Burning Ember

Chapter 3

Ember POV

We leave the scary looking men and head back to the house, I'm fuming! But more relieved than anything, I was so scared I'd lost the only person I have left in the world

"Jake, please don't ever run off without telling me where you're going again. I don't know the area yet and neither do you... I was so scared" my last sentence comes out as a whisper, Jake envelopes me in a giant hug and says sorry over and over again

We get back to work with finding our beds, everytime Jake finds a part he pops his head up and shouts "treasure!" In a pirate voice making me giggle, we manage to find all the pieces scattered about and get them upstairs to the bedrooms

"Jakey, why don't you go and get a drink and I'll bring in the mattresses?" I ask him

"You sure? They're heavy?"

"You know damn well I'm stronger than I look" I say smirking, as I make my way out the door backwards I shout to him "I'm a goddamn powerhouse!" He falls about laughing while I stick my tongue out at him giggling, but when I turn around my gaze focuses on the amused faces of all the men sat upon motorbikes across the road.

Great, now the neighbours all think I'm a freak, I am. But they didn't need to know that shit.

I scurry off into the garage and decide I'll start with Jake's single mattress first, luckily it's wrapped in a plastic cover because I'm dragging the bitch! I get to the bottom steps at the front of the house when all of a sudden, the mattress has disappeared from under my arm where I was leaning on it. What the hell?

I turn around to find one of the men from before, god he's huge! Tall, muscular and extremely handsome, but I mustn't think like that! I don't want or need a man!

"Show me the way. It's not right for a lady to be doing so much heavy lifting on her own" I'm about to open my mouth to protest but he puts his hand up and shakes his head at me.

I let out a slightly irritated huff and walk into the house with him hot on my tail, I open Jake's bedroom door for him and step aside

"What's next, Miss Powerhouse?" Shit, my face is definitely the colour of a tomato now, he just chuckles at me.

I roll my eyes and go downstairs and back outside to the garage for my king sized mattress, Jake helps him find where it's going and once he's back he asks

"What else?"

"Oh... um.. we were ju-just gonna do the rest t-tomorrow"

"No point in that if you've got a whole army to help now is there beautiful?" He lets out another of his sharp whistles, one of the guys from this morning and two other men make their way over.

"What's up Prez?"

'Prez' turns to look at me and asks "boxes all labelled?" I nod "get the boxes all in the correct rooms, don't open them and don't fucking break anything!"

"Got it Prez" they all say in unison, as they turn I notice all three of them have PROSPECT written across the tops of their 'cuts' so judging by the information I have gathered so far I'm going to assume they're all in a motorcycle club, I've seen sons of anarchy. Who hasn't? As long as my house doesn't get shot at they can do whatever they like.

I'm pulled from my thoughts when a hand enters my line of vision, I jump and step back, closing my eyes I take in a shaky breath, blowing it out as I open my eyes again. He's not trying to hurt you, just shake your hand. Calm down

"Sorry, didn't mean to freak you out! Just thought I ought to introduce myself" he says with his hands help up in surrender

"Sorry" I whisper before clearing my throat
"Just wasn't expecting it, my names Ember, and you've met Jake" saying his name brings a soft smile onto my lips