Ramsey wasn’t kidding when he said we were going to christen every surface in every room of his house. I have no idea why he even had a piano in his lounge, but it is now my favorite piece of furniture.

“Good morning, sunshine.” He almost sings the words as he enters the bedroom, wearing just dark jeans and carrying a tray in his hands like a waiter or waitress would.

“Good morning.” I roll onto my back and stretch my arms above my head. “What d’ya have there?”

“Breakfast for my girl.” He winks. “We need to build your energy back up.”

“Oh, yeah?” I sit up and smile as he places the breakfast tray down on the side table and plants his hands on either side of my head. “Yes, there are a few places we missed.” He smirks, dropping his lips to mine and kissing me hard.

He pulls back abruptly, kisses my forehead, and hands me a mug of coffee.

I sit up, propping a pillow against the headboard and settling back on it before gladly taking the mug from him. “Mmm, smells good. Did you brew this fresh?”

“Just for you.” He smiles.

“You’re not really a rough, tough, biker, are you? You’re all soft on the inside.”

He raises his brows. “Is that right?”

“Uh huh.”

“Well, don’t tell everyone, will ya.”

“Your secret’s safe with me, Ramsey Dalton. I’ll take it to my grave.”

“Good.” He hops off the bed, grabs his own mug of coffee and stands at the window.

“So what will we do today?” I ask, admiring the view of his torso. I’ve never cared much for looking at men. I’ve looked, obviously, but I’ve never been drawn to a man’s body as much as I am to Ramsey. His shoulders are broad, and the ink on his body is nothing short of beautiful, intricate art.

“I had a call this morning…” he says ominously.

“Ooookay…”

He turns to face me, giving a slow blink and taking a breath. “Jimmy called from the mortuary. We can collect Mac today.” He studies my reaction carefully, but I don’t really know what to say or do. “I’ll send Tex up there if you want. There’s no pressure.”

“Okay,” I say quietly, giving him a sad smile.

“We can get him another day if you don’t want to face it today.”

“No. Today is fine. I’m just sad that Mac didn’t have anyone else.” I sit quietly for a few moments, my hands wrapped around my mug and just stare into the darkness of the coffee. Mac must have been incredibly lonely. It doesn’t matter how good you are at being alone, to not have anyone at all must have been so sad for him. Maybe that’s how I would have ended up if Ramsey hadn’t come to find me. Bitter, twisted, and with a thousand cats.

When I left the rental apartment, I was pulling away from Vaughn. Deep down, I knew I wouldn’t have gone back, and there was a part of me that wondered if he would even have bothered to come and look for me. I’m trouble. I’m well aware of that, and I’d been pushing him away for a long time. I know that there’s only so far you can push someone before they stop trying to make you let them in. But he answered that when he turned up at Ram’s HQ. At that moment, I hated him for invading that part of my life. For forcing himself on my independence. But there was a small part of me that smiled inside. Ramsey came for me. Vaughn came for me. JJ, Lia—everyone I’ve seen since at the Souls HQ has been pleased to see me. I have people in my corner. I should have been in that corner for Mac. “Did Tex find anything at Mac’s?” I glance over to Ram who’s just standing there quietly, letting me have my thoughts and giving me time.

“Nah.” He crosses the room and sits on the edge of the bed next to me. “Nothing. Nothing at all. No guns, no paperwork for the guns that were at the range before that. Whoever did him over, knew what they were there for and took it.”

“It was The Wolves,” I tell him. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

“I think you’re right. But there’s no way to be certain.”

“I will find out, Ramsey. I will find out who did that to him, and I will gut them with a rusty knife,” I seethe through gritted teeth.

“Sadie,” he sighs, placing a hand on my thigh.

“Don’t even think about trying to stop me.” I lean forward, pointing my glare at him. “They beat a gentle old man to death. If it was one of The Wolves and they’re not already dead, I’ll find them.”

“We will find out, and we will sort it. Okay?” he says, taking my coffee cup from my hands and placing it on the side table along with his. “Come here.” He pulls me forward into his arms and holds me tightly. “You’re not on your own anymore, Sadie. You don’t have to hide who you are, or what you want. Your pain is my pain. You belong in my world, sweet girl. You were destined for it from the very beginning, and it’s called you home.”

“I…” I look up into his clear blue eyes and fight with the words that are prickling the tip of my tongue. Three little words that reveal my vulnerability. Words that could peel back the protective barrier around my heart, and expose it to a pain like no other.

“Can we bring Mac here?” I ask, changing my train of thought—needing to push those words away. I don’t need to say them to feel them. It’s been such a short amount of time between us, and I’ve never felt like this with anyone. I know this is where I belong. With him. With the Steel Souls. With JJ and Lia. But it scares the crap out of me, and I’m not prepared to lay it out there just yet. “I think Mac would like it out here. It’s peaceful.”

“He’ll be in a box.” He winces. “Are you wanting to move him from room to room or put him on the mantelpiece?”

“Ramsey Dalton.” I laugh. “Tell me you’re not squeamish about having someone’s ashes around, are you?”

“No, it’s just I…” He stands abruptly, rubbing his palms on his thighs. “We should get going. There are croissants there for your breakfast—you should eat. And there’s more coffee if you want it.” He slides open a drawer in the cabinet, mumbling to himself as he rummages through the clothes and grabs a clean white t-shirt, slipping it on without another word.

“Ramsey…” I say quietly with a smirk on my lips. He doesn’t answer, although I know he heard me. “Ramsey!” I say louder.

“Yep,” he mutters under his breath, just flicking a glance my way and pretending to be totally absorbed in the belt he’s now threading through the loops of his jeans.

I slide out of bed, and walk over to him quietly, placing my hand on the buckle of his belt as he begins to fasten it. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.” He replies too quickly to mean it.

“Tell me what’s the matter?” I ask again.

He glances up and drops his shoulders with a huff. “It creeps me out. Okay?”

“What does?” I laugh.

“Having someone’s dead body in the house, I don’t know… it feels weird.”

“Let me get this straight. You feel weird about having someone’s ashes in the house, but you’ll happily cut out someone’s tongue?”

“I’ve never cut out someone’s tongue!” He frowns hard, propping his hands on his hips.

“Okay, so you haven’t done that. But you get my point. Mac’s body won’t be here stinking up the place. I was thinking more out in the orchard, or down by that pretty little lake at the bottom of the stream that you can see from the guest room. Somewhere that I can visit even if we’re not…you know...”

“No, I don’t know.” He raises his chin and looks at me through narrowed eyes. “What are you trying to say?”

“Well.” I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly feeling very vulnerable standing here in front of him completely naked with my words being scrutinized. “You might not always want—”

“That’s not an option, Sadie.” He looks at me sternly.

“But—”

“No,” he snaps, stepping closer and cupping my face in his hands. “You’re my future, Sadie. And I’m yours. There is no other option.”

“Okay,” I whisper, trying to force my voice past the lump in my throat.

“No other option. You’re mine, Sadie.” He lowers his head and presses his lips against mine. “Mine,” he reaffirms, kissing me breathless.

The intensity of his words, the determination behind his thoughts. It’s not just his kiss that steals my breath. It’s the way he owns me and lets me own him.

“You can put Mac near the lake. We’ll get a tree for him,” he says softly.

I smile, holding him a little tighter. “Thank you.”

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” He rubs his nose against mine.

“Well, you wouldn’t have a dead body in the house,” I remark, raising my brows.

“Meh, technicalities.” He laughs. “I might take a bit of convincing.”

“It’s a good thing I won’t ask that of you then.”

“How about…” He softens his knees, lowering his body so his chest is against mine and his face is at my eye level. “You get your hot little ass in the shower, and I’ll join you to show you exactly how wet you can get.” My breath whooshes from my chest, and I never cease to be amazed at how Ramsey commands my body’s responses.

“How about you back up all that talk with a little action.” I smirk, kissing him chastely on the cheek and turning to head for the bathroom. He smacks my ass as I walk away, making me jump and squeal, and leaving a sting on my skin.

“I’ll fucking show you action.” He dips his head and fakes a move to chase me. But instinct has me running to the bathroom, laughing and screaming as I hear his footsteps closing in on me.

“You better run, Raven. ‘Cos once I’ve got ya, I ain’t letting ya go.” I hear him behind me as I skid to a halt in the bathroom. He’s behind me in a flash, and I eye him in the reflection from the mirror in front of me. He’s already flung his clean t-shirt off, and his muscled, tattooed chest rises and falls with his heavy breaths.

To my surprise, he doesn’t touch me. He doesn’t even make a move in my direction. Instead, he flips down the lid of the toilet seat, unbuckles and drops his jeans, then takes a seat, leaning back and opening his arms to me.

“Come here,” he orders, his cock jerking as thoughts of what he wants to do to me obviously run through his mind.  I walk to him slowly, and as soon as I’m in touching distance of him, he cups my pussy with his hand, letting his index finger stroke my opening. “Turn around,” he says, guiding my hips and turning me to face away from him but with my legs straddling his. There’s a full-length mirror opposite us, and my mouth falls open at the sight of him watching my every move.

“Sit on me, Raven. Open your wet little pussy, and show me that you’re here to stay.” His voice is low and husky, and as I lower myself onto him, he groans deep in his chest. I place my hands on his knees, leaning forward, taking him deeper and working into a slow, steady motion that has us both heating up and moving faster and louder. Our bodies smack together as he thrusts up to meet me and I drop down.

“Sexiest fuckin’ thing I’ve ever seen. Raven,” he groans. “Ride me, baby.” He thrusts up harder, and I cry out.

“Ramsey…” I pant, clenching my muscles and trying to slow down. “I’m gonna come.”

“Yes, come all over my cock,” he orders, holding onto my hips and pounding into me at increasing speed. I meet him thrust for thrust, feeling my legs start to cramp with the intensity of the orgasm that takes over my body and hits me like a bolt of lightning. Ramsey grabs my hair, pulling my head back and forcing me to watch in the mirror. I’ve never watched myself before, but seeing it is like watching while detached from the situation—voyeurism without other people. He grunts deep in his throat as his movements become jerky and he pushes deep into me, holding there and coming just a second after me. He releases his hold from my hair and wraps his arms tightly around my body, pressing his head into my back. I fold my arms around his and bring his hand up to my mouth, placing a kiss on his fingers.

“You really meant every surface, didn’t you?”

He laughs, lifting his head and kissing my shoulder. “I haven’t even started with you yet, Raven. Not even close.”