Standing in the steam-filled shower, I sank to the floor, letting the scalding water loosen my tired back and neck. With how many times I had jumped out of airplanes and choppers, ridden through the night on my bike, fought for my life, and nearly been blown the fuck up, my body ached daily, a constant reminder of the warrior I used to be.

My mind tripped back to the last night Cass and I had been at the barn. The threat of losing her that night assaulted my every thought, consumed every minute of my day. That guilt would never subside, and I didn’t want it to. It was my motivation, my drive, my purpose, to never let my wife know terror like she had in my arms that night ever again.

Turning off the water, I heard the baby wailing through the monitor that rested on the gray granite counter in the bathroom. I jumped out of the shower as fast as I could and turned the volume down. With only a towel cinched around my waist, I tiptoed out of our bedroom. I glanced over at my wife sleeping peacefully in our bed and a small smirk played on my lips as she snored quietly, curled up in the plush white comforter.

“Shhhhhhh, little man,” I cooed as I picked Mikey up, gently rocking the crying baby.

Our morning routine was something I cherished greatly. The few minutes I had alone with him at daybreak, fixing his bottle while coffee brewed and Tank chomped on his breakfast in the dark wood-covered kitchen—simple yet perfect.

As Mikey suckled on his bottle, I filled a mug with black coffee and watched as my large, goof-ball of a Doberman Pinscher paced by the back door, wanting to be let out into the yard. The cool morning air rushed in as I opened the French door for my pup. He sprinted forward, chasing after a pudgy squirrel as it bee-lined for the wooden fence in the back.

I’d never pictured I would have this life—a family, a wife, a kid, a house in the ’burbs, my own business—it was all so normal. Quite frankly, I hadn’t thought I would make it to see my thirty-first birthday, but there I stood only a week away from that milestone. I had been sure as shit that I would be taken out by a sniper while in Afghanistan or gunned down by a rival one-percenter looking for misguided vengeance, but that was an ending to a story from another life.

The day I found out Cassidy was pregnant, my life took on a whole new meaning, a more important one. There was nothing the military or my club could give me that would mean one tenth of what Mikey and Cass meant, and there was no turning back.

After burping Mikey and getting Tank to come inside, I hoofed it up the wood stairs to finish out a perfect morning before I had to head to the office.

Letting the black towel fall to the floor, I crawled into the warm bed, wrapping my arms tightly around Cassidy’s soft, tiny frame.

She breathed in slowly as she pressed her body more into mine. “Good morning, babe,” she murmured.

I let my lips brush over her shoulder. “Good mornin’, beautiful.”

“Mikey?” she asked while rubbing her tired eyes as she yawned.

“Already fed and back in his crib,” I assured her.

Rolling over in my arms, Cassidy kissed me softly. “Awe, you’re such a good daddy. Thank you.”

“He deserves a good father.” It was true, and I was going try my damnedest to live up to what my family deserved.

Running my fingers slowly over the delicate curve of Cassidy’s hip, I let my nails dig in. It was her trigger, and her breath hitched in response to the subtle cue.

Right as I was about to fulfill her growing need, my cellphone started blaring on the nightstand.

“Ugh! What fucking timing,” I complained.

Her head fell onto my shoulder with a forced sigh. “Answer it. You know you have to. I’ll be in the shower.”

Before I could protest, she was handing me the ringing phone and waggling her hips as she made her into our bathroom.

Looking down, I saw Buck’s name. Cass was right—I did have to answer.

“Yeah?” I grunted, annoyance dripping in my tone.

His gruff voice boomed into the receiver. “Meet at the warehouse in about an hour? I have something that I need to run by you.”

“I’ll be there. Just got to get Mikey ready for the day,” I lied, buying myself a little more time with Cassidy.

“See you soon, brother.” Brother—that was something he would always be to me. Even though I was no longer sitting to his left at the table, Buck would forever be an important part of my family.

Sulking into the bathroom, Cass shot me a look riddled with disappointment. “Let me guess, you have to go?”

A playful smirk curved my lips as I growled, “I do have to run. Not just yet, though.”

Warm water once again splashed over me as I pushed Cass against the cool travertine tile and hurriedly got down on my knees. There was just enough time to satisfy her needs before I had to head into work.

Not wasting a moment, I flattened my tongue, letting it glide over her pulsing clit. Her head rolled back as her fingers ran through my hair and threw my coarse beard. Subtle moans escaped her lips, cheering me on as I sucked and licked. I loved tasting her sweet longing for me; it was the most unadulterated pleasure I knew in the world.

Her hips shuddered and bucked against my bearded face while her knees started to shake.

“Hold on, baby,” I whispered against her sensitive skin before getting back to my feet.

Knotting my fingers through her long, soaked hair, I pulled her lips to mine. The hunger building behind her kiss as she melted into me was sheer perfection.

Spinning my wife around, I stroked my growing cock as she arched her back, getting ready for me. Fucking water—it was worst damn anti-lube there was. Shower sex always seemed like a better idea until I was ready to fuck Cass and remembered what a terrible idea it actually is.

I spit in my hand, rolling my fingers over her slick opening, teasing her a bit.

Cass whimpered loudly, “Please, baby…”

Gently, I thrust into her, letting her walls hug my cock tightly. Best feeling in the world.

My head fell to her shoulder as my teeth sank in agressively.

“Damn it, Ax! Fuck me hard!” she cried out.

That was all I needed to hear. I slammed her forcefully against the wall, giving her exactly what she wanted—rough and fast.

Cass’s body quaked as I reached around to play with her swelling bud. In a matter of minutes, she was a puddle in my arms.

“Holy shit,” she said breathlessly as I pulled out of her.

I glanced at the large clock over the tub. Shit. I would have to wait.

Hugging her to me, I let her regain steadiness. “I love you, Cassidy.”

“And I love you. We’ll finish this later?” She shot me a little simper, running her hand over the skull and bones on my pec.

I nodded. “Unfortunately, baby. At least you got yours. That’s what I really care about.”

* * *

“Hey, man! Right on time,” Buck called over to me from across the paved lot where he’d parked his Harley. He was leaning up against it smoking the end of a fat Cuban.

“Come on, Tank.” I held the door of my white Bronco for my dog as he hopped out of the front seat and trotted next to my side. “Mornin’.”

Buck followed me to the front door of the storage warehouse I’d bought when I started my security company with his help when I decided to earn a living legitimately. It had been beneficial for all of us and quickly turned into a pretty lucrative endeavor.

“Early shipment?” I asked, flipping on the lights and leading the way to my back office.

Slumping down in a chair, he ran his hand over his weathered face. “Yeah…something like that.”

“That doesn’t sound good.” I cocked my head to the side, taking my seat across from him with a huff. “What’s up, man?”

“The club needs a favor. We need you to hold some product for the Renegades for a while.” He refused to make eye contact with me. He knew what he was asking was more than I was willing to give.

Even though I knew the answer, in a low voice, I asked, “It’s fucking drugs, isn’t it?”

He palmed the end of the desk. “I’m not going to sugarcoat this one, Ax. They got their hands on a pharmaceutical connect and need to store it while they figure out where to unload it.”

I leaned back in my chair. I was fine with storing guns and ammo for the club; I was used to that shit, but this was a whole other animal.

“Stolen?” I rubbed the back of my neck where my hair met the collar of my dress shirt.

He nodded slowly.

“Fuck, brother.” Cracking my fingers, I forced myself to not tell him to fuck off.

“This relationship is important to us.” He forcefully exhaled as he looked me dead in the eyes. “We’ve been in good standing with their organization for over two decades now. This is as important to us as it is to them.”

I shook my head. “It’s important to you. I’m out, remember?”

Looking down at the long sleeves of my button-down, I pictured all my ink: the Semper Fi on the inside of my bicep, the Fear none, respect few on my forearm, and every other tattoo that stained my skin from my past life. They all acted as reminders of who I was now and the man I used to be. I was supposed to black out the club’s ink, but they let me keep it, probably in hopes that I would change my mind and rejoin the table, but that wasn’t in the cards. I was playing with a new deck now and here was my best friend trying to deal an outdated hand.

“Yeah. How can I fucking forget that?” He scowled.

I caved, slamming my fist onto my desk. “One week,” I growled.

Right as Buck and I shook hands on it, a truck’s horn blared.

“Really?” I asked as we walked to the loading dock.

“They didn’t have anywhere else to go,” he responded with a shrug.

“You owe me big for this one, Buck.” I grumbled, shoving up the large metal door.

Buck slapped me on the back. “Your loyalty won’t go unrewarded.” He took a thick white envelope out of his cut and handed it to me. “Half now, half at the end of the week when the shipment is picked up.”