Seeking Shadows (Royal Bastards MC Tampa Chapter Book 3)

by K E Osborn

  Everyone keeps telling me how in this Dash is.

  I know it, I’ve felt it.

  I was right there too.

  If anything, seeing the way Ivy fought me over him, over the honor of the club, showed me something. That loyalty and commitment mean something to these people—to Dash.

  “For now, I think Cruz and I will stay.”

  Void leans in closer, his arm still wrapped around my shoulders. “Good, I’m glad to hear it.”

  As we enter the clubhouse, Dash spots us and rushes over. His eyes focused intensely on Void’s arm around my shoulders. The vein in his neck throbbing in what looks like anger. I tense seeing how this must seem. First, Void went after Ivy, now it looks like he’s getting cozy with me.

  Void picks up on it to as he instantly drops his arm from around me. “If your knees are cut, go speak to Nerve. He’s our medic. He’ll help you.”

  “Thank you… for helping me out there.”

  Void gives me a small smile, lifts his chin to Dash, then he proceeds to walk off, leaving me alone with Dash. He steps up, his hand moving straight for my hair. “You look a little disheveled. Everything okay?”

  There’s a hidden question in his tone. A question as to whether Void and I were out the front making out. It hurts for the briefest second, but then I guess I can’t blame him. All the signs point to it. The way I look, how he just saw Void and me together, the way I’ve been acting distant toward him. I see how he jumped to that conclusion. It hurts that he doesn’t trust me, though.

  “Your friend Ivy paid me a visit.”

  He widens his eyes and hesitates. “What kind of visit?”

  “The kind where she pulled my hair, and I ended up with scrapes on my knees thinking she was going to beat me senseless. Void came and stopped her.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” His face instantly turns red.

  Exhaling, I place my hand on his chest to placate him. “It’s not entirely her fault. We both said some heated things in the moment.”

  “But she assaulted you, yeah?”

  “In all fairness, I punched her in the stomach while this was happening too.”

  He scrubs at his face, letting out a deep sigh. “You had a bitch fight?”

  “Well, there wasn’t any screaming, so…” I semi-smile.

  “Technicality. Still, it sounds like a bitch fight to me.”

  “I feel so stupid.”

  He leans over, pulling me in for an embrace. I slide my arms in around his waist, and it’s like I’m finally home for the first time in so fucking long. Why is he a safe haven every time I touch him? Smothering myself in him, I want to stay like this forever. All my stubbornness and anger take a back seat. I immerse myself in the warmth and how good it feels to be in his arms. Maybe I’m being too harsh. All I want is to protect Cruz, and in doing that, maybe this is the best way. What better way to keep my son safe than having an entire motorcycle club watching out for him?

  I pull back, looking into Dash’s eyes. Those green with flecks of gold that I am becoming accustomed to, stare back at me with such adoration, it’s like I am floating. I lean in closer, just needing to be close. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”

  He pulls me to him tighter, a wave of emotion flowing over his face. His hand comes up to caress my cheek. “All I want is for you both to be by my side. For us all to be safe.”

  I lean in pressing my forehead to his. “I was angry. The thought of Tyler finding Cruz… it scares the absolute hell out of me, Dash. I just—”

  “I know… he’s everything. Cruz is what matters most.”

  “But you matter, too. I just, I didn’t know how to process that fact while being angry at you.”

  “Be angry, I deserve it. But don’t shut me out.”

  My hand runs up into the back of his hair, threading my fingers through it. I pull his head forward, my lips slamming to his. Our lips crash together, so full of passion, I forget where I am as everything dissolves away.

  Those fireflies light the sky around us, dancing above our heads as the world spins, and we stand still. Kissing Dash is euphoric, and I’ll never get enough.

  It’s only when the wolf-whistling and catcalling slowly works its way into my ears, I remember where I am. I giggle against Dash’s lips, slowly pulling back, looking into his eyes. They’re sparkling, alive with lust as he breathes heavy just staring at me.

  A light tugging at my dress makes me break my eyes away from Dash. I glance down, and Cruz gazes up at us. “Shit!”

  “Bwad word, Mama!”

  Dash lets me go instantly, but it’s too late. Cruz has seen everything. Dash grimaces, mouthing ‘sorry’ as I squat down to Cruz’s level. “Baby, I understand you haven’t seen Mommy kissing a man before—”

  “But I like Dash. Is he gonna be my daddy?”

  I wince, glancing up at Dash, and he squats down beside me. “I’m not your daddy, Cruz, but how about I be your best friend?”

  Cruz’s little face lights up like it’s Christmas, and he jumps into Dash’s arms, making him fall to his ass on the floor. “Bestest fwends!” Cruz wraps his tiny arms around Dash’s neck cuddling into him.

  “Yeah, buddy, always.” He embraces Cruz tightly as my heart expands with joy at my two guys sharing a moment.

  My eyes shift over to Ivy standing in the shadows by the stairs. She gives me a slight head bob, then descends the stairs into her domain. I have no clue what she does down there, but I think it was a little piece of approval from the princess of the club.

  Eva walks over with Trixie, both smiling wide.

  “Hey, Shadow… do you want us to take Cruz for a couple hours, so you and Dash can spend some quality time together?” Trixie winks suggestively.

  My face flushes. “Yes, please.”

  “Hey, Cruz, you wanna see a neat trick I can do with the gin bottles?” Trixie asks.

  I jerk my head back.

  Eva chuckles. “It’s all in clean fun, I assure you.”

  Cruz jumps out of Dash’s lap and runs off with Trixie as Eva smiles at us. “Have fun, you two.”

  I stand from my squatting position, placing my hand out for Dash, hoisting him off the floor. He wraps his arm around my waist pulling me to him and leads me down the hall straight to our room, neither of us saying a word on our way there. My pulse is racing a million miles a minute.

  I’m not sure what Dash is thinking. Hell, I’m not sure what I’m thinking right now, but it will be nice to talk things through with him. Get everything out in the open.

  He swings open the door, and I step through, our beds still not made from when we got up this morning. He closes the door behind us, flicking the lock, and I walk to the bed and take a seat.

  He makes his way to his closet.

  I can’t help but wonder what he’s doing. “Dash, I’ve been acting irrational—”

  He pulls open the closet door then spins to face me. “Not irrational, Shadow. Protective. You’re a mother. A mother who’s been through fucking hellfire to care for her son. I get it. I get why you’ve been the way you have. It’s why I haven’t been fighting you on it.” He turns back to his closet, fishing around for something. I have no clue what.

  “I could have been more sympathetic, though. I was only thinking of Cruz and me. Not that you’re not sticking your neck, and everyone else’s here on the line, too, for me, for us. I’ve been an asshole, and I’m sorry.”

  He pulls out a small white bag, closes the door, and steps over. Pulling out the desk chair behind him, he wheels it over and sits down in front of me. “Now, lift your skirt…” I widen my eyes, “… to your knees. I’m gonna fix your scrapes.”

  I let out a small laugh as I shimmy up my long dress. His eyes follow the dress as I glide it up, revealing my knees. He grimaces seeing the grazes with little patches of blood. “Fucking—” He stops, inhales loudly, then exhales like he’s trying to calm himself. “I’m gonna need to have words with Toxin about this.”


  I reach out, placing my hand on his. “Honestly, you don’t need to. In a way, she helped.”

  Dash opens the bag, pulling out some alcohol wipes. “She did, hey?”

  “Mm-hmm. Made me realize I was being pigheaded.”

  He runs his fingers along my thigh. His hand on me sends an ache deep inside. I bite down hard on my bottom lip needing to ease the tension.

  “Maybe just a little.” He brings his hand up showing a tiny space between his pointer and his thumb. I slap him on the shoulder. “Okay, this is gonna sting… you ready?”

  I nod, and he swipes the alcohol wipe over my scraped knee. I flinch, hissing through my teeth as his other hand caresses my thigh. His fingers soothing as they knead my muscle. He leans in blowing on my wound softly. The move is sexy as sin for some reason.

  My breath catches as he pulls out a BandAid and carefully pulls off the strips. I don’t know why he’s doing everything so slowly, but his actions are so fucking tantalizing, my clit throbs with every movement he makes. He slides the BandAid over my knee. His fingers pressing down on the edges to make it stick. Sliding his fingertips against my skin, he caresses around my knee as his hands careen down my calf. The movement brings his face close, his lips edging painfully near, yet not close enough. When his head ducks between my legs, his tongue darts out, licking and kissing my thigh.

  My head falls back, my eyes clenching shut as I let out the breath I was holding. My fingers instantly move to his hair, running through it, gripping tight as he doesn’t wait for another second. His arms loop under my knees and he lifts, edging me further up the bed. I let out a small shriek as I fall back on the mattress. His little show of dominance is so fucking hot. He leans over me, hoisting my dress up, and I help him to take it off.

  “I can’t fucking wait to taste how sweet you are, Badass.” His fingers move in, gripping my panties, sliding them down and off me in one quick movement. Without breaking his concentration, he flings them over the other side of the bed as he continues his task at hand. His head between my legs. My head falls on the bed as I pant. I haven’t been with a man for so long. Not since Tyler. I haven’t allowed anyone in, not even for basic physical pleasures.

  I’m letting Dash in because as much as I tried to fight it, he’s found his way into my heart.

  Looking down at my pussy with a smirk, he stands up undoing his jeans. I lean forward and unclip my bra, flinging it to the floor as he grabs a condom from the pocket of his jeans, then slides them down. And as he does, I look back up in time to watch his cock springing free, and I let out a small gasp taking in his size.

  He’s huge, way bigger than I thought from when I held him in the ocean.

  Taking a deep breath, I gnaw on my bottom lip trying to hide my smile as he rips the foil packet with his teeth, the move sexy as sin, then he slides it over his length.

  He edges back to the end of the bed, stalks between my legs, picks up my left leg and trails kisses from my ankle all the way up. I’m panting as I lay back watching him move higher and higher toward my center.

  Dash kisses my inner thigh and runs his nose from my thigh across to my pussy. My chest heaves, my clit already throbbing, and he’s barely touched me. His tongue delicately darts out, lapping and gently flicking in a teasing motion. With a heavy exhale, his breath sends a shiver over me. I jolt when he blows on it, sending a shiver over me. I gasp as his tongue comes back quickly, sending it from cold to warm, the sensation causing goosebumps to litter my skin instantly.

  He twirls his tongue in the perfect way, making all my senses come alive. My chest heaves as I clench my eyes shut relishing in the pleasure he’s giving me. Dash’s hand skims my thigh, moving toward my pussy. As his fingers reach my opening, he slides them up and down, teasing me. I moan half in frustration, half in pleasure as he licks my clit as he slides his fingers inside me in a painfully slow torture.

  Fisting the bedsheets, my back arches off the mattress, and my head falls to the side with a labored inhale. I can’t hold still. He’s moving his fingers in and out, finding a steady rhythm, creating a demanding tempo as his tongue continues its assault.

  Moaning as he pushes in further, he hits just the right spot, forcing me to gasp out in pure bliss. Flashes of light strike behind my eyes while my body quivers. My back arches off the bed, and my muscles tighten. I flame red hot and shudder intensely as the pressure builds. Everything pulls taut, then it hits like a tidal wave as I explode, my body shaking in pleasure, then gradually calms to flutters before my whole being relaxes.

  Dash eases his fingers out of me and kisses my thigh while I unclench my fists and slowly open my eyes. He moves up over the top of me, and I smile lazily.

  “Holy shit,” I somehow murmur as he chuckles before swiping his hand over his mouth, then leans in to kiss me.

  His body presses against mine, and the feeling of our skin on skin turns me on so much more.

  I want him.

  No. I need him with an unfamiliar urgency.

  My kiss deepens as I wrap my legs around his waist, drawing us closer together. His cock feels like stone against me, and it’s driving me mad as we kiss so passionately, I’m almost lightheaded.

  My hands run up his tense back muscles as our hips begin to rock together. My clit still throbs from his tongue lashing, and I can’t wait anymore. I need all of him, and I need him now, so I move my hand in between us and grasp his cock. He moans as I guide him to my entrance.

  We both groan at the sensation as he seats himself fully. He’s so big, the feeling of him moving inside of me is so intense as he kisses me deeper. I’m lost in the feeling of him stretching me. The fullness is welcomed. Our breathing is heavy, and I can feel the tension as Dash strains to control himself.

  Digging my fingers into his back, his muscles stretch as they move and contract, drawing back before thrusting forward. Even though this is missionary, it’s anything but vanilla.

  His hips thrust, and he rotates a little, then pulls back and repeats. The rhythm is new to me but fuck, it’s incredible. Dash knows what he’s doing and how to get me to where we need to be. It’s been so long since I’ve had sex, I forgot how fucking amazing it can be, though I’ve never had it quite this good before.

  We both pant for breath as he grabs my wrist and pins it next to my head in a show of dominance. Dash is a giver in all aspects, but I like how he takes what he wants in the bedroom. It’s turning me on even more as we work together toward our climax.

  Thrusting deeply, his pelvis hits my clit at just the right angle and pressure to push me further toward the peak. My body begins to shake, my back arching off the bed. Everything clenches, my eyes shut tight, and my breath hitches as the sensations take over. He thrusts harder and faster, and before I know it, I explode. Another mind-blowing orgasm, only this one much stronger than the first.

  I cry out into his mouth as he helps me ride the wave up and over the summit. Needing to break the kiss to pull in some air, his mouth moves to my neck, nipping and sucking as he lets me come down from my high. But he’s still moving inside me, keeping us both in pleasure, letting us ride it out.

  Grabbing my hips, he rolls us over, making me gasp in surprise as he flips me on top. I giggle as I sit up, adjusting my body to this new position. He’s hitting me deeper somehow, and I relish in the new sensation. Before rising, I grind and rotate my hips and let out a gasp. Sensing my shaky legs, he shifts one hand to my hip to help guide me, then massages my breast with the other.

  “Fuck, you look good riding my cock,” he groans.

  My nails dig into his chest as his cock fills me completely. “You look good beneath me,” I answer in a whisper.

  He groans again and keeps moving with me as I work hard to get him to where I want him. His hand from my hip slides across, and his thumb moves in, circling on my clit. My head falls back, and I moan as I continue to ride him. My body tenses quickly this time, and another orgasm is about to rip through me. My muscles clench, tightening around his c
ock, and he groans, thrusting deeper and faster. His movements start to become jerks—he’s close as we both begin to pant heavily.

  My body quivers slightly before everything tightens and contracts, the pleasure rolling over me in waves as he jolts with a long, drawn-out moan while we come together.

  As I slow my rhythm and bring my head back upright, I open my hooded eyes and look at him. His eyes are hooded too, and he has the laziest smile on his face. I lean down pressing my chest to his as I rest my head in the crook of his shoulder and neck, then kiss his skin. Rubbing my back gently, he trails his fingertips delicately up my sensitive skin as we both find our breath.

  “I’ve wanted to do that since I saw you at the bar.”

  Turning my head, I kiss his jaw. “I hope it was worth the wait?”

  “Oh, Badass, for that, I would wait an eternity if it felt this good every time. But now I’ve had you, I’m not letting you go.”

  I stare down into his eyes. “We kinda got carried away, didn’t we?”

  “How so?”

  My knees ache as I cuddle into him. “We only managed to bandage up one knee.”

  “Right, my bad.” Suddenly, he flips us, and I land on the mattress. I can’t help but giggle as he pulls out of me and trails kisses down the middle of my body. “Let’s have a look at your knees then, shall we?”

  “Feel free to stop halfway down,” I tease.

  He reaches my pussy waggling his eyebrows. “Oh, Badass, that was the idea!”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  DASH

  Laying here with Shadow in my arms is like peace. Like no matter what fucking chaos we’re facing in the world, right here, right now, at this moment in time, it’s fucking peace.

  Leaning in, I press my lips to her temple. She cuddles into my chest further, and I let out a long exhale. “I wish we didn’t have to get up.”

  She hums under her breath. “Me too.”

  “I guess we need to change the sheets if you and Cruz are gonna sleep here tonight.”

  “You can sleep in here with me. Cruz will have the kiddy bed. You looked so uncomfortable last night. I did feel for you.”