake, this ain’t smart but nobody ever said I’m fuckin’ smart.”
Her mouth parted and her breath hitched when he stared at her lips and dropped his head again.
But before their lips could make contact once more, a light knock at the door caused her heart to skip a beat.
“Hey, Crow’s here.” If she had to guess, it sounded like Lucky. He had patched into the club only a couple of years ago and was one of the few members that didn’t come from DAMC blood.
Unlike her and Ash.
“Fuck,” Ash muttered, only a hairsbreadth away from her lips.
Fuck was right. She had been looking forward to that second kiss.
“Gonna be out in a second,” Ash growled.
“Doubt he’s gonna wait that long, brother,” came the low warning. “He wants to know where Lyric is.”
With regret weighing like lead in her stomach and burning like lava between her thighs, she released him and stepped back, putting space between them so they could gather themselves.
Her father never needed to yell when he was angry. He could simply use his calm, well-thought-out words to effectively cut someone off at the knees and put them in their place.
Some might even consider him a sage since everyone went to him when they needed advice.
However, she had no idea how he’d react to her and Ash hiding away in the meeting room, locking lips.
She’d rather not find out.
If Ash was truly interested in her, she didn’t want Crow discouraging him in any way.
“Guess we should go out there.” Ash attempted to hide his disappointment, but she recognized it as a reflection of her own.
She nodded. “I really don’t want to play twenty questions with my father.”
“You ain’t the only one.” He tipped his head toward the door.
She cleared her throat and pressed hands to her cheeks, hoping she wasn’t flushed. Hoping she didn’t look guilty.
Ash opened the door, then placed a hand to her lower back to escort her through, but the second they were back out in the common area, he dropped it immediately and went in the opposite direction.
Like nothing had happened.
To her, it was hardly nothing.
It was everything.
And she couldn’t wait to do it again.
Avery rushed up to her, her lips pressed together, most likely to avoid peppering her with questions about what she and Ash had been up to behind the closed door. Even so, Lyric knew the inquisition would be forthcoming once they were away from big ears.
Avery slightly bounced on her toes and her eyes sparkled like emeralds.
“Since we’re all here, we’re throwing you a birthday party.
Sophie’s stopping at the bakery to grab some baked goods, including a big sheet cake.
Prospects are starting a bonfire and running out to get more food since they don’t want the kitchen to be short for The Iron Horse tonight. ”
“They don’t have to do that.” She didn’t want her birthday to cause more problems than it already had.
“When have the guys not looked for any excuse to party?” Avery leaned closer and whispered, “Indie managed to distract Crow so he wouldn’t see you and Rage coming out of the room together.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“Thanks.”
Lyric glanced around for her father and Indie, but couldn’t see them. Most likely because the common area was even more packed now than when she had first walked in the door with her club sisters.
However, the mood had definitely changed. It was no longer tense and on edge. Instead, she could hear the clack of the pool balls, bouts of laughter and ball-busting mixed with the rock music filling the large space.
“Someone get the birthday girl a drink!” Avery yelled as she grabbed Lyric’s hand and dragged her over to the bar.
All in all, it turned out to be a fun night and a great way to celebrate her birthday, but it would’ve been better if Ash hadn’t disappeared for the rest of the night.