Chapter 17
Claire sat on the couch smoothing her shirt over her belly as Patch brought in the presents from the truck.
“How many people live in this town?” he grumbled. “The presents seem endless.”
“You know we’re a small community,” she chastised. “It’s a wonderful gesture from all of them.”
“I didn’t plan on spending my first night home unloading gifts,” Patch said sarcastically. “I hoped to spend the evening with you.”
“Then leave them in the truck and come join me,” she said, patting the cushion beside her. “It’s not like we have a high crime rate.”
“I only have two more loads, and I’ll be done. Then, we can sleep in tomorrow,” he said, stacking the boxes.
“You might, but I won’t. I have to pee every hour,” Claire explained.
“Then I’ll get up with you and make breakfast,” he said, amending his plans.
“I’m amenable to your proposal,” she said, yawning.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were tired?” Patch asked, watching her.
“Because I’m always exhausted by this time of the day. After I get a little dinner in me, I’ll feel refreshed,” she assured him.
“I’ll be back. Don’t go anywhere,” he said gruffly.
Claire rolled her eyes at her overprotective, overbearing fiancé.
He returned a few minutes later, carrying another stack. “What happened to the porch light?” he asked as he stacked the gifts.
Claire glanced at her lap and smiled sweetly. “The other one got rusty, and I decided to change it.”
Patch stopped in his tracks. “Did you hire an electrician?”
“It seemed easy. I followed the colored diagram, and it still won’t turn on,” she explained slowly.
Patch pinched his nose and took a few deep breaths. “Doc, you realize you’re carrying our child. As much as I love you, you must admit your repairing skills suck. Why didn’t you call a professional? You might’ve burned the house down. Electricity can be dangerous.”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I got this sudden urge to clean the house from top to bottom and then fix a few things.”
Patch rubbed his forehead and winced. “What else did you feel needed fixing?”
“Ummm, why don’t we worry about it later?” she asked, batting her eyes. “I didn’t expect you home this soon.”
“Claire,” he growled. “Please tell me you didn’t put yourself in any danger. Doc, Michael, Bear, and Archer offered to help you with anything.”
“Have you seen them? Michael took over carpooling duty for Catherine. Doc runs a hospital, which has a million problems of its own. Bear stays glued to his computer in case the team needs him. Archer has volunteered to take on more responsibility at the facility. Whiskey hired a new team. We haven’t met them yet.
I’ve only seen Rocker taking them around town, showing them where everything’s located. ”
“I imagine Whiskey will call us in for a debrief,” Patch said. “What else did you break?”
“Hey,” she said, punching him in the arm.
“I might have fixed the plumbing in our bathroom shower. It needed a new head. Then, the little alarm thingy’s in the baby’s room goes off every time I open the window.
Speaking of noises, I might’ve beaten the fire alarm to death at the top of the stairs because it wouldn’t stop beeping. ”
“Anything else?” he asked sarcastically, stepping away from her to examine the room for any potential dangers.
“The French doors won’t stay closed. I tied them together,” she confessed. “And I might’ve lost your screwdriver in the ceiling when I tried to hang something.”
“How did you possibly lose a screwdriver?” he asked, astonished.
Claire bit her lip. “When the hole kept getting bigger,” she said slowly.
Patch lunged at her, making her squeal. “What will I do with you?” he growled. “You’re giving me gray hair. Promise me, you’ll let me do the fixing around here.”
“We’ll have a baby in the house soon,” she said. “I’ll be preoccupied for a while. I promise, no more repairing things.”
“Thank you,” he said, pulling her onto his lap. “I missed you like crazy.”
She ran her hand against his scruff and stared at him.
“I know you brought Hollywood home, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m relieved you’re here.
Watching Catherine struggle with her grief is heartbreaking.
I didn’t think you’d make it in time for the delivery.
Doc assured me he didn’t mind relieving you, but I didn’t know if you’d return home. I know how you feel about the team.”
Sighing, he pulled her closer. “My brothers mean a lot to me, but you’re my life.”
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I need to ask you something,” Patch said softly. “We planned a fancy wedding for next year. The baby came as a surprise. I’ve made no bones about wanting us married before this baby comes into the world.”
“I’m not worried about a piece of paper, Patch. I have no doubts about your commitment to me, to us,” she murmured.
“You’re missing the point,” he said. “I don’t care about the paper.
I want to pledge my love to you, and as barbaric as it sounds, you and this baby will be mine.
It’s the start of our family. For once in my life, I want to do this right.
It’s not about proving anything to anyone. It’s for me, for our family.”
Claire smiled and cupped his head, bringing it closer. She kissed his forehead. “I didn’t realize it meant this much to you. It’s a big undertaking to plan a wedding this fast.”
“I have another plan I wanted to suggest,” Patch said.
“How do you feel about getting married at the courthouse on Monday? I called ahead, and they can get us in at nine in the morning. We can still hold our wedding next year. I need this, Claire. Do you consider me a caveman if I tell you I want to make you mine?”
“No. I know you. You’re an honorable man. It goes both ways. You’ll be mine, too. Don’t we need witnesses and a license?” she asked, massaging his head.
“The lady who made the appointment says they can provide witnesses, and I kinda took care of the license before we left Germany. Don’t ask. It takes three days, and I didn’t want to wait any longer.”
Claire chuckled softly. “I guess if you can tolerate my fixing things, I won’t ask how you obtained a marriage license.”
“Does this mean we can become husband and wife on Monday?” he asked excitedly.
“Yeah,” she whispered. “Let’s get married.”
Patch kissed her, trying to remain gentle. Months of waiting to hold her in his arms made it difficult.
Her tongue slid across his lip, and she nipped the tender skin while her hands worked the buttons on the dress shirt he borrowed from Doc.
“Claire,” he whispered reverently. “I’ve dreamed of this moment forever.” His hands rubbed her back and down to her bottom.
Pulling the sleeves of his shirt, she gazed at his chest. Sliding down, she started at his jaw and kissed and licked her way down to his chest.
Patch moaned. “Damn, this feels a helluva lot better in person than it did in my dreams.” He lifted her gently, set her on the couch, and pulled the tie on her maternity top.
His eyes stayed pinned on her voluptuous breasts.
His finger traced along her neck and along the mounds threatening to spill out from her bra.
“Patch,” Claire sighed. “Did you know pregnant women get really horny sometimes?”
“Yes, I’ve heard.”
“Then will you do me a favor?” she asked as she crooked her neck to the side as his lips pressed against the hollow of her throat.
“Hmmm?” he asked as he nibbled his way down.
“I’m not made of China. Stop treating me gently. I want to feel you,” she pleaded.
“What about the baby?” he asked, sounding hesitant.
“The motion can soothe a fetus. I’ve waited for you to come home forever. We can make tender love later, but I need you now,” she said urgently.
“Thank goodness,” he said, picking her up from the couch and leading her to the bedroom. Placing her on the bed, he removed her top and bra. She lay back and lifted her hips, letting him pull off the rest of her clothes.
She raised and worked the buckle on his belt in a frenzied motion, letting him know she needed him as urgently as he needed her.
He stepped back and pulled off his clothes. Claire moved to the middle of the bed and propped herself against the pillows.
“Shit. Let me savor this sight for a minute. I want this burned into my memory forever,” he said, bending down and placing a kiss on her belly. “You carrying my child makes me want you even more.”
“Good. I’m not getting any younger, and I want another one shortly after this one,” she said, reaching for him.
Patch laughed. “How do we do this? Are your breasts tender?”
“Touch me,” she said, taking his hand and leading it to her nipple. “Nothing has changed except for the mini you inside me. We carry on like before.”
Patch kissed her chest as his hand cradled her breast, giving it a squeeze. His thumb brushed against the enlarged nipple.
“Oh, Patch,” she said as she reached between his legs, stroking him.
His dick pounded as the blood rushed to it. It stiffened under her demanding hands. Her nails grazed his balls, making him groan louder.
His lips captured her nipple as he tugged on the other. Claire ran her hand in his hair, holding him to her, enjoying his tongue scraping against the sensitive bud.
“It feels like forever,” she whispered.
Patch moved down her body, spreading kisses along her stomach and down her legs. Claire jumped when he nipped at the sensitive skin along the inside of her thighs. His finger slid into her heat, and he smiled when he saw how wet she got for him.
“It feels incredible,” she said, urging him with her eyes.
Patch slid in another finger, making her gasp as she rode his hand. Her hands drifted across her chest, and she played with her breasts. His gaze feasted on her movements while her hips moved to the rhythm he set.
“I’m a lucky man,” he said quietly.
“More,” she pleaded, as she tugged on her nipples.
“I’m hanging on by a thin thread, Doc. Why don’t you ride me? Then, I can play with my future wife’s breasts,” Patch said.
“Not yet,” she said, shaking her head. “I want to taste you.”