CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
-:- RUGER -:-
I feel sorry for Jack. He got a roasting from Axel about being irresponsible and allowing the women to get him into such a mess.
He should know better after shadowing the Three Stooges and Nyx’s four oldies.
Anyone could see Jack was struggling just to hold his head up but remained on his feet, taking the verbal beating.
Mia, however, stepped into the fray. Took hold of Jack’s hand, gave Axel a lethal glare and then walked away with Jack in tow.
I’m sure she’s going to put him to bed and make sure he’s going to be okay.
I nod to myself when I see Stitch following behind Mia and Jack.
Yep, Mia is going to make sure Jack is fine.
Knuckles and Colton walk over to me, grab an arm each and drag me out of the clubhouse. “What the fuck’s going on?” I snarl, but it doesn’t stop these two getting me to Knuckles' place and slamming the door closed behind us.
“Look, man. It’s your wedding day, and you can’t see the bride before you get to the altar. Now, let’s get something to eat and chill a while,” Knuckles says as we all watch Jo scurry past carrying an enormous bag of something.
“What’s going on?” I ask again, and Colton slaps the back of my head.
“Shut up, whining. You sound like a little bitch. Chill the fuck out, and wait until it’s time to say your bit.
Oh, we’ll have to get showered and dressed too.
” Now I notice the odd look on Colton’s face, and the sneaky look he gives to Knuckles, but they shove a drink and breakfast at me.
They also keep distracting me from what’s going on at the clubhouse.
When it is time to get ready for the wedding, I stand staring at the two costumes I have to choose to wear! What the absolute fuck is this? A Centurion or a Gladiator?
I look at Colton who is grinning like a fool. “I’m gonna be a Gladiator and show my abs to Nyx. She loves my abs, and this is gonna get me one hell of a night!”
“I’m gonna be a Centurion, ‘cos Jo wants to write a historical romance, and you know I have to get in to character.” Knuckles waggles his eyebrows much to my disgust. Honestly, it’s a wonder his dick hasn’t fallen off with all the use its had. Or a case of friction burns!
I’m standing wondering what the motherfucking fuck is going on, and why we are dressing up like this in the first place? “What the hell, Colton?” I turn and look at him, probably pitifully, too.
“Come on, Ruger, get in the mood. Pick what you want, and let’s get moving. You don’t want to be late. That’s the bride’s thing after all.” Colton grins as he grabs a costume and starts to get ready.
Reaching the clubhouse dressed as a damn gladiator because let’s be honest, Colton’s view about the abs could be worth noting, and I’m not bragging but I’ve got a solid eight-pack.
The clubhouse is all dressed up like Roman times, with pictures around of the Colosseum.
We have fake columns or pillars, if you like.
Oh, and there are Gladius hanging from the walls, wooden Rudis which are training swords for gladiators.
Oh, there is a Hasa, which is a spear for thrusting attacks, shields and other artifacts strewn around.
This is actually looking fucking awesome, and I’m liking it so far.
Axel walks out in his usual attire with a look of ‘Don’t fuck with me.
’ Oh well, seems he is not joining in the dressing-up theme!
We all follow him outside, and I’m stunned with the décor outside too.
The area where a table is set up with an archway made of roses is beautiful I have to admit.
But the table is stacked with all types of Roman items, and I’m shocked that Penny has chosen a theme for the wedding.
It’s not long before music plays and it’s not music I recognize, but I turn along with Colton who is standing as my man. I blink because every woman in the club is walking down the aisle dressed as a woman of Ancient Rome. It is truly staggering.
Colton leans towards me and whispers. “They apparently are wearing what is called a tunica, with a stola on top, and that long piece of material is a palla. That’s all I know, man. But boy, they look good don’t they?”
“Yeah, yeah they do.” But my eyes are searching to the back as I try to see Penny. I notice Punkin is dressed in some weird shit and is being held by Joan. Fucking hell, what are they doing here dressed up with everyone else?
Once all the women have taken a place along the walkway as I think of it, I see Penny on the arm of Richard.
Now, even Richard is dressed as a Centurion, and I have to admit he doesn’t look too bad either.
But Penny is staggeringly beautiful. I give her a smile, and she smiles back at me, which makes my heart beat fast and loud in my chest. I would love to rush over to her, but I stand firm and wait for her to reach me.
Meat, Chaos, Wings and Buzz are all standing tall as guards scattered among the women, and I have to say proudly as they watch Penny reach me, and Richard giving me her hand.
I turn us to face Axel who is looking damn pleased with himself for some odd reason. But I’m ready to get married, and the sooner the better.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…” Axel stops speaking and looks at Penny who shakes her head at him, sighing. Axel continues. “Penny, do you have something to say to Ruger?”
Turning to me, Penny smiles. “I, Penny, take you Ruger to be my husband from this day forward. I promise to love you the best I can. To look after you when you are ill, and being annoying.” Which of course has the brothers chuckling, ‘cause we all know that’s going to happen.
“I will never stray, and I promise to be truthful, never to cause you to mistrust me.”
I don’t wait for her to finish, or for Axel to tell me to speak.
“I, Ruger, take you, Penny, to be my wife from this day until I die. I will love you with all that I am, and I will look after you whenever you need it. I will always have your back. I will never cheat, lie or give you cause to mistrust me. Oh, I take Punkin as mine too.” Which, of course, has everyone smiling.
“Can I continue now?” Axel snaps, looking very upset that we have gone out of order of ceremony. “Okay, you are in a hurry. Do you Ruger take Penny…”
“I do,” I blurt.
Axel scowls but looks at Penny. “Do you, Penny, take Ruger as your husband?”
Grunt! Penny grunts, and then realizes what she has done, but everyone is chuckling at the error. Penny is blooming with embarrassment, so I give her a grunt, and she smiles right before saying so sweetly, “I do.”
“Okay, I pronounce you man and wife. Kiss her.” With that, Axel slams his book closed, and I kiss Penny for all I’m worth. Tongue and all, and I don’t care who is watching.
Light coughing gets our attention, and we break the kiss and look at Axel once more. “I have this for Penny,” handing an envelope to her. We all wait while she opens the envelope, and gasps.
“You have adopted Arabella. You are now her father!” Penny looks up at me and a tear rolls down her cheek.
For a second I feel panic that she’s upset that I did this, but then she gives me a smile that could light up any room she happened to be inside.
“Thank you, Ruger. Arabella is so lucky to have you as her daddy.”
Before I can grab and kiss her again, Axel once more gives his light cough. I turn with an annoyed frown, but he is grinning at me, which makes me a little nervous. “I have an envelope for you as well.”
I take the envelope from Axel, look at Penny who is wide-eyed and looking a little nervous.
Shit, what’s this? I break the seal and take out a card.
Turning it over, I’m looking at a blank side.
Then flip it vertically so I can read the note.
In beautiful handwriting it says, ‘You are going to be a Daddy.’
I blink a minute as I make out what this is telling me, then I look up at Penny to see if what I’m thinking this is, is right.
Penny gives me a tiny smile, along with a slight nod.
That’s all it takes, I whoop loudly, grab my wife and spin her around.
Placing her back on her feet, I keep hold of her so she doesn’t fall, and I kiss her deeply.
“Thank you, Penny. Another kid for me to love. It’s fucking amazing.”
Axel shouts, “OKAY THAT’S IT, LET’S EAT.”
Everyone turns and makes a dash for the kitchen and common room, where Meat, and with Magnus’ help, has put on a spread like I’ve never seen before.
We eat what we are told is typical of what would be served at the Roman Colosseum to the spectators. Fruit, nuts, olives, an early type of pizza apparently, but I’m happy we got the real thing. Grilled meat, sausages, seafood, and fish. A hell of a banquet if anyone asks.
Arabella is trying different things as she’s sitting in her highchair next to me. Brothers are giving her little pieces and some she’s spitting right back at them which has me chuckling I have to admit.
Nyx is on the other side of Punkin and is watching her closely. She and Colton are going to have her for the night and I can see she’s taking the responsibility very seriously. Colton has a look in his eye that tells me he’d be more than happy to have a kid of his own.
Hours later, Nyx, Colton and Punkin have gone home. Penny and I get ready to leave but stop and take a seat on the bench outside the kitchen because we have some gladiator fighting out here.
Meat, Chaos, Wings, Buzz, BS, Sting, Clay, Target, Chisel, and Jig are fighting like they mean it. I can see welts on their arms and stomachs but it’s not stopping them.
The fight suddenly gets larger when Mensa, Dep, Forest, Garth and Lincoln appear. Followed by the four from the woodyard, Herb, Lucas, Terry and Jorge.
To top it all, and if there isn’t enough fighting going on, we watch as Richard is scurrying away from seven women. Yeah, you've got it. All seven of the fuckers are following him, shouting something sordid to him. I look at Penny who is so wide-eyed it’s a wonder her eyeballs don’t fall out.
“You ready to go home?” I ask, and when Penny turns and softly smiles saying, ‘Home,’ I know that’s where we are, home, together. Wherever we are from now on is ‘Home’ as long as we have each other.
I rub my hands together, give her a look full of dirty promises and pick her up bridal style, walking away from the chaos of fighting gladiators, and rush home where I carry her over the threshold before rushing upstairs to our room.
It’s three in the morning before I’m finished showing Penny how much I love her. Kissed and talked to my child in her warm body. Talked about the future, and how lucky I feel that we found each other.
The sight of the tattoo just blew me away.
It was a hell of a sight to see, on her hip curled over a portion of her lower stomach.
She told me it was temporary because of the pregnancy, and she’d have it tattooed when she was able.
A Ruger sitting amongst roses, it’s stunning, and the meaning is so pure for us.
“I love you, Penny, more than I can ever say.”
Penny smiles a tired smile. “I love you too, Ruger. Now show me.”
Yeah, I do, and I will continue doing it until we are old and gray, and God forbid, my dick doesn’t work anymore.