Road to Destiny (Scorpio Stinger MC Book 5) (8 page)

Ryder’s hand dropped back into his lap. His jaw set in that stubborn way I’d seen so many times before. “Jade, you know as well as I do that this life is in my blood. You knew that from the first day you laid eyes on me. You can’t ask me to change who I am. I thought you loved me.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. How could he ever question my feelings? “Of course I love you. There’s no question in my mind. I love everything about you.” I rose to my feet and gestured to the space around us. “But does that have to include
this
for the rest of our lives? I can only do it for a few days, no more.”

“This place is home to me and has been for most of my life. I know it’s not much but it’s not about the walls around me—it’s about the people inside it.”

I took a step backward, away from Ryder. Disappointment washed over me. “How can you choose to live here instead of a place of our own?”

Ryder groaned and combed his fingers through his hair. “Princess, you’re just being stubborn. Must be those pregnancy hormones messing with you.”

My man was pretty good at evading questions when it suited him. And sometimes refusing to give an answer was in effect an answer.

“Hmmm . . . these days my hormones get blamed for everything. But this is serious. We’re getting married, and this is the beginning of our forever. I want us to both to love where we live. To put down roots, to be part of a community, and to teach our children all about the good life. This is not the place to do that.”

“I know this place isn’t perfect.” Maybe I was getting through to him after all.

I licked my dry lips and kept going. “Look what happened to Jamie, and now the shooting. It’s not safe for children in the compound, and I refuse to subject our twins to danger in the future.”

“Jade, you’re not being fair. I want that, too. But if you think this place and my brothers aren’t good enough for you, that’s like a slap in the face.”

Good Lord. My patience was wearing thin, and neither of us were going to back down. I let out a long sigh. “You know I like the boys and most of the girls, so I’m not trying to be superior or to insult anybody. I’m just trying to look out for the best interests of our little family. I guess when a person becomes a parent things change. Priorities change.”

We were going around in circles, and my head was hurting. Closing my eyes, I rubbed at my temples.

Ryder came to stand in front of me, but he didn’t reach out to touch me. “Jade, I promise that I will make it up to you, but right now I have to deal with this danger the club is facing.”

“Whatever, Ryder,” I said, tired to the bone. I was worn out from worry, and I’d had enough of this conversation. “I’m going to take a shower and go to bed. I’m exhausted.”

As soon as I got to the bathroom I closed the door and leaned against it, all my energy drained. I’d never shut Ryder out on purpose, but all I wanted was a moment to myself.

What was happening to us?

L
iving at the clubhouse was a lot different than just visiting occasionally. With every passing day I knew that I’d never fit in completely, but I was going to give it my best shot for Ryder’s sake. It was the least I could do.

I needed to do some washing. I grabbed the bag with our dirty clothes and made my way to the laundry.

As I walked to the club room, I was surprised to find a few bodies strewn over the couches, men and women who seemed to have had a good night and just passed out right where they were. I couldn’t fathom what kind of person wouldn’t at least want to crawl to his or her own bed, but I decided to suspend judgement and pretend it was an everyday occurrence I was used to witnessing.

As I tried to unlock the sliding door to the courtyard, I heard the moaning sounds of a woman growing louder until I realized those were the noises a female made before she had an orgasm.

What?

Yeah, I loved when Ryder fucked me outdoors. It was sexy as hell, and we could be caught at any moment which just heightened the senses and made it so much more exhilarating. As much as what  fucking where someone could stumble across us at any second was hot, I drew the line when it came to people I actually knew finding us. That would just be gross.

I turned my head to where the sounds came from and saw a man’s naked ass move up and down, a woman’s legs around his hips as he pumped into her on the carpet. It was like watching a car accident. I couldn’t look away. I stood frozen to the spot, unsure of what to do. Were they aware that I was there?

“Scream for me, babe.” I thought I recognized the man’s voice but I couldn’t be sure.

As if on cue, the woman moaned louder. “Oh yeah, give it to me hard.”

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was turned on. I’d never seen anything like that, and heat darted through me straight to my core.
Damn those hormones.

With my eyes wide, I watched him roll her over until she was on top. Her tits jiggled as she rode his cock. He reached out and slapped her ass and then her breast before he turned his head and smiled at me while squeezing her nipples.

I nearly dropped the basket. He was getting off on the fact that he knew I was watching. I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. Casting my eyes down, I turned and ran back down the passage to my and Ryder’s room.

I smacked straight into a hard body, and the basket flew out of my hands and landed at my feet. “Shit.”

Razor laughed. “You’re in a hurry this morning.”

“I . . . I forgot something.” Heat rose from my chest to my cheeks. Did Razor know what I’d just seen?

Next thing, a shoe came from inside the room I just passed—Lexi’s room— and hit Razor on the side of his head before it dropped to the floor like a brick.

“Fuck!” He rubbed his head as he scowled.

“Don’t you ever come knocking on my door again,” Lexi yelled from inside. It was only then that I noticed that Razor was fastening the top button of his jeans.

“Oh, you can bet your sweet tits on it that I’ll be back,” Razor roared. “You’ll be begging me for more by tonight.”

Good Lord. I was a horny bitch, but it seemed as if the compound was like a brothel.

“You aren’t the only one with a big ego and a big dick around here you know.” Sarcasm dripped from my cousin’s voice, and I had to suppress a giggle.

Razor’s eyes went feral, the glint I’d seen there only moments ago fading to rage. “Bitch, I catch another man anywhere near your pussy . . .
my
pussy, he’s fucking dead.”

The door slammed closed, and I rolled my eyes as I picked up the dirty washing and placed it back into the basket. I wasn’t sure if Lexi was aware that I’d just overheard her and Razor squabbling. It was hard to keep up with those two. One minute they were all over one another, and the next they’d broken up. I guessed this was the latter.

He strode off in the direction of the kitchen muttering words under his breath about not understanding women, throwing in a wide selection of curse words to express his frustration. I chuckled softly and quickly continued down the hallway before I bumped into anyone else.

As I passed Logan’s room, I heard a banging noise come from the inside. At first I was alarmed because the banging was against the wall, and I wondered if he’d locked himself in or if something was wrong. But then I heard more sex noises, and a woman screaming his name.

“Logan, oh God.” The moan was so loud that I couldn’t help wondering if everyone could hear me coming, too, when Ryder and I were having sex. My cheeks burned as if they were on fire. 

Then I heard another woman’s demanding voice. “My turn. Fuck me now, Logan.”

Okay, so Logan was getting some serious action with not one but two chicks. And since lockdown, no one was allowed in or out of the compound, so I had to know both girls.

I bit into my lower lip, squirming as my panties grew damper. I had to find Ryder and fast, because I needed him in a bad way.

T
hree days later, I’d been cooped up in the room for far too long and needed some fresh air. I pulled a brush through my hair and tied it up into a ponytail. It would have to do because I just couldn’t be bothered with my appearance. I’d hardly been able to sleep since coming to the compound. Listening to Ryder roll around all night long, knowing that he was worried and anxious, didn’t help either.

Both Ryder and I were restless, although for different reasons. He’d gotten up while it was still dark and left the room. He liked to go and sit in the president’s office and mull things over. Ryder needed space and even though I felt a desperate urge to go find him, I resisted.

When Ryder was ready to be with me again he would be the one to seek me out. I just had to be patient and wait for him to come to me. He always did, and that knowledge alone gave me comfort.

I pulled on my sneakers and decided to go for a walk in the yard the only place I was allowed to go to be outdoors. It was almost like being in prison, in the concrete area surrounded by ugly buildings.

I sucked in a deep breath as I stepped outside. It was the place where barbecues, parties, and celebrations were usually held. Where all the brothers and their women got together to have fun. It was also the place from where Jamie had been abducted. Even in the heart of the club building it wasn’t necessarily safe, but hell, I’d take my chances to stretch my legs and get some exercise.

“Hey, Jade, how ya doing?”

I’d recognize that strong Australian accent anywhere. I spun around to face Logan, happy for some company.

Ratbag’s brother had the same features as him, and for a second it was as if my old friend stood in front of me. Of all the bikers, I’d connected best with Ratbag and I missed him now that his cheery face wasn’t around and never would be again.

“Hey, Logan. How you doing?” I said, trying my best to imitate his accent but failing miserably.

Logan laughed. “You’re cute, but your accent sucks.”

I shrugged. “I’m always fascinated when my cousin Rebecca speaks with her Aussie accent, and I’ve tried to sound like her since we were kids. I guess I’d better give it up if you’re honest enough to tell me I suck at it.”

Logan looked flustered. “No, I didn’t mean it like that at all. But I’m fascinated with your Californian accent, so what I really mean is that I prefer to hear you speak with your native twang.”

“Okay, it's a deal then. But promise you’ll teach me some of the Aussie slang. I used to laugh my head off when Ratbag told me some of the funny things Australians say.”

At the mention of Ratbag’s name, Logan’s face fell, but it only lasted for a few seconds before he smiled sweetly. “Yeah, I miss the fucker. He was always the larrikin.”

“See? There’s one of those Australian words. I have no idea what it means.”

“Ahhh . . . larrikin means a mischievous type of person who makes you laugh.”

“Yeah, that describes Ratbag. I miss him, too. He had such a gentle heart, even when he pretended to be tough.”

I stared at Logan for a minute. He was a handsome surfer boy, tanned and muscled with a wholesome glow about him and not a tattoo in sight. He had women falling over him. I’d heard the evidence of his threesome through the thin walls, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.

“So Logan, why are you still here at the club? I don’t mean to be rude, but you don’t really fit into this whole biker thing. You should be out there surfing the waves, not hanging around here.”

Logan ran a hand through his blond locks and pushed his hair off his face. “I know. But believe it or not, I feel as if I fit in here even though I’m from another country and not a biker. The guys are just so welcoming, giving me my own room until I find my feet again.”

“Yeah, they’ve always been good like that. They like collecting people like stray cats,” I said, bemused by Logan’s sentiment.
Must be how Ryder felt when he had nowhere to go as a kid.

“Do you surf?” His gentle blue eyes brightened up. “I mean, being a Californian girl I’m sure you can handle some mean waves.”

I laughed. “Actually, to be honest, I haven’t been out on the waves for a very long time. My brother, Harrison, and I used to go surfing all the time, but then he threw himself into his work and I just lost inspiration to go by myself. But hey, when we’re allowed out of the prison again maybe you and I should go and hit some waves, yeah?”

Logan grinned. “That would be awesome. I’d love to hang out with you.”

Ryder’s deep voice spoke up behind me. “Hey surfer boy, you better not be coming on to my woman if you value your balls.” Ryder’s voice was jovial but from the way he lifted an eyebrow and smirked, I knew he wasn’t exactly joking. Warmth radiated from my heart. Ryder was as possessive as ever, staking his claim to me clearly, and that made me feel good.

I turned and swatted Ryder’s arm. “Actually, Maxwell once told me that you guys used to go surfing all the time. I bet if you didn’t become a biker you’d probably be a surfer boy, too.”

Ryder threw back his head and laughed. He placed his good arm around me protectively and pulled me to him. “So, baby, would that turn you on? Me out riding the waves?”

I closed my eyes for a few brief seconds and imagined Ryder in a different life. With a body like his he could do anything he liked. I could just picture him, hair tied back in the ponytail he loved to sport, but instead of his leather cut with the Scorpio Stinger MC emblem, he’d be wearing a tight-fitting wetsuit that was unzipped in the front to display his magnificent muscled torso, and a surfboard tucked under his arm.

I could so go for that version of Ryder.

A familiar warmth flooded my core. “You bet,” I said in my most flirty voice, batting my eyelashes at him. “I’d be your groupie.”

“Get a room, you two.” Logan laughed. Ryder and I looked at one another and smiled. Ratbag used to say the exact same thing to us.

“Now that you mention a room . . . I have something to show you, baby. Come with me.”

“See ya later,” Logan said with a chuckle.

Ryder’s hand slipped down to the small of my back, and he guided me back inside. But instead of turning left down the hallway to his room—
our
room—he steered me toward the right.