Mace (Untamed Sons MC: Birmingham Chapter #1)

25. Mace

TWENTY-FIVE

MACE

Waking up with Maylie draped over me feels unreal. She’s curled on her side, nuzzled against me, soft snores escaping her mouth as she breathes deeply.

I smile, something I haven’t had a lot of call to do in the past. I don’t know why she hasn’t run for the fucking hills, but I ain’t going to question it either.

Slowly, I inch out of bed and pull on my underwear. I hate that I hurt her last night, but knowing I was the first one to have her unlocks some primal caveman thing inside me. I like knowing she’s only been mine, and I don’t care if that makes me a prick.

I leave the room quietly. I don’t hear any movement from the rest of the flat as I go to the bathroom and use the shower. The cubicle is filled with girly scented products, but I find stuff I assume is Toby’s and squirt the gel into my hand.

I can’t stop thinking about Maylie and the way she felt underneath me. Her body was made for sinning, and I can’t wait to sink into her again .

When I finish showering, I head back to the bedroom with a towel wrapped around my waist. I expect Maylie to be awake, but she’s still out, and I don’t have the heart to wake her.

She doesn’t stir by the time I’m dressed, so I slip back out the room and find the kitchen.

I need coffee. I don’t have a lot of vices, but I’m addicted to caffeine. I can’t function without a mug of the shit, and I ain’t even fussy about what kind. Filtered, instant… I don’t care as long as it’s strong.

I hunt through the cupboards, finding what I need, and I’m just debating whether to phone something in for breakfast for us all when Ivy steps into the kitchen.

She stops in the doorway, as if uncertain if she should enter or not. “You want a coffee?” I ask, which seems to break through the ice enough for her to come and sit at the kitchen table.

“Sure.”

I make her a small cup, sliding it on the table and placing the carton of milk and pot of sugar in front of her.

Then I sit at the table. She eyes me, curious and maybe a little hesitant as she reaches for the milk. “Is Maylie okay?”

“Your sister is still sleeping.”

Ivy glances down at her mug, her brow furrowing. “I guess she must be pretty tired of having to carry my shit.” Her smile is wry and self-deprecating.

“I doubt that. She’s your sister, and she wants to take care of you.”

Ivy gives me a disbelieving look as she reaches for a teaspoon to stir her drink. “No one wants to deal with my crap, Mace. I don’t even want to deal with it. ”

In this moment, she seems young, vulnerable, and it pisses me off that she is even in this position. I should have beaten Link harder.

“None of this is your fault. You were taken advantage of by someone who has far more power than you in the dynamic of that relationship.”

I can see she ain’t too keen on hearing that. “I treated my sister like crap.”

“Sweetheart, she forgave you the moment it happened. I’ve got a younger brother and two older siblings. They ain’t mine by blood, but they’re the only family I’ve really got. My sister is a bitch, and I mean that in the fucking nastiest possible way. Julie doesn’t understand anything about my lifestyle, and she blames me for our little brother joining the club.”

Ivy leans forward, curiosity burning in her eyes. “Was it your fault?”

I snort, taking a sip of my coffee. “If he hadn’t joined the club, he’d probably be in prison by now.”

“So, do you not like her?”

“I love her, Ivy. She’s family. I don’t like the way she treats me or Nate, but if she called me in trouble, I’d be there in a heartbeat, because that’s what family does. And you ain’t half as bad as Julie, so Maylie ain’t giving up on you.”

Tears prick her eyes, and I have a moment of panic that she might cry, but she seems to find her strength from somewhere and straightens her spine. “I was just really scared that Link would hurt her. He said if I ever told anyone what was happening, he’d…” She breaks off, closing her eyes. “I don’t want him to hurt my sister. ”

“So, you decided the best thing to do was push her away?” I guess.

She nods. “I felt like I was drowning. Everything was out of my control, and I had no idea how to fix it. I was terrified of not doing what he wanted.”

“You never have to be scared again, Ivy. He’s not going to touch any of you.”

Her eyes lift, fear clouding them. “You don’t know him, Mace. He’s not going to let me go this easily. He’s completely insane, and he loves to control me. This isn’t over… not yet.”

“Hey, you’re safe. I’ll protect you,” I promise.

Her eyes soften as she presses a hand over her small, slightly rounded belly. “I know you’re only doing it because of Maylie, but I’m really grateful.” She sighs. “She really likes you. I’ve never seen her so happy before.”

“I really like her too.”

“She’s not like other people. She gives everything she has to the people she cares about. Please take care of her heart. It’s very easily broken.”

Inwardly, I smile at the warning from the tiny girl in front of me. “I’ve got no intention of hurting your sister, but warning received.”

Toby steps into the kitchen, his hair sticking up in every direction as he yawns loudly. He frowns as he takes us in.

“Why are we all gathered in the kitchen?”

“Does it matter where we’re gathered, dork?” Ivy teases.

He walks to the fridge and opens the door. “I’m starving. ”

“You know anywhere good around here that’ll deliver breakfast?” I ask.

Toby nods enthusiastically. “There’s like four different places that do amazing food.”

“Pick one and we’ll order. Pick something for your sister to eat as well.”

Maylie’s siblings seem to bicker about everything, and picking somewhere to eat becomes an argument.

I’m about to lose my shit when Maylie steps into the kitchen, still wearing my shirt and a pair of leggings that cling to every curve of her body. It feels as if she steals all the air from my lungs as her eyes raise to meet mine. This woman has cast a spell on me, because no one else is ever going to compare to her.

What I don’t like is the hint of shyness from her, as if she’s trying to work out what last night meant to me. I hold a hand out to her, gesturing she should come to me, and I don’t miss the little flicker of relief in her eyes as she crosses the kitchen floor to stand in front of me.

I pull her onto my lap, ignoring her squeals of protest, my arm banding around her waist.

“Mace! There’s a perfectly good chair right there.”

“I like you here,” I say as my nose goes to the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent. She smells of soap and something uniquely her.

I don’t want to play games or overthink every movement I make.

“We’re about to order some food,” I tell her. “You hungry?”

Her hand wraps around mine, which is resting on her stomach. For a moment, the image of a little swell beneath my hand fills my mind. I never thought about kids. How could I be a father when my own parents were fuckin’ disastrous? But the thought of Maylie carrying my baby sends heat scorching along my skin. Fuck, the idea of possessing her in every way is like a lit flame to kerosene.

“I’m starving.” Clearly, the words we had about me paying for shit has sunk in because she doesn’t argue about cost. Instead, she presses a sweet kiss to my cheek, and I want to crush my mouth to hers, but Toby and Ivy are watching us. I don’t care if they see, but I know Maylie will, so I tamp down my needs.

Despite the bickering, I like Maylie’s siblings. They seem like great kids, even with everything happening and everything they’ve lost, and it’s clear to me that Maylie has done a hell of a job raising them.

Maylie manages to get her siblings to order something, and we eat together before the two kids head back to their bedrooms to get dressed and ready for the day. Maylie tries to stand to clear the table, but I keep her in my lap.

“Everything okay?” she asks, and I don’t miss the uncertainty threading her words. “If last night wasn’t what you were expecting?—”

I cut her off before she can even go down that line of thought. “It was everything and more. Don’t ever doubt it.” I kiss her senseless, my body hitting the boiling point as she presses into me. Desperate need pulses through my veins as I grip her nape, tipping her head so I can deepen our kiss. I take my time, my mouth worshiping hers before moving down her neck, sucking on her skin.

She makes me feel drunk on her.

“Thank you for looking after my brother and sister,” she says when we’re forced to pull apart to draw in air.

“Babe, all I did was buy food and make coffee. ”

“I know it seems like that’s all you did, but it means everything to me. I never have someone to pick up the slack.”

Those words hit me in the gut. Logically, I knew that was the case, but hearing her say those words makes me want to take that pressure off her shoulders even more. “Well, it ain’t just you anymore. Are you busy today?” I ask, threading my fingers through her hair.

She lets out a little moan. “If you keep it up, I’m going to fall back asleep. And no, I don’t have anything to do until work later. Toby will spend the day playing on his console, and I’m not sure what Ivy will do, but I doubt she’s going to want to hang out with friends, even if it is the weekend.”

“Would you come somewhere with me?”

“Of course.”

Maylie heads off to get showered while I put in a call to a prospect to come and sit with Ivy and Toby. I also ask him to bring my bike, which I’d left at the clubhouse.

He arrives less than twenty minutes later, handing me the keys, and I give him the rundown about Link.

Maylie appears in the living room just as I’m finished, and my brain almost short circuits. Fuck, she looks incredible. She’s wearing a pair of skinny jeans that hug her body like a second skin. I can’t resist scraping my hand over her arse as she passes me to sit on the sofa.

“Hey,” she says to the prospect as she sinks down. “I’m Maylie.”

The prospect looks to me, unsure if he’s allowed to speak to her, and I give him a slight incline of my head. “Mattias, but everyone calls me Wolf.”

“Do you howl? ”

Wolf looks at me again. You’re on your own with this, kid.

“No, I… uh… wolf in sheep’s clothing?—”

“You got boots?” I interrupt them as she starts to pull on her trainers.

Her brows drawn together. “All girls have boots, Mace. It’s like a staple wardrobe requirement. But what kind of boots do you mean? Ankle, calf-length, knee-high, thigh-high… though I don’t have the latter. My legs are short, and those things don’t fit.”

I scratch my head, waiting until she’s finished rambling. “The first two would be fine. No heels.”

“Okay. I’ll be back in a second.” She leaves the room and reappears a moment later wearing a pair of boots that reach her calves.

“They’ll do.”

“Do you wanna tell me why I need to wear boots?”

“Ain’t safe to be on the back of a bike in trainers.” I hold my hand out to her, and she slips her palm into mine. She’s so delicate, so breakable, and the pressure I feel to keep her safe overwhelms me as I lead her out into the hallway, where she grabs a jacket from the hooks on the wall.

I help her into it before I lift her hand, kissing the back of her knuckles.

My bike is parked up outside, and as we approach, I check to make sure the prospect hasn’t scratched it, but it looks pristine, just as it always does. There’s a second helmet attached to the back that I asked Wolf to bring, and I step into her space, pulling it over her head. Her eyes are wide, almost comically so.

I fasten the chinstrap, aware she’s watching my every move as I check it’s secure on her head. She looks fuckin’ adorable. “Okay, some ground rules to safe ridin’. Lean when I lean. Hold on tight, and trust that I know what I’m doing, so no backseat driving. And don’t touch the pipes. They get hot.”

“Okay. How do we do this ?” She points towards the bike.

I pull my helmet on, securing it in place. “I’ll guide you.”

I throw my leg over the bike, sitting myself comfortably and making sure everything is in position for her to get on safely behind me. Even with my instructions, her movements are tentative, and she uses my shoulders to steady herself as she climbs on behind me. When she sits, the position presses her flush to my back, and my cock twitches as I pull her arms around my waist.

I glance over my shoulder at her, making sure she’s okay before I start the engine.

As soon as the bike vibrates to life, Maylie squeals and tightens her grip around my waist. I grin at the familiar purring sound beneath me. This shit right here is everything. A good woman, my bike, and the open road.

“Hold on tight,” I warn her as I roll off the stand and hit the throttle.

Her hands squeeze around my waist as I filter into the traffic. She feels fucking amazing at my back, and as soon as we have time, I’m taking her on a proper ride. Maylie’s a natural, doing everything I instructed like a perfect passenger, and by the time I pull into the parking area at the home, I know she’d be fine on a longer ride.

I pull into a space and kick the stand down before I cut the engine. Maylie climbs off and stands to the side, undoing the chinstrap so she can pull her helmet off. Her hair is in disarray, but her cheeks are flush with excitement. “That was incredible.”

I climb off the bike, removing my own helmet and fastening it to the lock on the back of the bike before I take Maylie’s helmet and do the same.

“This is why we ride, baby. The freedom, the feel of the wind... whenever I have a shitty day, all I have to do is hit the open road and it all fades into the background for a while.”

She surprises the shit out of me when she grabs me by the front of my kutte and pulls me into her so she can surge to her toes. The kiss is desperate, needy, and I relish every second of it. “Thank you.”

I kiss her knuckles before I guide her towards the building. Her eyes are everywhere as we get closer, but she doesn’t ask any questions, though I can see she’s desperate to.

Ellie is on the desk, and I’m already gritting my teeth when she glances up.

“Come on, Mace. Do you have any idea how much trouble I got into last time?”

“I don’t care,” I say, not bothering to temper my words. “You tell Julie to talk to me if she has a problem with me being here.”

I give Maylie’s hand a tug to get her walking, and we head down the corridor that leads to Maggie’s room.

Once we’re out of earshot of the nurses’ station, she turns to me. “What was that about?”

“My sister, Julie, uses Maggie as a weapon to punish me. She thinks she can stop me from seeing her, but I don’t give a fuck. Ain’t nothin’ that could keep me from visiting. ”

Maylie’s footsteps falter, and I stop walking so she doesn’t fall over. “She does what?”

I expect to see the horror or dismay in her expression, but her face is a myriad of emotions.

“It’s fine. She’s just making a stand. It’s an empty gesture.”

“It’s not fine. It’s downright cruel.”

“Julie’s… complicated. Come on. Come and meet Maggie.”

As we approach the room, I start to get a little nervous. Maggie is such a big part of my past, of the boy I was before I found my strength. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought Maylie here, but when we step into the room and I see Maggie sitting in the chair alone, I know it’s the right choice.

“Maggie?”

She glances around as I say her name, and for a moment, recognition dawns in her eyes. “Mason, I wondered when I’d see you next.”

She knows who I am. Fuck, I didn’t expect that. I can’t remember the last time she had clarity. A lump swells in my throat that I can’t swallow past, and Maylie squeezes my hand, which gives me the strength to sink into a crouch in front of the woman who changed my life. I slip my hands into hers, and she radiates warmth that I’d forgotten existed in those expressive eyes of hers. “Hey.”

She smiles. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” I say, my voice cracking. Fuck, get a grip, Mace . “I brought someone to meet you, Maggie.” Her gaze bounces towards Maylie, who is standing to the side of her chair, her eyes soft and brimming with emotion .

“Hey, Maggie,” she says in her sweet voice. “If I’d known we were coming, I would’ve brought some brownies. I can’t really cook very well, but I’m really good at baking, which is kind of weird because baking and cooking are the same thing, except they’re really not. And I know I get funny looks when I say that, but it’s true. And I’m going to stop talking now.” She clamps her mouth shut, a pink flush spreading up her cheeks. “Sorry. I tend to ramble when I’m nervous.”

“Well, Mason, isn’t she just adorable? How do you two know each other?”

“She’s my old lady.”

I don’t look at Maylie as I say this because I’m not entirely sure she’s going to understand what it means. In my world, that’s a title that has relevance. It gives her protection, and it means the club will take care of her if anything happens to me. More than that, in the eyes of the club, it makes her my wife. Mine.

“She is?” Maggie’s jaw hangs open, and I smirk.

“Yeah, she is.”

“Come closer so I can see you properly.”

She holds her hands out to Maylie, who steps forward and takes them. Maggie directs her around the front of the chair, her eyes scanning every inch of her face. I never thought I would have this moment with Maggie and my woman, and I wonder if this is the universe’s way of approving of this life choice.

“Mace has told me so much about you.”

Maggie lets go of her hands, sitting back in the chair as she laughs. “I’m sure he has plenty of stories, but I’m guessing he probably left out the best ones. Did he tell you he was a little tear-away? I could never get him to behave.”

I roll my eyes. “I was a fucking angel.”

She snorts. “I guess it’s just me remembering the police turning up all the time then, right?” There’s a smile on her face, and she says it as if she doesn’t regret a single moment she had with me. “You’re a good boy, Mason. You always were.”

That damn lump in my throat grows bigger. When I was younger, it pissed me off that I wasn’t born into a family like Maggie’s. I questioned so often what I did wrong to have the life I did, but I’m grateful for even the small amount of time I had with Maggie and the love I felt from her.

“Tell me more about this naughty past of his,” Maylie says, grabbing one of the visitor chairs and pulling it closer.

Maggie smiles, but after a moment, that smile fades and the vacant look I’ve come to recognise as the disease ravaging her mind slides onto her face.

“Are you here to fix the cupboard?”

Maylie glances at me, confusion marring her beautiful face at the sudden change in direction. “That’s still not fixed?” I clear my throat, choking down the emotions that threaten to swallow me.

In some respects, it would be easier if she never had these fleeting moments of clarity. It makes it so much harder when she switches like this.

Maylie takes her hand, and I draw on her strength as she says, “We’ll get it fixed, Maggie. Do you like singing?”

Maggie’s eyes light up. “I love singing.”

To my absolute astonishment, Maylie starts singing some old fucking song, and Maggie joins in. I stare at them both, completely and utterly overwhelmed by Maylie showing so much care and attention to a woman she only just met. I’m transfixed by her, overwhelmed too, and the dead lump in my chest thumps to life the longer they sing.

It’s hard to leave, but I can see Maggie’s getting tired. Maylie leans down and gives Maggie a kiss on the cheek before telling her we’ll be back another time—and she means it. They’re not empty words.

I say my goodbyes, kissing my foster mother on the head before I wrap a blanket around her knees. Fuck, I hate her being here. Nate and I are gonna have to push Julie to fix this shit.

As we step out the room and I close the door behind us, I place a hand on my forehead, which is starting to ache. Maylie steps into my space, her hands seeking my skin under my shirt. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I lie. “I wish you’d known Maggie before. She was the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”

“I can tell that just from talking to her.” She leans her head against my chest, her arms wrapping tight around my back. I hug her to me, soaking in all her warmth and love.

“Come on, let’s get you home before my sister turns up and starts screaming.”