CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
I was dumping rubbish from the gym into the dumpster out the back of the building when I hear the pipes of more than one motorcycle. I’d been here for hours, helping Ky and the brothers clean out the inside of the gym, getting it ready for construction to come in on Monday.
I had come here after I had tried to see Storm at the hospital over in Cullville, but he’d refused to see me, the stubborn ass. I wanted to wish him well since he was leaving for the rehab clinic in the next few days, but he had ignored me completely. His silence had gotten to me, so I left only ten minutes after arriving, If he wanted to act like a dick, then so be it. He’s alienated everyone around him. I hope he actually goes through with the treatment. But I’m not holding my breath. He seems too far gone to me.
Standing with my hand shielding my eyes because the sun was now lower in the sky, I see Everleigh’s Escalade, Lexie on her sled, and Stingray following behind as they parked. But what had my attention was the woman behind Lexie. Zoe was holding on for dear life, and I couldn’t help the anger that bubbled up inside me, as I gave the prospect a warning look before dismissing him from my thoughts as I stalked towards my woman.
Picking her up, I carry her to my bigger sled, placing her on the seat, and making her widen her legs so that I could rest in between them. Feeling the warmth of her center against my crotch made me almost pop the zipper of my jeans.
I was dirty and tired, but I needed to make sure Zoe was okay. I left her sleeping earlier, not wanting to wake her to tell her I had received a text message from Ky to come to the gym. He’d organized a work party of brothers, even roping in his old man Kick, the president to come and help.
She tried to appear angry, but quickly melted when I nuzzled her neck with my lips, teeth, and tongue.
“Do I need to tan your ass red, little one? What the fuck are you doing here?” I can’t help my voice coming out in a growl. Her presence here without texting me made me pissed. The female DCMC posse had obviously collected her since they had all turned up together.
Standing this close to her, I’m sure she can smell the ash and smoke that’s coming from me, but instead of her nose turning up in disgust like I expected, her eyes darken to emerald green orbs of lust. Interesting. I’ll have to look into that further with her when we’re alone.
“Did you just say that to me?” She fakes indignation, and it’s all I can do not to grin.
“What, tan your ass? You bet your ass I said it. Oh, and a heads up, you’d enjoy it, too.” I add for good measure. I try to not show just how angry at that fuckin’ prospect I am, nuzzling her neck, I say, “Stingray’s going to pay for not watching over you like I told him to.”
“You can’t say things like that.” She argues, and I find it cute, but also it pisses me the fuck off that she’s defending the little shit.
“Oh, but I can, little one. He had one job, and that was to keep you safe.”
“But he kept me safe. I’m here with you, aren’t I?” She smiles coyly, and I shake my head, unable to stop the grin from spreading on my face.
I catch movement over Zoe’s shoulder. A black nondescript SUV grabs my attention, and beside the open driver’s side door stands a tall, lone figure, staring directly at us. His facial features are hard to discern from this distance, but instinctively, I know it’s Caleb. I lift my middle finger discreetly telling him without words, “Fuck you.” It’s time the club handled him once and for all.
“What’s wrong?” Zoe asks, and I can clearly hear the anxiety in her voice as I place what I hope is a mask of indifference on my face and pin a smile to my lips.
“Nothing, baby. Let’s get you inside.” I tell her, grabbing her by the hand, and leading her inside the safety of the gym.
“Inside is even worse than the outside.” Zoe remarks sadly, taking in the burnt, black interior. I don’t stop until we find the rest of the brothers and their women, a sheet spread out on the floor, eating sandwiches.
“It’s not so bad, we’ve had everything open, and had some fans on to clean out the air.” I explain, just as my stomach grumbles at the sight of the food, and everyone laughs.
“Come on,” Everleigh calls out, “there’s plenty to go around. There’s soda in the bag as well.”
I take off my work gloves, throwing them to the side, before sitting down, grabbing Zoe and hearing her yelp as I place her on my lap in front of me. The brothers give me knowing looks, but I ignore every one of them. It’s time I showed Zoe that she’s mine, so that she has no more doubts.
She’s trying to wriggle off my lap, which only makes my cock harder than it already was when she arrived. I lift my hips slightly, pressing my crotch into her ass, and she halts her movements, finally realizing what she’s doing.
“Quit moving, babe.” I whisper close to her ear. “Unless you want me to strip you naked right here in front of everyone and fuck you senseless?” She gasps and goes stock still.
“Who did you send to pick up my clothes?” she suddenly asks, not looking at me, but chewing on her sandwich.
I grin, lowering my lips to her ear, nibbling it gently with my teeth. “You didn’t think I’d send a prospect to pack your underwear, did you, little one?” I ask her, watching as a shiver runs down her body and I chuckle.
“Only I get to see what you have underneath your clothes. So, I went and packed all your stuff myself.” I admit.
All the tension I could feel in her body since she arrived seemed to seep out of her, and it was as if she almost melted into me. I wanted nothing more in that moment than to take her into my arms and kiss her until we were both panting and out of breath.
My eyes go to both Kick and Tiny, who are both new fathers. Ivy, Kick’s little girl, is the cutest cherub, and so is Silas, Tiny and Sage’s baby boy, who was born not long after Ivy.
Of course, Kick and Everleigh are also new grandparents of baby Lena, Spider and his girl Candy’s, baby girl, who was born a few months ago. Candy was a hood rat and got her claws into Spider when he first showed up in Briar Creek. Now it seems he can’t get rid of her.
Tiny, the big man of the club, was the one I never thought would ever settle down, and look at him now, a married man with three boys.
A wave of envy, unlike anything I”ve ever experienced, washes over me, and I swiftly suppress it. The desire to see Zoe pregnant with my child had been a long-standing fantasy of mine. And now, perhaps, we could finally make it a reality. If only I could rid her of her asshole husband first. Then we could start thinking about a future together.
After we ate, we went back to work a few more hours. Even Zoe actively rolled up her sleeves, helped, and we worked in companionable silence—finally finishing up for the day, deciding it was time to go home since tonight was Spider”s and Snake’s patching-in party. They never thought it would ever happen, I smile, remembering church the other day when we called them in to tell them.
After packing everything up, I follow Zoe to my sled, my eyes scanning around me. But the SUV that was there earlier was now gone. I almost wish he was still there so that I could beat his face into a bloody pulp for what he did to my woman.
Throwing my leg over, I sat on the seat to keep it steady so Zoe could get on. When she did, she wasted no time in wrapping her arms tightly around me, leaning her head against my back. No other woman had ever been on the back of my bike, because it just never felt right. But this, this felt right, down to my very core. And I was determined to keep her there.
We arrive back at the clubhouse and filed inside, though Kick and Tiny disappeared with their families, and said they’d return later for the party. It was to be a family friendly one to start with. Afterwards, it would probably descend into debauchery, but our parties always did. It was the responsibility of the rest of the members to initiate Spider and Snake in the ways of club life.
I was hoping to spend the evening with Zoe in my room. I found her there checking on Mr Boots, smiling as I watched her talk baby talk to the tiny fur ball, and cuddle him against her chest. Watching her as she slowly came out of her shell, I didn’t think a tiny kitten would be responsible for such a feat, but there you have it.
“How’s the little man doing?” I ask, and watch her jump in surprise, not realizing I was standing there leaning against the doorjamb to the bathroom. Just watching her like a creeper.
She smiles up at me, and my heart stutters. I’m so fucked.
“Do we have to be at the party tonight? I know things can get wild later on after all the old ladies leave.”
“If you don’t want to go, we can stay here, but it will be fun, you’ll see. And I’ll keep you safe.” I assure her, but the worried look on her face makes me want to smile. And she chews thoughtfully on her bottom lip.
“We’ll leave once all the families leave, how about that? I’m definitely not unattached, so there’s no reason I should stay for the party once the sweet butts arrive. You should know that by now.”
“What are you saying?” she asks. “Be clear with me, because I don’t want any misunderstandings between us,” she tells me, finally getting to her feet, her eyes squarely on me.
I wrap my arm around her waist, and bring her flush against me. “Listen to me carefully. You are mine, in every sense of the word. There’s no one else for me but you. And vice versa,” I tell her as succinctly as I can.
“I saw you with that club girl. You two looked quite cozy.” She reminds me of the day I wanted to wrap my fingers around Sin’s scrawny neck and choke her until she wasn’t breathing anymore.
“Same goes for me.” I tell her without hesitation. “There’s no one for me but you. There hasn’t been since you’ve been back in town.” I admit. “Are we good?”
She smiles, and it’s all I can do not to rip her clothes off and take her right here against the door of the bathroom.
“Yeah, baby. We’re good,” she whispers, striding towards me slowly. Hearing her saying the endearment, my cock rises to the occasion.