Chapter 1
AXEL
I wake and smell her immediately. She’s made my room smell like her vanilla perfume and it makes my cock harden instantly. My arm stretches out for her, but all I feel is my cool sheets.
My eyes pop open and I search the room for her. It’s empty and in that moment, what I knew would happen, did. She left. Not only that, but she snuck out of my suite without a word.
I sigh and flop back onto the bed, swiping my hand down my face. Even though I figured this would happen, I really hoped it wouldn’t. I wanted her to stick around so we could talk about this when we were sober. I’m tired of the games.
That’s what Wren and I are good at. Games. We know how to push each other’s buttons. We know how to hurt one another, but it’s becoming more than I can stand. That’s why I gave in last night.
Apparently, Wren’s not ready, though. I pull myself into a sitting position and look around for my phone.
I don’t find it on my bedside table, so I get up and walk over to where my clothes are.
I reach into my jeans pocket and pull it out, scanning the screen for any important messages.
I have a few in the group chat with Grayson and Rowan, where Grayson lets us know how Sophie is doing and invites us to the hospital later today. Nothing from Wren, though.
I shake my head and toss my phone back on the bed before heading into the bathroom and starting the shower.
I turn the water temperature to hot and step inside when steam starts to fill the room.
I move to stand under the water, letting it run over my head and shoulders.
I blindly reach out for my shampoo and pour some into my hand, stepping out of the spray long enough to lather my head and beard before stepping back in to rinse it out.
My thoughts turn to last night as I wash my body, running the washcloth over my skin.
When my cock hardens again, I drop the washcloth and fist my shaft.
I groan as I think of Wren sinking down my length, squeezing my cock until it feels like her pussy did wrapped around me.
I imagine her riding me as I pump my fist, bringing myself to the brink of orgasm and when I think of how she milked my cock, I explode across the tile wall.
When my pleasure recedes, I roll my head onto my shoulders and groan.
I had an entirely different idea for how this morning would go, but I finish my shower and step out, grabbing a towel to dry myself off.
I quickly brush my teeth and then apply some oil to my beard to keep it soft.
I stick out my lip and look at the small cut there from Wren biting me.
I knew she would be a wild cat in bed, and she was even better than I thought.
I walk into my room and pick out some clothes to wear. I’ll ride to the hospital, and the weather is cooling off, so I grab a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of dark washed jeans before slipping on some boots and my cut.
I’m the sergeant at arms for the North Carolina charter of the Sovereign Sons motorcycle club. It’s my duty to keep the club safe. Not just our members, but our families as well. I wear this patch with honor because nothing is more important than keeping everyone I love safe.
That’s been a task over the last year. Our club has had its fair share of shit to deal with.
Sophie and Grayson had to deal with the mess that her father, our last club president, put them in.
Then Candy, who was a club slut, became obsessed with Gray.
She landed herself in the loony bin, though.
The last few months have been the craziest of my time as a member of the club.
We’ve been having run ins with a rival motorcycle club.
Although, calling them a rival is a huge compliment to them.
The Devil’s Knights were just a small-time club that was trying to push us out of Silver Springs.
Unfortunately, they were stalking Everly after running her and her fiancé off the road; effectively killing him.
The only good that came out of that situation is that Everly and Rowan are together, and they have a beautiful little girl.
Hopefully, that’s the last we see of the Devil’s Knights, and it’s the last of the drama our club will have to deal with.
I grab my phone and keys and make my way out of my suite and downstairs to get something to eat. I’m ravenous after last night and I can feel a headache coming on from the alcohol.
I’m not really a drinker. Now, I’m not saying I won’t have a drink or two, but hard liquor really isn’t my thing. It makes me feel like shit the next morning, even if I only have a little bit. It’s just not worth it anymore now that I’m getting closer to thirty.
Okay, I’m only twenty-eight, but I feel like I’m fifty some days. I don’t know if it’s just the emotional toll of the job or if my body is truly falling apart. I work out almost every day, and I push my body to its limit. I should probably go easier on myself, but that won’t happen.
I walk into the main room of the club and am greeted by the soft murmur of my brothers as they eat their breakfast. I walk past the table where they sit and push through the door to the kitchen.
I find Chef by the stove stirring something in a huge pot. “What smells so good, Chef?”
He turns around with a smirk. “I made biscuits and sausage gravy with hashed browns and some fruit. Since none of you assholes eat anything healthy unless I make you.”
I chuckle. “Thanks, old man.”
I pat him on the back before grabbing a plate and filling it up, he pours gravy over my biscuits when I’m ready and then I walk out to join my brothers at the table.
I take a seat next to Rowan who smiles at me when I sit down. “Why are you looking at me like that?” I grumble.
He shakes his head and chuckles. “You’re awfully grumpy for someone who had a guest last night.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “How do you know that?”
“Ahh, he doesn’t deny it,” he says as he leans back in his seat. “I may have seen her leave the suite when I was coming down to the kitchen late last night.”
Damn, she must have snuck out shortly after I passed out. I try to play it off like it doesn’t bother me, but Rowan can see right through me. That’s the best and worst part of knowing someone for as long as we’ve known each other. You can sense the bullshit from a mile away.
“Does this mean that we can finally stop walking on eggshells around you guys?” He asks.
I sigh. “Considering she left my room in the middle of the night, I doubt it.”
I focus on my plate and stuff my face, devouring my food and chugging the water bottle in front of me. “Are we going to the hospital?”
“Yeah,” Rowan says as he wipes his mouth. “Everly wanted to skip breakfast, so I’ll go upstairs and tell her we’re ready, then we can head out.”
I nod my head and watch as he heads towards our suites. The rest of the guys filter out of the room until Everly and Rowan appear, the latter carrying Hazel’s car seat.
“Ready?” I ask as I jump to my feet and pull my keys from my pocket.
“Yep,” Rowan murmurs. Everly can’t make eye contact with me and that tells me all I need to know. Rowan told her that he saw Wren leaving my room last night.
I walk past them and out the door to our parking lot, making my way to my bike and hopping on. I start the engine and wait for them to get settled in Everly’s SUV before strapping on my helmet and leading them out of the parking lot, through the gate, and toward town.
Silver Springs is lucky to even have a hospital with how small it is, but we do, and thankfully it has a labor and delivery department. I don’t think Grayson would have survived being so far away from the club, and he damn sure wouldn’t have left Sophie’s side during all of this.
I open up the engine on the short stretch before town, letting the cool air glide over my skin. Riding has always calmed me, and I need some calm to settle my nerves.
The drive is over too quickly, though, as I pull into the hospital lot and find a spot to park.
I climb off and unhook my helmet, hanging it from one of my handlebars while I wait for Rowan and Everly to get out of their vehicle and unbuckle Hazel.
When they join me, we walk inside and to the labor and delivery floor, asking where we can find Sophie and Grayson.
We walk down the long hallway and stop at room one hundred and twenty-three. I knock a few times.
“Coming!” Grayson calls out.
He opens the door and then his face splits into a huge grin when he sees us.
He moves to the side and motions for us to come in.
My eyes immediately land on Sophie and Lily.
Sophie looks exhausted, but the love in her eyes is undeniable.
I walk over and murmur my congratulations before kissing her forehead and swiping my thumb over Lily’s soft cheek.
She’s sleeping peacefully in her mom’s arms.
I turn around and pull my best friend into a hug, slapping him on the back. “Congratulations, man. She’s adorable.”
“Thanks, Ax,” he murmurs with tears in his eyes.
I turn around to scan the room for Asher, wanting to see how he’s feeling about being a big brother, but my eyes land on someone else instead. Sitting on the sofa with a guilty expression is none other than Wren Dixon.