Ryder (Knights Corruption MC Series Book 5)

by S. Nelson

  Tripp had told me on several occasions that he liked when I showed my jealous side, probably because it didn’t happen too often. Not because what he did warranted a reaction, but because it made him feel wanted. Desired. The reverse was not true when the roles were switched, however. My man was typically easygoing, joking around with the best of them, but if he thought someone was hitting on me, his temper would boil over. And sometimes, although not often, he’d gotten physical. It didn’t take much for Tripp to get his point across to other men, because, well . . . he was huge, towering over most people at six four.

  Pulling into the lot, Tripp found a parking space readily enough, turned off the engine and exited the truck. He came around to my side first and took my hand to help me down. We opened the back door and together gathered our son, along with all of the things we’d need to keep him happy for the duration.

  Up ahead, I saw Hawke, Tripp’s brother, talking to a woman. It wasn’t until she turned that I recognized her from a picture Hawke had shown me when he was a little more than tipsy. He was upset over her leaving him to go and stay with her sister. I’d never officially met the woman, but my heart went out to her for what she’d been through.

  “I didn’t know Edana was back,” I blurted, holding Luke close as Tripp and I walked side by side toward the others. The sun hit her hair just so, making me a little envious of her deep red locks.

  “Yeah,” he answered. “He told me there was a possibility she’d show up today, that she might be moving back here.” Tripp slung the baby bag over his shoulder, looking quite the specimen regardless of what he was carrying. Actually, I thought it made him even sexier, but hey, that was just me.

  “Well good. I’m happy for him,” I said, threading my arm through Tripp’s as he led us toward our friends.

  “Are we early?” Tripp asked as we walked up behind his brother and Edana, giving her a hug and kiss on the cheek before he approached his brother, doing that man-hug thingy that guys do.

  “Yeah, but not by much.” Hawke turned his attention to me, giving me a quick kiss before backing up. He glanced toward Edana to see her reaction, but all she did was smile. “Reece, this is Edana. Edana, this is Tripp’s ol’ lady, Reece.”

  “Ol’ lady? We’re still doin’ that?” I laughed as I shook hands with Hawke’s woman. Tripp had referred to me as such a few times, and each time I told him I didn’t care for the phrasing. It made me sound . . . old. He’d shrugged off my protest as if I was being ridiculous. In the grand scheme of things, if that was the worst issue we dealt with, I really had nothing to complain about.

  Lost in my thoughts, I was startled when Jagger snuck up behind us, kissing my cheek before slapping Tripp on the back. Holding out his hands, he wiggled his fingers.

  “Let me see this guy,” he instructed. I passed him Luke, smiling over his enthusiasm over seeing our son. “He’s getting so big.” He jostled him a bit until he’d positioned him just so, causing my heart to skip a beat in fear that’d he’d drop him.

  “You drop my kid and I’ll kick your ass. Don’t care how undefeated you are.”

  Jagger laughed at the threat, turning his attentions away from Tripp and back on Luke.

  “You wanna be a fighter like me when you grow up? Don’t be like your dad. He can’t throw a punch to save his life.”

  Jagger with my son was representative of how most of these men were. Big, tough and loud, yet they all turned into big softies whenever a baby was around.

  Making funny faces at Luke, ignoring the jests of his friends, Jagger’s demeanor changed as soon as Kena joined the group. The way she watched his interaction with our son was borderline hypnotic, and I could only wonder what kinds of thoughts were running through her head. When she caught me staring at her, she smiled.

  He’s so adorable. Jagger’s eyes were glued to hers.

  “Me or Luke?” he teased, moving in to give her a kiss. “Wanna hold him?” A sudden nervousness made her shake her head. “He won’t bite.” Still, she only stood there, extending her hand to caress the side of Luke’s head. “Ya gotta get used to it sometime, babe.”

  Why.

  “Because I’m gonna want one soon, so you might as well get some practice.” He laughed but Kena found his comment anything but funny. In fact, she looked petrified. She dropped her hand to her side and took a step back, giving me a pathetic smile before she turned around and walked away.

  Jagger looked puzzled, confused as to what he’d said wrong. “Here,” he said, handing Luke back to me before he took off after her.

  I laughed. One odd expression from her and he was practically tripping over his feet to find out why.

  “Where’s he goin’?” Tripp asked, and I just shrugged. When I didn’t answer, he added, “Looks like he probably stuck his foot in his mouth.” He leaned down and planted a loving kiss on my lips. “Been there . . . done that.”

  “You can say that again,” I laughed.

  As I turned back around to watch Jagger chase after his future, I knew mine had already arrived.

  Gifting me with every possible dream I hadn’t even known I’d wanted.

  Jagger

  “Babe, stop.” Damn, she’s quick. “Kena!” I finally caught up to her right before she disappeared into one of the bedrooms in the back of the clubhouse. Spinning her around, I asked, “What’s the matter? What did I say?” I tried to pull her close, but she pushed me back, her hands resting on my chest to give her some space.

  When I finally retreated, she dropped her hands to her sides, looking at the ground as if she feared looking at my face. Paranoia and uncertainty swirled inside me, and instead of blowing off her odd reaction to my joke a few moments before, I continued to press her for a response.

  “Are you ever going to answer me?”

  She picked her head up, her beautiful eyes looking lost. The longer we stood in silence, the worse I felt, a bead of nervous sweat appearing on my brow. “If you don’t answer me, I’m gonna start to think the worst, and considering I have no idea why you’re upset, my mind is gonna create some off-the-wall scenarios.” I tried to laugh but the sound fell short.

  She lifted her hands and signed, You want to have a baby?

  “Is that what this is all about?” Another failed laugh fell from my mouth. We’d talked about having kids in passing, more so over the past few months, but nothing serious had ever been decided. I wasn’t even twenty-five yet, so there was no rush. But eventually, I’d want to start my own family, especially after seeing how happy my brothers were with their kids.

  I see the way your eyes light up whenever one of our friend’s kids are around.

  “So?”

  So, I don’t want to feel rushed to get knocked up. Her expression morphed into anger, the reason for her sudden change in mood rather confusing.

  “Jagger!” I turned my head to the side and saw Tripp enter the clubhouse. When he caught my eye, he said, “We’re startin’ in like fifteen.” He jerked his head toward Kena who was standing across from me in the hallway, a frown on his face as if to ask if everything was all right. I nodded.

  Grabbing her hand, I pulled her toward a bedroom, kicking the door closed behind me. I knew if I didn’t get her out of her own head, whatever story she was concocting was gonna fester and turn a simple joking statement into something a lot more serious, and unnecessarily so. Advancing toward her left her no option but to back away from me, the backs of her thighs hitting a short dresser against the wall. Nothing except a few motorcycle magazines laid on top, so with a quick swipe of my hand I cleared the items, grabbed her waist and set her on top of it. Spreading her legs, her black and white striped dress riding up her thighs, I moved in between.

  “Don’t do this. I don’t wanna fight with you, so stop overthinkin’ shit.” I rested my hand on the side of her neck, her pulse thrumming under my fingertips. She licked her lips, and I did something I probably shouldn’t have, considering where we were and that I had limited amount of time alon
e with my woman. Running my free hand up the inside of her leg, she fidgeted briefly before I pushed aside her white satin panties and teased her with my finger. Even annoyed with me, she was always wet and ready.

  Kena attempted to stop me, her hand grabbing mine under her dress, but her efforts were feeble at best. When she knew I wasn’t gonna give up, she leaned back on the dresser, braced herself and spread her legs farther apart.

  “Let’s get these off you,” I coaxed, helping her to rise off the dresser before drawing her panties down her legs and tossing them to the ground. “We only have a few minutes so we have to be quick, and we need to be quiet.” She looked at me and just shook her head before pointing to her throat. “Okay,” I corrected. “I have to be quiet.”

  Fumbling with my belt, I unzipped my pants and pushed them down my legs, pulling her toward the edge of the dresser. The moment I thrust inside her was perfection, and seconds later her short pants of air told me she was already well on her way to exploding. Her fingers tangled in my hair as I tried to show her how much I loved her.

  “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I do want kids with you.” Not the sexiest of talk, but I needed her to hear me, and I knew that while Kena was in the throes of passion, she wouldn’t be locked up inside her head. Her body stilled as she stared at me, her pussy clenching down on me while I tried to keep some semblance of composure. “It’s gonna happen. Not today, not tomorrow. Maybe not even next year, but you will have my babies.” She opened her mouth, the action pointless since she couldn’t speak. When she realized what she’d done, she raised her hands in front of her, but before she could sign a single word, I grabbed them and held them to my chest. “I would never rush you,” I affirmed, needing her to know that while my mind was made up, she could take the time she needed to come around to the idea.

  She struggled for me to release her hands, and when I did, she signed something I hadn’t expected. I’m scared.

  “What are you scared of?”

  That our child will have my ‘challenge’. She used air quotes on the last word.

  “You know what happened to you isn’t hereditary, right?” She gave me a slow nod. “Then what’s really bothering you?”

  She took a moment before raising her hands.

  I want to be married before I have children, Jagger. And I know we’re nowhere ready for that step yet, so when you make comments about having kids, I think you just want to skip right over that part altogether.

  Okay, I could honestly say I didn’t expect that either.

  I was still buried inside her, although we’d stopped moving in order to have our little conversation. But after what she’d just said, I knew it was as good a time as any to let her in on what I’d been thinking about for the past month. Perfect timing and all.

  Pulling her hips toward me, I surprised her with the sudden movement, her hands flying to my shoulders to steady herself.

  “Marry me, then. Agree to be my wife.”

  She looked shocked, and I couldn’t say I blamed her. I hadn’t planned on proposing so soon, but after what she’d said, I had no idea why I’d been waiting.

  Are you asking only because of what I just told you?

  “Of course not. I love you and don’t want to wait anymore to start the rest of our life together.”

  I could tell she was thinking about my response, and for a moment I thought she was gonna turn me down. I wouldn’t lie; my heart fell into my stomach waiting for her answer. But when she cradled my face in her hands and brought my mouth to hers, kissing my lips in the most tender of moments, I knew her answer in an instant.

  I pulled back so I could see her beautiful face. “Was that a yes?”

  Her face lit up with the biggest smile I think I’d ever seen. She mouthed “yes” at the same time she signed her answer.

  It was in that moment that I knew my life would never be the same again. Yes, I knew Kena was mine, that she was the woman I couldn’t live without, but her agreeing to be my wife shoved our love toward a whole other realm of happiness.

  Kena

  What just happened? Just moments ago, I’d been upset with Jagger’s jokes about having kids. While I knew I’d blown the situation all out of proportion, the thought of having children with him without being married was something that bothered me. I realized I seemed old-fashioned, knowing people didn’t worry about getting hitched these days in order to have kids, but it was something I wanted for me. To have babies with my husband, not my boyfriend.

  I wasn’t sure why my feelings on the subject were so steadfast. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that if we were married, he couldn’t walk away as easily as if we weren’t.

  Or maybe I was scared about the whole idea in general and I was making stuff up to justify my walking away from him in front of Tripp and Reece.

  Everything had changed, though.

  Jagger had just asked me to marry him.

  To be his wife.

  And I accepted.

  He started to move inside me again, his lips finding the area below my ear that he knew drove me crazy. He cradled my neck in one hand, the other grabbing my ass and pulling me toward him every time he thrust forward.

  “Baby,” he moaned. “You’ve made me so fuckin’ happy.” He pulled back so he could see my face. Sometimes I wished I had the ability to speak, to hear my voice say his name, or to tell him that what he did to my body drove me to the heavens and back. But all I had were facial expressions, body language and the flutter of my hands.

  I love you. Those three words summed up everything for me, and I hoped they were enough.

  Jagger’s mouth covered mine, his tongue sweeping past my lips, the urgency in his kiss telling me his body was building toward release. The soft moans that escaped him sent my desire for him so high I feared I’d never come back down. He was certainly talented, although seeing as how he was the only man I’d ever been with I didn’t have anything to compare it to. But I couldn’t imagine anyone else treating me so tenderly yet laying claim to me at the same time.

  Each thrust of his hips sparked a fire, my body trembling the closer I came to pure bliss. When his thumb found my clit, I rocked my hips toward him with more urgency, the bubble of ecstasy spiraling through my entire body. I wanted him to see what he did to me, to make sure he witnessed my unraveling. Twisting strands of his dark blond hair around my fingers, I stared into his beautiful amber-colored eyes, his pupils darkening the harder he fucked me, the back of the dresser banging against the wall with each twitch of his hips.

  My lips parted as the all-too-familiar tingling threatened to split me apart, short pants of air fanning his face as I desperately tried to catch my breath.

  “Are you gonna come?”

  I was barely able to nod before my orgasm hit me with such force I threw my head back and pulled him with me, still holding onto him for dear life. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, biting my skin as he took me with wild abandon, his cock thickening and stretching me even wider. He grunted out his release, the sound amplified in the barely furnished room.

  It took a few moments before Jagger composed himself enough to back away, slowly uncurling my fingers from his hair. I hadn’t even realized I was still holding him.

  “Damn, woman, I think you may still have some of my hair in your hands.” He rubbed the sides of his head, teasing me when he made a pained expression. Gifting me another kiss, he took a step back and looked around the room for something to use to wipe away our sex. There was nothing, so he picked up my panties, wiped me clean and tucked the material inside his pants pocket.

  Once he helped me to my feet, I signed, I thought you were supposed to be quiet.

  He laughed, the tiny dimple in his cheek appearing and making me melt all over again.

  “Seems like I can’t control myself around you,” he admitted. He took a breath to say something else but a knock at the door interrupted him.

  “Kena? Jagger? You in there?” My sister
. The handle jiggled but thankfully the door was locked. “Hello?”

  I smoothed down my dress before opening the door. Jagger was busy tucking himself back into his pants when I came face-to-face with Braylen.

  As soon as she saw me, she smiled. “They’re here,” she announced, briefly looking down the hallway before turning her attention back to me. She tried to look past me into the room, but I blocked her view. “Don’t let Ryder find out that you guys escaped to have sex or I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  “The end of what?” Ryder asked, appearing out of nowhere. He pushed the door open with ease, not a care that maybe his friend wasn’t dressed, but somehow I doubted he cared.

  “What the fuck?” Ryder shouted, shooting my sister an annoyed look. She thought the situation was rather amusing. Her laughter seemed to irritate him, although I suspected he was playing it up more than anything. “Oh, you think that’s funny? That he gets to have sex while we’re waitin’ but I can’t?”

  She laughed harder, leaning up on her tippy toes to kiss him.

  “Poor baby,” she cooed. “I’ll make it up to you later.”

  “You’re damn right you will.” Looking back toward us, more so at Jagger than at me, he said, “Let’s go, brother. Time to get started.” Then just as quickly as they’d appeared, they left, leaving us to assemble ourselves enough to be seen back in public. I was sure my face was flushed, but thankfully Jagger hadn’t messed up my hair, the long dark strands still in perfect curls down my back.

  Are you ready?

  He grabbed my hand and ran the pad of his finger over the area near my knuckle. “I’ll get a ring and make it official.”

  I don’t need a ring to make it official.

  “But I want you to have one. Besides, I want you to make all the other women jealous.” He gave me the sweetest kiss. “And hopefully it’ll spur things along with your sister and that bastard she likes to call her man.”