Marlena 44.
My soul settles, leaning back into El’s embrace. Naked embrace. Wet, naked embrace. Ok, sorry. We’re in the shower in our bathroom, in our suite . I’ve never seen a grown man throw a hissy—No, not true, I’ve seen Asher and Zebulun throw a bunch of hissy fits. I’ve never seen Elazar throw one and it was a sight to behold, stomping and sighing about my things not being next to his. They were still in my suite, which was ridiculous because his clothes should be next to mine now and forever . It was sad and adorable at the same time. Military trained motorcycle badass whining because his woman wasn’t already living with him. I don’t have much, so it didn’t take long, but that wasn’t the point, according to El.
We’ve been in Morgantown for two days, and he’s been settling in well. He’s taken me out on his bike, and we’ve travelled all over the area, eaten at Epulum , and been to Maimonides Mitzvot at Aventine Manor. He’s already spoken to Etta about volunteering. Such a mensch !
This morning, we woke up entwined and horny. We dirtied ourselves up in bed, and we were supposed to clean up in the shower, but we got dirty again. I find I like being dirty if it’s with Elazar. Dirty feels darn good.
“Come on, water’s getting cold,” he whispers in my ear, nipping at my lobe before slapping my ass. I glare at him, opening the shower door and grabbing a towel from the warmer. GGMC spared no expense when planning this clubhouse, after living rough in the military they were adamant about including all the creature comforts. I’m not complaining.
In our bedroom, I’m pulling my panties up when El’s phone rings.
“Pres…yeah, sure, we’re just getting ready…we’ll be down in a few.” He disconnects, pocketing his phone and turning to me as he pulls his t-shirt over his head. I sigh, sad he’s covering up all that muscley goodness. Chuckling, he snaps his fingers, a big grin on his face when I look up. “We’re needed downstairs.”
“Oh. Ok. What’s going on?” A pair of stretchy pants, I am not a fan of buttons and zippers right now, and a loose top, and I’m ready to go.
“Not sure.” He shrugs, grabbing his kutte and sliding it on. “Could be a threat against the club, another of Dru’s weird ass cravings, or a game of pool.” True, life is never boring in the GGMC. It’s all the crazy.
My hand snuggly wrapped in his, we walk into the clubroom and, “Surprise!” El and I stand in the doorway, déjà vu hitting me hard from his welcome home party in Squirrel Hill. I glance around and am relieved there’s no traumatizing decorations today. However, there are quite a lot of familiar faces. I think almost all of the mother chapter is here and just about all of Morgantown.
“Czar, step forward.” Jupiter and Dru stand in the center of the room, expressionless. El drags me with him and we stop a couple feet from them. “Take off that kutte .” El heaves a breath, then reverently removes his leather vest.
“I’ll take that.” Dru holds out her hand. El seems reluctant but relinquishes it.
“Obviously, you already owned a kutte , but it is outdated.”
“Watch it, Jupiter,” Judah growls, Jupiter’s lips twitch but he remains stoic.
“As you’ve learned from your time in the service, accurate information is key. Try this on for size.” He produces another vest from behind him, handing it to El. My man’s jaw clenches, not from anger but overcome with emotion. He holds up the vest and pride swells within me.
“Czar. Vice President. Golem Guerillas MC. Morgantown.”
“Hooah!” someone grunts out and the room practically rumbles from the echo.
“Judah!” Akivah snaps, drawing everyone’s attention. She glares up at her husband. “Morgantown is taking all our children!”
“Um…hello? You’ve still got plenty of us at home.” Phineas, Elazar’s brother, reminds his mother. He’s seconded and thirded and so on from the others that still remain in Squirrel Hill. The OG is a fertile bunch, they have plenty of kids to go around.
Huffing loudly, Mars eyes me, taking his place next to Jupiter. He has a box in his hand. He shoves it into Elazar’s chest. Curious, I move closer to El, gasping when he reveals another kutte. My stomach flips with the possibility…
“Mars.” Uh, Elazar doesn’t sound happy about it. Is he not…does he not want me…
“Bubba, what did you do?” I whisper in horror.
“He’s fucking you; he’s claiming you.” I can’t believe he just said that in a room full of people. I blink and Mars’ head snaps to the side, El lowering his fist as he steps toe to toe with my brother.
“Do not EVER speak of my woman like that again.” Huh, that’s…that’s kinda hot. And bubba deserved it. “You all voted me in as VP, because you trust me, is that correct?”
Mars’ grits out, “Yes.”
“Then trust me to take care of my fucking woman on my own with no help from you or anyone else.”
“She’s my sister and carrying my child.”
“Still so weird,” someone mutters, but I’m riveted by the scene in front of me.
“Yes, and those reasons are the only thing keeping me from dropping your big ass right now.” Czar relaxes fractionally. “I love her, she will be my wife, my ol’ lady, and the mother of my children, when she’s done gestating yours. Our schedule, not yours.”
Etta bravely slips between them, forcing each to take a step back. “Czar, we didn’t mean any disrespect. Before she was yours, she was ours, the club’s, both chapters, and we should have given her a property kutte well before now.” My eyes sting, I don’t fight the tears. Hormones or not, that was exactly what I needed to hear. I love my life with the GGMC, even before El and I became an us . But to know that I’m appreciated, valued on my own, not because I’m Mars’ sister or now Czar’s ol’ partner, is overwhelming in the best way.” Etta squeaks when I grab her arm and pull her into a hug. “We’re just so excited because of the club name they decided on for you.”
El grunts, staring down Mars, nose to nose. Mars grits his teeth, “Just look at the damn, kutte. Please. ”
El looks at me, and whatever he sees in my face has him capitulating. He holds up the property kutte and smiles.
“Dammit, that’s good.”
“Let me see, what is it?” With a defeated shake of his head, he turns it around to show me. “ Czarina .” Bouncing on my feet, I do a little dance, “Oh, I love it.”
“Yeah, me too. I wanted to do this privately, when I had things more settled.” El lowers the vest, his expression earnest. “Marlena. There are few guarantees in life, death and taxes to be sure, but you and me? Side by side, ride till we die, that’s guaranteed. Will you be my ol’ lady?”
“Abso-fuckin-lutely!”
“She cussed!”
Ignoring everyone else, I jump into El’s waiting arms, peppering kisses over every surface of his face, then pressing them to his lips and opening for his tongue. Breaking the kiss, he rests his forehead against mine. “My Czarina.”
“My Czar.”
“Yes, yes, it’s all very exciting. Hey, Marlena.” Dru is beside us, her hands on her hips, big belly nearly touching El’s arm. “It’s just a nickname, doesn’t mean you outrank me.”
Steve nudges her side, a taunting smirk on his face. Daddy Rowan, I can’t seem to call him anything else in my head now, stands just behind his boy, a fond smile on his face. “I don’t know, there’s a few queens here and now a czarina. Maybe we should change your nickname from ‘Maneater’ to ‘Lady-In-Waiting’ or better yet, ‘Jester’.” Cackling, Steve moves too quickly for Dru to catch him. “Gotta be quicker than that!”
She growls and stomps her foot. “Come back here so I can whoop your ass!”