Epilogue
KYLE
TWO MONTHS LATER
Climbing off the back of Rider’s bike, I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I look up at him. He’s already off the bike, facing me, his head dipped as he watches me. I move toward him and place my hand on the center of his chest.
“You having a good birthday, baby?” he asks.
I give him a smile. I can’t help but think about the day I’ve had. We had amazing sex this morning, went out for some breakfast. Then he took me on a ride through the back country roads until we ended up at a winery.
The winery was gorgeous, the food amazing, and the wine was some of the best I’ve ever tasted. I honestly didn’t know that Rider had all of this in him. Year thirty-one is going to be the best one yet if this day is any indication.
Although, I truly believe that any year with Rider is better than a year without him, no matter what. He shifts his face closer to mine, his lips brushing my own. I let out a sigh against his mouth before I answer him.
“It’s the best birthday I’ve ever had,” I say. “Hands down.”
He smiles against my lips, then takes a step backward, wrapping his fingers around mine and taking my hand before he begins walking straight for the door to the clubhouse—our home.
In the two months I’ve lived in the building, I’ve seen a lot of things, but I would have to say that the best part of it all is getting to know all the people Rider loves.
Sure, there is the not-so-glamourous side of the clubwhore situation, but even them, I don’t mind so much. I’ve actually become friendly with Vixen and Firecracker. They’re the head girls and are really nice.
Something that I never imagined possible, women who give themselves to be used for sex being nice, but maybe it’s because of my own past as a one-time stripper or my friendship with Bren that makes it possible for me to see the other side of things.
Or maybe it’s just because your job, your lifestyle, doesn’t make you nice or mean.
It’s who you are as a person. They’re just nice people.
Just like Bren and the girls at Sal’s. Just like Rider and his brothers.
None of which are doing anything legal, and yet, they are some of the gentlest men I’ve ever come across in my life.
This is a world that I never imagined being part of, but now, I can’t imagine not being part of it all.
I love it here. I love them. And most importantly, I love Rider.
So, it’s needless to say that I am looking forward, with excitement, to this new year, and the next, and the next, and then the next fifty.
The door to the bar opens, and I’m not sure what I expect, but it isn’t the entire room full of faces that I recognize shouting, "Happy Birthday" to me. I stand stock-still for a moment, unsure that this is truly happening, and to me, then I turn to look up at Rider.
He’s got the biggest smile on his face, his eyes searching mine, and then he clears his throat. “Happy Birthday, baby.”
Tears instantly stream down my face at his words. This isn’t a milestone. I didn’t think I would have anything like this. I don’t quite understand what’s happening. His arm slides around my waist before he tugs me against his chest.
“I fuckin’ love you, Kyle. I know you never had a birthday party, so here you go. Happy Birthday.”
My tears do not stop, they do not slow, they are in a steady stream rolling down my cheeks. I open my mouth to tell him thank you, but his lips touch mine, and his tongue slides inside, swirling and tasting me before he takes a step backward and releases me.
In the next breath, I’m surrounded by all my friends. Bren and a couple of the girls from the club, plus Shawn and Ryan. Vixen and Firecracker are also hanging in the back, careful not to get too close, but when my eyes meet theirs, they smile and give me a small wave.
Dennis stands a few feet behind Bren, his eyes focused on her, and I can’t help but smile at the sight of him here. They’re new, he and Bren, but I know he’s on cloud nine right now.
The girls don’t say anything to me, but what they do is start singing, and then the whole room erupts into the birthday song as the girls who are surrounding me part and show me the table behind them.
It’s not just any table.
It’s the dessert table of all dessert tables.
And in the center is a gorgeous three-tiered cake. It’s covered in beautiful pastel yellow and pink buttercream icing rosettes.
Not an inch of the cake is without a thick layer of rosette frosting, and on top, there is a glittery black topper that has Happy Birthday written in cursive and two hot pink candles—a three and a one, which are lit and burning.
I can’t even look at the other desserts that are displayed gorgeously everywhere, because the cake is clearly the centerpiece and absolutely stunning in a million different ways. It’s just beautiful.
I’ve never had a cake like this before, never thought I would. I’m frozen in front of it, unsure of what to do and unable to even move. That is, until I hear Shawn tell me to make a wish and blow out the candles.
Leaning forward slightly, I close my eyes and make a wish as I blow out the candles. It’s a wish to top all wishes, but I decide to go big, considering I’m already living a fantasy that I couldn’t have ever even dreamed of a year ago.
When I open my eyes, everyone is clapping, and I look over to Ryan, who has her hands covering her mouth as her eyes shimmer with wetness as she stares at me. I don’t understand what’s happening.
Then I look beside me, down on the floor, and I see it.
Rider is on one knee, and he’s holding out a blue box with a diamond ring nestled inside of it. I gasp at the sight, my knees growing weak and about to buckle beneath me.
“Happy Birthday, Kyle. I can’t imagine spending another one without you. Marry me.”
Except it’s not a question. It’s a statement. Marry him. And I will. I do. Always.
“Yes,” I whisper. “Yes a million times.”
Rider takes the ring from the box, tossing said box onto the floor as I hold out my left hand. I’m trembling as he slips the ring on my finger, then he stands and wraps his arms around me, his lips slamming against mine in a bruising, owning, perfect kiss.
When the room erupts into cheers and applause, he’s swept away to the bar and my hand is taken by Bren.
“Oh my God, it’s massive,” she cries.
The ring is just that. It’s stunning and beautiful. It’s an Aquaprase, a stunning green, pink, purple gemstone, with diamonds surrounding it and along the sides.
I’ve never seen a stone like it before in person. The only reason I know what it is, is because I saw it online a couple of months ago and showed it to Rider.
He remembered how much I liked it, and he bought it for me.
A fresh wave of tears flows down my cheeks. He truly thought about me, about what I would want, and he delivered. This is going to be my husband. This man is my future, and I’m right there with him when he said that he can’t imagine another birthday without me. Not ever again.
I never want to be without him.
Rider Cruz is my everything.
GNAW
ONE MONTH LATER
Moving my fingers on my iPad, I finish the scheduling. There are a lot of changes going on within the club, with the distribution and everything that entails, and it’s up to me to ensure that everyone goes where they need to go and that all orders are fulfilled.
“You got this shit handled?” Atomic asks, groaning as he sinks down next to me on the sofa in the bar.
Turning my head, I look over at him. “I got what I needed handled, I think.”
“You think?” he asks.
My lips twitch into a smirk. “We’re running the trucks and merch from Longview to Oklahoma City. From there, a company is picking up what needs to be delivered to the actual distribution center, and the other shit is getting picked up by the club up there.”
“We can trust it all?” Atomic asks.
I almost laugh. But I don’t. “We can trust it all as much as we can trust the crews in Louisiana.”
“It’s a bit farther of a drive,” he states the obvious.
It’s actually four hours longer on a light traffic day, but that’s neither here nor there. What he wants to know is if the men will be safe against other clubs, against groups like the Southern Mafia, and against the government.
Because it’s dangerous. If the feds get ahold of one of those trucks, it means prison time, especially over state lines. So, being able to at least have a semblance of trust with who we’re delivering shit to is a big fucking deal.
A huge fucking deal.
“It’s a drive, and it’s going to take some scheduling with the rest of our shit, but I think this is the best option. It keeps us away from Louisiana, but also, I think it’s going to be more diversifying.”
Atomic nods a few times, then clears his throat. “You’ve done some things for this club that I didn’t think were possible. I’m proud of you, Gnaw. Real fucking proud.”
“This feels like a father-son moment, but you’re only ten years older than me,” I say with a chuckle.
“It is. I know we’re close to the same age, but as your president, I’m telling you that you’ve done some badass shit for this club. I’m proud of you, of that.”
Before I can even thank him, he stands and walks away, heading toward the bar. I let out a sigh and smirk at the iPad. The next round of shipments is being led by me. I wouldn’t normally do this, none of the officers would, but with the longer route, it’s all hands on deck.
Kyle makes her way toward me. I watch as she moves across the bar. Setting my iPad down, I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as she climbs onto my lap, straddling me. I don’t know what’s gotten into her, but I’m not really one to question it either.
Her left hand rests against the center of my chest. Her other wraps around the side of my neck. Her gaze is focused on mine, and I reach for her left hand, lifting it from my chest and bringing it to my lips.
Kissing the stone that I placed on her finger, I ask her a question. “When do we do this thing?”