SPARTAN (Iron Kings MC, #2)

by Franca Storm

  And, just like that, we were hot and heavy against the wall, all over each other again.

  It was our default setting.

  God, it was so easy to get lost in him, in one another.

  I would’ve thought that the more time that went on, the less intense and explosive things would have been between us. But it wasn’t anything like that. The passion and need was as intense as ever. We were still as insatiable as we had been the first time we’d given into our desires for one another. The pull between us was just consistently undeniable and unconquerable. We could go at it for hours and still not be ready to come up for air.

  And I loved every second of it.

  I finally managed to get a hold of myself, breaking our kiss long enough to gasp out, “Scott, wait. We can’t fuck right now. We’re going to be late to see the guys.”

  “Fuck?” he asked in that teasing voice of his, letting me know I’d said something highly amusing to his ears.

  “What?” I questioned, gazing up at him adoringly.

  Yeah, we were sickening, like a couple of lovesick kids. But neither of us cared. We were enjoying it, enjoying one another, and savoring every ounce of happiness that we could. It’d been a majorly long time coming for the both of us.

  I’d cleared my schedule so we could spend the whole day together. This morning, he’d given me an official tour of the Iron Kings clubhouse. We’d just had lunch in the mess hall where he’d told me a bunch of things about club life, the rules and procedures that I needed to know as his Old Lady. Tonight was the official announcement to all the club members.

  I was looking forward to solidifying things between us and to finally putting an end to the cloak and dagger aspect of our relationship. But I was also nervous about it all, because I knew what a big deal it was for the club.

  Grinning down at me, he said, “Just loving how your mind works. Here I was just wanting a kiss and your mind’s all on the fucking.”

  “Hey, I wasn’t—I mean, I just thought—”

  Another passionate kiss from him saved me from my awkward stumbling.

  He slid his hands up and down my sides, enjoying the feel of me, as he pulled back a little and took me in with lust burning in his sexy gray eyes. “I gotta say, these pants are really working for you.”

  I looked down at my black leather pants, feeling myself blushing a little as I admitted, “I wanted to look the part for this big, important meet-and-greet with your club tonight.”

  He played with the thick straps of my lacy tank and gave me a sweet smile, telling me, “You don’t gotta worry about none of that. You fit in well already just being who you are. Nobody’s judging you.”

  “I appreciate you saying that and trying to reassure me, but I think they actually are, Scott. You’re a big deal. They don’t just respect you because you’re a phenomenal leader, they love you and care about you so deeply. After all this time, announcing that you’re with someone, is huge news. They’ll want to make sure I’m good enough, that us being together will make you happy.”

  He studied me for a moment or two. “You’re nervous as all hell, ain’t you, love?”

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  Cupping my face gently, he looked into my eyes. “I get it. I know you care about me and what we got between us. I swear to you here and now that nothing’s gonna mess with that or derail it, Dani. I love you and nothing’s ever gonna change that. And so you know, the boys already love you, already love us together. Remember, there’s been rumors about us ever since the barbecue. They’re already with us. This thing we’re doing tonight is just making it official that you’re my woman. You ain’t on trial, we’re just celebrating.”

  “Well, when you put it like that…” I said, gazing up at him. He was so sweet, so perfect. And, he knew me so well, thanks to our two-year-long flirt fest where we’d managed to build an awesomely solid friendship. I grasped his hands on my face, stroking his fingers, as I told him, “You really know how to take the pressure off.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” I slid my hands down to his belt and gave it a teasing tug. “In fact, seeing as though we’re celebrating, maybe we should have own private pre-party right now.”

  His lip curled up into a sly, sexy smirk. “Mmm, I’m down for that, love.”

  I smiled and went to work unbuckling his belt.

  He pulled his shirt up over his head, exposing his incredibly sculpted torso. A thrill ran through me, excitement blooming, just at the delicious sight. God, he was a turn-on.

  “You all right there?” he asked, amusement dancing in his eyes.

  It took me a moment to realize why he was asking. My mouth was hanging open and I’d stopped unbuckling his belt, instead, standing there, gaping at him.

  “You’re just… absolutely stunning.”

  He grasped my hips and pulled me against him. “Ain’t the only one.”

  Reaching up and tracing my cheek, he gazed down at me and said, “You got the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen.” He brushed his finger over my lips. “The poutiest fucking lips and you kiss like a goddamn angel.”

  He continued down my body, lavishing compliments on me and touching me with such reverence it set my heart aflutter.

  Easing the straps of my lacy tank down, he ran his fingers soothingly over my shoulders, then pulled the top down and the cups of my bra, exposing my breasts. “Perfect. Jaw-dropping. Had so many daydreams about these,” he confessed. “Jesus.”

  I giggled as he lightly played with my nipples, then tickled his way down my stomach.

  He pulled the tank over my head. My bra followed quickly.

  And then his hand was sliding into my leather pants, stealing the breath from my lungs.

  His fingers teasing my pussy through my panties, he breathed sexily in my ear, “And, this? What can I say? Mind-blowing.” I moaned as he slid a finger into my panties. “So wet and ready for me.” With a growl, he pulled his hand free, then jerked down my leather pants and panties in one shot. I kicked them off and he tossed them across his room.

  Naked before him, I couldn’t wait another second. I lunged for his belt and frantically unbuckled it. He reached around to his back pocket and pulled out a condom. I’d only just freed his cock when his hand clamped down around the base and he rolled it on rapidly.

  It was clear he’d gotten as worked up as me, because he couldn’t even wait for me to get his jeans off. Instead, he hauled me up, pulling my thighs around his waist. And then he thrust up, breaching me deeply.

  “God, yes!” I cried, blissfully, throwing my head back.

  He spun us and slammed me against the wall as he thrust into me, fucking me like a man possessed.

  “Bed,” I choked out.

  He ripped us off the wall, pulled me off his cock, then tossed me on the bed like I weighed nothing at all.

  The moment he joined me, I climbed on top of him. I teased him, rubbing my pussy up and down his shaft. He growled and grabbed my hips.

  “Ready?” I asked.

  “Hell, yeah.”

  I grasped the base of his cock and guided it to my pussy.

  Then I took him deep inside me in one sudden motion.

  He snarled primally.

  Good, he liked that. A hell of a lot.

  Digging my nails into his shoulders, scraping down to his chest, I rode him hard and fast. And deep, so deep. Scott’s eyes were on fire, his jaw drawn tight. He was awash in pleasure, losing himself to it.

  “Fuck, woman,” he ground out. “Sure know how to drive a man wild.”

  “That’s the plan,” I said, grinning.

  “Yeah? That right?”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  His eyes flashed and the next thing I knew, he was grabbing my hips and driving up and jackhammering deep into me. Screams of pleasure tore from my throat.

  I couldn’t think.

  I could barely breathe.

  I lost it, screeching, my body going rigid as I came, ecstasy exploding t
hrough me.

  I took him over the edge with me and heard his telltale grunt and curse a moment later.

  “Wow,” I breathed, as I collapsed on top of him.

  “I know,” he chuckled.

  We lay entangled in one another on his bed for a while.

  When I finally felt my energy returning and the afterglow subsiding, I gave his chest a pat, then excused myself to freshen up in the bathroom. I heard him say something about disposing of the condom as I was walking into the ensuite.

  I locked the door behind me, snatched the silky robe I’d brought with me last night off the hook there, then slipped it on.

  And then I reached into my purse that was also hanging there. I hadn’t really come into the bathroom to freshen up. I’d needed to grab something instead.

  I unzipped my purse, rummaged around until I felt the little box I’d been looking for, and then I hid it behind my back as I walked back into the main room.

  “That was quick,” Scott commented. I took in the sexy sight of him doing up his jeans.

  Yum.

  “Hey, eyes up here, Dani,” he teased.

  I laughed, then told him, “I actually just went in there to get something.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “Yeah? What’s that?”

  I crossed to the bed and perched on the edge. He came with me looking more curious by the second.

  “I got you a present,” I told him, then brought the box out from behind my back and held it out on my palm in front of him.

  He gently took it from me and opened it to reveal a clunky white-gold ring carved as a skull with a flaming crown. After what he’d told me about the meaning behind his flame tattoos, I’d thought it would fit in perfectly with that whole theme.

  “Wow,” he said, as he studied it. A big, beaming smile spread over his face. “This is something else, love.”

  “Really? You like it? I noticed that your index finger is unadorned. I thought, maybe, this could complete the collection.”

  “I love it. It’s real thoughtful. Shows how well you know me.” He reached out and stroked my hair. “Thank you, Dani.”

  I smiled back at him. “You’re welcome.”

  He hugged me to him. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Everything’s gonna be fine tonight with the boys. You and me belong together and after tonight everybody’s gonna know.”

  I smiled at his sweet words. “Our relationship will finally be out in the open.”

  “About damn time.”

  “Then we can start our life together.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, we can.”

  26

  ~Spartan~

  SHE WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

  Watching her now was a world away from the last time she’d been up here at the clubhouse with me.

  She’d come a hell of a long way over the last few months.

  She was open now.

  Free.

  Easygoing.

  She weren’t scared no more or burdened by all the shit that’d been bearing down on her with those Wakefield fuckers.

  And it’d made it possible for her to let people in, to let me in, and give us a good fucking shot

  Hell, she’d gotten there before I had.

  I’d almost wrecked things between us when I’d lost it over what Knox had done to Jesse.

  But her, thoughts of her, my love for her, had brought me back.

  And I weren’t gonna make a mistake like that again.

  I weren’t gonna push her away.

  I was all in.

  She was mine and I knew I was hers, that she was right there with me.

  After making it official to the club a half hour ago, so were all the boys.

  And now, all the nerves she’d had before up in my room had faded away and she was having the time of her life, joking around, and shooting the shit with my brothers like she’d been a part of Iron Kings her whole life.

  Perfect Old Lady material for an unconventional guy like me, just like I’d always figured.

  Feisty.

  Powerful.

  Down to earth.

  Independent.

  It was more than I’d ever hoped for.

  She’d completely dropped those walls of hers.

  She was beyond ready.

  For me. For the club. For everything.

  I smiled as I looked down at the ring she’d given me.

  “That’s a sweet ring. It’s new, right?” a little voice spoke.

  I’d been so taken with it that I’d basically been zoning out. It just meant a lot to me was all.

  I looked up to see Ash walking up to me.

  “Yeah,” I told her, as she reached me and took a closer look at the ring. “A gift from Dani.”

  “It goes with your ink.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  She grinned from ear-to-ear, clearly getting it. “Aww, she’s your other half.”

  “She is, yeah.” I took Ash in, her hands shoved in the pockets of her hoodie, shifting her weight and looking uneasy. Fuck. It was my fault. “I’m sorry I kept this quiet and pushed it off when you were digging about me and her. I didn’t wanna get your hopes up. Things were up in the air so I wanted to be sure before I brought it to you. I was gonna tell you after tonight, but here you are already. Guess Finn told you what was going down then, yeah?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, he told me.”

  “Ash—”

  “Dad, I don’t need any apologies. I get it. I’m just glad it’s happened for you. I’m really happy for you. You deserve this.”

  “For real?”

  “Absolutely.” She looked away and bounced from foot to foot, getting all uneasy again.

  I realized then. Whatever had her like this weren’t about something I’d done. She was nervous about telling me something. “Ash, spill it.”

  She hesitated for a beat.

  Then she pulled her hands out of her hoodie and raised her left hand to my eye level.

  “Jesus Christ,” I exclaimed, before I could reel it in.

  She drew back at my tone.

  What the fuck had she expected, springing this on me? When it came to something major like this for her, I needed some warning.

  I couldn’t look away.

  Just kept staring at it.

  The fucking rock on her finger.

  A gold ring with diamonds surrounding a big-ass purple gem.

  “Telling me this way ain’t okay, Ashley.”

  She flinched at my use of her full name. That usually only happened when I was pissed at her. “What about you and Dani?” she bit back.

  “Ain’t the same and you know it.” I scrubbed my hand over my face, trying to reel in my rising temper. Still, I couldn’t stop myself from muttering, “You’re way too young for this.”

  “You and Mom were young when you got married, then you had me just a couple of years later!”

  “Yeah, that’s how I know what I’m talking about.” We’d both been way too young and fucking foolish. ‘Course I’d loved her and she’d loved me, but not the way we should’ve, not good enough. It was a strain, one we’d worked our asses off to hide from Ash. But we hadn’t… meshed like we should’ve. Hell, neither of us had grown into ourselves and when we’d started to, we were headed in different directions. I didn’t want that for Ash.

  Before I knew it, I was scanning the lounge for Finn.

  He weren’t nowhere around.

  Smart fucker.

  Instead, I spotted Jesse, the next best thing, leaning back in one of the oversized leather chairs, just chilling out with the boys, resting up like he needed to be doing. Of everybody, he was the most likely to know where Finn was at.

  But, before I could start over there, Ash slammed her hand to my chest, holding me back. “Dad, will you let me explain before you fly off the handle like a deranged psychopath?”

  “What’s there to explain?”

  “Well, for one, it’s not an engagement ring.”
>
  I stilled. “What?”

  She rolled her eyes. “It’s a promise ring, Dad.”

  “It’s a—it is?”

  “Yes,” she said, easing back now that I was rapidly calming, knowing she wasn’t actually making the impulsive decision I’d thought she was. “Wow, that was an intense reaction. Good to know where you’re at regarding me and Finn, though.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s just, you only recently started up your business, your life’s coming together how you always wanted. And moving in with somebody is a big enough deal. Don’t want you rushing. I know how impulsive you can get sometimes. Just looking out for you.” I blew out a heavy sigh. “But it’s your life. I’m still getting used to shedding the overbearing, protective dad thing, I guess. I’m sorry.”

  She giggled.

  “What?”

  “You’re trying so hard, aren’t you?”

  “I thought I was, but my reaction just now weren’t exactly proof of that.”

  “It’s okay. We’re getting there and I never thought that would even be a possibility until recently.”

  “Nearly lost you over it, too.”

  “You never will, Dad. We can always talk through things. Besides, you’ve changed a lot. The fact that you’ve let Dani into your life is proof enough of that. You’re chilling out, opening your heart again after so long.”

  “Some cheesy shit there, Ash, but I hear you.” I reached out and took her hand. “Let me see, all right?”

  She smiled as she watched me taking in the ring. “Damn, this is some fancy ring. How’d it come about, him giving you this?”

  “With everything going on, the threat out there right now, we’ve both been on edge. I didn’t react the best to the heavy security that’s been put on me recently. After everything over the years, it’s a bit of a reflex for me to freak out about it, I guess. Finn wanted to reassure me that everything would be fine, that our future is still very possible, that nothing bad will come of any of this. So, he came home with this ring a couple of days ago as some sort of proof.” She took her hand back and played with the ring. “It was a sweet gesture.” Her face fell after a bit, as she added, “It’s the closest we’re going to get to it. He can’t exactly get married. He’s a ghost after all, so he can’t do anything official like that.”