Spark in the Ashes (Steel Souls MC Book 1)

by Nikki Groom

  “You sure this is your room?” I ask, taking a good look around.

  “Yeah, why?” She laughs, pulling a backpack out of her wardrobe and dropping it on the bed.

  “It’s kinda…” I try to think of a polite word for it but fail.

  “Normal?” she offers.

  “Yeah.” I shrug.

  “What were you expecting?” she asks casually as she pulls several scraps of lace from a drawer and tosses them on the bed.

  “I don’t know. Who’s this?” I ask, picking up a photograph of a woman with two children off her dressing table. It’s the only personalized item in the room. Everything else looks like we could be in a hotel.

  She gently takes the picture from me, running her fingers around the edge of the silver frame. “That’s my mom with me and my baby brother,” she says quietly.

  “Where are they now?” I’m almost scared to ask, but I want to know everything about her.

  “They were killed,” she says, her voice cold and empty. I hate seeing that lost look in her eyes.

  “Ah, fuck. I’m sorry, Sadie.”

  “It’s okay, it was a long time ago.” She smiles weakly, and the pain is still clearly very raw.

  “So it’s just you and …” I probe gently.

  “Just me and Vaughn. Has been for a long time now.”

  “C’mere.” I take the picture from her hands, propping it back on the dressing table carefully, and pull her into my arms, holding her tightly and surrounding her with my body. “Wanna tell me about it?”

  “No.” She shakes her head against my chest. “One day, maybe. But not now.”

  “Okay.” I kiss the top of her head and let it go. I want to know everything about this girl, but I won’t force her.

  “You want to wait here while I shower?” she asks, pulling back to look up at me.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” I turn her in my grasp, slipping my hands under her top and holding her tiny waist with my fingers splayed across her smooth skin. “Is that the bathroom?” I point her in the direction of an open door in the corner of the room.

  “Yes,” she giggles.

  “Then get your pretty little ass in there, and get out of these clothes. I nudge her forward, and she glances over her shoulder as I smack her ass. She jumps with a yelp, laughing on the way to the bathroom and stripping her top over her head as she moves.

  I cage her in with my front pressing against her back as she stands at the sink. “I’m going to make a rule.” I nibble on the sensitive skin where her shoulder meets her neck and she drops her head back with a groan. “If we’re behind closed doors, you have to be naked.”

  She laughs. “What about you?”

  I slide my hand around her stomach, stroking her skin and working upwards over her tits, and I secure her in place with my grip on her neck. “What about me? As long as you’re naked, I don’t care.” I bite the skin on the back of her neck, and she gasps. “I want to taste you all over, Sadie, girl. I want to make the windows shake with your screams.” I slide a hand over her ass, and she parts her legs, allowing me access. “You’re a dirty girl, Sadie.” I slip my hand between her legs, dragging my index finger through her wet pussy and she pushes back into me. “My dirty girl.” I pull away from her and unbutton my jeans, letting my erection spring free. I stroke myself before pushing between her ass cheeks. “You want me to fuck you, Raven?”

  “Yes, Ram. I want to be yours,” she admits breathlessly making my dick even harder.

  I slam into her, unable to wait it out any longer. I watch her in the mirror, her jaw slackening, her chest pushing out her pert tits, and the way she grips onto the cabinet with every thrust I drive into her.

  “Sadie, open your eyes,” I order, watching her every breath. Her gaze locks onto mine, her eyes narrow and she grinds her hips against mine, matching me thrust for thrust. I start to unravel, breaths coming hard and fast in my chest as she clenches her muscles around me. “Fuck, Sadie. Do that any longer, and I’m gonna come fast and hard.” She stops clenching and thrusting, and twists so I slip out of her. She holds my face between her hands, kissing me hard, forcing her tongue into my mouth and pushing her body against mine, and when she pulls away, she licks her lips and drops to her knees with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “Oh fuck,” I murmur, as she takes my cock in her hand and slides her mouth down the entire length. My knees weaken, and I need something to hold on to as she steals every ounce of self-control I possess. So I grab her raven hair and circle my hips in time with her movements. I watch us in the mirror. It’s the most erotic scene I’ve ever witnessed, her head moving back and forth, the groans coming from her chest telling me she’s enjoying this as much as I am. She’s got the power to unravel me, now, and in the future too.

  As my movements become rapid and uncoordinated, she takes it as a signal to up her game. Her mouth moves faster, her suction and the added swish of her tongue pushes me over the edge and tears my orgasm from me. Her hand takes over from her mouth, and she jerks me as I come all over her perfect tits. My breathing is erratic, my legs shake, and I have to hold on to the cabinet to steady myself for just a minute.

  “You okay?” She laughs, tossing me a towel. I blink slowly, then glance over at her. Her lips are plump and bright red, her cheeks flushed, and she flicks the switch on the shower, turning it on.

  “Sadie, girl. You’re gonna be the death of me.” I pant.

  “Death by blowjob,” she giggles, slipping into the shower.

  “What a way to go,” I mutter to myself. “What a way to go.”

  I leave Sadie to shower, dress, and pack up her belongings. I make my way down to the kitchen and try to figure out how to use the monstrous coffee machine on the counter. “Fucking thing,” I growl out of frustration as I pull a lever and a chunk of metal snaps off in my hands, spilling coffee grounds all over the countertop. “Fuck,” I grumble, scooping as much of the mess as I can into my hands and dropping it into the plant pot in the window. I decide on a safer option and open the fridge to look for a beer. Bingo. I flip the cap off with the corner of my belt buckle and toss that in the plant pot too.

  Knowing how long women can spend in the shower, I take a closer look at the place. I’m irritated to know that there’s another man in Sadie’s life, and he’s not even her father. I should be grateful that he looked after her, I suppose. I’m also jealous. So fucking jealous that he’s special to her and holds such an important place in her life. I push open every door and scan around the place in search of something, anything that gives me an indication of what I’m up against. Is he a man I’m going to have to fight? Or is he someone I can easily get on board with? Something tells me I’m not going to be the kind of man he wants involved with Sadie. Fuck, I’m not the kind of man anyone wants involved with their daughter, so I’m not going to hold that against him. But she’s the first girl, the first woman that I’ve ever been ready and willing to fight for. If it means taking him out of the picture to do it, I’m ready for that. If he’s got any sense, he won’t stand in our way.

  I take the first half flight of stairs and turn the handle of the only closed door. It’s locked. I yank it around harder and this time shove my shoulder against the door to see if I can budge it. Nope, nothing. It’s pretty fucking weird that every door in the place is unlocked, except for this one. And now I want to kick the fucking thing down. I need to know more about this guy, Vaughn. I have to know what I’m up against, what I’m dealing with. I want to know the ins and outs of his business dealings, how he makes his money, and who he’s connected with. He could either prove to be a handy contact or a huge fucking problem. I’m hoping it’s the first.

  “Looking for something?”

  I snap my head around, startled at the voice, to see a man reach the top of the stairs just behind me. “And you are?” I ask, presuming this is Vaughn, but placing my hand on my gun just in case it’s not.

  “Vaughn Campbell. I own this house.” He points to my hand resting on the
gun, “You gonna shoot an unarmed man in his own home?” he asks, humor touching the corners of his eyes as he raises his hands either side of his head.

  I relax my stance somewhat, but I’m ready for anything. Always ready. “Ramsey Dalton.” I nod my tight introduction. “I’m here with—”

  “I know.” Vaughn smiles. “You’re here with my daughter, and I know who you are, Mr. Vice President of the Steel Souls motorcycle club.” He narrows his eyes as he lowers his arms. I frown, about to question him further on his knowledge, but he continues. “You don’t think a protective father likes to find out everything about the man his precious, and only daughter, is spending time with?” He places a fake smile on that smug face, tilting his head while curiously waiting for my response. I don’t give one, even though I want to rip his throat out of his scrawny neck. “Anyway, did you get lost? I know this is a big house, with lots of doors, but other than being lost I can’t see a reason that you’d be trying to get into my office.”

  “Sir,” a deep voice calls from below, just a moment before a short, stocky man takes the stairs two at a time and lands on the top step with his gun aimed at me. “Everything okay?” Instinct has me reaching for my piece, and we stand there in a face-off, guns trained on one another but with Vaughn in the middle.

  “What the hell is going on down here?” Sadie breaks the silence that’s stretched thinly between us. I glance to her but don’t lower my gun.

  “Baby,” Vaughn says warmly, watching me but walking calmly in her direction while holding his hand out to her. “I was just getting acquainted with your new friend.” He takes her hand in his and leans in to kiss her cheek. I curl my lip. Fucker.

  “And is this the new way to get to know each other? A game of trust, or chicken or whatever you boys seem to think?” She slides her hand from Vaughn’s and comes to my side, wrapping her arms around my waist while my hands are still firmly fixed steadying the gun in. She rests her small hand on my outstretched forearm. “Put it down,” she orders.

  I suck in a breath, resisting the urge to let my trigger finger be trigger happy and shoot up the polished hardwood floor around the other guy’s feet. “You too, Nate. No one’s getting shot in here today.” She tugs my wrist and raises her brows, a plea to do as she asks.

  I reluctantly lower my gun but don’t immediately holster it.

  “Thanks, Nate. Take a few hours off, I’ll see you later,” Vaughn tells him, and he nods, making his way down the stairs but not before giving me one last warning glare. I return the sentiment. In fact, I’m pretty sure my look said, fuck with me, and I’ll blow your brains out of the back of your head. “Now.” Vaughn comes to stand with Sadie and me and rests his hand gently on her shoulder. “What do you say we go downstairs all together and have a coffee, yes?”

  “Actually, we have to go,” I tell him, not even giving Sadie a chance to answer. I want out of here. I don’t like him. I knew I wouldn’t like him, and regardless of the good guy niceties he’s presenting himself with, his façade doesn’t fool me. I might not be a corporate mogul or a high-class lawyer, but that sure as shit doesn’t mean I’m stupid, or gullible. Far from it.

  “What’s the rush?” He frowns, raising his chin in question.

  “Places to be. People to see. You know how it is.” I slide my arm protectively around Sadie’s waist and tug her to my side.

  “Yes.” Vaughn frowns, straightening his tie, “I do know how it is. Okay, you kids have a nice day, and I’ll see you later for dinner, Sadie?”

  “Uh, actually I—” Sadie says in a small voice, looking down at the overnight bag in her hands.

  “Yes?” Vaughn probes questioningly, but he’s not stupid. I watched him and his reaction as he noted her overnight bag. He’s playing innocent, but he’s making her say it out loud which is clearly making her uncomfortable and that pisses me the fuck off.

  I step in. “She’s coming to stay with me for a few days. We have some charity events, and Sadie has kindly offered to help,” I lie.

  “Right,” Vaughn remarks tightly. “And I presume you have a spare suite for Sadie to stay in…”

  Sadie’s body goes rigid beside me, and I stroke my thumb against her stomach to try and put her at ease while glaring through narrowed eyes at Vaughn. What a dick. “Yes, sir. I have a suite for Sadie,” I tell him. It’s not a lie. I do have a suite for her. Mine. “Let’s go.” I tuck my gun away, confident that no one will be shooting at me while I have Sadie at my side, and take her bag in one hand, and her soft, small hand in the other.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow, and we can catch up,” Sadie tells him softly, keeping the peace. She steps forward and kisses his cheek, offering him a small smile, but I don’t let go of her hand while she does so. In fact, I squeeze her hand tighter making it clear who she will be leaving with.

  I stride away confidently, giving her a little tug of encouragement, and giving Vaughn a friendly wink as I descend the stairs. He’s barely containing his anger. His face is beet red, and his teeth are clenched together so hard that he’ll be lucky not to crack one of his expensive crowns.

  “You shouldn’t have done that.” Sadie scowls, yanking her hand from mine as soon as we are outside.

  “What?” I choke out a laugh, thinking that it was actually quite fun.

  “I know he can be uptight, but—”

  “I’m sorry, babe. I know he’s like your dad, but the guy is a pompous asshole.”

  “He’s not an asshole. You don’t know him.” She storms ahead, planting her cute little ass on my bike. I get that she’s defensive of him, and I know I’m an asshole for being jealous that up until now he’s been the only man in her life. But he’s not the only man anymore. I’m in her life. And I’m not sure there’s room for two of us.

  “What’s taking so long?” she calls out over her shoulder, and I chuckle at her bossiness.

  “Dropped something,” I call back. What I’m doing is crouching next to her precious stepdaddy’s nice Bentley with an evil grin and my middle finger stuck up. I slide the knife from my boot and stab it swiftly through his tire. Just so he knows who he’s dealing with.

  I tuck my knife away before Sadie can turn around, and jog to catch up to her at the bike, strapping her overnight bag securely on the back. “Be careful with that,” she snaps.

  “Yes, miss,” I say mockingly. As I come around to the front of the bike, she sighs and drops her head. I cup her chin gently and bring her gaze up to meet mine. “Don’t be mad at me,” I tell her, lowering my lips to hers. She turns her head away, and I bring it right back.

  “You didn’t need to be an asshole in there. He was just protecting me. You could have acted like a normal guy meeting his girlfriend’s parents and just been polite and accommodating.” Her bottom lip protrudes, and her eyes are downcast.

  “Hey, for one, I’m not a normal guy. He had his bodyguard pointing a gun at me—wasn’t about to let that lie, Raven.”

  “Nate wouldn’t have shot you.”

  “Wouldn’t he?”

  “No, he—”

  “He wouldn’t have a gun unless he intends to shoot. I’m not going to be someone I’m not just to please your …dad, stepdad, or whatever he is. He doesn’t like me, that’s fine, I don’t have a problem with that. But I won’t have a gun aimed at my head and do nothing about it.”

  “Okay,” she says reluctantly. I tilt her chin up a little more, and as she opens her mouth to inhale, I take advantage and press a hard kiss against her lips.

  “And you’re my girlfriend?” I tease, thinking to myself that I don’t think I’ve ever had a ‘girlfriend’. Fuck buddies, yes. A girlfriend? Never. Until now.

  “I didn’t mean to say that. It was just a figure of speech. I—” she stutters.

  My voice drops and becomes serious. “You’re not my girlfriend.” She lets out a small gasp. Disappointment painted all over that fucking beautiful face of hers. I get up close, my nose almost touching hers, my breath caressing her lips,
and I slide my hand from her chin, down her neck, across her collarbone and settle on her tit. Squeezing and kneading and making her gasp in a different kind of way. “Bikers don’t have girlfriends. They have old ladies. You’re mine, Sadie. My old lady.” I pinch her nipple through the fabric of her vest top, and she hisses in a breath. “Mine. And don’t you forget it.”

  Chapter 21

  As we pull away from the house, I glance back, wondering what mine and Ramsey’s relationship will do to Vaughn and me. It’s glaringly obvious they didn’t like each other. They might as well have pissed in circles around me to mark their territory, and even though Vaughn had Nate in his corner, Ramsey stood his ground and walked away with his head held high, and with me on his arm. I guess you could say that he won that pissing contest, and something tells me that if I choose to be with Ram, there will be many more in our future. I wonder if Vaughn feels I betrayed him by doing this? Should I have stayed? I didn’t want to stay, though. It’s that simple. I’m past being something I’m not for other people. I want to stay with Ramsey and the Steel Souls. I want to be wrapped around his body at night and on the back of his bike during the day. What is there for me at Vaughn’s house? A very boring, solitary, lonely existence where my brain spends most of the time ticking faster and faster, reliving every dark, tragic moment of my life, over and over, and sending me insane. A life where Vaughn and Nate are my only company—the only people I converse with unless I go out to a club and pick up a guy. Even then there’s not much talking. Not much conversation. No emotional and only occasionally, physical satisfaction. It’s more a pastime than anything.

  No life. No fun. No future.

  Then Ram came along. Dragging me kicking and screaming into his crazy life, where, surprisingly, I feel like I fit.

  We glide smoothly around the sweeping road until suddenly, the quiet air is filled with the sound of roaring bikes. Both of us snap our heads around to try and see what direction they’re coming from, and then we see them. Meeting us head on as we take a tight bend. There’s only one other biker club that would be screaming around these parts.