Max (Ride Series Second Generation Book 6) Read online

  He slid out of me gently, watching my face the entire time. I gave him a smile, assuring him I was okay. “Let’s take a bath.” He pulled me up off the bed and toward the bathroom. “It’ll help with the soreness.”

  I would have rather stayed in bed, but I could tell he needed to take care of me, so I nodded and followed him into the bathroom.

  Once we slipped into the bubbles, I leaned back against his chest with a pleasure-filled moan. He’d been right. The warm water immediately reduced the ache between my legs.

  He wrapped his arms around me, kissing my jaw as we lay in comfortable silence. I took his large hand in mine, tracing over the rough patches earned from working on his bike and lifting weights to the soft patch on the top of his hand, never having felt so content.

  “Did you find out anything?” I asked quietly.

  His body noticeably stiffened under mine. “Let’s talk about it later.”

  “Bu—” I started to protest.

  He squeezed me, gently kissing my neck. “I’ll tell you what I know but later. Right now, I want to hold your sexy-as-fuck, soapy little body against mine and hope the bath soothes you enough so I can take you again and then make you some dinner.”

  I barely suppressed a moan and decided I could wait to find out any details he’d learned. Tonight was about Max and me.

  Chapter 25

  MAX

  I sipped coffee on the back deck the next morning, staring out over the landscape as the sun rose above the mountains to the east. I’d needed to get out of bed—it was too tempting to take Wren again, and I knew she was sore.

  Last night had been one of the best of my life. She’d given herself to me so willingly. Nothing better.

  I watched the dogs sniffing their way through their territory, ever watchful as Frank hopefully unsuccessfully hunted for mice.

  The door slid open behind me, and I turned to watch Wren step toward me dressed in nothing but one of my tees and panties.

  I pulled her into my side, grabbing her ass as I took her mouth in what I’d intended to be a soft kiss but quickly turned out to be much more.

  “You weren’t in bed,” she accused when we finally broke apart, her lips swollen and pink.

  “You’re sore, and if I’d stayed, I don’t think I could have helped myself,” I admitted ruefully.

  She smiled, clearly pleased. “What’s on for today?”

  I shrugged. “Was hoping we could take it easy. There’s a thing at the club tonight, but we can go only if we feel like it.”

  “That sounds great,” she agreed. “What are those brochures on the counter?”

  “Kevin dropped by some patio door design ideas yesterday. I was waiting for you to have a look at them.”

  “Me? Why?”

  “So I don’t pick something you don’t like,” I replied, as though it should be obvious, and it should be.

  “Max, it’s your house.” She still sounded utterly confused.

  “No.” I shook my head slowly, calling for patience. “It’s our house. It became your house when you moved in, before that even.” I stepped closer to her cupping her jaw in my hands, tipping her face up to look at me. “Figured you’d know that since you let me inside you last night, since I’m the only man that has ever been there or will ever be there, and since you love me and I love the fuck out of you, that you’re mine in every sense of the word.”

  I watched the pulse kick in her neck as a gorgeous blush tinged her cheeks.

  “If you don’t like it here, then we can find a different place, but gotta tell you, babe, I like the space and the quiet.”

  “I love it here too, Max.”

  “So, you get me?” I prompted with a swat to her backside.

  “I get you,” she replied with a gorgeous smile.

  I grinned, knowing I smiled so much more often now that she was in my life. “Great. Now, will you please go pick some doors? I hate doing that shit,” I grumbled.

  “Bossy,” she muttered without ire.

  “Your cross to bear, sweetheart.”

  ****

  When we walked into the club later that night, hand in hand, Wren was almost immediately pulled away by Ginnie, X’s woman, chattering something about the salon.

  With her purple hair and sleeve of tattoos, Ginnie had never been afraid to stand out or to speak up. She and X were perfect together.

  I watched Wren go, eyeing her delicious ass I’d sunk my teeth in the night before, the memory the only perk of her walking away from me.

  “Max, wasn’t sure you’d make it out,” X goaded as he handed me a beer.

  “A warm, soft woman or you assholes? It was a tough choice.” I snorted.

  He grinned, clinking his beer with mine. “I know exactly what you mean,” he replied, his eyes on Ginnie.

  “Mad around?” I asked, surveying the room packed with club members, old ladies, and a few cherries.

  “Out back. Scar made her ribs, so I was just headed that way.” X tilted his head toward the back patio where a fire pit was lit and the barbeque was getting a workout. Cole’s wife, Scarlet, made the best damn ribs I’d ever had. But that wasn’t what I was focused on tonight.

  That source of Mad’s had been bothering me ever since the attack at my house. I wanted to know who it was to make sure we didn’t get caught with our pants down again.

  “There aren’t many left,” Maddox said by way of greeting as he mowed through the last rib on his plate.

  “I’m good,” I declined. “I wanted to talk to you.”

  Sensing my mood, he stood up straighter, dropping the rib on his plate. “What about?”

  “Your source,” I replied. “Bad information almost got my woman snatched. I want to know who it is.”

  He cocked his head to the side, his gray eyes assessing me. “No.”

  “No?” I demanded as X and Gunner joined our tense discussion.

  “What’s going on?” Gun asked.

  “I want to know who Mad’s source is,” I told him.

  Mad sighed, running a hand over his whiskers. “Listen, I understand why you’d be pissed.” He was clearly trying to diffuse the situation. “But that information? It had nothing to do with my source. She was fed wrong information herself.”

  “It’s a she?” I demanded, incredulously.

  Maddox winced. Clearly, he hadn’t meant to share that piece of information. “Fuck. Yes, it’s a she,” he acknowledged. “And she’s risking her ass telling me anything. All her intel up until now has been good. I promised I’d protect her identity, even from you, and I intend to keep that promise.”

  I cocked my head to the side, studying my friend. “You have feelings for this woman?”

  He looked torn as to how to respond. “It’s complicated.”

  “Isn’t it always?” Gunner snorted.

  Mad eyed me steadily. “My feelings have nothing to do with her intentions, which I know are pure. I trust her, Max. I need you to take my word on it. I’m not telling you who she is.”

  “Fine,” I agreed after a pause. The truth was, I trusted Maddox implicitly. Though that wouldn’t stop me from digging deeper the next time we got intel.

  “Thank you,” he replied seriously.

  “Phew, now that’s over, let’s have a fucking drink, yeah?” Gunner chortled, always the first to try to lighten the mood.

  “Yeah,” I agreed as Wren slipped under my arm. Instantly, my mood lightened. “Hi, babe. What are you girls up to?”

  “Not much. I’m going to spend part of the morning at the salon with Ginnie and Grace tomorrow,” she shared as Ginnie sidled up to X, and he promptly pulled her in close.

  I looked at my girl, not eager to have anything change about her appearance. “What are you doing at the salon?”

  “Don’t worry. You’ll like whatever we do.” Ginnie tried to reassure me with a wink.

  “You don’t need to change anything. You’re perfect,” I mumbled grumpily.

  Wren laughed a bit u
ncomfortably. “I’m glad you think so.”

  I knew so but sensed I’d embarrass her if I pressed the subject. “We’ll need to get a man on you. I have shit to do for a few hours in the morning, but I can take over in the afternoon.”

  “I can do it,” X offered. I wasn’t surprised; it would give him an excuse to be close to Ginnie, even if that meant hanging around the salon.

  “Okay, well now that the babysitters are lined up, we can live our lives,” Wren mumbled.

  I kissed her temple. “It’s temporary, babe. Not that I won’t always want to follow you around,” I added.

  I was only partially kidding.

  “I know.” She sighed. “I just hate feeling like a burden.”

  “It’s not a problem,” X was quick to assure her, and I shot him a grateful look. “I need to get my tips frosted anyway,” he added, pointing to his bald head.

  Ginnie rolled her eyes with a grin. “Yeah, babe. While we’re at it, we’ll get in that time machine and go back to when that was actually cool.”

  “And to when you had hair,” Cash put in with a grin.

  “Fuck off,” X rumbled without malice, grabbing the last of the ribs, the ultimate revenge.

  Chapter 26

  WREN

  “You look hot,” Gracie assured me the next morning as she blew out my hair after a cut that had left me with badass layers and sideswept bangs.

  “I love it.” I beamed at her. Grace was hell on wheels with scissors. I was proud of my friend and all too happy to reap the benefits.

  The salon was beautiful, with a sleek modern design and top-of-the-line products.

  “We should go out tonight!” she exclaimed, looking over at Ginnie who was cutting hair at the station to the right.

  “We totally should,” Ginnie agreed readily.

  “I’m not sure Max will be cool with that,” I hedged, fretting. “He’s been in super vigilance mode.” I grimaced, knowing it was warranted given the danger I was in.

  “We’ll get a bunch of the guys on board,” Grace suggested. “Will you let me dress you?” she added hopefully.

  “She’s not a Barbie doll, Grace.” Ginnie snorted.

  “Oh fine,” I huffed as Gracie pouted. It was so hard to say no to her. Whatever man claimed her was seriously fucked.

  She gave a little hop of excitement. “We’ll get ready at my place. I’ll text Em.”

  I nodded, knowing it was out of my hands at this point and not really minding.

  “We’ll have to make sure Mr. Clean can come with,” Grace added, her gaze on Xavier who had crammed his huge body into one of the chairs at reception. He was hunched over reading a tattoo magazine and looked the opposite of comfortable.

  “Hey, lady, don’t make fun of my man,” Ginnie warned. “That’s my right and my right only.”

  Gracie laughed and nodded her agreement as she continued to contort my hair into all kind of loops with the brush in her hand. She’d given me a tutorial, but I knew I’d never recreate what she’d done.

  “Voila.” She beamed a few minutes later when she finished putting a bit of product in. I stared at myself in the mirror, shaking my head back and forth, reveling in the lighter feel. She’d taken off several inches, though my hair still hung well past my shoulders. The layers added a dimension I hadn’t had before, and the bangs made my eyes pop.

  “You’re awesome, Grace,” I complimented. “Seriously.”

  “Thanks.” She grinned, clearly pleased with her work. “Do you want to head over to my place? I’m off in a couple of hours but Emmie’s home already. We can watch movies and hang out until it’s time to get ready.”

  “Sounds fun,” I agreed as I slid out of the chair. Max had texted to tell me he was tied up for the day. Plus, some time with my girls sounded perfect. I’d missed them. “When are you off, Gin?”

  “Not till tonight. I’ll either meet you guys at Grace’s or meet you out,” she answered.

  “Sounds good. I’ll see you both soon.” I waved as I practically bounced over to the changing room where I shucked my robe and slid my tee shirt back over my head.

  “All set?” X asked when I emerged. He stood up stiffly and stretched. “Fuck those chairs are small.”

  “Or you’re just big,” I pointed out with a smile. “I was going to head over to Em and Gracie’s place. Max is busy. That okay by you?”

  “Sure.” He nodded easily. “I’ll follow you over there. I bet Gunner can take over for me for a few hours.”

  I cocked my head to the side. “Why, because I’ll be at Em’s?”

  He looked uncomfortable for a moment before shrugging. “I think he’s just around today,” he answered vaguely.

  Yeah, sure. Someday I’d get to the bottom of what was between those two.

  ****

  “Max is going to lose his marbles,” Emmie announced later that night as Grace guided me in front of the floor-length mirror in her bedroom where we’d spent the day binge watching TV, eating pizza, and being lazy.

  Their two-bedroom bungalow was cozy with it’s hardwood floors, warm-toned paint, and comfortable furniture. It was definitely a home where women lived, but not overly girly.

  “He so is.” Grace beamed, looking over my shoulder.

  I bit my lip nervously as I stared at my reflection. Grace had dressed me in a formfitting black halter shirt tucked into skinny, high-waisted, black jeans. She’d finished the look with open-toes booties that Ginnie had insisted on once she’d joined us. For most, this wouldn’t be considered sexy, but for me, it was definitely a step outside my comfort zone.

  “I held myself back a bit knowing you wouldn’t want to go beyond this,” Grace explained. “But, Wren, you look beautiful. You have an absolutely gorgeous figure.” She grinned. “Trust me.”

  “Seriously, girl.” Ginnie nodded in agreement.

  “Okay,” I murmured, still slightly unsure but trusting that they wouldn’t steer me wrong.

  “Next time, we’ll show some cleavage, but this is a start.” Grace winked.

  “Right,” I muttered.

  “So how do we look?” Ginnie asked Gunner when we emerged into the living room where he was sitting staring at his phone.

  He looked up at her briefly. “I like my head connected to my body, so I’m not saying shit.”

  Ginnie rolled her eyes. “X won’t care if you say we look nice, Gun.”

  He snorted. “Have you met your man? Have you met hers?” he demanded, pointing at me. No thanks.” He shook his head.

  “Well okay, how about Em?” Grace prompted, pointing at Emmie who was wearing a skirt that showed off her gorgeous legs and a black top that showed a hint of midriff.

  His dark eyes lifted to Em, holding briefly. For a moment, the tension was so thick between them I could swear the spark sizzled in the room. “Too much skin,” he mumbled finally.

  I wanted to groan my frustration at the lost opportunity.

  Emmie looked down, a flash of hurt in her gaze before she immediately masked it with a look of annoyance. “Let’s go,” she mumbled.

  I shot a glare at Gunner as I followed my friend out the door. The four of us piled into Ginnie’s Honda, with Em and Grace in the back seat, while Gunner fired up his bike behind us.

  “You look hot, Em,” I assured her once we’d pulled away from the curb. “And Gun thinks so,” I added meaningfully.

  “Definitely,” Ginnie agreed.

  “I don’t care what that idiot thinks,” Em grumbled.

  Grace turned to look at her with a raised brow, silently challenging her. “It’s obvious there’s something going on between you,” she pointed out gently. “I don’t get why you both fight it so hard.”

  “There’s nothing going on between us,” she sputtered.

  “There would be if you’d both stop being so stubborn,” Grace shot back.

  “Yaaas, girl!” Ginnie exclaimed with exuberant support.

  “You both suck.” Emmie pouted as Ginnie cranked the
stereo, filling the car with her standard classic rock.

  When we pulled up in front of Mad’s, the only bar the guys would approve of us going to, the mood in the car was decidedly lighter.

  Gunner followed us inside, taking up residence at the bar while the four of us found a table.

  “So how long you think until our men make an appearance?” Ginnie asked with a lifted brow toward me as we sipped our first round.

  The idea was for this to be a girls’ night, but I doubted we’d be alone for long. “An hour?” I laughed.

  “I give it thirty minutes,” she replied, not looking annoyed in the slightest. She and X had been together for years, and I loved how protective he still was of her and how much they clearly enjoyed being together.

  I could only hope Max and I felt the same in the years to come. Somehow, I knew instinctively that we would.

  I got up to use the restroom after we’d ordered another round of drinks.

  “Darlin’, you’re just about the prettiest sight I’ve ever seen,” a southern drawl sounded behind me.

  I turned to face the unfamiliar biker, planning to offer a swift rejection, more for his sake than mine. He stepped closer, licking his lips.

  “You take one step closer to my woman, Booker, and we’re gonna have a problem.” Max’s snarl sounded as he appeared behind the man who he obviously knew.

  The man raised his hands. “Sorry, Jackson. I didn’t realize she was spoken for. No harm done.” He shook his head, backing away immediately.

  I took a deep breath, relieved that the brief confrontation was over quickly. “Thank you for not acting like a cavema —” My words were abruptly cut off as Max took my mouth in a punishing kiss while walking us toward the bathroom, shoving the door open and locking it behind us.

  “You look… you look… why do you look like this?” he panted, seeming at a loss for words as he pressed me up against the door.

  “Do you not like it?” I asked worriedly.

  “You look amazing, babe. I love it. What I don’t like is that you were out without me looking like this.”

  “It’s jeans and a blouse, honey.” I laughed at his overprotectiveness while inwardly reveling in it at the same time.