Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

SABOTAGE

A knock on my door wakes me from a dead sleep. I shift in bed, feeling Ryann's smaller body curled into me.

We'd gotten in around four this morning, and I was more than ready to pass out the moment my head hit my pillow. I gave Ryann one of my shirts, and that's exactly what the two of us did. Though I'd been curled around her at first. I guess we shifted to me on my back with her tucked to my side in our sleep. Either way, I didn't mind. As long as she was near, I was good.

The last couple of days . . . feels more like this entire past month has been a rollercoaster. I don't usually have a problem with this. Life's the best one you can be on, but sometimes, a man needs a reprieve.

Ryann sleeping next to me, it's damn near the best thing I could ask for.

Another knock breaks through my thoughts, and I glance over to the alarm clock on the nightstand on Ryann's side, seeing it's just after eight.

Fuck me. We'd been asleep less than four hours. Whatever the reason for someone knocking this damn early, it better be good.

Kissing the top of her head, I ease from the bed and stalk to my door, ready to bite into whoever the hell is on the other side of it.

I grip the knob, twist and yank it open just enough to blink at the brightness of the hall. I keep my room near pitch black when I'm sleeping. Always have, and that isn't ever gonna change. It's the only way I'm ever able to sleep.

Rock and I shared a bedroom growing up and learned quickly that if we kept the lights off and kept to it, we didn't have to worry about anyone paying attention to us. We didn't have a bad childhood like most, but we lived in a house where our parents and grandparents lived together. Pops liked to bitch and moan about every damn little thing. The electric bill being one of them. If it was higher, he'd throw a fit, and when that happened, anything goes. Our dad wasn't as bad as him, but he also had his moments.

Hence, Rock and I stuck close, and left when we could. But I'd screwed up when I'd met Cathay and knocked her up.

"What's up, princess?" I ask, seeing the person on the other side of the door is my daughter, Fawn. "You okay?"

Fawn smiles and nods. "Yeah, everything's okay, I just wanted to check on you. Viking told me you claimed Ryann as yours, and I didn't even know you two were a thing."

There's no missing the hurt in my daughter's eyes. She's been my world since the moment she entered it. She'll always be my little girl, no matter what.

Opening the door enough for me to step out into the hall, I close it behind me, not wanting to wake Ryann up.

"Come on, darlin', let's get some coffee, and we'll talk." Curling an arm around Fawn's shoulders, I guider her down the hall and to the stairs. It's a good thing I'd put on a pair of cut-off sweatpants before going to sleep. I'm not worried about a shirt right now. I'll get coffee with my girl, and then I plan to carry my ass back to bed.

Ten minutes later, we both have mugs in our hands, sitting outside on a picnic table.

"Right, so, to keep this from getting weird, I'll just tell you," I say after sucking back a good amount of the dark brew. "Ryann means something to me. Yes, I claimed her. She's mine, and yeah, I know she's the same age as you. It's fucked but?—"

"I don't care about her being my age, Dad," Fawn interrupts me. "She sweet and funny. I like the fact she's with a man she can trust. I knew she liked you. I just?—"

"You didn't like the fact you didn't know."

Fawn has a way of liking to know every little thing she can, and sometimes it gets her ass in trouble.

"Yeah." She breathes.

"Princess, you know you can't always know everything about everything. You're a married woman with a kid now. If I thought I needed to know everything about everything when it came to you, I'd end up killing Viking ‘cause some shit is just shit I don't need to know. Now, when it comes to you and me, we're always gonna be family. You're my little girl and always will be. However, things change."

"Things change," she agrees and takes a sip of her coffee. "I'm pregnant." I don't miss the fear in her voice. The fear cuts at me, and I curl an arm around her.

"You tell Viking yet?"

He'd want to know, and damn if he won't be up Fawn's ass to make sure she stayed healthy throughout this pregnancy like he did with Rocco. I don't blame him either. If anything, it's something I appreciate him doing.

"He knows," she admits quietly. "He says it's all gonna be fine, but I can't help but fear something happening."

"That fear's gonna be hard to get past, Fawn," I tell her, understanding my girl. "What you got to do, though, is move forward and not let it stress you ‘cause that's the worst thing you could ever do."

Fawn doesn't answer in words, but she nods and leans into me.

"Now. you wanna explain to me why this couldn't wait until a little later after I got a bit more sleep?" I ask her teasingly, though I already know the answer. She wanted a moment with her dad and not have an audience.

Rather than answering, Fawn pulls away, twists so that she's facing me, and grins. "You do realize that if you and Ryann are actually doing this, if you have a kid, my sibling would be younger than my children?"

Oh fuck.

I hadn't thought of that, though I can say the idea of seeing Ryann growing round with my kid inside her doesn't repulse me in the slightest. I didn't think I'd want any more kids after Fawn. I liked my time as a nomad. Living wherever traveling, and handling business for the club where I was needed. I hadn't missed living in one place.

Thinking of it now, I don't mind it so much. Being able to give that to Ryann gives me a sense of peace.

Fawn and I ease into our normal banter while we enjoy the time alone together and drink our coffee. Viking won't have Fawn out of his sight for longer than he has to, but he'll do it when he knows she's protected or with me. Still, that man loves his ol' lady and is protective.

Once the two of us finish our coffee, I help her off the table, and we head back into the clubhouse. I take her cup as Viking comes out of the kitchen, his own mug in his hand, eyes on Fawn.

"I'm heading back to bed," I announce, setting the mugs on the bar top. "Need me for anything before noon, I'll shoot whoever comes near the door."

Fawn laughs, and Viking smirks.

"Risk texted me that their ETA would be this evening, and they're bringing a present."

"Sounds good." I nod. I give my daughter and Prez a two-finger salute and head back to my room to find Ryann still sleeping soundly in the middle of my bed. Only she curled herself around one of my pillows.

I climb back in with her and tuck her into my side, kiss the top of her head, and close my eyes.

"Please, Daddy, help me, I need your help," Ryann screams in her sleep, waking me.She jerks in my arms and whimpers. "Daddy, I can't get out."

I wrap Ryann tighter in my arms and hold her. "Shh, gorgeous, it's only a dream," I murmur, pressing my lips to her forehead and laying my cheek on top of her head. "You're okay."

My voice seems to penetrate her nightmare, and her breathing eases. Glancing at the clock, reading one in the afternoon. I'd gotten some more rest, and she'd slept through the morning. This was good.

"Sabotage," Ryann whispers, fingers curling in around my waist.

"Right here, gorgeous." I draw her up and over my body, holding her flush against me. "Just breathe, baby, and feel me."

I knew she had nightmares. Maverick told all of us about her and Nevaeh having them. But I hadn't heard her have one. The only night we'd been together, I'd spent the time we were together exhausting her.

Long moments later, Ryann's body relaxes fully, and I gift her with another kiss on her head. "You good?"

"Yeah," she whispers, her breath tickling my chest. "Thank you."

"No need to think me, Ry."

I didn't need her thanking me for being here for her.

Ryann lifts up off me, arms crossing over my chest so she's able to look down, her hair falling around her head. Even in the darkness, I can see her, yet I wish I'd turned the light on.

"Why now are you being so nice to me? You've avoided me since that night. I mean, you said stuff, but I still don't understand. What changed?"

Sighing, I cup her cheek. I hate this type of shit, but this is Ryann. With everything she's been through, she needs to know she can trust me to give her what she needs.

"What changed is the fact I nearly lost you. That changes a man's perspective when the idea of never seeing his woman again, even when she wasn't his," I tell her, stroking her cheek. "You get in deep with someone and know shit with them is what you want, but you take caution ‘cause you don't want anything to go wrong. I hadn't been in a relationship in years, last one was Fawn's mom."

"That's a very long time," she agrees.

"Yeah, and that wasn't a good one at that." I grunt. "What I'm saying, gorgeous, is that I found out you were gone, your car in an accident, I pulled my head out of my ass. There's no way I could think about living without you right where you are."

"And if that's not what I want?"

"Ryann, don't bullshit me. We both know you're not only where you wanna be, but where your ass belongs."

"You think you're so smart, don't you?" she whispers snippily.

"That's ‘cause I'm right. If I'm in the wrong, I own that shit cause it's rare as shit to happen. I learned from my fuckups."

Rolling us so she's beneath me and I'm between her legs, I press into her, lowering my lips to brush against hers. "We'll take things at your pace, gorgeous. You need time after?—"

"I don't need time," she interrupts me. "I want you, Sabotage. I always want you."

"Yeah?" Pride swells in my chest with her confession.

"Yes. But can I ask you something?"

"You can ask me anything." I'm not going to hide the truth from her or not let her get to know me.

"What's your actual name?"

"Wesley, but no one's called me that in years." That doesn't mean I would mind hearing her using it.

"Wesley." My name rolls off her tongue, and yeah, I definitely don't mind. It sounds good. Damn good.

"I've got a question for you now, gorgeous," I tell her, dipping down to brush my lips across hers.

"Can it wait?" she asks hesitantly, and she clears her throat. "Can it wait until you kiss me again? Kiss me like you did a month ago?"

Fuck me. My cock twitches with the very idea.

"Yeah, I can do that," I answer and claim her mouth.

Ryann's lips part instantly for me, and I take the invitation to slip my tongue in. I control the kiss. Taking from her what I want but also giving back.

Her little body wiggles beneath me, and I clamp a hand at her waist to hold her still while using the other to brace myself over her. If I let her keep moving the way she is, I'd end up coming in my shorts like a damn teenager. With only the covering of her panties and the fabric of my sweats, I could feel every bit of her. To get inside her pussy would be easy. All I have to do is sweep the panties out of the way, and I can get to her.

First, though, I want a taste of her on my lips once again. The memory of the last time still sits at the front of my mind, and I need more.

Breaking my lips from her, I let go of her waist, grip the hem of her shirt, and yank it off over her bare tits. Not waiting, I lean down and capture one of the tight peaks in my mouth. Sucking deep, my ears are met with a moan of encouragement.

While sucking one tit, I pinch and pull at the other.

"Oh god, Wesley, so good."

I lift my head to go to the other, switching my hand action as I do this.

I barely flick my tongue over the nipple when a banging on the door penetrates the moment.

"Yo, Sabotage, we got company," War shouts from the other side.

"Fuck," I rasp, and Ryann whimpers. She doesn't want the moment to be broken either. "If people don't stop knockin' at my damn door, gorgeous, I'm packing you up and taking you to my house where no one will be able to interrupt us."

"You say that as if it's a bad thing." She giggles.

"Damn right, it is. I was enjoying the little noises you were making for me, and I was workin' my way to having myself a very sweet treat. One I haven't had in a month."

"Well, what's keeping you from continuing?"

"‘Cause we've got company and I need to get out there."

Ryann stiffens, and I know she doesn't want to, but that said company is gonna be wanting to see her.

"Can I have a shower before we go out there?"

"Yeah, gorgeous, how about we shower together?" I offer.

"Wouldn't that lead to other things?" Her voice hinted at humor alongside the lust we'd both been feeling just now.

"It could." There's no doubt about it. "But I know how to restrain myself." The next time I get inside her, I'm taking my time. That doesn't mean I can't use my hands on her. Listen to her sweet moans. It's got to be one of my favorite sounds.

"Okay, then shower with me. Hopefully, Nevaeh or Peyton have some clothes I can borrow here."

"I'll text Maverick and see if Vaeh has something," I murmur. "You start the shower, I'll send the text, then join you right after."