18. West
18
WEST
With my woman behind me on my sled, Tilbury snuggled between us inside Audrina’s jacket, I don’t think a man could ask for anything more. The rumble of the engine beneath me feels like nothing compared to the hammering of my heart when I think about what this means.
Of course, everyone stared at us. Manny clapped his hands, giving Audrina a big hug and me a high-five, telling everyone, ‘I told you so!’ Admittedly, it’s old news by now.
Having my club on board was always gonna be a given, but knowing we don’t have to sneak around anymore — or keep my hands to myself — feels like sweet relief.
As she tightens her arms around me, I feel the deep-seated contentment I’ve been searching for. I’ve been lonely for many years, and most of that was self-inflicted because I was trying to find myself after my stint in prison. I was lost. Everything kinda fell apart, and I didn’t think I’d find a woman I’d connect with like I do her. I’ve been around the block, I never wanted a floozy on the side or some woman to suck my dick when I got horny, which is what pretty much happens at the clubhouse. That never interested me, not at my age. Feeling her arms around me now? I’m glad I peeled other women off of me, because it would’ve felt like cheating, even if we weren’t together.
“You good?” I ask, turning my head to the side.
“So good,” she tells me. “It’s amazing, West.”
I pat her thigh, happy that she’s enjoying herself as well as holding onto the little puppy who’s stuffed into her pink motorcycle jacket. Do I care if she's wearing pink? Not in the slightest. My ol’ lady can wear any damn thing she likes, as long as she’s on my sled, wrapped around me like the goddess she is.
We drive for miles along the causeway past Lake Pontchartrain. It’s scenic and pretty; the large estuary of water is popular for fishing, swimming, and jet skiing in the warmer months.
When we stop to grab some lunch at Lakeshore, I feel like a weight has been lifted with my girl opposite me, her cheeks flushed from the ride, Tilbury still asleep as she places her on a makeshift bed made out of my cut and a small blanket.
“Enjoyin’ yourself?” I ask, my grin as wide as the damn estuary.
“Yes,” she breathes. Her hair tied back in a small ponytail makes me want to snag it and take her mouth. For the sake of icking out her son at the next table, I refrain.
“The scenery here is so pretty.” My eyes are still on her.
“I know, the lake...”
“It’s got nothin’ on you.”
She takes a bite of her fry, I love a woman with a good appetite. She may be little and a dainty eater, but she can put some food away. “You’re awfully sweet today.”
“Aren’t I sweet every day?" I murmur.
She rests her head on one hand, biting her lip as she lowers her voice. “Well, you were last night, again and again.”
We went back to my place, played with Tilbury for a while, and got her comfortable. Then we took a long, hot soak in the tub and ended up fucking in it, the water spilling over the sides.
“I don’t know, gettin’ clean while we fuck seems like a smart thing to do. Two birds with one stone.” I love the way her cheeks darken as she tries to hide from me. I reach across the table and stroke her cheek. “You’re so pretty.”
“And you need to lower your voice,” she whispers. “The entire MC doesn’t need to know what we got up to last?—”
“How are you two doin’?” Manny sits next to Audrina. “Sneakin’ a little moment out here, Hot Stuff?”
Audrina laughs. “Hardly, just enjoying the view, it’s been a long time since I’ve ridden on a motorcycle.” When I pique an eyebrow, she adds, “With my son.”
I smirk. She knows by now how jealous I am, and imagining her on the back of another man’s sled other than her son’s, would probably lead me to crack a couple of skulls.
Manny brought his plate with him, clearly intending to stay. He and Lace rode together as Bandit usually brings Eli, he loves riding. “Uh, huh. I love the jacket,” Manny whispers. “Very biker chick.”
“Oh, it’s just something I’ve had in my closet for years,” Audrina explains. “Did you meet my new puppy?”
Manny peers into the little bed Audrina made, his hands itching to pick her up, since she’s still sleeping, he refrains. “She is adorable! Lace told me all about her and what West did.” He gives me a side eye. “Nice going, Romeo.”
“I aim to please,” I say, giving him a wink.
“God, how do you stand it, Mama Bear?” Manny goes on. “You know West is the catch of the county? So that must make you the Queen of the Castle.”
He and Audrina laugh, and I chuckle too.
“I don’t know about that,” she says. “But I do know that all of you can get off our backs now about making the first move and gossiping in the chat.”
“Are you kidding? The fun is just beginning, and you’re kinda mean to us in the chat.” Manny pouts. “All we want is a little TMI, is that too much to ask for?”
“You harrassin’ these good people?” Bandit sits down next to me, giving Manny a sly grin.
“Why no, honey, I’m not. I’m just merely congratulating the new couple on coming out. It’s been months and months of freaking tension, I could barely stand it there for a while.”
“Sorry we made you that frustrated,” I grunt, amusement in my tone.
Manny rolls his eyes, then reaches over and squeezes Bandit’s hand. “That’s okay, had this Beef Cake and My Princess over there to relieve some of that?—”
“Manny!” Audrina slaps him on the arm. “Manners! And we’re eating. No sexy talk around the table.”
“She’s got her rules.” I shrug.
“I’ll bet you have, it’s always the quiet, unassuming ones that are the most freaky,” Manny goes on, his filter on low today.
“The only thing freaky is gonna be my foot kicking your scrawny little ass if you keep it up,” Audrina warns.
“Hey, don’t look at me.” Bandit holds his hands in front of him. “I can’t control him, well, not outside the bedroom.”
Audrina places her hands over her ears. "God, no, please make it stop.”
I punch Bandit lightly on the arm. “Manners in front of the lady.”
“I forgot she’s delicate,” Bandit laughs.
“Hey!” Audrina throws a fry at him. “I’m not delicate! But it looks like I should’ve brought a bar of soap for all your mouths and washed them all out at once.”
“She’s so cute when she’s in mommy mode.” Manny gazes at her adoringly.
“Isn’t she?” Bandit agrees.
“Eyes off the goods,” I warn, earning me laughter from the two men. “This one is taken.”
“So bossy,” Audrina mouths.
“I really love the vibe between you two.” Manny points between us. “It’s very unassuming.”
“Big words,” Bandit drawls. “The only thing unassuming about you, Pretty Boy, is that giant?—”
“Manners!” Audrina chastises.
“Pot of Gumbo,” Bandit finishes. “Geez, Mama Bear, get your mind out of the gutter.”
“She’s got a sexy silver fox now,” Manny teases. “So she can’t help it.”
“Are you two always like this?” I groan. I can’t deny I like seeing my princess all bent out of shape because of their lack of manners, because she’s cute when she gets annoyed, but just the sight of her flushed cheeks at their words has me hard. And that ain’t good surrounded by my brothers and her son.
“Yes, I can safely say they are,” Lace says, sitting on the other side of Audrina. “And I have to put up with the two of them.”
“Don’t deny you love it,” Manny chuckles. “Because we know you do.”
“Lucky you’re both cute as buttons,” she goes on. “Or we’d all be doomed.”
“I’ve actually just been threatening to wash all of their mouths out with soap,” Audrina tells her as Lace laughs.
“I don’t doubt that, welcome to the MC, officially that is.” Lace nudges her with her shoulder.
They’ve become good friends since Lace was working for me a while back, even if Lace is just like Manny and Luna when it comes to matchmaking.
“Well, thank you, Lace, I’m very happy to be here. I know how much the club helped Asher when he was down on his luck and having problems with his father. Cash really went out on a limb to give him a job and make sure he had a roof over his head so I didn’t have to worry.”
“That’s Cash all over,” Manny sighs. “He’s a dream of a Prez when you think about it. Okay, he may be a little gruff at times, but his heart is in the right place where the club is concerned.”
That’s also Manny; always seeing the good in everyone. Cash has had to make some hard decisions these last few months, if not years, where situations became threatening to the club and the members, and he’s seen us through all of it. I respect him.
“Can’t deny that,” I agree. “He’s a good man, but what makes this club is the brotherhood and our women.” I flick my eyes over to Audrina, and she lifts her gaze to mine.
“Awww,” Lace swoons. “You’re the cutest silver fox ever!”
I turn my gaze on her but narrow my eyes. “Can you please stop callin’ me that? All the boys are givin’ me shit.”
"Hey, don’t knock the silver fox,” Bandit jokes. “It’s somethin’ we are all gonna strive for some day.”
“Some day?” I huff. “Like I’m a fuckin’ hundred or somethin’? Knockin’ on death's door?”
“What they mean is you’re distinguished and handsome.” Audrina, as usual, lightens any situation with her charm and wit. “And you’re someone to look up to, so take it as a compliment.”
I grin, liking how she calls me handsome. “Worded gracefully as always,” I chuckle. If only they knew how ungraceful she could be in the bedroom.
“And you’re sticking up for him!” Lace claps her hands together. “You’re just utterly adorable!”
Audrina gives her friend a sharp look, but I can see the smile on her face. This is like having a bunch of kids that just keep nagging and saying inappropriate things, but it’s really just one big family. “I’m glad we’re amusing you.” Audrina straightens her spine. “And I’m sure West can stick up for himself, he doesn’t need me to do it.”
Completely ignoring Audrina, Lace beams a whole lot more. “Next you’ll be finishing each other’s sentences.”
I don’t tell her that we’ve already done that a few times already. It was amusing and caught me off guard in a good way. I guess great minds really do think alike.
“Not once we’ve had our mouths washed out.” Bandit pokes his tongue at Audrina, and I slap him upside the head, but he only laughs harder.
“This is kinda nice though,” Lace adds. “Us all being together like one big happy family.”
“That’s the thing I love most about this club,” I admit. “We might argue like cats and dogs and rib each other, but we’re all here for the same reason; a brotherhood and sisterhood. I’m glad I not only get to spend time with my son, his wife, and my grandkid, but my woman and all of you, too.”
“Aww.” Manny makes prayer hands. “I think I’m gonna cry.”
Lace presses a hand to her chest as her eyes mist over. “I can see why you fell for him,” she murmurs to Audrina, but I still hear. “He is kinda dreamy.”
“I know, I keep wondering when the bubble is gonna burst,” Audrina admits softly.
I frown. Is that what she really thinks? There is no fuckin’ bubble, this is how things are going to be from now on. I will never lose sight of her or the things we have in line for our future together. It’s too important,
I’ve waited so long. As we’re about to leave, I pull her to my side and whisper; “Ain’t no bubble gonna burst, sweetheart, you got that? Not when we’ve both waited a long time for our happiness.”
She smiles softly as we all disperse because Cash tells everyone to get ready to leave.
I pull her into my arms as she looks up at me. “You weren’t meant to hear that, about the bubble,” she whispers.
“But I did, and it’s okay to have those initial fears, baby, but I’m never gonna put tears in those eyes unless they’re tears of happiness, so you don’t have to worry about any of that. You will always come first, no matter what.”
“I worry you’ll tire of me,” she says as I cup her face. “I’m not really a very interesting?—”
I press a kiss to her lips, earning us a couple of snickers from the others passing by. “Don’t ever say bad things about yourself because you are the most interesting woman I’ve ever met. As well as sexy, smart, beautiful, courageous, brave, need I go on?”
“I’m not sure I deserve all of that.”
I sigh. “You’re perfect, Audrina. I know you’ve only had one relationship, and we both know that douchebag didn’t deserve you, but that’s in the past now. Use your gut. You know this feels good.”
“I know that, but old habits are hard to break.”
I stare at her, unable to fathom exactly how she got to the point where she doubted herself on anything. She’s not only glorious and a ray of sunshine, but she loves hard too. She still had loyalty to this man, despite the shit he’d put her through for almost three decades. He should’ve been paving the streets with gold just for her to walk on.
I shudder at the thought of her neglect, how she’s never been held in the way she wanted or loved how she deserved. I never want her to feel as if she’s alone.
“Don’t doubt what we have just because it’s new,” I say. “I’ve been around a long time, and I’ve never felt this way before about anyone. I know words can be meaningless unless they’re followed by actions, and I’m gonna make it clear right now that I’ll do anythin’ to make you understand how much you mean to me, Audrina Childs. You’re never gonna have to wonder if I care or if I’m still in love with you because you’ll know every single day.”
“Holy shit,” she breathes. “I think I hit the jackpot with you, West.”
I smile. “I see you, Peaches, I see every single inch of you, and I feel it deep inside when you look at me with those pretty eyes.”
“I feel it too.”
“So no bubbles are gonna be burstin’, got me?”
“Okay.” She smiles as I pull back, her hair blowing softly in the breeze. “But I do like this bubble.”
“Mom?” Nevada calls as we both turn his way.
“You good?” He’s talking to her, but his eyes are on me, his eyebrows knitting together.
Her face softens. “I’m fine, honey.”
“You look... kinda intense there for a second.”
“No, not at all, just caught up in the moment,” she replies.
He frowns. “Didn’t wanna bring this up here, but it involves West, so...”
Uh, oh, this should be good.
“What is it?” Audrina presses.
“Uh, Dad called, and he said that you called him the other night but you sounded kinda... uh, weird.” Her breath hitches in her chest at his words but he plows on. “And then apparently Hustler told him that you were together and he was?—”
I hold up a hand. “Like I tried to tell you the other night, your dad was buggin’ her about dinner, and he wouldn’t let up.” We already discussed this, but clearly John wants to try and stick the knife in a little more.
“Well, I’m glad you told him no,” Nevada says, palming the back of his neck. “But he mentioned that you were, uh, it sounded as if...”
“We were together,” Audrina says. “And I called him in the heat of the moment, which in hindsight probably wasn’t a good idea. I know you and your dad are navigating your relationship together, and I fully support that, but he also has to learn that I’m not his wife anymore. I have choices and one of them is to not see him or hear from him if I don’t want to. I’m tired of dancing to his tune whenever he clicks his fingers.”
“Ma, you should’ve told me, I could’ve talked to him. I don’t expect you to pacify him to please me.”
She cups one side of his face. “Honey, I don’t want you thinking you have to rush in every time I have a problem with your dad, or with anyone, okay?”
“But that’s what I do. I mean, it’s always been us, Mom, when Dad was bein’ a dick and you were sad.”
“I still need you—” she starts.
“It’s not that,” Nevada says, and as I watch him, I see how much love he has for his mom and how much he would do for her. I mean, I kinda knew that already, but the dynamics feel different seeing it unfold before my eyes. “Like I said before, I just don’t wanna see you get hurt.”
“But that’s life, sweetie, life is a risk. Loving someone is a risk. You weren't ready to fall in love until Star came along, and look how happy you are. That’s what life is. Nothing is guaranteed,” she says. “And you don’t have to worry so much, I’m a big girl. But I also have more love to give, and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life alone. West and I have grown close, and he was just reminding me of all the things I tend to forget about myself.”
His eyes shift to mine. “You weren't makin’ her sad?”
I shake my head. “No, I would never do that, not intentionally. I was just tellin’ her that I’m nuts about her and I’ve got no plans on goin’ anywhere.”
Nevada has that uneasy look on his face. He’s torn. He likes me, we’ve always gotten along, but he also loves his mom and wants to protect her. I respect that. “I already gave you my blessin’,” he says. “And I didn’t know Dad was bein’ such a jerk, I’ll make sure that he stays away and stops textin’ and callin’ you. You don’t have to accept his calls just to keep me happy. I’m a big boy now, I can decide for myself if I wanna punch him in the throat or go watch a game with him.”
“I really don’t want you to punch him in the throat,” Audrina says, her brow furrowing. “But he has to learn some boundaries, boundaries that I’ve now set and should’ve done a long time ago.”
Fuck man, if this asshole comes around the club, all bets are off. I know that he’d be trying to get her into bed, or back into his arms, or both, if he could. Audrina has already told me he didn’t want a divorce, and it hit him hard. But my ol’ lady doesn’t belong to him anymore. She belongs to me.
“Yeah, he really needs to move on with his life,” Nevada agrees. “Or things are gonna get even more awkward between us.”
“Just for the record,” I interrupt. “I love your mom, Nevada, and we may not have it all figured out yet, but she’s the woman I’ve been waitin’ for all my life. Not gonna fuck this up.”
“Love?” Nevada’s eyes are wide. “Woah, this is gettin’ heavy.”
“I love him, too.” Audrina takes my hand. “I don’t wanna get all sappy on you, but this is where we’re at, and we’re both very happy about it.”
“I’m cool with all of that,” Nevada says, still looking unsure. “Just please don’t go callin’ Dad again when you two are bumpin’ uglies.” He thumps me on the arm and shakes his head as he takes off.
Audrina flushes beet red, and I pull her and Tilbury into my arms. “Oh, my God.”
I kiss the top of her head. “Your ex is such a little bitch tellin’ him that, it’s a wonder he hasn’t tried to turn him against you.”
“Oh, over the years I thought he’d try, but Asher is fiercely loyal, he’s also not dumb. He’s always been my rock, some may say a mama’s boy, but his heart is in the right place.”
“I know it is,” I say, “though, he did look a little pissy for a second there when he thought I was stealing you away from him.”
“I can’t believe that jerk told him what happened, he’s such a child. I mean, we probably shouldn’t have done that, but still...”
I laugh. “I love how your moral high ground took a backseat for half a beat.”
“It did not!”
I lean to her ear. “I was inside you when you called him, Peaches, not gonna sweep that one under the rug for a while.”
She sighs. “I think it’s time you took me home.”
I grin. “Your place or mine?”
She purses her lips. “Yours. We can make more noise there.”