Cherry

by Sapphire Knight

  “Yeah?”

  “You always found your way back, and whether you knew it or not, she was the one. You may’ve been a dumb, blind kid back then, but she’s had love shining in her eyes for you for the longest time. I knew if a bitch ever captured your love and affection, it’d be her; she’d earn that spot.”

  “And she did,” I admit.

  He nods in agreement, repeating me. “She sure as fuck did.”

  Shaking my head, my chest rumbles with a laugh. “Well, why in the hell didn’t you let me in on all this sooner?”

  “As I said, you were young and dumb. Besides, you forget I’ve had an ol’ lady at one time. You have to figure them out for yourself.” He flashes his teeth quickly in a grin, and I smile back. This fucker knew all along. Doesn’t matter though. I eventually came to my senses. The important thing is that Cherry’s all mine.

  Chaos leans over the bar top as he and Frost busily set new shots down in front of everyone.

  “Thanks,” we each mutter.

  “I’m glad y’all got things worked out,” he comments, taking a sip from his mason jar full of moonshine.

  “I have to say, I thought you’d be the one to vote against Cherry and me.”

  His brow jumps. “Kid, I’ve known the entire time that she was in love with you. What do you think all that was about each time you’d find us together and she was all emotional? It damn sure wasn’t me she was crying over.”

  My brow wrinkles. “I thought she hurt herself...”

  He snorts. “You’ve got a lot to learn about your ol’ lady. Cherry rarely shows weakness. She lets everything slide off her shoulders, ‘cept when it comes to you.”

  “So, this whole time you weren’t trying to come between us?”

  He smirks. “No. There was never a doubt in my mind whom she was in love with. I knew it was you before she ever came out and admitted it to you. Cherry is my friend; that’s all she’s ever been. I tried to tell you that.”

  I swallow. Cause, fuck, I was a dick to Chaos plenty of times from being jealous, thinking he wanted her. “Thank you for being good to her, even when I couldn’t see what was going on.” I may be a dick, but I can admit when I fuck up too. Viking told me years back that it helps make you a decent man if you can be big enough to admit your mistakes. These days, I have a woman that makes me want to be that good man in her eyes and in everyone else’s as well.

  “Always, brother.” He holds his fist out and I fist bump it, gratefully.

  Karma and Rage scoot in, nodding toward me. I’m not completely sure about them yet, and whether they’re related to Torch or not, it doesn’t matter. “Hey man, I see you locked down the best set of tits in the club,” one of them says and they both chuckle.

  Their words have me seeing red, and within my next breath, I have my hands wrapped in a death grip around each of their throats. There’s shouting, but I’m too zeroed in on these fuckers to pay it any mind. “Fucking Karma and Rage, first of motherfuckers, I’m VP or Odin to your asses. Secondly, Cherry is my bitch, mind what the fuck you say. She’s an ol’ lady and deserves to be treated with respect.”

  Leaning in, my hands tighten more, their faces beginning to change colors. They couldn’t break free no matter how much the meatheads struggle. With a growl, I warn, “You’ve heard of Viking chopping a head off the bastard talking about his ol’ lady, well the same blood runs through my veins. I may not have an axe, but I’ll just as easily choke your asses to death or slice your throats with my long ass blade.” At that, I release them, both men bending over to choke in and out as much air as they can get.

  Cherry slides in front of me and my expression softens. I’d do anything for this woman. Her arms wrap around my waist, holding me tightly. She lays her head on my chest, and my heart fills with warmth all over again.

  Viking strides over, a big grin on his face. “I’m proud of you.”

  “Figured you’d be pissed. I really will kill them if they don’t wise up.”

  He chuckles. “I know. I’m the one who sent them over here. I had to test you, make sure that wasn’t just fucking earlier. I’m damn proud to have you as my younger brother.”

  Blowing out a breath, I can’t even be surprised. Only my brother would think me threatening and choking men was a bonding moment. “Thanks, I think. For the record, you’re not a bad brother yourself.”

  He snorts. “I’ve been shit at it, but we have the future.” He sends Cherry a smile and then seeks his ol’ lady out.

  “You good?” Cherry leans up, asking me, so no one else will hear her.

  “Babe, I’ve got you in my arms. I’ve never been better.”

  I’ve got my woman on my arm, my brother back home and the VP patch. Life's pretty fucking good at the moment.

  Two years later

  “You ready yet, babe?” Odin smiles as I slide the last batch of freshly baked banana bread from the oven and place the hot sheet on a silicon cooling pad. Thank God for the clubhouse kitchen being built to serve so many big, burly men. The kitchen is massive. Not to mention stocked well, thanks to Princess’s love for making her mom’s recipes for the MC on occasion. Viking spoils her when it comes to providing things how she wants it.

  “Yes, I have to let this cool off a bit and then get them each individually wrapped up for tomorrow’s preorders.”

  “I’m so damn proud of you, Cherry.” He states those words often, never hesitating to speak his mind or offer me some praise. He’s done his damndest in making me feel appreciated and adored over the last few years. I couldn’t ask for a better man to have in my life. Chaos has even commented on it a few times. I’m glad I’m not the only person who notices it.

  My face lights up at his praise. “I never would’ve done it without your encouragement.” It’s the truth; without him, there’s no telling what I’d be doing right now. I don’t want to think of that though. I love my life by his side.

  He shrugs, engulfing my hand with his to lead me outside behind the club. “You were made to be a baker, and all I did was suggest that you take some of those delicious muffins to the farmers market. You do all the work.”

  Odin plays it off, but he did so much more than that, including helping me package and transport everything. Then he didn’t let me back out when my nerves hit out of nowhere and offered me some cash so I could give customers change. Never would I have thought people would pay for any of my baking. I was also able to start using some of my profit to order new baking supplies to go even further into my various sweet and spicy creations. “No, you also believed in me. No one’s ever believed in me the way you do.”

  “It’s ‘cause they’re dumbasses. You’re a good woman; their loss not to notice it before me.”

  Popping up, I manage to land an affectionate peck to his scruffy blond jaw. The brute’s so damn tall it’s hard for me to get kisses any higher on his face unless he bends down for me and I’m five foot nine, hardly short for a female. He shoots me an amused grin, lip still split and healing from him helping Torch out last weekend. He’d gone off with Torch occasionally before, but he’s been helping him more recently with club business. I feel like my heart could soar from the look he offers me.

  I love him.

  “So,” he continues, as we walk farther out toward the back corner of the property. We’re near the trail that leads to Viking and Princess’s place. “You all ready for tomorrow then? You had a lot more orders this time around.”

  He’s completely right. I have thirteen more orders for tomorrow than I had last week. They’ve steadily increased by at least ten each week. This time around I had to recruit two of the club whores to pitch in and help me prepare everything. I can only imagine what my orders will be when I unleash the pumpkin chocolate chip recipe I’ve been working on.

  I nod. “Yep. That was the last order for the preorders. I have the extras all baked and ready for first thing. I’ll still get up at three a.m. to do the various delicate pastries, so they’re fresh. I’m going t
o need Maverick’s help tomorrow if you think Nightmare won’t mind me putting his boy to work?”

  “Not at all; the kid has been itching for work. He keeps mentioning possibly selling newspapers or something to earn a little cash. He wants in on one of Chevelle’s go-kart races badly enough that he’s gotten Nightmare and Bethany to agree to let him race. He has to earn the buy-in money for the pit though. They told Maverick they’d let him use the go-kart, but the rest was on him. There’s a Mario Kart theme coming up that I’m sure would be his favorite.” He shakes his head good-naturedly. “I’m so glad you only do this on the weekends. I can imagine how busy you’d be if you offered to sell freshly baked goods all the time. I’d never see your gorgeous face.”

  “I know. I’m starting to cave though. I had that old lady, Mrs. Johnson ask me if I could do her daughter’s wedding cake. A full-on wedding cake! She loves that lavender vanilla bean loaf so much she wants it to be the cake flavor. I’d have to bake it earlier in the week and piece it together, rather than my usual Thursday through Saturday schedule. I have to spread it out to make my order demands for the farmers market.”

  “What?” His eyes widen. “Cherry, that’s fucking awesome!” His hand squeezes mine in his enthusiasm, making me even more excited and proud to tell him.

  My cheeks flush; he believes in me and helps to push me to do what I love. “I know...I sort of agreed already,” I admit. I was so pumped up about the lady’s design and order; I couldn’t tell her no. “I was going to wait, speak to you first and all, but she was freaking out on the phone.”

  “I’m glad you decided to do it.”

  “Yeah?” I ask to make sure. I don’t like taking away from our time together. Sunday through Wednesday is concentrated on spoiling my man. In return, he lends me a hand when he can for my weekend work and together, we make an amazing team. That’s another thing I love about us. We’re always doing whatever we can for each other.

  He nods, and we come to a stop about a mile away from Viking and Princess’s home.

  “Let’s not take in the fact that all this baking has made me put on an extra ten pounds.”

  He snorts and rolls his eyes. “Bullshit, it’s not from the baking, we know this. At least blame it on all the fucking. It’s muscle babe.” He winks, being cute. “Besides, I like the extra weight on you; it gives me a better grip to hold on to. There’s not a damn thing wrong with your tits getting plumper and your ass a little juicier than before.”

  “I know, you always remind me how sexy I am to you. I can’t help that my hormones go crazy sometimes. I’m a woman.”

  “So, it’s finished,” he says as we come to a stop and I look at the cottage in front of me. This is our spot. We started coming here all the time after we made it official in the eyes of the club. Odin would lie me down under the bright blue sky and make passionate love to me every chance he could. Smitten is not a strong enough word for how he can make me feel. Then one day out of the blue, Odin had a big truck full of building supplies delivered here. Soon after, I found myself making him breakfast burritos and heaping lunch sandwiches because in his free time he was always in this spot, building.

  “It’s amazing; I can’t believe you built this place with your own two hands.”

  “I had some help,” he beams, pleased with his amazing accomplishment.

  “Please...all I did was paint and stain. You are the one with true talent.”

  He shrugs the compliment off, always humble when it comes to working, but not when it has to do with his cock or good looks. “You ready to see it completed? It only took me a long ass time to finally get it finished.”

  “Of course! I thought you’d never ask!”

  “I’m glad we decided to have two bedrooms. It’ll come in handy with all the baking you do. I could do some custom long shelves for all your loaves for packaging. You know, keep the kitchen counters cleared out for your other stuff. I told you, I want to make this kitchen easy for you to bake whatever you set your mind on.”

  “I love you,” I whisper, so unbelievably grateful for everything he’s done and continues to do for me.

  “I love you, Cherry.” He steps up the few front steps, stopping to turn to me and presses a sweet kiss to my mouth.

  “So, funny you should mention that second bedroom,” I mutter.

  “Why do you say that?” He meets my gaze, remaining in the same spot; he holds both of my small hands in his.

  I’m ruining this amazing tour he’s trying to give me right now, but I need to get it out. I can’t refrain from sharing the news, any longer. “You know how we decided I’d keep going to the doctor before telling Viking and Princess we’re pregnant?”

  “Yeah.” He nods, lips turning up at the corners. “I can’t believe you’re willing to carry this little person for them. You’re a good woman, but I always tell you that.”

  “Give yourself some credit, big guy. It’s not every day that a man would offer up his child so his brother could adopt it. We’re both doing this together so that Viking and Princess can be parents. We both know they will be great at it, and it should’ve happened for them long ago.”

  “I agree with you, so what’s that have to do with the spare room? You think we should make it kid-friendly for when they want us to babysit?”

  “Definitely kid-friendly,” I agree. “So how would you feel about being a father? I know we talked about it a while back...but how about now?”

  He smirks. “This pregnancy has already given you baby fever? If you want to have a kid of our own after this pregnancy, I would be good with that idea.” One hand breaks free to tuck my hair behind my ear, his hand lingering on my jaw. He continues. “As long as you’re fully healed up, and the doctor says it’s okay. I don’t want to cause too much stress on you, babe. You heard what the doc said about your age and pregnancy taking a bigger toll. I won’t sacrifice your health, so I can have a child; you’re too important to me.”

  My eyes fill, tearing up at him always thinking about my comfort and safety. My lip wobbles as I whisper; “What about now?”

  “Baby.” He pulls me to his chest, moving to wrap his arms around me tightly. Lips and nose in my hair he softly says, “We can’t do that to my brother; we discussed how important this is. We already agreed and signed documents for a closed adoption to them. They’re paying all the doctor bills for this child. I love you, but we already promised them.”

  A choked laugh escapes, tears dropping over my cheeks as I burrow into his muscular frame and breathe in his smell. He’s my everything, and that smell brings me comfort whenever I need it. “I’ve been going to the doctor more this month because I’m having two babies...not one.”

  “Huh?” He nearly shouts, drawing me backward with surprise to peer into my teary gaze. “Did I hear that right?”

  I smile, my head bobbing in a nod. “Twins,” I breathe, and his face breaks into a huge smile.

  “Holy fuck! Twins?” he echoes. “So that means, wait, we only agreed to give Vike one baby.”

  I nod again; he’s catching on. “I’m having twins.”

  “Fuck,” he murmurs. “But the adoption is supposed to be closed. These kids will have the same birthdays, go to school together, live by one another, and grow up together.” He rubs one hand over his head, yanking a bit at the long rope of hair falling down his back. After building this house, he reminds me more and more of a Nordic god. “How can we keep this from the two of them? It’s one thing to have a kid a year or two apart and raise them as family members, but how do we separate twins, especially if they end up being identical? If they end up being fraternal twins, I would still feel like a colossal fuck for not telling the kids that they’re siblings.”

  “I know. That’s what I’ve been struggling with this past week ever since the doctor told me I was pregnant with twins. That and the part of having to tell you all about it, of course.”

  “Twins,” he repeats and pulls me in for a bear hug. “I’m going to be a father, l
ike a real father where we keep the kid,” he mutters excitedly, and I burst out in giggles.

  “You’re going to be a wonderful father.”

  “I promise you; I damn sure will give it my best.”

  “I know you will.”

  “How are you feeling?”

  “I thought I wasn’t ready for my own child, but I’m really happy. I think a big part of that has to do with you being our baby’s father.”

  “I’m going to add on another room,” he proclaims, bringing me back to the moment. We’re standing in our new house. Our new house that he’s built from the ground up for us.

  “Why are you adding another room?” I pull free to look around. I’ve never had a place to call my own and Odin has made sure we have our own home.

  “Because babe, what if you go back to the doc and next he tells us there’s a third baby in there.” He’s so serious as he points to my stomach that I can’t help but laugh harder. I do that a lot. Another thing I didn’t experience much growing up was laughter.

  “If there’s a third kid in there I’ll help you build,” I promise as we begin to take our first official tour.

  “We can finish looking around in a minute,” he murmurs once we’ve gotten to the kitchen and I’ve taken every counter surface in. “I want to do something first.”

  “Okay,” I agree, not sure if we’re pausing to christen these counters in already. I know he has a hefty sex drive, and I am sure he’ll take me many times in each room. The man has an appetite for my body that’s never wavered.

  He takes me off guard as he drops to his knees before me. Lifting my shirt, he presses his lips to my stomach. “I needed to say hello to my sons before we went any farther. They’ve gotta know that they’re both important to me, even if only one call’s me dad. I need them to know that I love them both.”

  And I’m crying yet again. I’ll blame it on the hormones, but in reality, I know it’s because I love this man with every breath I take, and I always will.