by Sophia Gray
I didn’t talk about any of this with Penny. I knew she had to be completely overwhelmed from it all, and I couldn’t blame her one bit. She didn’t have much time left in the world, and the last thing I wanted to do was fill the rest of her hours with sadness and anxiety.
The sun was shining clear and bright. It was cold outside, but the chill felt good. I stepped out of the cabin and wrapped my arms around my body, looking up at the weak rays of the sun streaming through the trees. In the distance, I thought I could hear engines purring but I wasn’t sure. When I realized I hadn’t washed in hours, I darted back inside and used the bathroom. Donovan had hustled me off before I’d had time to grab anything, but I made do. I didn’t look glamorous, but then again, I never really had. Donovan was used to seeing me unwashed and grubby. If that’s how he loved me, that’s how I’d stay.
When my rig pulled up in front of the cabin, I let out a loud whoop. Dashing outside, I tackled Donovan before his feet touched the ground. The feel of his strong muscles against my body was exciting and I let out a cry as a shiver ran down my back.
Donovan’s strong hands gripped me tightly as he looked into my eyes with his stunning blue eyes. “Anna, that was a hell of a scene,” he said. He let out a whistle and I felt my cheeks redden. “And you look good enough to eat,” he added, leaning down and nipping at my neck. His sharp teeth sent a bolt of arousal through my body and I squirmed in his arms, wanting all of him, right then, right there.
Donovan set me down on the ground and I took a good look at him. He wasn’t covered in blood, but there was something different about him. He seemed to have aged five years overnight.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly.
“I’ll be fine,” he said. “It was a long night.” He took a deep sigh before scooping me up and carrying me back inside the house. I giggled and pressed my face into his neck, breathing in his scent deeply and happily.
“I missed you so much,” I said into his neck.
He mumbled a grunt in return. “I missed you, too,” he said, more clearly this time. “I really did.”
Instead of dropping me in the spare room, he carried me up the steps. I knew we were going to see Penny. Even though I’d just looked in on her a few minutes ago, I suddenly felt anxious. This was my future coming together—I’d never have another one like it. Or anything like this. I cherished the idea of spending as much time with Donovan and his mom as possible.
“Donovan!” Penny cried out happily. Tears streamed down her thin cheeks and she grinned as wide as I’d ever seen her. “I’m so glad you’re safe!”
“Of course I’m safe,” Donovan said with a cocky grin. He dropped me on the other bed with a soft bounce and sat by his mom’s feet.
As I scrambled up, I jumped on the bed with both of them. A grin was stretching my cheeks painfully from ear to ear and I knew my face was red with excitement.
“Mom, did Anna take good care of you while I was gone?”
Penny nodded. “She was the best companion I could have hoped for,” she said softly. “Don’t you agree, Anna?”
“I had fun,” I said nervously. “But we both missed you a lot.”
“Anna was so eager to know all about your schooling,” Penny said to Donovan in a playful voice. “I didn’t lie to her, though. She knows everything.”
“I’d hope so,” Donovan said drily. He reached out and ruffled my brown hair. “Mom, listen, are you up to planning a wedding for me and Anna?” Donovan grabbed my hand and squeezed hard. Tears welled up in my eyes and I had to blink and look away.
“Yes!” Penny cried. The loudness of her voice surprised and startled me; before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face. “I would love to, Donovan,” she said with a smile on her face. “And I’d love to help you, Anna.”
I grinned. “I can’t believe this,” I admitted. “My heart is racing.”
As Penny watched, Donovan took my left hand in his. He reached into his pocket. I held my breath, expecting some kind of giant sparkly ring. When he came out with a rubber band, I laughed. Penny laughed harder, and in a matter of seconds, she was crying, too.
“This is just temporary,” Donovan said. He slipped the band around my finger and looped it until it was snug. “I promise we’ll go get something nice as soon as we can.”
I grinned. Even with a grimy rubber band, my left hand still looked different. I couldn’t wait to see how it would look once I had a real ring.
“So, will you marry me?” Donovan looked into my face.
For a moment, everything disappeared. We were no longer hiding in a cabin, and his sick mother was no longer on the bed with us. It was just the two of us, alone, staring into each other’s eyes.
“Yes,” I said. The tears started falling harder than ever and I had to reach up to wipe them away. Donovan reached up with a handkerchief and wiped my nose for me. I giggled. “On one condition,” I added in a shaky voice.
Donovan looked at me with a wry grin on his face. “And what would that be, lady?”
I grinned and sniffled as I wiped tears away with the back of my hand. “Pay for my medical school,” I said. “I want to be able to stay here and take care of Penny.”
Donovan nodded. “Done,” he said immediately. He didn’t even have to think about it. I was relieved. I knew he’d made the offer way earlier, when we first met, but I didn’t want him to be upset since I’d rejected it then.
Penny smiled. “Oh, dear, that’s wonderful,” she said, taking my free hand in her own and clasping it tightly. “I’m so pleased you want to be around.”
I nodded solemnly. “I want to help take care of you,” I said. “You know, if Donovan is working or on a club trip or something. I want to be around as much as I can.”
“Well, the club trips aren’t going to be a thing,” Donovan said. He grinned. “I handed the president patch to Thomas today,” he said.
My heart caught in my chest and I sprang forward and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him close. “Are you serious?” New tears formed in my eyes and dripped down my face. I knew Donovan had mentioned walking away from The Saints, but I wouldn’t have truly believed it until now.
Donovan nodded. He pulled away and patted Penny on the arm. “It’s not my life anymore,” he said simply. “I have to give my family the best life going forward, and that includes me being around all the time.” He gave me a hard look. “And don’t think I’ll be relying on you, either,” he said. “I’m going to start working as a bodyguard again, maybe as a private investigator.”
I nodded. “I love you,” I said softly.
Donovan looked at me and grinned. “I love you both,” he replied. “You’re the most important women in my life, and I’m so happy you got to meet.”
“Me, too,” Penny said. She sighed softly. “You know I might not be around forever, Donovan.”
Donovan grinned ruefully. “Don’t remind me.”
“And I want you to know how much I love you,” Penny continued. “And I need to know you’ll always be happy with Anna. Treat her well, treat your family well. Don’t forget about me and your father.”
Donovan shook his head. He wasn’t crying, but I could tell he was feeling very emotional. “Of course,” he said quietly. His voice was as gruff as ever, but I could tell he was really feeling loved.
“And promise me lots of grandchildren,” Penny said with a grin. “Can you do that for me?”
I blushed hard as Donovan grabbed my hand and squeezed. “You bet, Mom,” he said with a genuine smile. “You bet.”
Chapter 30
One Year Later
The surf blew into my face as I ducked into the chapel. It had been raining hard all morning and I was soaked from head to toe. This definitely wasn’t the wedding prep I’d always imagined, but then again, nothing had turned out like I’d expected.
After Donovan and the guys had returned from meeting the bad guys, Donovan had resigned as president of The Saints. He’d handed his patch over to Th
omas. The first few weeks had been tough. I knew he was missing his guys and his freedom, but he pulled through. Then, Penny took a turn for the worse and I knew Donovan was glad he’d quit. She hung on for a few more weeks and died about two months after I’d first met Donovan. Even though it was an incredibly short amount of time, I felt like I knew her better than ever. When she died, I was heartbroken. So was Donovan. I’d been worried he would retreat from me when faced with his mom’s death; instead we were closer than ever. It was the first and only time I’d seen Donovan cry after her funeral. I didn’t think he was a weak man for crying. In fact, I loved him more than ever. I loved that he felt strong and safe enough around me to cry. It made me feel powerful and protective over him. For a moment, I felt the way he must have felt protecting me all of those times. It was incredible.
But today, nothing was going right. I’d gotten up early in the morning and taken a long bath. The sun had been out and shining, and I’d felt really relaxed and happy about the day to come. Donovan had spent the night at The Saints’ clubhouse—he wasn’t a member, but they bent the rules just once. After all, we weren’t having a very traditional wedding but I was hell-bent on not seeing him the morning before. It was supposed to be bad luck. And after the past couple of months, I’d had about all the bad luck I could get.
It started when I began my anatomy class, after the shootout. I was about a week late and wound up doing poorly on the midterms. Then, Penny’s health took a turn for the worse. I withdrew from the class and started spending all of my time taking care of her. Donovan was still working as a bodyguard. He’d been trying to set up his own private security firm but the cards hadn’t fallen into place yet. And then I was stuck with his mom for almost twenty-four hours a day while he was with a particularly demanding client. We were fighting all the time, and I barely even knew how things were going to work out. But finally, Donovan got a break. He found an investor and started his own company. Things were getting back on track, but I decided to take a break from school until Penny had passed. I didn’t want to miss anything, and she was getting worse by the day.
Now, a year later, I still hadn’t gone back to school. I still had another semester left to go. The plan was for me to head back as soon as Donovan and I were back from our honeymoon. In a way it was frustrating that my goals had been pushed aside. But I was grateful for my time with Penny, and I wouldn’t have changed anything about what had happened.
When I looked in the mirror in the chapel’s bathroom, I was dismayed at what I saw. My hair was soaked and pressed limply against my forehead. My white dress was completely wet and I could see the compression garments through the wet material. There was no way I’d be dry before the ceremony. Fuck it, I thought. Who cares? Today is about marrying Donovan, and that’s what counts.
My heart was in my throat as I waited for the organ music to begin. Donovan and I had spent a few weeks planning a wedding with Penny. She had distant family in Texas, and it was so important to her that we get married there. Donovan hadn’t loved the idea, but I’d warmed up to it after a while. But after Penny passed away, the idea of getting married in Texas was just too painful. Donovan wanted to stay in California and I didn’t blame him. After all, we were both from Dos Palmos. It was a miracle our paths hadn’t crossed before they actually did. Or maybe it was just fate.
Now we were at a chapel by the coastal highway. When I looked out the window, the parking lot was filled with motorcycles of all shapes and sized. I grinned to myself. It definitely wasn’t what I’d pictured, but somehow it felt right. Somehow it felt perfectly natural to be marrying my love in a sea of leather.
What didn’t feel natural was that I was alone. I didn’t have any family or female friends to be there on my side, so I’d gotten ready all by myself. The woman at the bridal salon had taken pity on me when I’d showed up alone. I felt sorry for myself for about five minutes. Then, a family showed up. One of the daughters was getting married but her sister and her mother were such argumentative bitches. It made me glad that I didn’t have anyone to call my favorite dress ‘ugly.’ And it wasn’t ugly, it was beautiful. It was the most formal thing I’d ever owned, and I loved it. It wasn’t ornate or too girly; rather it was a simple long white gown with inch-thick straps at my shoulders and a simple-but-elegant twist at the bust. I couldn’t wait to see Donovan’s eyes on me when I stepped out into the aisle of the chapel.
Finally, the organ sounded the beginning of the wedding march Donovan had chosen. I hadn’t been that nervous before but now my heart leapt into my throat and stayed there. I thought I was going to be sick as I took a deep breath and clutched my bouquet of pink and white peonies. The sight of the beautiful flowers calmed me down and their scent soothed me as I took my first step down the aisle.
Everyone turned to look at me in awe. The chapel was full of bikers, but they all looked somber and appreciative. I knew it had to be a strange day. The former president of their MC getting married to a little brunette trucker he’d met only a year ago. It was the stuff of stories, but I was guessing that some of them had pretty wild tales, too.
Donovan was standing at the altar. When he turned to me, the breath sucked out of my chest. He looked so handsome, I couldn’t wait to have him alone and rip the clothes off of his muscular body. Ever since starting the private security firm, he’d been more buff than ever. I’d been worried he’d find the routine work boring, but Donovan loved it. He was always telling me crazy cases and stories about the people he worked with. I couldn’t have been happier that the love of my life had found a satisfying job. I hoped when I finally made it as a doctor, I’d feel the same way.
As I stepped closer, my heart raced in my chest. A broad grin broke out over my face and I knew I was blushing beet red but I couldn’t stop. My skin felt warm and itchy and it took every effort not to reach up and scratch. My soaked hair was loose and beginning to dry, but the dress was still uncomfortably damp and clingy. Donovan grinned and kept his eyes glued to my chest. I wanted to roll my eyes. I knew I probably looked amazing, but sometimes he was such a horndog that I could have laughed. As I strode closer, Donovan grinned broadly and looked out over the audience. I knew he was enjoying the attention, too.
The minister took my hand and placed it in Donovan’s. As he began the wedding rites, I had to fight to stay focused. It was too hard not to stare at Donovan’s face, to let my eyes hang all over his gorgeous body. He was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a clean white button-down shirt and I’d never seen him look sexier. The hunger in his eyes made me feel like he felt much the same, and as he squeezed my hand, a shiver of lust ran down my spine.
Donovan and I had been together for a year but the spark hadn’t even started to fade. Every time he looked at me, I felt my pussy get wet and my clit start throbbing. I knew we were in for a lifetime of torrid sex, and I couldn’t wait to get started.
When Donovan leaned down to kiss me, I saw stars. He slid a simple white gold band onto my empty ring finger. My engagement ring—a vintage two karat stunner—was on my right hand for the day. I’d slide it back on after the wedding, but I wanted Donovan’s wedding band to always be closer to my heart.
The guys in the chapel cheered and cried out as Donovan grabbed me and spun me around in the air after a breathtaking kiss. When he set me down on my feet, he looked into my eyes.
“I love you,” Donovan said in a hoarse voice. Some of the guys hooted and hollered behind us, and he winked at me.
“Let’s hop on our bikes,” I said, winking back at my new husband. “I can’t wait to feel the wind in my hair.”
As we stepped outside, I saw the rain had stopped. The sun was peeking out from behind a cloud and everything had a fresh, new smell. I closed my eyed and inhaled deeply. Two of The Saints brought our bikes around and Donovan and I climbed on. It had almost been a sad thought to think about getting my own bike, but now I loved it. I loved feeling the engine between my legs and keeping up with Donovan as we shouted things to ea
ch other while racing down the highway.
We pulled away from the chapel side by side. Donovan gunned his bike into high gear and drove down the hill, pulling into the small graveyard that was below the chapel. My heart was heavy as we walked towards Penny’s white marble headstone. It was beautiful and simple, just as she had been.
Donovan stood in front of the stone and got to his knees. He placed a hand on the cool rock and began whispering under his breath. I couldn’t hear, but I knew what he was saying. Closing my eyes, I tried to remember how Penny’s face had looked the last time we’d seen her.
After a few minutes, Donovan got to his feet and walked over to me. He wrapped an arm around me and we stayed silent as we stood at Penny’s grave. The cemetery was peaceful. I was glad she was in a restful, quiet place now. Even though I would have given anything for her to be present at our wedding, I was so relieved she was in a world without pain.