WRAITH (Iron Kings MC, #1)

into believing that nothing else existed outside of the two of us in our bubble, impenetrable to the outside world.
I’d savor the lie for a little while longer.
I closed my eyes and breathed in the serenity.
***
“FINN?”
My eyes snapped open and I found Ashley grinning at me with amusement. “Wow,” she said with a laugh.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, sitting up, feeling dazed.
“I must be wearing you out. You just dozed off for a couple of hours.” She held a mug out to me. “Coffee,” she told me. “Just the way you like it. Strong and bitter.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking the mug from her and swallowing a couple of large gulps, hoping it would give me the kick I needed. “Sorry I fell asleep.”
“No worries. This place is insanely secure. Plus, you look cute when you’re sleeping.”
“Cute?” I questioned.
She giggled at my disgruntled tone. She eased closer to me and wrapped her arms around my neck, gazing up at me. “I like how we are together.”
“Yeah?”
“Mmm hmm. Despite all the awfulness surrounding us right now, we’re able to laugh and take some joy in our lives. We’re both haunted by brutal pasts, both struggling to carve out better lives. And, when we’re together, the weight of that seems to disappear. Everything seems brighter. Beneath your hard outer shell, there’s a softer, sweeter side to you that you’ve shown me repeatedly. You make me feel stronger, more capable, lighter.” She grinned salaciously. “Plus, you’ve got some major skills in the sack.”
She was something else. I put my mug down, then wrapped her up in my arms. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”
We held each other for a long while in easy silence.
When we finally pulled back, I saw her frowning in thought.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
She looked nervous about whatever it was.
“Sweetheart, you can tell me whatever.”
Sucking in a breath, she took a beat, then asked, “The whole innocence thing? You really need that from me, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
She took a moment, then gave a nod. “All right.”
“Yeah?”
“As long as you stop defining yourself by your past and focus on who you are now. You’ve suffered enough, haven’t you? Wouldn’t you rather work towards finding peace?”
She had me grinning. “You’re a little know-it-all. You realize that, don’t you?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s one of the best things about me. Don’t you agree?”
“Definitely.” I swept her off her feet and she squealed.
“Hey!” she cried. “Where are we going?”
“It’s about damned time we christened the kitchen.”
“Ooh, yes!” she exclaimed excitedly.
Goddamn, she was the most incredible woman I’d ever met.
Mine.

15
~Ashley~
 
“DINNER!”
I stopped short at the sound of Finn’s voice coming from the patio.
I’d thought he’d been in the kitchen the whole time. About an hour ago, he’d asked me to keep away while he prepared some sort of secret meal. I didn’t know what he was planning, or why he’d wanted to keep it secret, but I’d humored him.
I’d been reading on the couch in the living room ever since.
There was a bookcase stocked full of old, dusty hardcover books, ranging from fairytales and classics to books on war and philosophy. It made sense having a whole collection of reading material here, given that it was an intended safehouse, which meant no internet access or the like. People had to have something to do to pass the time when they were here, so they didn’t go crazy.
I closed my book and placed it down on the coffee table.
“Out here!” he called again, as I got to my feet.
I followed his voice, making my way out of the living room and down the hall that led to the backdoor. The moment I stepped outside, my heart skipped a beat.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
“Oh my God,” I gasped, as I took it all in.
The rectangular six-seater patio table was covered in a tablecloth with a beautiful spread laid out upon it. There were flowers that he’d placed in glasses as makeshift vases, candles that cast a soft glow over the table.
It was all very… romantic.
He grinned at my stunned reaction and pulled out a chair. “Have a seat, sweetheart.”
I walked over and took a seat, smiling to myself as he pushed it in for me.
“What is all this?” I asked.
“This,” he said, gesturing around the table, “Is a safehouse version of a romantic dinner.” He gestured to the nearest plate. “Tuna and crackers.” To a small bowl. “Baked beans, full of protein.” To the rectangular plate, “The classic macaroni and cheese.” Pointing to a square dish, he went on, “Chocolate pudding for dessert with whipped cream on top.” Then, he picked up a large bowl and pushed it toward me. “Raspberry jello with fruit inside, from one of those many cans lining the pantry shelves.”
“Oh my God, you remembered what I told you about the jello?”
“Of course,” he said, taking a seat opposite me.
“But that was over a year and a half ago, Finn.”
He leaned across the table and took my hands in his. “I was still in the early stages of my recovery and I wasn’t able to eat solid foods. You told me you’d make me some jello and I turned my nose up at it, telling you that I didn’t want to be treated like a child.”
I chuckled at the memory. “Yeah, you weren’t the best patient.” I gave his hand a squeeze. “It’s okay, I knew you were just frustrated.”
“I was. In fact, I was downright angry and that was pretty much all I could see. Until you came back in with a bowl of jello that had fruit inside it. Before I could get another snarky word out, you started telling me a story about your mom. You explained that she used to make all kinds off flavors of jello containing your favorite fruits for Christmas, that it was one of her signature dishes. She made you a bowl whenever you were sick or upset too and it always succeeded in putting a smile on your face.