WRAITH (Iron Kings MC, #1)

view from the second floor wraparound balcony was absolutely stunning. Snow-capped mountains extended for miles in the distance. The sun was rising from the cover of the rich, green forest below. I could make out a little brook babbling beneath an old wooden bridge.
I’d spent a long time in cities since leaving home. Sure, it’d had its perks. For one thing, there were places actually open late into the night. There was a lot to do and see, real culture, people from all different walks of life. There were more opportunities than that of small-town life. It had been a fun, eye-opening experience. But it had been a shock when I’d first moved there. And it also had its downsides. The lack of picturesque views, of nature, in general. It wasn’t a friendly place to be, unlike my hometown of Ridgefield, where everybody knew you and cared about what you were up to and your wellbeing. It was extremely fast-paced in the city. Things didn’t seem to ever stop and settle down. Life moved so quickly there that it was hard to keep up. And it was never quiet.
Looking out at the view from the second-floor balcony of Finn’s safehouse had me realizing just how much I’d missed everything that Ridgefield had to offer. I’d tried so hard to push it to the back of my mind, to avoid acknowledging it in any way. But now, staring me in the face, I could no longer deny how homesick I’d been.
It was a bitter pill to swallow, because I’d fought so hard to break from the ties of my father and his club, to go out on my own.
But it hadn’t been the town that I’d wanted to move away from.
It had been the controlling, overbearing influence Iron Kings had exerted over my life.
I’d left for the wrong reasons. Just to escape. To anywhere.
But city life hadn’t actually suited me.
The only thing I’d really liked about it had been my job.
And now, after what had happened during Finn’s rescue of me, that was no longer viable.
The creak of footsteps behind me pulled me from my depressing thoughts, the hopelessness of my situation falling away, as I felt his nearness.
“Finn,” I breathed.
His strong arms slid around my waist, resting low on the waistband of my shorts. Holding me close, my back to his chest, he leaned in and trailed his tongue along the side of my neck, making me purr. “I wanted to wake up to your sexy, naked body draped all over me.”
I turned into him and he loosened his hold a little to take me in. I reached out and stroked his cheek and he closed his eyes, looking blissed-out at my tender touch.
He opened them when I started to speak, “I’m sorry, Finn. I had some trouble sleeping.”
I’d hoped he would just take it at face-value and assume that it was due to the overarching threat at my back. But his perceptiveness ruled that possibility out and I saw him frown for a moment, before realization flashed in his eyes. “You saw, didn’t you?”
“Uh… what?” I said, pulling away.
“You saw what I did to Knox’s men. I told you to look away and you didn’t.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “Fuck, Ashley.” He turned and slammed his fist into the bedroom wall. “Fuck!” he roared.
Crap. He was furious with me. “I couldn’t!” I yelled back, my defenses kicking in. “They were hurting you! I had to know you were going to be okay! I was ready to back you up, but Knox got to the truck before I could get out.”
He spun around. “Back me up?” he fumed, stomping over to me. “Do you have any idea how reckless that was?”
I slapped my hands to my hips. “I would’ve done it, if Knox hadn’t blocked me.”
“I protect you. Not the other way around.”
“I’m not just some damsel in distress, Finn! Do you get how sexist that is?”
“Sexist?” he snapped. “You really are pulling at nothing here, aren’t you? Because you know that’s not what I’m about.” He blew out a breath, fighting to calm himself. And then he took my hands and said in a softer tone, “What it is about is know-how and experience, little warrior. I’m skilled at dealing with these situations. I’m very good at it. You, while possessing potential, are raw and inexperienced. It’s nothing to do with gender.”
“I know,” I admitted. “I just… I needed to defend myself. You were—are—so mad at me.”
He frowned. “I’m not mad at you.”
“You’re not? It sounded like—”
He gave my hands a squeeze of urgency. “I’m pissed at myself. What I did is causing you to lose sleep. I’ve infected you with my darkness. It’s the last thing I ever wanted.”
“Finn, I’m the daughter of Scott “Spartan” Tate. I’m no stranger to witnessing brutality. It kind of goes hand-in-hand with the whole biker princess thing.”
“Murder is a whole different breed What I did… what you saw me do—”
“Was necessary,” I cut in, hating that it was hurting him so much. “You’ve saved me from being attacked and killed twice now. You heard Knox’s threats to me. You were the only thing standing in the way of me suffering that twisted fate. I don’t blame you for anything, Finn. I thank you. You hurt for me. You busted your ass to protect me and I’ll never forget it.”
He shook his head. “Ashley.”
I held his face in both my hands, making him hear me, as I continued, “I know you’re not the kind of man who relishes violence and death. Maybe once, from what you’ve told me, from what I’ve heard about you. But it’s clear that’s all in the past. Yet, you broke your code for me. You delved back into a dark place, all to protect me.”
He cursed and pulled away. “You don’t get it.”
“Get what?”
“Nothing,” he muttered, moving to pull away.
I grabbed his hand before he could. “Don’t do that.”
He eyed me in question.
“Don’t shut me