I quickly close the door, to not let the heat out and go back to my seat and watch the Christmas film, but I see and hear nothing of it. All my thoughts are consumed by Ash, so are my dreams.
Chapter Five
Maze
It’s been three days since I left Zarah’s house, and I haven’t seen or heard from her at all, not that I have gone to the café to see her. Maybe I should, make her talk to me. We need to sit down and coordinate the outfits and talk about the visit to the hospital.
A loud burb comes from the tiny human on my shoulder, her legs kick a little and I feel the rumble against the hand that’s holding her tiny bum in a now disgusting smelling nappy.
“Damn, baby girl, you fucking stink to high heaven and back again. Phew.” I gag. How the hell can a tiny thing smell so fucking bad?
“Welcome to fatherhood, brother.” Batch says as he sits next to me in the main room. “Forgot how to wear a shirt?”
“Nah, she brought up some milk, I think she drank it too quick.” I explain and he nods like he understands.
“Yeah, Mad used to do that. It was like he was afraid we would take the tit away from him.” He tells me and I suddenly get the image in my head of Zarah breastfeeding our kid.
“Fuck me, where did that come from?” I say out loud.
“Where did what come from?” Batch asks, giving me a confused look.
“Nothing, man.” I tell him and go about changing Faith’s nappy and her clothes since she has vomited over her onesie.
I put her in a red and cream knitted Christmas dress with cream tights and little red booties. Jamie bought her a matching red headband with a bow on it and I have to admit, my girl looks cute as shit. Faith has only been in my life for a few days, but she’s already spoilt by myself and everyone around her. She holds my heart like no other person has. Like the saying goes, she has me wrapped around her baby finger.
Thanks to Ana, Gen, and Sabrina I have been able to get all the equipment that I need for her, everything that a baby needs and more. Who would have thought that a tiny human needed so bloody much?
I bought a pram that came with a matching car seat to make shit easier. It’s good that I rarely ride my bike during the winter months, as I like my fingers attached to my hands.
“I’m out, brother,” I say while standing, holding Faith tightly to my chest.
“You hankering for some pie and gravy?” he smirks at me, because the fucker knows where I’m going without saying anything.
“You know it. Later, brother.”
Once I have Faith and her many essentials loaded up in my black Explorer I head toward Nancy’s Café for some much-needed hot food and maybe some eye candy to eye-fuck and make her talk to me.
The café isn’t far from the clubhouse, so it doesn’t take me long to drive down and park, then unload Faith, it still sounds weird to think that I have a daughter. Yesterday we went to the hospital to have her checked out and they said she’s perfectly healthy and a good weight.
Court looked into the legal side of things just in case someone wanted to come and take her from me, but everything is in place, so she’s mine.
My own little Christmas package.
I pull the door open and manoeuvre the pram into the café, but an older gentleman pulls the door and helps me through.
“Thanks, man.”
“You’re welcome. Have a nice day,” he says, and he walks out the door.
“Oh, I plan too,” I say, and my gaze connects with Zarah. Her steps stop when she sees me, she’s holding two plates of food, her gaze penetrates mine, and her cheeks tint pink. Someone drops cutlery, shaking her off the stare off we are in. She blinks and carries the plates to a table before returning back behind the counter.
I move the pram through the room and sit at a table tucked in the corner by the window, because it gives me more room for the pram. Pulling my jacket off I love that no one in here is fazed by my cut, they know that Nancy was Ace’s mum, and the club eats here a lot, not that we are bad blokes are anything.
Leaning over I check that Faith is still sleeping and she is, I was kinda hoping she would wake up to get Zarah’s attention because I know she’s missing her, because she texts Ana when she’s at the clubhouse, asking about her, and in turn she tells me. I pull back some of the blanket, so Faith can get used to the room temperature and feel the cold outside, something to do with a baby adjusting to temperature around them.
I feel her before I see her, as I’m looking down at my daughter.
“What can I get you, Maze?” comes her voice, making my dick take notice as he hasn’t been used in days because he’s waiting for this woman to take notice of him and give him some attention.
What the hell am I talking about my dick in a third person for?
I look up and take in her stunning face. Zarah is like her sister, naturally beautiful. They don’t need cosmetics and a shit ton of hair products to make themselves look hot; they already are.
My gaze sweeps over her from toe to head, taking in her flat black ankle boots, tight black jeans, and bright red Christmas jumper, that has the slogan ‘Baby, it’s cold outside,’ her hair is down in soft waves and again she has on very little make-up, but she’s wearing her red lipstick.
“Do you know that your lipstick makes me have very inappropriate thoughts?” I smart off and Zarah rolls her eyes at me, holding the note pad and pen in her hand to take my order.
“Everything about a woman gives you inappropriate thoughts, Maze.” I bob my head and reply.
“True,” I add a wink, “but only one woman seems to be keeping my attention lately and giving me very, very inappropriate thoughts. Especially images of her in a naughty elf outfit.”
That earns me another eye roll and my cock twitches at the thoughts that pop into my head of me punishing her for being rude right now. Looking up to her I narrow my eyes at her and crook my finger for her to come closer and thank fuck she obeys.
“That’s rude, don’t you think?” she frowns but doesn’t say anything. “The eye roll. Do that again, baby, and I will take you over my knee right here, right now and spank that delicious arse of yours.”
Her mouth shapes into a perfect ‘O’ that could wrap around my dick while she sucks the hell out of me, leaving red streaks up and down my length. She shocks the shit out of me when she recovers and licks her lips then leans forward and plants her hand on the table and leans in so she can speak close to my ear.
Her warm breath brushes over my ear and neck, making me shiver just as she speaks.
“Now that’s something that would scar your daughter and our customers for life, Ash.” The way she says my birth name does something to my body. “Plus, you couldn’t handle a woman like me. I’m not like the other girls you play with.”
“Is that right?” She just nods at my question. “Wanna show me?”
She chuckles and straightens up, going into professional mode.
“Do you want to order food or not?”
“What I want isn’t on the menu, sweetheart. Come over to my place tonight. We can talk and make plans once I get the little miss down for the night.”
I change the subject, wanting to be in private when I make my move on her. Never did I think I would want to start something and stick with it, but having Faith and seeing my brothers all settled down has me thinking that maybe I did all along, but pushed the thoughts down, but seeing Z with Faith had something stirring in my gut.
“You can’t always have what you want, Maze, life has taught me that.” Her eyes go soft and I see regret and longing there. I reach for her hand and take it in mine.
Her hand is soft and warm, her nails are painted red with a little white snowflake on the ring finger. She steps forward when I give her hand a little tug, her woodsy smell hits my senses and I fight back the moan that wants to break free.
“Life is all about making changes and seeing what makes us happy. If you want it, take it.”
“Maybe. Eat an
d I will come over tonight and we can talk, and I mean talk, Maze. Nothing else.” Her eyes narrow at me and I smirk back at her.
“We’ll see, babe. Can I have a coffee, with a Yorkie wrap, please? Oh, and one of Ana’s mince pies.” I lick my lips at the thought of the plate of deliciousness that will be brought out to me soon.
Zarah added this Yorkie wrap to the menu after she visited a food festival a few months ago. It’s a large Yorkshire pudding, filled with beef, vegetables, and gravy and then rolled like a wrap.
“I’ll bring them right over,” taking one step away she gives me one last look before spinning on her heels and heading to the back with my order. I smile at myself, proud as fuck that I got to her, like she gets to me.
Batch said I might be moving too fast, but fuck it, look what happened to Carrie-Ann, anything can happen just as fast as a click of the fingers.
Want it. Take it.
Chapter Six
Zarah
I put the order slip next to the other ones so the meal can be prepped and I lean forward, resting my elbows on the work surface and bury my face in my hands, taking in deep breaths, trying to control my breathing from my interaction with Maze. That man does stupid things to my body, that no man should be able to do just by talking.
I completely get what Ana used to say about when Ace would open his mouth and make her swoon with words, but bloody hell, Maze didn’t make me swoon, no he made my underwear damp and made me want to run home to flick the bean to ease the throbbing.
“You okay, sis?” comes Ana’s voice from behind me. I plaster on a smile and turn to face her, hoping she won’t see the flushed look on my face. Oh hell, who am I kidding of course she will see how flustered I am.
No man has ever made me this flustered.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just a little flushed from all the running around.” I smile. Yeah, that excuse works, right? She cocks an eyebrow at me, and I can tell that she doesn’t believe me. Bollocks.
“So, those red cheeks and heavy breathing have nothing to do with the long haired, beautiful single dad out there?” Fuck, she had to add in the single dad phrase didn’t she. I’m a sucker for stories with a single dad. Like Batch, seeing him with Grace would make women swoon, then Gen came along, and they had to steer their desire elsewhere.
“Nope. No clue what you’re talking about.” I say, getting busy making Maze’s Yorkie wrap.
“Zarah.” Oh, she used the sisterly tone, one that has me looking at her over my shoulder and my shoulders dropping in defeat. Her smile gets wide and my heart skips, seeing how happy she is. For a while there I never thought I would see my sister happy but then Mr. Ace McGowen came along and stole her heart, filling it with all the love she needs.
“Fine, okay. He makes me all flustered and I can’t think straight.”
I pour the gravy over the meat and vegetables and tuck it tight and roll. The smell hits my senses and my stomach grumbles, letting me know I skipped breakfast and I should eat.
“Zarah, sit with him and have something to eat. Maybe talk to him.” She touches my arm and walks out of the kitchen, leaving me to my thoughts of Maze. Sighing I make my own food and carry them out to his table on a tray.
He looks up from his phone like he senses me close to him, his smile goes from basic to full megawatt, knicker dropping and making women drop to their knees wanting to please him.
Placing the tray down, he helps me unload everything then he frowns when he sees there is more than one plate of food.
“I’m on my lunch break.” I shrug and he grins at me.
“Our first date. I like it.”
“I never said anything about a date.” I huff and take a drink of my water. His grin makes my lady parts quiver and surely that’s unnatural.
Right?
We eat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes and I have to say it’s nice. Every now and then I see his head lean over a little to check that Faith is still sleeping and okay. Strands of his hair have fallen forward, and my fingers twitch wanting to touch it and see how soft it is.
He’s wearing a hoodie under his cut, an Unforgiven Riders MC one, I have one just like it at home, it’s soft and comfy on a cold night. He licks his lips after chewing and I hate that that slice of beef just touched his lips and tongue.
Holy cow I’m jealous of a piece of meat. What the hell is wrong with me?
He takes his last bite and I look down at my plate and see that I’m only halfway through mine. He wipes his mouth and hands with a napkin and leans back, patting his stomach and smiling at me.
“That was beyond fucking delicious, baby. So fucking glad you added it to the menu.”
I can’t stop the smile that mirrors his, because it was a good choice, at the moment especially with the cold weather and Christmas closing in, it’s a best seller. I lick my lips and take a drink of my water, Maze groans and leans forward in his chair, placing his elbows on the table.
“Do you know how bad I want to know what your tongue feels like running up and down my cock?”
I almost choke on my water, but I gather my wits about me. My eyes cast over the tables next to us to see if anyone heard what he just said but everyone seems to be minding their own business. Bringing my gaze back to the man sitting opposite me, who’s grinning at me, I speak.
“You’re dangerous to all women, Ash Maisley.” I smile back and he lets out a loud laugh, so loud that it startles baby Faith. Her cries fill the café and I see people turning to look but I ignore them.
This is a family café, so kids are going to make noise from time to time.
“Oh, baby girl, did Daddy scare you? Bad daddy,” I say and remove her from the pram. Her cries turn to whimpers as I soothe her back.
I bring my head up and see Maze staring at me with a strange look on his face, that I can’t figure out. Content maybe.
“That’s a good look on you.” He states, nodding his head in the direction of Faith on my chest. I look down and kiss the baby girl’s head, loving the baby smell that she has.
We sit in more silence, the Christmas music that’s playing in the background filling the space between us, as Faith settles and falls back to sleep. I place her back in her pram and button up her coat, assuming that they are leaving now that Maze has finished his food.
He looks at me and sits back in his seat, giving me a small smile that has my insides melting like a marshmallow by a fireplace. His lips are framed with a day or two old stubble, usually he keeps it shaved shorter, but I would imagine that he hasn’t found the time with having a new baby appear in his life.
“You’re staring, babe. Like what you see?” he asks, smiling at me.
I grin and appraise his body with my eyes, making sure that he sees me take him all in before I speak. He’s one fine specimen of a man, someone that belongs on the front of a fashion magazine or a motorcycle one.
“Yes.” Is all I say and stand up, wiping my hands over my jean covered thighs and watch as Maze stands too, stepping closer to me. His gaze penetrating mine, has my breathing pattern changing.
His manly smell invades my senses and again naughty thoughts pop into my head. Thoughts of what he would smell like after a round of hot, sweaty sex in front of my log fire, the Christmas lights twinkling around us.
Shit. I mutter in my head when I see his grin widen and he brings a hand up to cup my face like he has done it a million times before and my body responds to his touch. His touch is gentle, and I can feel his callouses against my cheek as I lean into the contact more.
“Come over tonight, please. Nothing but talking needs to happen, but that’s not me saying that I don’t want it too, because, sweetheart, I could devour you in one sitting and go back for more. Over and over again.”
My mind and lady parts are at war, because I know what kind of man Maze is, I mean come on he’s a member of the Unforgiven Riders MC. They’re man-whores and man-whores are born in that club, they know what the cut does for them, but at the same time my
body is wanting him to touch me, make me feel wanted and sexy like I have a feeling Maze would do to me.
But I’m a strong woman, I can resist this man until I know he wants more than just sex and someone to be a positive female role in his daughter’s life.
Straightening my shoulders, I look at him. “Okay. I will be around about seven-thirty, is that okay?”
His smile takes over his face, brilliant white teeth shine back at me, his eyes crinkle at the corners. He leans in and kisses the corner of my mouth and I fight back the urge to move my head a fraction to the left to catch his lips in a proper kiss, but then I remember where we are and sigh as I pull back.
“More later, babe. Now get back to work,” he steps back and pulls his wallet out, dropping money on the table, I don’t bother looking because I know he has left more than he needs to pay but this is what the men of the club do, that’s why Ana set up a box behind the counter for the extra money that she donates to someone who needs it every three months.
“Later, Z.”
“Bye, Ash.”
I stand there like an idiot as he leaves the café, thinking what the hell just happened. How has he done a one-eighty from the Maze I have gotten to know over the last few years?
I shake the thoughts away and get back to work. The faster today goes, the faster I get to see him again.
Chapter Seven
Maze
After I left the café and Zarah, I took Faith to the clubhouse so the Old Ladies could fuss over her while I did some work in the garage. Pres was cool enough to give me a few days to adjust to my new life but now I was feeling antsy about not being under a car and bent over a bike fixing something.
I worked for a few hours and helped the boys catch up on the Christmas rush. Everyone wants their oil changed and tires and brakes checked right before Christmas.
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