UNDER REVISION - Road Rage, Dark Shadows MC (Book 1)

Not Going Anywhere - Silver

Silver

Ash tucks the sheets around me so tightly, it feels like a straitjacket. I raise an eyebrow at him, asking, "You trying to make sure I can't escape?"

"I already know you're not going anywhere."

"Oh, really?" I huff at his cocky tone but then he nods down to my feet, which are still wrapped up like mummies. I roll my eyes, mumbling, "They're not going to be like that forever."

"Just long enough for me to convince you to stay put." He finishes fussing with the blankets, perching on the side of the bed and staring at me. He looks tired, although he did shower and shave before picking me up from the hospital this morning. I'm not sure why I agreed to stay with him at the clubhouse...although the relief in his eyes and the way his body had slumped when I'd told him I'd come with him might have something to do with it.

I look around his room, which is sparsely decorated. It looks more like a motel room than Ash's. He follows my eyes before looking back at me with a shrug, "I don't spend a lot of time here and if I'm sleeping, I was with you." He strokes my cheek, a hesitant expression on his face. "I was thinking of, uh, investing in some real estate." I give him a blank look, too tired to work out where he's going with that. He taps my nose lightly, giving me a soft smile. "I was hoping you could help me pick out a house."

I scrunch my nose up in a frown. "Don't you live here?"

"I do," he drags out, "but I was thinking of something bigger. Maybe more suited to a family."

"A family," I echo. "To rent out?"

He shakes his head, his eyes imploring me to understand everything he isn't saying but my heart isn't ready to assume anything with this man. He's played the hot and cold game too much with me lately and I think I need him to spell out exactly what he thinks is happening here.

As if reading my mind, he nods before climbing onto the other side of the bed, laying on his back with his hands behind his head. I shift onto my side, carefully moving my injured feet but still wincing when one brushes the other. Ash looks at me, saying sharply, "Careful."

"I'm okay," I tell him softly. He eyes me–trying to see if I'm lying, I think.

"I had Cannon run out and fill your prescription. You're due more pain relief in about three hours but let me know if it hurts before then."

"Ash." I reach up a hand and stroke his face, trying to smooth away the frown lines on his brow. "I'm okay."

He swallows hard, looking away, his eyes focused on the ceiling above us. "You weren't, though, baby girl. You had to have brain surgery. After that, the infection almost killed you." His chest heaves with his next breath. "For almost twenty four hours, I didn't know where you were. I didn't think I'd see you again, let alone lie here beside you."

"I'm sorry."

His mouth twitches in a sneer, his tone angry but I know it's not actually directed at me. "Why're you sorry? You didn't do anything! If anyone should be sorry, it's me."

"Why?"

He sighs, looking so drained that my heart hurts a little bit. "We don't have to do this now. You just got discharged from hospital and the doctor said you need to rest."

I smack my hand against the pillow under my head. "I'm resting."

He turns, his lips twitching ever so lightly but the smile's there. "You know what I mean."

I wish I could argue with him but the trip from the hospital to here was draining as hell, as if I'd been in bed for weeks instead of just days. I've been trying to hide it but my head is thumping. It's not bad enough to need more painkillers but it's enough that I can't ignore it, as much as I wish I could.