Epilogue
EPILOGUE
HUNTER
T he sun was just barely peeking through the blinds when I woke up. My arms instinctively tightened around Sadie, and I tucked her even closer against me. She sighed, and when she brushed some hair out of her face, her ring caught the light.
Satisfaction and a contentment that I didn’t even know existed settled in my bones.
Everything I loved in this world was lying in bed with me. And today, I was gonna bind her to me in one more way. All that would be left was putting my kid inside her. I grinned as my hand moved down to splay over her stomach. Probably had already, considering how hard I’d been working at it.
Sadie yawned and opened her eyes, the sky-blue orbs sleepy but sparkling with happiness.
“Happy wedding day,” she giggled.
“’Bout fucking time,” I muttered, making her laugh.
“Five days, caveman.”
That was how long it took her parents to hightail it back home. “Five whole fucking days, sunshine.”
She patted my chest and peered up at me through her lashes. “I’ll make it up to you tonight.”
In the blink of an eye, she was on her back with my body hovering over hers. “How about you make it up to me right now?”
Before she could reply, someone started pounding on my door.
“I let you talk me out of spending the night together, Hunter,” her mom yelled. “But she needs to get ready for the wedding, so hand her over!”
I cursed, wishing she was one of my brothers so I could tell them to fuck off.
“She’s right,” Sadie whispered with another cute giggle. “Besides, I want you to be surprised when you see me walk down the aisle.”
“Fuck,” I grumbled. “Fine. But this is the last time I let you go.”
“I’ll see you in a few hours.”
My expression and tone were fierce when I replied. “And you’ll belong to me. No one else.”
“Hunter!” her mom yelled again.
“Be right there, Mom!” Sadie called back.
Sighing, I rolled off my soon-to-be wife and let her climb out of bed. She quickly dressed in a pair of sweats, then flitted around the room gathering her shit while I dragged on a pair of jeans. When she had everything, she started for the door, but I captured her hand and dragged her back against me, taking her mouth in a kiss that came from the depths of my soul. By the time I let her go, she was trembling and dazed, lost in a cloud of lust.
“See you at the altar, sunshine.”
Sadie’s mom glared at me when I finally opened the door, but I just stared back at her, completely unrepentant.
She huffed in annoyance, but her lips curled up into an amused smile as they turned away.
A couple of hours later, I was pacing in the open, grassy area behind the club where we’d decided to hold the ceremony.
“Wow,” Molly chirped when she saw me. “You clean up good, Hunter.”
My eyes darted around for Maverick in case he took a swing at me. Didn’t matter that I wasn’t the one who said it. We weren’t exactly rational when it came to our women.
Relieved when I didn’t spot him, I frowned at Molly. “You trying to ruin Sadie’s wedding day?”
“Of course not!” Molly protested with a scowl.
“Then don’t say shit that could get my face messed up before she walks down the aisle.”
“I see your point,” she conceded with a chuckle. “It’s still true, though.”
I glanced down at my dark pants and loose white shirt. It was casual by a lot of standards but definitely a step up for me. I hadn’t worn a suit unless an assignment called for it since I left the FBI.
Sadie had asked me if I was going to wear something formal, but I tossed the idea out real fast.
I’d told her that she was marrying me…not a fucking tux. I followed that up by backing her into a wall and growling that she could wear nothing at all if she wanted—but the dress wouldn’t last long either way.
The back door to the club opened again, banging against the wall as a woman marched outside. Her expression was fierce as she looked around, then her eyes widened as she took in the decorations, chairs, and reception setup.
“Hi,” Molly greeted her with a smile. “Can I help you?”
“I’m so sorry to interrupt. I didn’t realize…I just…”
“How the fuck did you even get inside the compound?” I growled.
She flinched, and Molly shot me a glare.
“I told the guy at the gate that I’m from the community center, and he called someone, then told me to wait inside. But, um, everyone who walked by ignored me…and now I see why. I didn’t realize, and I got kinda mad, so I”—her hand fluttered, gesturing at the setup—“well, you know the rest.”
Molly approached her and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “How can we help?”
“I need to talk to whoever is in charge of your money.”
My eyebrows shot up. Seemed too bold for a manipulative gold digger. But who the fuck knew what went on in people’s minds.
“That would be Phoenix,” Molly told her. “He’ll be attending the wedding in a little bit, but if it’s an emergency, I’ll make sure you talk to him first.”
The woman nodded. “I swear, this is really important.”
“Okay, follow me.”
Molly started for the clubhouse, and the other woman followed, her eyes straightforward, avoiding my piercing stare.
“Phoenix is your money guy?” she asked.
“Yep. The club treasurer. He’s brilliant.”
Just before they disappeared, the woman snorted in derision. “He can’t be that good if he hasn’t noticed someone robbing him blind.”
That comment got me curious, but I didn’t have time to think about anything else. I was too busy talking myself out of storming the clubhouse and dragging my woman to the altar, whether she was ready or not.
* * *
I laced my fingers through Sadie’s and guided her around the side of the clubhouse, sneaking away from the reception for a few minutes alone.
She had looked so fucking amazing when she’d stepped outside in her simple, spaghetti-strapped, white satin dress. Her hair had been floating in soft curls all around her, and her blue eyes had been bright with joy.
Fox officiated the ceremony, and despite my normal aversion to speaking around anyone but Sadie, I’d given in to her request to write our own vows. They were raw and made tears roll down her cheeks despite her beaming smile. I hadn’t been able to stop myself from kissing the fuck out of her.
Just like I couldn’t stop myself right now.
My mouth crashed down over hers, and she moaned, clinging to me like she didn’t have the strength to stand on her own. Our tongues tangled and our breathing became labored, the kiss raging out of control.
But I wasn’t gonna fuck my wife with so many people all around.
When I pulled away, Sadie leaned into my chest, her fingers playing with my patch.
“Told you I’d take care of you.” I threaded my fingers through her hair. “Anything you want. It’s yours.”
“You’ve already given me everything .”
I brushed my hand low on her belly and whispered, “Not everything yet.”
Sadie giggled, dropping her head back to look up at me. “As hard as you’ve been trying, you might have.”
Grinning, I lowered my lips until they were a breath away from hers. “If not, I’ll just have to double down.”
She gasped. “We’d never leave the bed!”
“Exactly,” I murmured before I pressed my mouth to hers and gave her a slow, possessive kiss as the night wrapped around us—soft and dark, just like us.
“Mine,” I growled against her lips. “You are my whole world, sunshine. I’ll never let you go.”