THOR
Maura had been staying with me for a couple of weeks, and we’d settled into a routine. There had been some amusement from the brothers and the Old Ladies because I did, at least for a little while, try and clean up my language. I’d stopped when Maura in no uncertain terms told me that she liked me for who I was and to keep being me. The fact that I gave zero fucks and was happy to let everyone know that, was one of the things that attracted her. I went back to being me, foul mouth, and all.
I loved having her around. The first week I’d taken her around and shown her the sights in our little village and the surrounding area. I’d probably still be spending every single moment with her if Bev hadn’t put her foot down and demanded time with her best friend. I’d taken the hint and gone back to work helping out at the garage or the gym, depending where I was needed most on any given day.
Cally and Dragon had had a bit of drama, and it had amused us to no end to see him grovel for whatever stupid shit he’d done. Cally fit in with us straight away, much the same as Maura had. It had been a bit awkward at first between Sam, Abby, and her, but soon the three of them were chatting and getting on like a house on fire. It was made easier that Maura treated Abby and Reaper’s adopted children and their child, KJ, just like they were her blood grandchildren, she didn’t differentiate between them. It was watching her with them that I knew that this was the woman I’d been waiting for my entire life.
Fuckin’ sucked that I’d had to wait until I was in my fifties to find love, but I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I was going to grab on with both hands and enjoy our life together. As my Noni had reminded me just today that life was short and to stop wasting time, if Maura was what I wanted, then I should make her mine because it could all be taken away in a blink of an eye.
My heart hurt so bad for my baby girl. I didn’t know what I could do to make it easier for her other than to be there for her like I had her entire life. I had a feeling things were going to come to a head between her and Bull. Everyone had been relieved when they’d got together but I knew my girl and her heart wasn’t in it. It wasn’t that she didn’t care for Bull, she did, but her heart still belonged to Rhett, and I had a feeling it always would.
There was nothing I could do but wait and watch and be there to catch her when she broke. At least Rogue and Julia were on an even keel. I had no worries there—Julia kept him grounded and happy. She understood everything about him, and I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter-in-law. She’d made a plan for the next two years for them to travel, which would help to keep him settled.
With that in mind, I turned my attention to Maura, who was sitting with Bev and the rest of the Old Ladies at the bar in the clubhouse, nattering away and laughing. It made my heart happy to see how they’d taken her into the fold. Maura must have felt my gaze on her because she looked up, caught my eye, grinned, and winked at me. I couldn’t stop the smile that spread over my face.
“How’s that going?” Shep asked quietly. Gunny, Shep, Dog, and I were seated on the far side of the bar from the rest. It had become our spot. It was quieter and we could see the entire clubhouse from here. No matter how long you were out of the military, you still kept up with some of what had been pounded into you. We always felt better when our backs were to a wall and we could see what was coming.
I slanted my eyes to the side to look at one of my best friends. There were only four of us left of the original six and there wasn’t much we didn’t know about each other.
“It’s good,” I answered with a smile, continuing to watch Maura laughing with the rest of the women. Not blinking when Ellie walked up and leant against Maura’s chair, just wrapped an arm around Ellie and pulled her onto her lap, holding her close. Ellie snuggled in saying something, Maura looked down at her, running a gentle hand over her hair before kissing the top of her little head.
“I think she’s the one I’ve been waiting for,” I continued.
Shep nods but doesn’t say anything, it’s Gunny who responds, “It’s about time, Thor. It’s shit that you had to wait so long, but we’re all happy for you. Sucks what her and Bev had to go through to get to us, but now they’re here we can make sure they never have another fucked up day in their lives if we can help it.”
“Yeah, brother,” I agree, taking another sip of my beer. We left it like that, changing the subject and moving on to the building of the campsite that Molly had brought to the table. It had been a great idea, and we hadn’t wasted any time implementing it.
Later that night, I walked a very happy Maura back to the main house smiling as I listened to her tell me about the plans the girls had for the campsite, the new beer that Molly was brewing and that she was going to spend a day with Sam in his workshop to see everything that he’d made.
It made my heart happy listening to her talk. Before long, we were back in my wing and in the bedroom. While we still hadn’t made love, we spent every night wrapped around each other and had got comfortable enough with each other that I didn’t hesitate to strip down as soon as we were in the bedroom and walk to the shower, very aware that Maura watched me as I walked away. With everything she’d been through, I didn’t want to push and was waiting on a signal from her that she was ready to take this further.
Hurrying through my shower, I towelled off, wrapping the towel around my waist and walking into the bedroom, coming to an abrupt stop at the sight of Maura in a silky, short, black negligee kneeling in the middle of the bed waiting for me.
“Maura?”
“I’m ready, Theo.”
I frowned a little; she’d been drinking tonight. With that thought in mind, I knew this was going nowhere for the moment. I needed to know that it wasn’t alcohol fuelling this bravery.
“As much as I want to take what you are offering, I first need to know if this is because you’re feeling the wine. I don’t mind waiting, darling. There’s no rush,” I assured her.
Maura smiled at me, holding out her hand for me to take. “I love that you worry about me. I promise this is not the wine. I only had two glasses. For the first time in fifteen years, this is me taking something for me. And the fact that you’ve been so careful and worried about me lets me know you’re the right choice. So, Theo Wright, I ask you, will you please make love to me and show me how good it can be?”
I couldn’t have stopped the smile that took over my face if I tried. Going to the bed, I knelt on the edge, pulling her up to her knees in front of me, “With pleasure, darling,” I whispered against her lips before taking them in a sweet, soft kiss because that’s what she deserved this time—soft and sweet. There’d be time for hard and fast later, but not tonight.