Chapter 24
Chains POV
The moment I stepped through Cleo's front door, I knew this wasn't just another dinner. The lights had been dimmed, and candles flickered softly around the room, their warm glow dancing across the walls. The comforting aroma of home-cooked food drifted from the kitchen, wrapping around me before I even had the chance to take my jacket off. It felt warm, inviting, and it felt like home.
Jesus. Cleo stood there, and for a moment, she stole every coherent thought from my head. She wasn't dressed to impress, she never had to. Wearing her dark jeans, that fit her perfectly, boots, and a soft top that hugged her in all the right places without trying too hard. Her honey-brown hair fell in loose curls over her shoulders, and the light touch of makeup only highlighted what I'd known from the moment I met her.
She was beautiful, not because of what she wore, but Because she was Cleo, and somehow, she'd made an effort, for her, me, and for us.
My chest tightened before I could stop it because nobody had ever done that for me before. Not like this. Her eyes met mine and held my gaze, and just like that, everything else in the world faded.
"Hi," she said softly. My lips curved before I could stop them. "Hi, sweetheart." The smile she gave me nearly brought me to my knees. That was it, any resolve I'd had disappeared. I closed the distance between us in two long strides, slipped my hands around her waist and pulled her gently against me. She let out a quiet laugh just before I kissed her, not hurried or desperate. Just everything I'd been wanting to do since I'd stepped through the front door. When we finally pulled apart, I rested my forehead against hers, unable to stop smiling.
"Missed you," I murmured.
----
Dinner was everything Tommy had promised and more. “Best lasagne ever,” I muttered after the first bite. Cleo laughed. “Tommy exaggerates.”
“He doesn’t,” I said, pointing my fork at her. “If anything, he undersold it." That earned me a look and another laugh.
We ate slowly, talked easily, like this was something we’d done a hundred times before, not something new. Just us.
When we finished, I stood without thinking and started clearing plates. Cleo followed immediately. “Nope,” she said, taking one from my hand.
“Cleo—”
"I invited you for dinner, not to clean." she said lightly. "I know." She mock glared at me, "Then why are you helping?". I turned fully to her with the most serious mock glared I could and said "Because that's what you do when someone cooks you dinner." She sighed and we worked side by side in the kitchen until everything was clean, then she took my hand.
"Couch," she said. It wasn't a question. I smiled. "Okay... bossy much?"
A few moments later, we settled onto the couch, a glass of wine in each hand. Our knees brushed as we sat, our shoulders touching soon after. Neither of us made any attempt to create space. I didn't want there to be any.
Cleo shifted slightly before turning towards me, for a moment, she simply looked at me. Those green eyes searched mine, as if asking a question neither of us needed to say out loud. Then she closed the distance, her lips brushed mine, soft and hesitant at first, as though she was giving me every opportunity to pull away. As if I ever would.
My hand found her waist instinctively, my thumb brushing gently against her side as I drew her closer. Her fingers curled into the front of my shirt, holding on just enough to make my heart pound. The kiss deepened naturally, unhurried, like it had been waiting to happen all night.
Maybe longer. Every day I'd spent wanting this, every moment I'd wondered if we were heading here, disappeared the second she kissed me. My control tightened around the edges. Reluctantly, I pulled back just enough for us both to catch our breath.
"Sweetheart..." My forehead rested against hers, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. "If you keep kissing me like that..." I murmured, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth, "...I'm not going to be able to stop."
Colour bloomed across her cheeks, but she didn't look away, instead, she smiled. The kind of smile that made me think maybe she didn't want me to stop either.
"Good." She smirked. My pulse kicked hard. "Cleo..." She shifted closer again, slow, and deliberate. "I don't want you to."
A smile tugged at my lips despite every ounce of self-control I had left. "You really don't make this easy." She shook her head, her cheeks flushed "I don't want to."
My hand slid from her waist to cup her cheek, my thumb brushing gently across her skin. I took a second just to look at her. Really look at her, the woman I'd fallen hopelessly in love with. The woman who'd trusted me with her heart, with her children, and her future.
"I love you," I said quietly. Her eyes softened. "I love you too."
The words settled somewhere deep in my chest, that was it. The knot that had been sitting in my chest all evening finally loosened. The conversation we'd both dreaded was behind us, the kids were okay, and we were okay.
Before I could think twice, I was on my feet. "What are you—" She didn't get to finish, I slipped an arm around her waist and lifted her effortlessly, a surprised laugh escaped her lips, "Gabe!" I just grinned. In one smooth movement, I threw her over my shoulder. "Cleo Hart."
Her laughter echoed through the house. "Put me down!" A light smack landed between my shoulder blades. I laughed, giving her backside a quick swat. "You really shouldn't tease me." She laughed again, "I wasn't teasing!" I raised an eyebrow, even though she couldn't see it. "Keep telling yourself that."
She dissolved into another fit of laughter, the sound warm and infectious as I carried her down the hallway. Soon I was laughing too, the weight we'd both been carrying all evening had finally disappeared.
For the first time in a long time, everything felt right.
The second her back hit the door, everything changed.
The laughter didn’t disappear, it deepened, darkened, turned into something breathless, something hungry. My hands slid to her hips, gripping, pulling her against me like I’d been holding back for months.
“Sweetheart…” My voice came out low, rough, nothing like the control I’d walked in with. She looked up at me with that smile, the one that said she knew exactly what she was doing to me, and it hit me harder than any punch I’d ever taken.
“You drive me insane,” I muttered, my forehead resting against hers. “Good,” she whispered. That one word nearly broke me. I lifted her again, but this time there was nothing playful about it, her breath caught as her hands clutched at my shoulders, her body tightening around mine as I carried her inside.
The door slammed shut behind us, her fingers curled into the back of my neck, pulling me down into a kiss that stole every bit of restraint I had left. My hands slid along her back, strong, certain, claiming without apology.
“Gabe…” Her voice trembled, not with fear, but with want. That sound alone nearly dragged a growl out of me. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me,” I said against her skin, my tone low enough to vibrate through both of us. She shivered, and that was it, that was the moment the alpha in me took over completely.
I pressed her back against the wall, caging her in with my body, my hands braced on either side of her head, her breath hitched, her eyes locked on mine, wide and trusting and full of heat. “Tell me to stop,” I said, even though I already knew the answer. She didn’t even blink. “I don’t want you to.”
Everything inside me snapped tight. I leaned in, my mouth brushing her ear, my voice a rough promise. “Then I’m not stopping.” Her breath caught sharp, wanting, and I felt it all the way through me.
The rest of the night unfolded with that same intensity, heat, closeness, hands that didn’t let go, breathless laughter, whispered names, the kind of connection that didn’t need words.
Nothing rushed or careless, just two people choosing each other completely, and when the lights finally dimmed and the world fell away, there was no doubt left in either of us: this wasn’t temporary or casual, this was the beginning of something real.
Something neither of us planned for, but both wanted.
*****
The next morning, I woke before her, and for the first time in a long time, I didn't rush to move. I just lay there, letting it all sink in. Her, here, with me.
She was curled against my side, one arm draped across my chest, her slow, steady breaths warming my skin. A few loose curls had fallen across her face, and I fought the urge to brush them away, not wanting to risk waking her. She looked content, like she belonged there, and if I was honest, she did.
A slow smile found its way onto my face as everything from the night before came rushing back, the dinner, conversation about the kids, relief that followed, the laughter, and jesus the kisses. Every moment that had brought us here. For the first time since I'd fallen in love with Cleo, there wasn't a single question hanging over us.
There was only us, and I couldn't remember ever waking up feeling this complete.
She stirred against me before stretching lazily. As her eyes fluttered open, they met mine, and a shy smile spread across her face. "Morning." My chest tightened. "Morning, beautiful."
A soft laugh escaped her as she pushed herself up and slipped out of bed. Completely naked, and at ease, she padded towards the bathroom before pausing at the doorway. Glancing back over her shoulder, the smile she'd worn since waking was still there.
"You coming?" I let out a slow, resigned breath, unable to hide my grin. "You already know the answer to that." Her laughter followed her into the bathroom, and I found myself smiling long after she'd disappeared from view.
*****
An hour later, we stood beside my bike. Cleo eyed it cautiously, like she still wasn't entirely convinced climbing on the back was a good idea. I couldn't help smiling as I held out a helmet, and she took it without a word.
"Trust me?" I asked. Her eyes lifted to mine, warm and certain. "Always." That one word still hit me square in the chest.
Once she'd fastened the helmet, she climbed on behind me. A second later, her arms slid around my waist, holding on just a little tighter than she probably realised. Everything inside me settled. I kicked the bike to life, and we pulled away from the house.
The open road stretched out ahead of us, the wind rushing past as the miles slipped by beneath the tyres. Every now and then, I felt Cleo relax a little more against my back, her grip loosening as her confidence grew.
By the time we rolled through the clubhouse gates, she was laughing. I killed the engine, and she climbed off, pulling off the helmet. Her honey-brown hair tumbled free instantly, slightly windswept but somehow even more beautiful.
Her smile was impossible to miss. "That was amazing." I smirked. "Told you." She laughed, giving me a playful shove. "You forgot to mention how good it feels."
I shrugged, "I figured you'd have to experience that part for yourself." She shook her head, still smiling. "I can't believe I waited this long." Neither could I.
Then Tommy came running. “CAPTAIN!” I already knew where this was going. “No fair!” he shouted, pointing at the bike. “I want a go!” I laughed. “Soon.”
He pouted, “When?” I laughed again, “Soon, buddy.” Cleo bit back a laugh beside me.
*****
Inside the clubhouse, everything felt familiar now, family, noise, club life. I found Stella near the kitchen, she caught my eye before I said a word. I nodded once, understanding softened her smile. "I've got it." A few minutes later, she returned carrying a folded cut. Black leather, fresh stitching, The Devil Creek's patch across the back, my road name beneath it. A symbol of who I was, and who I wanted to be.
I ran my thumb over the leather, taking in the weight of it, then I turned. Cleo stood across the room with Tommy and Skylar beside her. I walked towards them. The conversations around us slowly faded until the room settled into an expectant silence.
I took a deep breath and started, "I've spent a long time running from things," I said. A few knowing smiles appeared around the room. Rage's was the biggest. "But I stopped running the day you walked into my life." My hand found hers, keeping them steady, "And somewhere along the way..." I smiled at her. "...you became the most important person in it."
Cleo's breath caught. I turned towards Tommy and Skylar. "And these two..." I looked from one to the other. "...became just as important." Tommy's grin stretched from ear to ear, and Skylar smiled, blinking back tears.
I held up the cut. "You already know what this means." Cleo nodded. "Yeah." I stepped closer, then lowered myself onto one knee.
The clubhouse erupted, I barely heard it, there was only her. "Cleo Hart." Her hand flew to her mouth. "I love you." My voice caught for the first time all day, "I love Tommy." Tommy bounced on the balls of his feet, barely containing himself. "I love Skylar." A tear slipped down Skylar's cheek. "And I'd be honoured if the three of you would let me spend the rest of my life loving you."
For a heartbeat... Nothing, then she nodded, tears falling freely. "Yes." She laughed through the tears. "Yes, Gabe."
The room exploded. I was already pulling her into my arms before the cheering reached me. I kissed her, not because everyone was watching. Because I couldn't imagine doing anything else.
Tommy groaned dramatically. "Gross!" Laughter rippled through the clubhouse. I laughed, still holding Cleo against me, when I noticed Skylar walking towards us. She stopped a couple of feet away, her hands tucked into the pockets of her hoodie.
She looked up at me for a long moment. "Captain doesn't fit anymore." I frowned slightly. "No?" She shook her head. "It just... doesn't." A lump settled in my throat. "What should I be then?" She was quiet for a second before a small smile tugged at her lips. "I don't know yet." She glanced at her mom before looking back at me. "But... I'll figure it out."
Something inside me cracked wide open, not because wanted to change the name Tommy had given me, but because she'd promised there would be one. I opened my arms. "You don't have to rush." She didn't hesitate, she walked straight into my embrace, wrapping her arms around my middle. I held her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
"Whatever you decide," I murmured, "I'll answer to it." She smiled against my chest.
For now, that was enough.