Chapter 14
FOOL
“You sure about this?” Hazard asks, eyeing me closely.
“Yep.” I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I’m not a rash person, and Hazard knows that better than anyone. I wouldn’t be doing this if I weren’t sure.
Yesterday, while April was in class, I talked Hazard into following her for me while I ran some errands.
That meant I picked out the perfect ring set for her and made the appointment at the courthouse.
Once I had everything squared away for today, I called Cannon to tell him what was happening, then asked if he’d be down for a party.
He was shocked at first, then laughed and said he’d get everything straight.
He said it’s a good thing Lola would be back with Rex, or I’d be in hot shit with her.
I also called Twister to ask if they’d be willing to make a trip out to our clubhouse.
I didn’t exactly tell him the reasons, other than that there was nothing for him to worry about, but I know April would at least want them at the party to celebrate.
“You know I like April. She’s good for you, but I don’t want to see you do anything you’ll regret later,” Hazard grunts, leaning deeper against the wall.
I glance toward the bathroom, hearing the shower still running, then look back at my brother. “I’ve never wanted another woman as much as I do her,” I tell him. “Not even Stacy. April makes me feel something more. I can sleep next to her without nightmares.”
I’m not lying when I tell him any of this.
Where I thought my ex had fucked me up, I know that if anything were to happen with April, I’d be gutted.
No, I’d be a dead man. No one could ever replace her.
It doesn’t matter to me that it’s only been two weeks since I met her.
She’s it for me, and I know I don’t just want her body.
I want all of her: mind, body, heart, and soul.
Most of all, I need her lightness in my life in every way that matters.
“Happy for you,” Hazard says, a grin spreading. “Just had to make sure, brother. You know I’ve always got your back and am looking out for you. It’s my job.”
I shake my head, grinning. “Come on, we’ll head out once she’s ready,” I tell him, hearing the shower shut off.
After spending the last week here with April, I know it won’t take more than another thirty minutes for her to be ready.
She’ll blow-dry her hair, apply minimal makeup, and get dressed in there, the way she does every day.
She could have easily dressed in her room, but she doesn’t want anyone to see her in a towel.
I don’t want my brother to see her in a towel either.
My cock reacts strongly at the thought of finally seeing all of her and tasting more than just her mouth. Today, I will finally have her, and I’m more than ready to see what happens when I do.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the Justice of the Peace proclaims. “You may now kiss your bride.”
Pulling April into my arms, I kiss the hell out of her, savoring the moment she becomes mine.
I kiss her deeply, sliding my tongue into her mouth and claiming her in front of Hazard and Cannon.
The two of them are here as our witnesses.
My wife melts against me, her soft body fitting perfectly against mine.
When I finally break the kiss, her cheeks are flushed pink, and her eyes sparkle with happiness.
We finish the last of what needs to be done at the courthouse, and when we step out, she’s curled into my arms as Mrs. Underwood.
“You ready to get out of here?” I ask, tilting my head down to look at her.
“Yes,” she says, biting her bottom lip. She thinks I’m taking her back to the apartment and straight to bed, which I’d love to do, but we’ve got a party to get to, where the club and guests will be happy to celebrate our marriage.
She doesn’t know the guys from the Devil’s Riot will be there.
They’re her family, and she deserves to have them around her today.
I guide her over to my bike, help her onto the back, hand her the helmet I bought for her, and join her. Her simple little white sundress with flowers suits her. It’s a good thing the weather is warming up; otherwise, she’d need a jacket for the ride back to the clubhouse.
April wraps herself around me, pressing her front flush against my back, and again I savor the feel of her there, just as I did the first time she took her place on my bike, even though she didn’t know what her being there meant to me that day.
I nod to both Cannon and Hazard, and the three of us head off toward the clubhouse.
The ride takes us a little under thirty minutes, and the club’s parking lot is packed with bikes and cars. There are more people here than I thought there would be, but with a call to Twister and Cannon, I should have known.
Parking alongside the front of the clubhouse where my brothers are, I kick down the stand and turn off my bike.
“Hop off, sweets,” I tell her, holding out my arm to help her.
She slides off with ease and hands me the helmet as I join her. “I thought we were just going back to the apartment.”
“I know.” I grin down at her, set her helmet on the seat, then take her hand. “But it’s your day, baby.” I tug her into me and dip my head. “You deserve a day all about you, celebrating the fact that we’re now married.”
“What did you do?” she asks, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth.
“You’ll see.” I kiss the tip of her nose and tuck her into my side as we make our way to the front doors, where Cannon and Hazard are waiting for us.
“Heads up, Fool, I made my own call,” Hazard says, grinning. “Mom and Dad are here.”
Oh fuck.
My folks are going to give me shit for not telling them about April sooner. They won’t be mean about it, and I know they’ll both love her, but that won’t stop them from ribbing me. Mom might even shed a few tears.
Hazard and I have great parents who set an example for us growing up, but that doesn’t stop us from going our own ways or them from loving us, regardless.
“Your parents are here,” April squeaks, her steps faltering.
“You’ll be okay, sweets. They’re gonna love you,” I tell her, urging her forward and shooting a glare at Hazard. “You waited until now to tell me? Asshole.”
“Well, you didn’t give me a chance to throw you a bachelor party.” He shrugs. “It’s my right as your big brother and best man.”
“You weren’t the best man, dickhead. Just a witness.”
“Same difference.” He chuckles and looks toward April. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, little one. They’re good people. Besides, you can blame your man here for the rest of the crowd.” He opens the door and steps inside, with Cannon following him, still chuckling.
“Come on, let’s get this party started,” my Prez calls over his shoulder.
“What did you do?” April asks, but I don’t answer as I usher her inside, and she sees exactly what I did.
Twister, Horse, and several of the older members of the club are standing just inside the doors along with Kayla, Mercy, and their moms. There’s also another man with them, one I don’t know, standing with them.
April inhales sharply. “Dad.”
I glance down at my woman, then at the stranger among the group, and take a closer look, noticing the resemblance between them.
“Baby girl,” he calls, grinning, stepping forward and pulling his daughter into his arms, hugging her tight. “I’ve been missing you.”
“I thought you were in Mississippi,” she says, looking confused by his appearance.
“I was, but Twister called and said something was going down with you, so I hauled my ass back up here. Didn’t realize that where I was in Mississippi, I’d be coming to the same place as those guys as well.”
April looks as confused as I feel, but her dad doesn’t seem confused at all. He looks to Cannon, then to Rex, and to Cannon’s brother Steel, who joins us.
“Cannon, Steel, you know your great-uncle Mikey. The rest of the crowd here has already met him, but it’s now finally my turn to meet my great-niece,” Rex booms, looking at April.
What?
April’s related to Cannon?
“Um, I’m not sure I understand,” April says quietly, tucking herself closer to me again.
“I’m sorry, baby girl.” Mikey grimaces, looking at his brother.
“Let’s get into that all later,” Cannon announces. “Right now, it’s about Fool and April and the fact that they just tied the knot.”
Horse lets out a barking laugh and pulls his ol’ lady into his side. “Doesn’t this remind you of our wedding day?” he asks her.
Kenny snorts and elbows him as she and Izzy push through the crowd to reach April, both women pulling her from my arms. “You just had to follow in the ways of life, didn’t you, sweet girl?”
“What do you mean?”
“What she means is that she and Horse were barely together for a week at best before he carted her off to the courthouse and tied her to him,” Izzy says through a fit of giggles.
“If you remember correctly, Horse and I had a history before he came back into my life,” Kenny argues.
“So, he still did it, and you can’t deny it,” Izzy points out.
“And I don’t regret a minute of it.” The look Kenny shoots Horse is one of adoration, something I hope April and I will both feel years from now.
“How about we let the newlyweds get out of the doorway?” Twister suggests, coming up behind Izzy to claim her. His eyes on me. “Don’t forget my warning. You hurt her, and I hurt you. Just remember that.”
“I won’t forget it.” I nod and claim April once again.
I have a feeling it’s going to be hard as hell to keep her close with everyone here wanting her attention.
But I don’t mind, ‘cause she’s mine in every way she can be, and soon enough I’ll get the last piece of her that will be mine and mine alone.