Wrath (Dirty Soul MC: Long Beach #2)

Chapter 29

One Week Later

“ Y ou're as ready as you're gonna get,” Troj tells me as he grabs us both a water. I don’t feel very fuckin’ ready. My lungs are burning, my limbs ache and I can barely catch my breath.

I look at all three sweaty brothers who have just put me through my paces, one after the other and I’m hoping on the day of the tournament, adrenaline is gonna get me through because right now I’m exhausted.

“You’re lookin’ good. If you and Troj went head to head properly, I even think you could take him,” Storm grins as he pulls on his shirt and checks his phone.

“You get the message from Jessie?” He looks over to Troj, who’s busy unbinding his knuckles.

“No, is it serious?” He frowns.

“Not yet, but he wants us to head back.” Storm lifts up his training bag and slides it over his shoulder. “It’s been good trainin’ with ya, maybe when this is done we could have a little in-house tournament,” he suggests.

“Thanks for everythin’.” I smack my palm into his then look to Troj.

“I mean it, this week’s been tough, but I’ve needed it. I appreciate ya coming out here.”

“Let us know how it goes.” Troj slaps my back before him and Storm head out, leaving me and Ruckus alone.

“You look beat.” My best friend laughs.

“You try takin’ on three 6ft fighters back to fuckin’ back.” I sit myself down on one of the weight benches.

“Troj is right, though, you're ready.” He turns serious as he rests on the bench opposite me. I get the impression he’s about to say something deep but when the door bursts open and Eden marches inside like a hurricane it silences him.

“We need to talk.” She’s looking panicked so I immediately stand up and go to her.

“What's up?” I check her over to make sure she ain’t hurt.

“It’s personal.” Her eyes pass over my shoulder to Ruckus who immediately takes the hint and stands up.

“Say no more, I’m outta here.” He holds up both his hands, before grabbing his cut and heading for the door and I wait for him to be gone before I look back to Eden.

“How did ya get here?” I ask, knowing that everyone at the club is busy. Raze has led Vike, Saul, Saint, and Tawk out on a run, while Dev and Rocco are stuck on compound security. The gates need to be maned 24/7 and so does the beach, it’s a two-man job which means there ain’t nobody free to have driven my old lady here.

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is–”

“You drove here yourself?” I check, feeling frustration burn my aching muscles.

“I had to talk to you.” She tries making it sound as if that's a reasonable excuse.

“Eden, how many times do I have to tell you that it ain’t safe? There is a murderer targetin’ women out there…A murderer that we got every reason to believe is Cliff.”

“Are you still fucking the club whores?” she blurts out, her lips wobbling as tears start taking over the rage in her eyes.

“Am I what?” I laugh at her.

“Are you fucking those girls at the club that, you know…?” She gets that prissy little look on her face that only shows itself once in a while.

“And what would make you think that?” I fold my arms over my chest and wait for her answer.

“Aaron, it’s been a whole week since we last…” Her cheeks turn pink and, as annoyed as I am at her suggestion, I can’t help finding her adorable.

“Darlin’ I’m not fuckin’ anyone else, I’m trainin’ for a real big fight, and sex is off the cards. I gotta stay focused, keep my–”

“Don’t do it!” she interrupts me, taking my hand and squeezing it in hers.

“Aaron, I don’t need to own Katie Sullivan designs. I can start again.”

“No, you worked hard for that name, you built a reputation.”

“And I’ll build it back up. Aaron, even if I buy the business foff Mark, I would struggle to pay the lease on the studio each month. I’m not gonna be invited to those parties anymore, and honestly, I don’t care. I can let it go, along with everything else because I’m happy with you. The happiest I’ve ever been.” She smiles up at me, and I appreciate what she’s sayin’ but nothing but the best is good enough for her.

“I’m winnin’ this fight, and you're buyin’ that business,” I point my finger at her.

“But why put yourself through all this? Even if you win, you're still likely to get hurt. I don’t want that on my conscience.”

I drop my finger and move away from her because I don’t want to get into this.

“Aaron, don’t be like that, we have to talk about this. I’m standing here telling you that I don’t need the business, I don’t want you to fight. Just stop being so stubborn and–”

“I have to fight!” I raise my voice far too loud as I turn around and when I see a glimpse of fear in her eyes, I try to calm myself down. “I have to fight because I let you down once and I won’t do it again,” I release the words and take a breath. “I am gonna go to that tournament and beat every single person that stands as an obstacle between you gettin’ what ya need.”

“I’m trying to tell you that I don’t need it.” She closes the gap I’ve put between us. “I don’t want you to fight. I want you to listen to me. I can start again. I can be Eden Ashford.”

“No, ya can’t.” I shake my head, because as optimistic as she is, she still doesn’t fuckin’ get it. “You can’t because Eden Ashford is a biker’s old lady, and unfortunately there’s a fuckin’ stigma that comes with that title. D’ya think all these big Hollywood directors are gonna want you on their sets? They won’t see anythin’ past me, or this club. They won’t see the talent ya got, and I am not gonna be responsible for takin’ that away from ya.” I let out everything I’ve been too scared to admit, even to myself. “If I don't do this tournament, I destroy your life all over again. I won’t do that.”

“Aaron.” Her hand reaches up to stroke my face “I’ve got everything I’ve wanted for the past ten years, right in front of me. I love working the big jobs, but at the end of the day, all I want to do is design. It doesn’t have to be Hollywood or the big screen.” Her eyes are glistening as she smiles at me.

“I’m not lettin’ another man dictate how your future goes,” I tell her, suddenly feeling very fuckin’ territorial. This girl may be determined and strong, but at the end of the day, she’s still mine to care for. She should never have come here without protection. Before she can argue, I drag her lips onto mine and fill her mouth with my tongue. Then backing her up toward the ring, I wait until her ass hits the cage and grip both her hands so I can pin ‘em behind her head. “It wasn’t safe for ya to come here alone,” I remind her, biting her lip and letting her feel how fuckin’ hard I am for her. This week has been so fuckin’ difficult, lying beside her in bed every night knowing I have to hold off, has felt impossible.

“You should never have fuckin’ doubted that I would want anyone else.” I take both her wrists in one hand, while my other slides down her body and lifts her skirt up over her waist. I torture myself a little harder when I hook a finger into her panties and let it slip between her pussy lips.

“Aaron.” The way she wiggles her hips against me is so needy and desperate, it proves she’s been suffering as much as I have.

“I told ya I’m not him, anymore,” I tease her sensitive flesh with slow, gentle strokes.

“I’m Wrath, now. I can protect ya and take care of ya and I can fuckin’ fight,” I whisper in her ear as she soaks my fingers. “Say it. Say it and I’ll slide these fingers inside ya.” I circle her entrance, loving the way it pulses to be filled.

“Wrath.” I feel my spine tingle when she says my road name for the first time and then I fulfill my promise and feed her tight, little hole two of my fingers. The relieved moan she makes has my cock leaking into my sweatpants.

“That’s right, baby, you’re so fuckin’ wet for me.”

“Fuck me,” she begs, as my fingers continue to stroke inside her channel.

“I can’t.” I shake my head and kiss her some more, her desperation is infectious, and right now, the fact that she really is the forbidden fuckin’ fruit is makin’ me wanna sin.

“Please, Wrath, just fuck me.” Her pleasure spills down my fingers and soaks my hand, as her walls clamp around my fingers, begging to be filled.

“I wish I could.” I press my thumb against her clit and rub her there too.

“I’m so close,” she whispers and I squeeze the wrists I have pinned above her head a little tighter when I think about how easy it would be to take out my cock and push it inside her.

“Let me come on your cock, Wrath,” she whispers against my lips, and her request must be the calling to the devil because I fall for the temptation.

“Hold onto the cage.” I release her wrists and push down my sweatpants; and when my cock unleashes, it leaves a smear of precum on the pretty skirt she’s wearing.

“You fuckin’ asked for this,” I warn, lifting up her legs to wrap around my hips then reaching under her thighs so I can tug her panties to the side, and clear a path for me to ease myself inside her.

“Oh, fuck!” she curses, her head pressing back against the cage as she grips her fingers between the mesh. Watching her lose control makes the fact I ain’t got a handle on my own seem much less scary.

Raising my hand, I slide my fingers between hers and the mesh, using it as leverage to thrust myself in and out of her.

I press my forehead against her temple, breathing in the scent of her and listening to her sweet, little pants as she gets filled to her fuckin’ limit. I have to keep reminding myself that I’m mad at her. Not only has she put herself in danger by coming here but she’s prepared to settle for less than perfect. That won’t fuckin’ do.

Add to all that, the fact she’s somehow got me going against the rules. I have every right to be angry.

Everyone knows you don’t fuck before a big fight, and here I am just two days away, with my cock buried as deep inside this little temptress as I can get it.

“You’re a bad influence,” I whisper in her ear, watching her mouth drop open as I hold my cock still inside her. Her body continues to move against mine, trying to get some friction but I intend to make her suffer.

“My cock should not be inside ya right now,” I grit through my teeth, as I feel her hot, little snatch pulsing around me. “You should not be here,” I remind her, taking her ear lobe between my teeth and biting down. She groans as her walls clench me a little tighter. “And Eden, you are gonna let me fuckin’ fight.”

Her head suddenly turns so we’re nose to nose. “I mean it. You have to let me do this. I couldn’t fight for you then, but I can now, and I promise ya, I will fuckin’ win.” I wait for her to argue or try to talk me out of it, but instead, she grabs my face and kisses me. I don’t need words to know how she’s feeling, the way she kisses me says it all. She’s mad at me too, she doesn’t like it, but she does understand.

I start thrusting inside her again, faster and harder than I ever have before. I don’t need to be gentle with this woman, she’s proved she’s tough. I know she’s strong and she doesn’t need me for a damn thing. She’s letting me into her life despite all my faults, not because she has to but because she wants to, and I will never take that for granted.

“I’m gonna come again,” she tells me and I quickly pull outta her, dropping to my knees and ripping the panties down her hips so I can get my mouth on her pussy. My tongue goes wild between her folds and I look up to watch her lose herself again. Her hips bucking wildly against my face, as her whimpers echo around the empty gym room.

All I can taste is her pleasure and, although my cock is throbbing, desperate for a release of its own, I won’t do anything to jeopardize the fight.

I wait until my girl’s finally finished coming all over my tongue before I slowly move back up her body, and kiss her so she can taste for herself how fuckin’ sweet she is.

“Come on, I’ll take ya home.” I grip her jaw in my hand and admire how her lips glisten from her own pleasure.

“But you didn’t…”

“That's how much I wanna win.” I smack another kiss on her lips before taking her hand and leading her toward the door.

“Wait.” She slows me down as she tugs back with one hand and fidgets with her skirt with the other. “You can’t not finish, Aaron. It’ll be–”

“Torture, unbearable, frustrating as hell,” I finish up her sentence for her as I grab her hip and pull her closer.

“You better pray for those fuckers that come up against me.” I smile, lifting my cut from the hook by the door before we head out.

“I’m gonna go check on Anita and Jenika.” Eden stretches up on her toes to kiss me after sliding off my saddle. I’ll leave it to Rocco to retrieve Alicia’s car for her later since it was him who was meant to be guarding the gate when she left.

“I’ll be in the clubhouse.” I drag her back for one more kiss before she heads up the stairs toward their rooms. When I move toward the clubhouse door, Trinity quickly drags herself away from one of our regular hangouts and steps in front of me.

“The girls have been wondering what you're gonna do about our protection.” She makes a point of looking down at the bare torso that’s beneath my cut.

“Measures are bein’ taken, the front gate and the beach are covered, so long as ya stay around this area ya should be safe.” I go to move on but she stops me.

“I just think we’d all feel a lot more comfortable if we had some company on the first floor.” Her fingers reach out to touch me and I grab her wrist before she gets the chance.

“Like I said, we’re all takin’ measures.” I shove her hand away and move past her, opening the door and heading to the bar. I see no sign of Raze, yet all the bikes of the members who went on the run are back in the yard.

“Where's the boss?” I ask Saint and Saul, who both look beat.

“In his office talkin’ to Monkhouse,” Saint informs me.

“Senior or Junior?” I check. Paul Monkhouse was the club lawyer before Cliff’s behavior made him quit. He’s retired now, but his son has agreed to take over handling our legal business since Raze came back. I don’t think either of them being here should be taken as a good sign.

“Junior. You shoulda seen the way his eyes popped out when Trinity stuck his finger in her mouth and sucked it.” Saul laughs. “I’ll bet he jizzed his silk boxers over it.” I try not to think about that as I move over to check in with Dev.

“Who's coverin’ the beach?” I check.

“Ruckus just took over,” he answers, staring over to the table where his kid brother is doing his homework with his girlfriend.

“Is there a reason why they’re here?” I ask, knowing how much Dev hates Corey hanging out.

“Safer than bein’ at home, I guess,” he shrugs. “I got duty here, and if what you all say about Cliff wantin’ revenge is true, he’s the only way to get to me.”

“And what about Long Beach's very own little darlin’?” I flick my eyes over to Corey’s girlfriend. She is not the kind of girl you’d expect to find hanging around here. Her daddy is tied up pretty tight in politics and I bet he’d bust a nut if he knew where she was.

“Them two kinda come as a package these days.” He shakes his head looking unimpressed.

“Can’t blame the kid, she’s a fine piece of ass.” Vike joins us, checking out Corey’s girl.

“And far too young for you. Come on, the girl’s barely turned eighteen,” Dev warns him.

“Why am I gettin’ the impression ya don’t like her?” I laugh.

“I don’t like anythin’ that takes my brother's focus off his studies,” Dev answers flatly, and when the door to Raze’s office opens, he steps out with Connor Monkhouse, the young lawyer glances nervously around the room.

“Don’t worry, Trin’s outside.” Saul steps up behind him and shakes his shoulders. “You know the benefits of workin’ for the club is that you can get better acquainted with her if ya want,” he points out.

“I have a fiancée,” Connor smiles gratefully.

“Dev, Connor here's gonna give ya some names and addresses. His father’s retirement has left some clients with outstandin’ debts. I’ve assured him you can get the balances settled,” Raze explains, and Dev nods his head at Connor.

“Well, if that’ll be all I should go, I’ve got dinner at the in-laws tonight.” He pushes his glasses up his nose and heads for the door, and when Trinity steps through it just before he can reach it, he freezes.

“Where ya going, big boy?” She lifts up his tie with her finger and teases him.

“I, um, I…I have a dinner booked with my fiancée’s family.” He swallows nervously.

“Tell her from me, she’s a lucky girl.” Trinity licks her lips before moving past him and taking a seat in her usual booth.

“He’s gonna have to tug one out before that dinner.” Saul laughs to himself once he’s left.

“Speakin’ of…how ya holdin’ up?” Vike looks up to me before he kicks his feet up on the table and rests back.

“I’m holdin’ up just fine,” I lie, mainly because my old lady’s brother is standing right fuckin’ beside me.

“Can’t be easy, you’ve spent every night in your girl’s motel room this week, ya mean to tell me you ain’t slipp–”

“ No one is slippin’ nothin’,” Raze interrupts sternly. “Wrath knows what a challenge this flight is gonna be, anythin’ we can do to give us an edge is important.”

“I’ve never believed in that theory.” Saul shrugs, taking a seat beside Dev.

“And how many fights have you won?” Raze asks, shutting Saul the fuck up and when he also takes a seat beside us, I can tell he’s got something important to say.

“I need someone I can trust to head out to Sacramento.” He looks between us.

“Why’s that, boss?” Saul instantly looks suspicious.

“I’m glad you asked. Kenny called earlier, said his contact had to leave town for a few weeks to deal with some family shit. I want eyes on the place, I’m figurin’ since ya did such a good job workin’ undercover for Jimmer last year, it should be you.” Raze’s eyes fall on Saul.

“Me?” He suddenly looks nervous.

“Yeah, you. Ruck told me ya spent a few weeks in town pretendin’ to be some kinda history journalist. The townspeople already know ya, you gave ‘em no reason to doubt ya. I figure you head back to town, stay in the same hotel, and see if ya hear anythin’ new.” Raze explains.

“Yeah, but I got Alicia to worry about. I shouldn’t be leavin’ her, not with the baby comin’.” I can tell Saul really doesn’t wanna do it.

“Saul, you’ve got months before ya need to worry about that shit, and if you're that worried, Alicia can stay here. The girls will love takin’ care of her.” Raze proves he ain’t having no excuses.

“I don’t know, what if someone recognizes me? Last time I went, we hadn’t come face-to-face with any of ‘em.”

“And any Reaper you came face-to-face with since, has been killed. Saul, we need as much intel as we can get on this, they’re gettin’ too close to home. You’re the man for the job.” Raze puts an end to the conversation.