Chapter Thirty-Three #3
“She’ll treat you right, and be at your side through the good and the hard times.”
“I know,” he murmured.
“It’s good to see you happy again. After what Julie did to you, your dad and I didn’t think you’d ever trust another woman again.” She covered his hand with hers. “We’re elated that you did. You know I worry about you.”
Rags looked at her sideways. “It’s your job to worry about us, Mom.”
She squeezed his hand. “You’re a good son with a big heart.”
I knew Megan told Mom about me paying off Julie’s debt.
“Well, I know how you don’t like this mushy stuff, so I’ll go in and see how your dad’s doing.” She patted his cheek and walked away.
“Rags?” Casey’s voice floated on the air.
He turned around just as she stepped onto the patio. “Come here,” he said, extending his arm.
He looped his arm around her, pulling her snug against him. She smelled like vanilla, caramel, and fresh air. He cupped her chin and tilted her head back, then dipped his head down and captured her mouth.
“Your family’s so warm and wonderful. I love them,” she said, running her nails down his forearm. “I bet it was nice growing up in this house with your parents.”
“It was, but there were ups and downs, babe.”
“Like when you joined the Insurgents?”
“That was fireworks.” He laughed. “Now, it’s cool. My parents are used to it.”
“I know that nothing is perfect. That isn’t the way life works, but when there’s love and stability, the good outweighs the hard times and makes life easier,” she said, leaning into him. “Especially when there’s someone like you.”
“Case,” he murmured, pressing his mouth against hers. “Let’s shove off.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” she said before she nipped his bottom lip.
“Fuck, babe,” he rasped.
She pulled away and straightened her sundress. “Ready whenever you are.”
Rags gripped her hand in his and they walked back into the house. The kitchen was spotless, and Megan was dealing with three tired and cranky kids.
“We’re gonna head out,” Rags said. He bent down and tousled Tyler’s and Lucas’s hair. “You listen to your mom, okay?”
“Okay,” Tyler said grudgingly.
“Okay,” Lucas replied, emulating his big brother’s tone.
“Next time, I’ll take you each for a ride around two blocks. Deal?”
“Deal!” they replied together.
Grace came over and hugged Rags’s legs. He swooped her up and kissed her on each cheek. “Did you help your mom and grandma clean up?”
“Sorta.” The little girl glanced at Casey. “I like your ice cream.”
Casey reached out and stroked her curly brown hair. “Thanks. When summer comes, I can make another one.”
“Okay,” she said, squirming in Rags’s arms.
He put her down then said his goodbyes to his family. His mom hugged Casey, and his dad followed them down the sidewalk to the curb.
Pointing at his Harley gleaming under the moonlight, his dad said, “Do you like riding on that?”
Casey smiled. “I love it. There’s nothing like it. The way the world just falls away, the adrenaline, the feel of the wind and sun on your face. It’s the best.”
Her words hit him like a physical touch. Right then, Rags wanted nothing more than to throw her across the leather seat and take her hard and fast. He forced the heat down, and slung his leg over.
“You keep talking like that,” he murmured, “and we aren’t gonna make it home for a while.”
She threw him a wicked grin.
His dad’s voice interrupted the moment. “Don’t speed, drive safely.”
Rags gave him a tight nod, hiding the smirk tugging at his mouth.
Waving their goodbyes, he fired up the engine, loving the sound as it shattered the quiet of the neighborhood.
The low, guttural rumble of the pipes made him feel alive.
Casey looped her arms around his waist and pressed against his back as he pulled away from the curb, the heavy vibration from the Harley thrumming through them.
By the time Rags pulled into their garage, the night was quiet under a canopy of stars. The Harley grumbled to a halt. He kept both boots wide and flat on the concrete, front brake clamped hard.
“Okay, babe,” he muttered, giving her thigh a firm squeeze. “You first.”
She gripped his leather-clad shoulders and stepped off the bike, letting her hands slide down his chest before stepping back.
Rags dismounted and winked at Casey. Her cheeks were still a little flushed from the wind and chill of the night. He closed the garage door and followed her into their kitchen. She looked beautiful, but there was a quiet, almost dazed look on her face as she dropped her sling bag on the counter.
“I’m beat,” she said, kicking off her short boots.
“Get yourself a drink and pour a shot of Jack for me,” he said. “I’ll meet you at the couch.”
He went into the bedroom and rummaged through the bottom drawer of the dresser and pulled out a plastic bag. A moment later, he was on the couch with Casey sitting next to him, watching her sip her wine. He threw back the shot of whiskey and set the glass on the coffee table.
“I got you something, Case.”
“What?” she asked, her eyelids heavy.
“Something priceless.” Rags reached down and pulled up the plastic bag. “Here.”
Casey opened the bag and stalled, her eyes darting to his then back to the bag. “Rags,” she said, her breath hitching.
“I want you to be my old lady, Case.”
She pulled out the leather vest and ran her fingers over the white stitching on the back: Property of on the top line, Rags’s name in the middle, and Insurgents MC on the bottom.
“You know what this means, Case. In the club, it means you’re mine,” he whispered, his hand stroking her cheek.
“But to me? It means we’re locked in. I love you, babe.
I want you right beside me for all of it—the life we build together and the club I ride for.
You’re in my blood now. You’re my family, and you’re part of this brotherhood. ”
She held his eyes as she pressed the vest close to her. “I’d be honored to be your old lady. I’ll wear your property patch proudly because you’re my man, Rags.”
She jumped up and slipped the cut on. It was a perfect fit. Grinning, she threw herself at him, and he laughed as he held her close.
“I love you, Rags. I feel safe, protected, and loved. Right now, I feel like I’ve finally found my place and it’s with you for the rest of my life.”
“Case, you’re my woman for always. You complete me, babe, in the best way. Love you, woman.” He crashed his mouth against hers and held her tight, never wanting to let her go.
“Now, how about a ride and me wearing your patch as you throw me over the seat of your Harley,” she whispered as she nibbled on his ear.
“You’re killing me, Case.”
“So what are you gonna do about it?”
Rags crushed her against him and kissed her hard. “I want you wearing my patch while I bang you,” he gritted.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She winked.
He jumped up, pulling her with him in one fluid move. “I got blankets in my saddlebags. I’ll grab the bottle of Jack and red wine,” he said.
“I’ll be working from home tomorrow, for sure.” She giggled.
“I think I’ll be making some bullshit excuse to Throttle tomorrow,” he said, as he snagged her hand and headed toward the garage door.
Casey slipped on her boots and they stepped into the garage.
He rolled his Harley down the driveway, then fired it up.
The engine thrummed between Rags’s thighs, but his eyes were locked on Casey.
When she turned, the silver moonlight caught the bold letters of his patch on her cut.
A fierce, possessive pride flared in his chest.
She climbed on behind him, her arms wrapping around his waist. Rags dropped it into gear, cracked the throttle open, and the Harley surged forward. Casey pressed against his back, her hands slipping down low just above his crotch. The wind swallowed his laugh as he increased the speed.
For the first time in his life, the shadows of his past couldn’t touch him.
Casey had chased away the bitterness, replacing it with something steady, real, and all his own.
The engine rumbled beneath them, a steady heartbeat against the cool night.
He guided the bike out onto the empty backroad.
Casey felt warm and soft against him, her cheek resting against the nape of his neck.
With her in his life, in his corner, it was just the beginning of everything.
Rags twisted the throttle, and together they disappeared into the night air.