Bash

by Sapphire Knight

  “Savannah Lexington,” he replies, gesturing to the photo in my hand that I hadn’t looked at yet.

  My free hand curls into a fist as I fight every muscle in my face to not show any sign of recognition at the name. My eyes flick to the image, and I swallow. My chest aching at the picture of my angel smiling back at me. Exhaling, I shake my head. “Nope, never seen her before. I’d remember her if so…damn.” I move to hand the photo back, but he stops me, gesturing to Jinx.

  “Maybe he’s seen her?”

  My eyes meet Jinx’s, silently begging him not to give up Savannah. We’ve been around each other long enough that I think we can tell when one of us isn’t feeling something. As much as it pains my chest to do so, I grit my teeth and hand him the image.

  He stares down at it for a beat, and I know he’s aware of who she is. There’s no denying that’s the same woman who’s been on the back of my bike damn near every day since she showed up at the compound, and we had lunch together. I’m bracing myself for him to offer her up when he shakes his head. “It’s no one I’ve ever fucked.” He gives the photo back to Maliki and straddles his motorcycle without another word. I don’t doubt it for a moment that he’ll be bringing this up later. Can’t say I blame him. I’d do the same if the roles were reversed.

  Maliki moves to hand me the photo again. “Keep it. I have copies. If you see her, please reach out.”

  I tuck the image inside my cut. “Of course. We’ll be back on Friday to finish up.”

  “Until then,” he comments and heads back to his SUV. I watch as his man opens the back door and then closes it once Maliki is tucked inside. His guy meets my stony gaze before getting into the front passenger side, and they drive away.

  “Later,” I growl to Jinx before he can mention it. “I need to hear her out first.” He doesn’t respond, he just fires his motorcycle up. I swing my leg over my seat, starting my ride and follow once he takes off.

  This is a goddamn cluster fuck. Savannah has a lot of explaining to do.

  We head back to the club, and Jinx veers off before we leave Atlanta entirely. He’s got his own shit to handle, and I trust him to keep this new information about Savannah between us. If I didn’t trust the brother with my life, I wouldn’t be working with him on a deal this large. It could put us away for many years if the wrong person caught wind of it.

  I make it back to the compound to find Chaos outside, leaning against the old firehouse that serves as our club. Out of anyone in the MC, he needs to know what just happened. I open up and bring him up to speed on my deal with Jinx and how it has to do with Maliki. Chaos is familiar with the billionaire. His twisted dead brother was into the sex trade, amongst many other crooked ways to scam people out of their hard-earned money.

  “Told me that his friend is searching for his daughter. He’s got to be fucking lying. Savannah mentioned that her father is dead.” I take a drag from my cigarette. The second one today due to one asshole.

  He folds his arms across his chest, saying the one thing I don’t want to hear. “Or else maybe she’s lying to you, brother.”

  “Fuck off,” I grumble, with an irritated exhale.

  His hand clamps onto my shoulder, and I flick my gaze back to his. “Keep your eyes open. It’s too easy to be blinded by a pair of tits. You need to hear this shit. That’s why I’m sayin’ it.”

  I nod, taking a long drag from the menthol. “I hear you. I also remember all of the bullshit Maliki’s brother was in bed with your father over, and besides that, I believe Savannah. If you’d have seen how fucking tore up she was about her father being dead, you’d understand why I trust she’s telling the truth.”

  “Whatever you decide to do, whether it be to offer her up to him, hide her away, or fight for her…I’ve got your back. The MC will have your back. Maybe Sly can find some more info on it all for you. He knew some big shots with the bets and fighting and whatnot.”

  “Appreciate that, man. I’ll talk to him,” I choke out, holding my knuckles out for a fist bump. I’ve always backed him on whatever he needed inside the club or out, and to have him pay me the same respect in return, it makes me feel some type of way. He’s not just my MC brother; he’s my brother by choice.

  Chaos meets my knuckles as my Charger comes into view, the blacked-out windows effectively hiding the beautiful woman behind the wheel. I toss the rest of the cancerous cigarette to the ground, smashing it out with the toe of my boot. I don’t want Savannah coming around me while I reek of cigarette smoke. She always smells all flowery or like burgers when she’s around me, and I don’t wanna stink to her.

  “Hm,” he hums, leaning back against the building.

  My angel surprises me when she pulls my car into one of the lined spots, right next to my bike in the parking lot. It’s nowhere near the time she’s usually off. Having her here right now kind of sets me on edge after what happened with Maliki today. My heart speeds up, worried that she’s here for a reason that I’m not going to like. I frown, waiting for her to get out and tell me what’s going on.

  Chaos emits a low whistle, uttering, “Damn, it’s like that now, huh?”

  I roll my eyes and grumble in response. Of course, I’m gonna catch shit for letting my woman drive my car. The brothers never see me driving the damn thing, let alone allowing a female to.

  “Tell me you at least tapped that pussy.”

  “I’ve licked that cunt, fingered it, and fucked it. Filled it with my cum four times last night.”

  “Fuck. That good?” His brows lift with interest, already moving past the seriousness from moments before. If he were anybody else, I’d be getting possessive and shit, but he’s my prez. I know he asks ‘cause it’s his place to be in the middle of all our business. Not only that, but the nosey asshole’s my best fucking friend. We don’t keep shit from each other…haven’t for a long time.

  I meet his stare, admitting, “Best I’ve ever had.” He casts his regard to my woman, observing as she climbs out of the sleek car, happily beaming in my direction. “Glad she had the blacked-out windows and different ride, after learning what I did today.”

  Chaos nods, not mentioning anything else as Savannah approaches. “Hey, you,” she says my way, before greeting my prez. “Hello, Chaos.”

  He chin-lifts at her before telling me, “We’ll talk more on it later.”

  “Bet.” I watch as he strides away and then face my angel. She makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. The feeling’s foreign, and I don’t really know what to do with it. I want to put the bitch in my pocket and keep her next to me all the damn time. “Hey, Sweet Pea. Wasn’t expecting you yet. Everything okay?”

  She grins, wrapping her arms around my middle to tuck in close. She peers up at me and divulges, “The diner was slow, so I got to leave early. Normally, I’d stay and close, but when they mentioned one of us getting off early, I asked first. I was hoping for a repeat of last night,” she admits, licking her lips.

  She’s sexy as fuck, wanting my cock.

  “Tonight was the chicken fried steak and mashed potato special, so I brought some for you.”

  And my bitch brought food, too. She’s definitely a keeper.

  Her thoughtfulness makes my lips tip into a smirk. I’ve been stressed the fuck out since Jinx, and I rode away from Maliki. Having her in my arms is finally giving me a moment to breathe easily again. “You’re always thinking of me, yeah?” I put my nose to the top of her head, taking in the flowery smell from her shampoo. It’s the scent I’d been thinking of all damn day after spending the night breathing it in from her pillows. I press a kiss to the silky locks, and reach up, tugging the elastic band out of her hair. She had it pulled into a tight ponytail for work, but I prefer it when it’s wild, and I can wrap it around my fist.

  She dips her chin, her cheeks turning pink. “You do sweet things for me, too, and you let me drive your car today without a second thought. The least I can do is make sure you have something to eat.”

  I squeeze her t
ightly. “Trust me, babe, I gave you driving my car around multiple thoughts today,” I tease, making her grin.

  She smacks my stomach, making me hiss from my bruised ribs. “Oh, hush, your car was perfectly fine with me driving. I didn’t run anyone over or anything if that’s what you were worried about. I even went the speed limit, though I can feel it has some power when I give it gas.”

  Gesturing to the car, I tell her, “Yeah, it does. Now get your sexy ass back in there, Angel. I’ll follow you to the apartment. We can eat then. I’m diving between those thighs for some dessert. Plan to make you whimper my name again, just like last night.”

  “Yours or mine?” Savannah asks, and everything inside me screams at me to tell her it’s gonna be our place and our stuff in it before she can blink and attempt to offer up a protest. I don’t say jack, however, not wanting to frighten her off. I gotta let her get used to the idea of us being a thing before I start really laying down my plans of the future with her. It’s been a few weeks. I don’t plan on losing her before I have my hooks in deep.

  After being intimate with her all night and then watching her sleep, it caused me to think long and hard. I had time to realize exactly what I want in my future, and it has her front and center. One thing’s for sure, though. I’ve got to get her to tell me why in the fuck Maliki’s hunting her.

  Nine

  Hard truth: You cannot change things by loving them harder. @liveinthedetails

  “Angel,” Sebastian rasps, meeting my gaze as he strides through my apartment door. I parked his car in front of my place so he’d know I was here waiting for him. I could’ve sat and relaxed in the car at his apartment, but he hasn’t invited me into his space yet. He’s let me around the clubhouse, however, and I have a feeling that with a man like Bash, it’s significantly more important to him. I’d believe he lived at that MC if it weren’t for him mentioning his apartment to me a couple of times and then having his car parked around the back of the buildings as well.

  “I have our food in the oven.” I offer an easy smile. It’s all pretty domestic, and I’m not too sure how he’ll take it. You hear those stories of the bad boys not liking to be tied down in any way, how they like the wild, inconsistent, playboy types. Could Sebastian be that way as well? His face lit up earlier when he saw me and then again when I told him I brought him some dinner. Maybe he’s a bad boy without that particular bad habit. “If you want to come sit, I’ll get you a beer?” I offer and gesture to the oversized farmhouse table. My cheeks heat, remembering how he had me on that very table.

  “Mm,” he hums. “I see you staring at that spot. I know you’re thinking of me eating your pussy. Shit, I’m reminiscing over it too, baby.”

  “I couldn’t forget it…even if I tried,” I acknowledge, opening the fridge and leaning in to grab us a couple of beers. As I make my way over to him, he takes the bottles from me and twists the tops off. He hands me mine, and I flash him a soft look. That was sweet and unnecessary, yet he did it regardless. He’s always doing thoughtful stuff like that. I don’t doubt it for a moment that Bash is a badass, hardened one-percenter, but when it comes to me, he’s just…different. That sounds so cliché, but it’s the truth. I think it’s what draws me to him so strongly. That and the fact he doesn’t attempt to smother me like some men have done in the past.

  He grins. “Nah, you don’t want to forget that. It was too fucking good.” He winks, making a giggle bubble up in my chest.

  “I’m glad you’re in a good mood. You looked a bit stressed when I pulled up at your club. Are things always so tense with you and Chaos?”

  He shrugs, releasing a sigh. “He’s my closest friend, my brother. It wasn’t tense between us, just the subject we were discussing was. We both worry and look out for each other. We’re family, and that’s what you do.”

  I nod, enjoying that he’s comfortable enough to open up to me. He’s been fairly closed off on his club relations, keeping things more surface level when we mention the MC. It’s usually during one of our quick lunches or when he’s fixing something else that’s broken on my car. “And he’s worried about you?” I ask, curious, but not wanting to pry too deeply and have him shut down on me.

  “I found out some shit today and had to keep him up to speed. In our lifestyle, shit’s not always easy, Sweet Pea. Sometimes it gets ugly, and there’s nothing we can do but come up with a plan.”

  I know the feeling, more than he realizes. Ever since my father’s death, nothing has been remotely easy. The authorities tried to claim that my father’s death was a suicide, that he’d gone bankrupt and was so depressed that he took his own life. I know what they say is all a big fat lie. The cops were being paid off to make it seem one way, when it was the opposite. My father lost all of his money; not that he was overly rich, but comfortable. He earned his money from working hard, then his life was stolen from him as well. He was murdered, and I figured out exactly who did it. I am my father’s daughter, after all, and I’ve always been a little too smart for my own good. At least, that’s what my father claimed many times over.

  The oven beeps, the timer signaling that our food’s been heating for ten minutes. I hop up to grab it, but Sebastian is right behind me, taking the hot pad from my hand. “I’ll get these out, babe. You grab us some plates, yeah?”

  “Okay,” I give in, my heart warming a touch more at his willingness to help out. It’s like he wants to protect me when he can, yet not tell me I can’t do something. He doesn’t attempt to snuff out the strong-willed woman that I am. He embraces it and compliments me with his own alpha personality.

  “I didn’t ask earlier when you mentioned the food. I sort of assumed I’d get you all night to myself. You got anything you gotta handle tonight?”

  I shake my head. “I was hoping we’d hang out too.”

  “All right, then. This smells so fuckin’ good. I still want to eat your pussy for dessert, though.”

  A laugh spills free. He is extremely talented with his tongue. “If you think I’ll fight you on that, you’re mistaken.”

  He matches my excited smile, a deep chuckle rumbling his chest. “Fuck, baby, you know a way to a man’s heart. Food and the best tasting cunt I’ve ever had.”

  I shoot him a glower. “I’m going to pretend like you just said mine’s the only pussy you’ve ever had.”

  His eyes widen, a booming laugh spilling free. “Shit, I kind of like you like this. You getting possessive is making me hard. You’re so goddamn sexy, Angel; you know that?” His tone grows quieter with the endearment, his voice earnest.

  I take a big bite of my food, not wanting to meet his serious gaze. He’s intense, and I love it, so much so, that if I’m not careful, he’ll consume my heart far too easily. I have to be careful in everything that I do, and Sebastian brings such a strong feeling of freedom with him that I find myself forgetting to have my guard up. Each time I’m with him, I open to him more and find myself wishing I could stay with him longer.

  Like today, for instance. I’m always the last waitress to leave. I take on any last-minute customers and tips I can get. This evening, however, the moment my boss hinted at it being too slow, I volunteered to leave. I think everyone who was there was shocked to hear me speak up. No one protested, and I grabbed some food and left as soon as possible. I still haven’t asked my boss about another job either. Instead, I find my thoughts consumed with my thoughtful biker I can never get enough of. If I work more, I’ll be around him less, and that’s something I don’t want, no matter how badly I need the extra income.

  We finish our dinner in comfortable silence. I’m doing the dishes, not paying attention to what Sebastian has his nose into until I hear my name being called from down the hall. I dry my hands on the dish towel and head for my bedroom, thinking it’s time for his pussy sundae. “Sebastian?” I say when I don’t immediately see him in my room.

  “In here, Angel,” he calls, and I spin around, back into the hall. He widens the bathroom door, and I notice h
im next to the tub. He’s got a few candles lit, which is why I didn’t see a light on in there when I passed by. “You gotta be sore after running around. I figure, you fed me, so now I’ll make sure you get to relax.”

  A breath escapes me as I take everything in. It’s so simple, yet one of the nicest things a man has ever done for me. “I haven’t had a bath in a while. It sounds heavenly.”

  He beams and starts peeling his clothes off.

  “Uh, what are you doing?” I take a step into the bathroom, sliding off my shoes and socks.

  “I’m getting in with you.”

  My surprised stare meets his. “You’re not too manly for baths?”

  “Fuck no, and anyone who says different hasn’t been punched in the ribs before. A hot soak with Epsom salt can do wonders for your body.”

  “You just keep surprising me,” I admit, and he reaches out to peel my shirt off. I work on unbuttoning my pants while he reaches around to free me from my bra. This is what I was thinking of earlier about Sebastian. I could get used to this, him, and everything he does. He makes it almost impossible for me not to fall for him. I’m afraid that when the time comes for me to leave, I’ll be so far invested with him that my heart will break in the process. It already shattered with my father’s death. I’m not sure how much more I can take without completely losing myself in the process.

  “Your body should be illegal,” I murmur, casting my eyes all over him. The man is gorgeous.

  “I could argue the same,” he replies, holding my hand as I step into the hot water. He gets in behind me and sits first. With his hands on my hips, he directs me between his thighs. It’s intimacy on an entirely new level. For some reason, the nakedness and the water makes me feel exposed to him. “Turn around, Savannah. I wanna see you when we talk.”