Chapter Fifteen
Sledge
Sledge lay awake long after Beth fell asleep. He was worried when he made the declaration that she was his. The words had flown out of his mouth before he could stop them. When she said she was leaving, he panicked. She was his, but he had planned to tell her, or actually ask her, differently. When she looked at him like he had lost his mind, it scared him.
Now, watching her sleep, he was filled with total peace and happiness. He had his woman and his son. Life was finally done screwing him, he thought. But that wasn’t quite right. Someone had been in his room. Sledge had no idea who it was yet, but he would find out. Everyone in the clubhouse knew his room was off limits unless invited. So whoever it was, they were in here looking for something, snooping around because things were moved. Sledge was OCD about his stuff. Everything had its place. So when he walked into his bedroom with Beth, he knew immediately that someone had been in here. The who and why was what kept him awake through the night.
As the sun started to rise, Sledge climbed out of bed and hopped into the shower. Hopefully, Diesel and Reaper would have some idea of who it could be.
Stepping under the hot spray, he let the warm water relax his muscles. He was tired, but there was a lot to do today. He needed to find out if the invasion of his privacy had to do with Beth and Derek or one of the hundreds of missions he did for the different Texas law enforcement agencies. Or, if it was just someone being nosey. Either way, Sledge didn’t like it and whoever it was, would pay dearly. There were rules in this clubhouse, and he expected them to be followed - period.
Finishing his shower, Sledge grabbed a towel and dried off; wrapping it around his waist, he walked into the bedroom to find Beth awake. She was standing at the dresser, naked. He leaned against the doorframe and just watched her. She was breathtaking, and didn’t even know it. He felt a pang in his chest as he thought about her pregnant with his son. He had missed that, and it still hurt. Eight years ago, she was lean with slight curves. After having Derek, she still retained some of the weight and it looked fucking great on her.
Sledge walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her stomach. He loved the feel of her skin. “Good morning, love,” he whispered in her ear.
“Good morning, handsome,” she breathed.
“You should have climbed in the shower with me,” Sledge said as he ran his hands up her stomach and cupped her tits. Hearing Beth moan, he continued to massage her mounds.
“I thought I would straighten things up a bit. Plus, I know you have club business to handle today,” she told him, leaning her head back against his chest.
Sledge moved one hand down her body, stopping at her stomach. He felt that same twinge in his chest again but unrelenting, he moved his hand further south. Reaching his intended destination, he ran a finger along her folds, feeling her shudder against him.
“Devin...,” she moaned, but didn’t try to stop him.
“Yes, baby?” he asked.
“That feels so good.”
“Mmmhmm,” he mumbled, lost in the feel of her wetness coating his finger,
Beth watched him as he brought his finger to his mouth. Tasting her wetness. “Fuck, baby! You taste like heaven,” he told her.
Placing his fingers on her clit, Sledge began to rub against her, while using his other hand to fondle her breast. Beth started to grind herself against his hand, needing more. Sledge inserted one, then two fingers in Beth’s slick heat and curved them upward, hitting the spot that would send her flying.
“Devin, I’m going to come,” she panted.
“That’s the plan, baby.”
He continued to play with her. Moving his fingers in and out of her at a steady pace, while he toyed with her clit using his thumb. With a final plunge of his fingers, he pinched her nipple and pressed down on the tight bundle of nerves causing her to orgasm in his arms, calling out his name.
Sledge picked her up and carried her back to bed. Laying her down, he sat next to her. “I would like for you to move your things into our room today,” he told her. “I want you here with me.”
“Okay,” she answered.
Sledge felt the relief flow through him. He didn’t realize how worried he was that she would say no. She agreed to be his but that hadn’t meant she would move into his room, their room, with him. But hearing her agree, she made him the happiest man in the world and didn’t even know it.
Leaning down, he placed a kiss on her lips. “Rest a bit, then go grab a shower. I am going to go get Derek and grab some breakfast before I meet with Diesel and Reaper.”
“That sounds great, if I can get my legs to cooperate.”
Laughing Sledge stood up and walked to the closet to find clothes. “We have to figure out who was in here last night and why. Whoever it was, knew I wouldn’t be in here for a while and were ballsy as fuck.”
“Right. But what could they have been looking for? And why in here? Why not your office? Just doesn’t make sense.”
Sledge turned to face her as he pulled his shirt on over his head. “Shit! I never even thought to look in my office.”
Sledge hurried to the bed, grabbed his phone off the table and called Reaper. “What’s up?” Reaper answered on the second ring.
“Hey, check my office. Beth and I were just talking and she had a great point. Why search my room? If someone is after information, or looking for something that has to do with the club, all of that is in my office.”
“I’m on it. By the way, Derek is here in the kitchen eating breakfast with Amber and me,” Reaper relied.
“Okay, be down there in a few minutes,” he said, disconnecting the call. Turning to Beth, he kissed the top of her head. “You are a genius, woman. And Zander said Derek is already eating breakfast with him and Amber; so hurry and get showered, we’ll go eat together.”
Sledge pulled Beth off the bed and slapped her ass as she walked to the bathroom. Damn, he loved that woman more than anything.
Twenty minutes later, they were walking into the kitchen. Sledge looked to his table and saw Reaper was sitting with Amber, Derek, and Diesel, and he looked pissed. Grabbing a cup of coffee, he made his way to the table.
“It’s trashed,” Reaper said before Sledge could even sit down.
“Did you look at the video from the camera?” Only certain places around the clubhouse were recorded. Sledge’s office entrance was one of them.
“Not yet, was waiting on you.”
“Okay. Let’s get it done then. We need to know who the fuck it is.” Before Sledge could stand up, his cell phone began to ring. Pulling it from his pocket, he looked at the screen but didn’t recognize the number.
Sledge heard Beth gasp next to him. “That’s my father!” she whisper-screamed next to him.
Seriously, he thought to himself. What are the fucking odds of his bedroom being searched, his office getting trashed, and Beth’s father calling him, of all people, in less than twenty-four hours?
“Sledge,” he answered.
“Devin, this is Senator Jonathan Andrews. I am looking for my daughter Elizabeth and my grandson Derek. Have you seen them by any chance?” Beth’s father asked. Something in his voice grated on Sledge’s nerves. Like he knew they were there already. But how?
“Senator. I am sorry, but I haven’t seen your daughter in eight years and know nothing about a grandson,” Sledge replied. The annoyance in his voice, he was sure the senator could hear, could work in his favor.
“Are you sure? Because I was told that they were seen in your area and I figured Elizabeth would run to you to protect herself and your son?” The fucker was toying with him, Sledge knew. Waiting for his reaction to the words ‘your son’.
“Senator, I am very sure and I am sorry but I don’t have a son.” Sledge felt sick just saying those words. He saw Derek’s head turn in his direction. Sledge put a finger to his lips, trying to tell Derek not to say anything. He watched as Amber leaned over to his son and whispered something in his ear. Derek inclined his head, indicating he understood and then smiled at Sledge. The sickness of the lie eased some. “Not to mention, why would Beth need protecting?” he continued.
“Well, let me know when you do see them. Maybe look a little harder.” Beth’s father ended the call, leaving Sledge just staring at the phone in his hand.
“He knows I’m here,” he heard Beth whisper. He could hear the fear in her voice.
“I think you’re right. But even if he does, he can’t get to you or Derek while y’all are on clubhouse grounds.”
“Do you think whoever went through your room and trashed your office, was looking for proof of Beth and Derek living here?” Reaper asked.
“If they were, why not just take a picture of them and send it to her father?” It didn’t add up. Whoever was snooping, was after something else. But again, what? And who?
“I think it’s time to view the videos. See if we can find out who is behind the break-ins,” Diesel said, standing from the table.
“I think you're right, D. Let’s go,” Sledge said. Leaning over, he gave Beth a quick kiss and walked over to Derek.
“You know, I only said that stuff on the phone to keep you and your mom safe, right?” he needed to know that his son was okay.
“I know dad. Aunt Amber explained it to me.” Derek reached up and hugged Sledge around the neck. The feeling caused a blast of warmth to fill Sledge. He would die to protect his family. Or kill. And not think twice about it.
“I love you, Son.”
“I love you too, Dad.” Sledge kissed the top of Derek’s head then ruffled his hair.
“See y’all later. Love you, babe,” he said turning back to Beth.
“Love you too, handsome,” she smiled, but Sledge could still see the fear in her eyes. It tore at his heart. In that moment, he promised himself he would do anything to remove that look from her beautiful face.