Chapter One #2
“We’ll get to know one another, Peyton. I know you don’t take risks and prefer to stay out of the limelight.
I don’t have a problem with that shit. You might not know about my world, but I’ll teach you.
The ol’ ladies will help too. They aren’t like the girls we went to school with and will welcome you with open arms. Especially Marie.
She’s the queen of the club and I know she’ll love you.
My mom is close to her and I know she’d love to see you.
She hasn’t seen you since school when you were tutoring me.
Please, Peyton. This isn’t a game for me and I truly want you.
I’ve been thinkin’ about that night together for the last five months.
Every damn day you’re on my mind and the only thing I wanted to do was find you and make you mine,” I tell her honestly as she looks at me with her mouth hanging open as I reach out and use my finger to gently close it.
I watch as Peyton lets go of her son’s hand and reaches up to start twirling a piece of her hair as she thinks over what I’ve said to her.
This is another one of Peyton’s little tells.
When she’s confused, trying to work a problem out in her head, or getting frustrated with something, she always twirls a few strands of her hair over and over again until she makes a final decision.
I can’t stop the smile from my face as I watch her actions.
“Okay, Matt. The only reason I’m doing this is for our baby.
We’ll take things slow and go at my pace.
Don’t push me for more than what I’m ready to give you, Matt.
You can’t rush me after the last year I’ve had.
Can you do that for me?” she asks, her voice pleading with me to understand and not ask too many questions right now.
I’m curious as hell about what’s happened to my girl over the last year, but I get the feeling this isn’t something she wants to talk about in front of her children.
If it’s something that will upset them, I’m not about to force the issue.
We have the rest of our lives to talk about shit and I’m gonna make sure I know all of her secrets and dreams. The secrets and dreams of her kids too.
Truthfully I love all kids and these two are part of my girl so I’ll love them just as much as I’ve loved her for years.
“Let’s go to the clubhouse. Follow me and park with the rest of the cages when we get there,” I tell her, grabbing the cart from her hands and pushing it in front of me as I lead the trio to her SUV.
Peyton gets her kids in the SUV while I load her groceries in the back.
When she’s behind the steering wheel, I lean in and place a kiss against her lips but don’t deepen it like I want to.
Not in front of her kids. Reminding her to follow me again, I walk to my bike and straddle it before starting the engine while putting my helmet on.
There’s no way in hell I’m about to let Peyton change her mind about me claiming her so I don’t hesitate to pull out of the parking spot and make my way to the clubhouse.
My eyes continuously move around to make sure my girl is following me and doesn’t pull off to go home instead.
Plus, I don’t want anyone getting too close to her for any reason.
Peyton, her children, and our unborn baby are my top priority and I’ll do everything in my power to keep them safe and loved from now on.
We pull into the parking lot and I point where I want Peyton to park her SUV while continuing up to the line of bikes in front of the clubhouse.
I park next to Rooster’s as the VP of the club and quickly shut the engine off and get off my bike.
Peyton is still in the SUV as I make my way over to her and open the door for her.
I lean in and unbuckle her seatbelt before grabbing her hand and helping her out.
When she’s steady on her feet, I open the back door to find her son already unfastening his sister’s seatbelt before taking care of his own.
He looks up at me with a shy smile on his face as Peyton moves around to the other side of the car to get her daughter out of her car seat.
The four of us walk toward the clubhouse with Peyton’s hand in mine as she carries her daughter and her son walks right next to her.
He’s already looking all over the place and I know he’s watching out for anyone getting too close to his mom and sister.
This kid can’t be more than six or seven years old and he’s already showing such a protective nature.
My girl has a good son and I can’t wait to watch them interact even more as the years go by.
Opening the door of the clubhouse, I look over Peyton’s head after moving her in front of me to find the common room packed.
Rooster is the first one to look up and notice me as he nudges Marie.
Brick is the second. My best friend knows all about Peyton and has been pushing me to go to her.
With one look in his direction, he gets out of his seat and heads for my room.
He’ll grab the rag I ordered months ago for my girl and bring it down here for me.
“What’s goin’ on, Carbon?” Rooster calls out once we’re all in the clubhouse and the door closes behind us.
“Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to my girl Peyton.
This is her son Cedric and daughter Caydence.
I’m here to claim her as my ol’ lady in front of the club,” I state, pride filling my voice as I look around the room and everyone starts whistling and clapping.
“Peyton, we’ve known one another since high school and I’ve always had the biggest crush on you.
I never said anythin’ because you were always too damn good for me.
You’re still too good for me. But, you’re carryin’ my baby and now is my time to finally claim you as mine.
Somethin’ I’ve wanted for longer than you’ll ever fuckin’ know. Peyton, will you be my ol’ lady?”
“Yes, Matt,” Peyton whispers, her voice shaking and wavering as everyone’s eyes are on her.
Brick enters the common room and hands me the box containing Peyton’s rag.
I hold it and ask her to open it. With shaking fingers, I watch as my ol’ lady removes the ribbon and removes the lid.
After moving the tissue paper aside, Peyton gently lifts the leather rag and examines every inch of it.
With a smile on her face, she leans forward and presses her lips against mine after pulling me down to her level.
Yeah, she’s short as fuck compared to me.
Holding her in my arms, the noise of the common room around us fades to nothing until little hands rest against my face.
Breaking apart from the kiss, I find Caydence leaning forward to press her little lips against my cheek before ducking her head and burying her face in Peyton’s neck. So damn adorable!
“I’m gonna take my girl home because it’s been a long day. I don’t want any interruptions until tomorrow at the earliest,” I inform everyone, wrapping my family in my arms before turning to move us back out of the clubhouse and away from all the attention.
Helping Peyton and her kids back in the SUV, I lean in to press another kiss against my ol’ lady’s lips.
I can’t stop myself from touching her even though I promised we’d take things at her pace.
This is going to be a test for my patience and resolve to be the man Peyton needs.
Right now, that means taking her to my house and making sure she eats, gets plenty of rest, and her children are taken care of.
I ride my bike back home and point to where I want my ol’ lady to park.
This will be her permanent spot when she’s at my house.
Peyton’s life is about to change for the better and I hope she realizes how much I truly love her.
And have loved her for a very long time.