Chapter 13
COURTNEY
I had just pulled a batch of chocolate chip cookies out of the oven when Ash poked his head into the kitchen. “Your man just pulled through the gates.”
He hadn’t been gone long, but I was relieved when he returned to the compound. Not because that meant I had nothing to worry about anymore—I was just happy that Pax had come back safely to me.
I knew he and his club brothers could more than take care of themselves, but that didn’t stop me from worrying about the man that I loved.
We hadn’t shared that particular four-letter word with each other yet, but I had admitted to myself that I had fallen head over heels in love with Pax. Something that I planned to share with him soon.
“Thanks.” I beamed a smile at Ash. “Feel free to take as many cookies as you want.”
“No need for all that gratitude when all I did was take a minute to find you exactly where I knew you’d be.” He patted his flat stomach. “But I sure as fuck am gonna still take you up on the offer.”
I flashed him another grin as I hurried past him, dusting my hands off on my jeans. When I got halfway through the big recreational area next to the bar, Pax walked through the door. Seeing him, I picked up speed, throwing myself into his waiting arms when I got close enough.
“You’re back,” I cried, burying my face against his chest and breathing deeply. There was nothing better than feeling Pax’s arms around me…except having his dick inside me. But that was a thought for later when we were alone in his room.
“I am, baby.” His hold on me tightened before he stepped back to grin down at me. “It’s all taken care of. You don’t have anything to worry about anymore.”
“Did you have to give Sabrina up to them?” Whatever fondness I might’ve felt for my roommate was long gone, but I still wouldn’t want anything horrible to happen to her.
That didn’t stop me from wishing she’d step on a bunch of Legos.
Or every time she ate pizza, which was her favorite, it would burn the roof of her mouth.
“No, that’s not what we do. She might’ve made shit choices, but she doesn’t deserve to pay with her life…or worse.”
No wonder I fell in love with him so quickly.
Those three little words were on the tip of my tongue when Echo walked into the clubhouse, drawing Pax’s attention away from me.
“Didn’t expect to see you around today. Thought you were gonna be busy with that”—the look Pax shot my way let me know that he was choosing his words carefully, most likely because whatever Echo was supposed to be doing was club business—“situation you were handling.”
“Had to come in and grab some shit because I’m moving in with my woman today,” he explained.
“Your woman?” Pax echoed, asking the question that was on the tip of my tongue.
“Long story, man.” Echo slapped him on the back. “But don’t worry, she’s not gonna interfere with what I have to get done. In fact, it’s the opposite.”
I still had no idea what they were discussing, but Pax seemed satisfied with his answer as he walked away.
When Echo was out of earshot, I asked, “That was weird, right? And not just because you had to talk in code around me.”
He shrugged with a deep chuckle. “Definitely unexpected, but after all the shit he’s given King and me over finding our old ladies, it’s about damn time that he finds the woman who’s gonna knock him on his ass the same way you did with me.”
“Old lady?” I whispered, my eyes widening.
“Damn straight,” he growled, pulling me close.
“But I don’t have a vest like Stella,” I pointed out.
“Doesn’t make you any less mine. Think I’ve already more than proved that to you,” he argued. “But if it makes you feel better, your property patch is due to arrive any day now.”
“Really?” I squealed, pressing trembling fingertips against my lips.
“I would’ve had it sooner if we had a system in place like the Silver Saints, a club that we have close ties with,” he explained, shaking his head with an apologetic smile. “But most of the guys around here haven’t found their women yet, so it hasn’t really been an issue for us until recently.”
“I look forward to wearing it proudly whenever it gets here.”
His eyes heated to the color of molten steel. “I’ll see if I can put a rush on it. Can’t wait to see you model my property patch for me. Naked, in our bed.”
“Maybe I should call in sick to work again tomorrow even though it’s safe for me now,” I suggested, wagging my brows. “Give us some time to practice for when my vest gets here.”
I hadn’t been back to the bank—or gone anywhere else off the Hounds of Hellfire compound—since Pax had brought me here after the fire.
Luckily, I had plenty of paid time off saved up since I rarely took a sick or vacation day.
And since I’d been so reliable for the past two years, my boss hadn’t questioned me being out.
Just wished for a speedy recovery while reassuring me that my shifts would be covered.
“Don’t need to twist my arm to get me to agree to that plan,” he murmured with a heated look in his gray orbs. “Hate the idea of you not being here all the time. Already got used to it.”
“Same.”
“Good because I was hoping you’d like the idea of moving in with me while we figure out something more permanent than my quarters here.”
My eyes widened at his suggestion. “You want me to live with you?”
“Of fucking course,” he growled. “You’re my woman, Courtney. You’ll officially be my old lady as soon as your property patch gets here. I’m also gonna make you my wife and the mother of my kids. Where else would you live?”
“I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be,” I replied with a happy sigh.
“That’s my good girl, giving me exactly what I want and need,” he rasped. “I love you so damn much.”
“I love you, too,” I sniffled.
“You better, baby. Because you’re never getting rid of me. We’re gonna spend every day for the rest of our very long lives together.”
I flashed him a watery smile that quickly turned into a thrilled gasp when King and Stella came through the doors, their newborn nestled in a carrier that he carefully carried in a big fist. Luckily, we were nearest to the entrance, so we beat everyone else to them.
Peering down at the sleeping baby, I sighed. “Oh my gosh. He is so cute.”
“And fucking tiny,” Pax added, sliding his arm around my shoulders as he got a good look at Cadell. “I thought a ten-pound baby would be bigger.”
Stella glared at him. “Trust me, he’s plenty big enough. If he’d weighed even one ounce more, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to give birth to him naturally.”
“You did great, baby,” King praised her with a proud smile.
“You’re just saying that because I threatened to cut off your balls so you’d never be able to knock me up again right after I delivered your giant baby,” she grumbled.
“Nah,” he denied, shaking his head with a laugh. “I said the same thing before that, and you’ve already mentioned him needing another sibling even though he’s only a couple of days old.”
“Whatever.”
We were bumped out of the way as the other Hounds of Hellfire squeezed in to meet their president’s son.
“That will be us soon,” Pax whispered against my ear.
“I hope so.”
The past several days had been a whirlwind, but now that the danger had passed, I was beyond ready to start building a life—and family—with my white knight in black leather.