by Brook Wilder
If Mac’s invasion of my life hadn’t taught me anything else, it sure as hell had taught me that I was vulnerable due to my choice for the future. “How do you protect your family?”
Chains chuckled. “Well, my family is a little bit unconventional. Kris can handle herself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t worry about her constantly. It would rip out my damn heart if she was taken or killed. I’ve thought about what you said. If I had been in your shoes, I would have done the same thing.”
“And I probably would have done what you did,” I added. I had replayed that moment in my head many times over the last week, understanding that he had a duty to the club. Now, because of what I had done, the club was under the microscope once more.
I wouldn’t apologize, though.
“Good to hear it,” he answered. “You know you are still welcome in the club. I don’t give a shit what you said. I don’t want to lose you.”
I knew it was coming. It would be too damn easy for me to accept his apology and continue on with my life.
That was before Leigh and the baby. “Sorry, man,” I finally said, the words coming out easier than I thought they would. “I’m done. I’ve got other priorities.”
To my surprise, he grinned. “I thought you would say that, but I had to check. I don’t blame you. What you have, it’s what all of us want, no matter what we tell you.”
“What are you going to do now?” I asked, curious.
“Try to stay out of the cops’ way,” Chains answered as he pushed to his feet. “Try to pull the rest of the deserters together and get rid of any cells that might pop up because of Mac’s death. We lost two more members this week, either because they are scared shitless of the feds pressing or because there’s someone else out there. Whatever it is, I can’t stand to lose anyone else.”
I knew the ranks were thin and I felt bad for him, I really did. “I might be willing to help out if times get hard, but under the table, of course.”
“Of course,” Chains said, holding out his hand to me. “Thanks, man.”
I shook it. “Forgive me if I don’t get up again.”
He laughed and I watched as he exited the house, shutting the door behind him. I was glad he had thought to come over and clear the air between us. I didn’t want hard feelings. Chains understood my need to stay here, to be the person that Leigh needed.
Maybe he could figure it out. I hoped he could. Deep down, Chains had a heart of gold and what was happening to him and Widow Maker just downright fucking sucked. The cartel was still on a roll and both clubs were in shambles.
Someone would have to step up and pull them back together. If he did, I knew it would stick this time.
If not, well, I would be moving my family up north to escape the violence.
I must have dozed off waiting for her because the next thing I knew, Leigh was gently shaking me. “Jonathan.”
I cracked an eye open. “Don’t you know better than to wake a man from his nap?”
She stuck out her tongue. “I’m just returning the favor. It’s time for you to take your meds.”
Grumbling, I pushed out of the chair, finding it a bit easier to do so this time. “I feel like I’m ninety with all these pills.”
Leigh laughed. “It will give you something to look forward to then. You know what the doctor said. You could still develop an infection.”
Like the same chance of me getting her pregnant again. It made her feel better when I took the pills, so I took the damn pills.
After I did so, I grabbed her by the waist, pulling her against me. “You know my time is almost up.”
Leigh placed her hands on my chest, her cheeks rosy. “You have two more days.”
“I’m gonna die before those two days are up,” I whispered against her temple, pressing a kiss along her hairline.
“You will just have to die then,” she said primly. “I’m not taking any chances.”
I groaned. “You are such a stickler for doctor’s orders.”
Leigh pulled back, her eyes twinkling with laughter. “That’s why you love me so much.”
I froze and so did she as soon as the words came out of her mouth, the heaviness of what she’d said in jest now hanging between us. I swallowed, trying to find the right words to tell her how I felt. She was right. I did love her.
I just didn’t know how to tell her.
Leigh laughed nervously, already attempting to push out of my arms, but I held her there, tucking my finger under her chin and forcing her to meet my gaze. “You know I’m not the best with words,” I started. “But I do love you. I love what you have done for me, the baby you have made with me, and the future you are gonna give me.”
Her lips parted and a tear streaked down her cheek. “Jonathan.”
“You don’t have to tell me right now,” I said quickly, not wanting to trap her in a corner. “I’m not going anywhere, and I will spend however long it takes for you to feel the same way. Just know, no one will love you as much as I do.”
She pressed her finger to my lips, the tears coming in earnest now. “I love you too.”
I kissed her finger, my heart stammering in my chest. “Really?”
She nodded. “Really. I was so scared I wouldn’t get to tell you and then after you were hurt, other things got in the way.”
I kissed her before she could finish her sentence, pouring all the love and emotion into my kiss. She was something special to me, something that I wouldn’t ever give up willingly, and I would fight whatever asshole tried to take her away.
Leigh broke the kiss, laughing as she hugged me close. “You don’t have to try to kiss it out of me. I already know.”
I hugged her back, feeling the last bit of worry fall off my shoulders. I loved her. She loved me. Chains was good with my ‘retirement.’
All was good in my world.
Kneeling down, I pressed my cheek to her stomach, something I did quite often lately. There was a miracle in there, a miracle that had likely saved my life and that of the woman carrying it. “You know I love you too.”
I did. After my shitty upbringing, I was going to give this kid whatever he or she wanted. Even if I had to work four jobs to provide for my family, they would want for nothing.
“Jonathan.”
Looking up, I caught Leigh’s eye. “What?”
“I’ve got to pee. Are you done?”
Laughing, I got to my feet. She peed all the time now. “Come on,” I said, grabbing her hand. “We will go together.” I hated when she was out of my sight but knew that it drove her crazy for me to suggest such ridiculous things. I really didn’t want to go pee with her, but just to hear her huff of disbelief that I would suggest such a thing made me laugh.
“Oh my God,” she said, rolling her eyes but allowing me to lead her toward the bathroom. “You are too much. You know that?”
Yeah, I knew it.
Chapter 26
Leigh
Five Months Later
I folded the last shirt and placed it in the laundry basket, so glad that the laundry was finally done. Since Ella Kate was born, I felt like the laundry had doubled in size, even with her tiny clothes. I was forever doing laundry, though I did get a secret thrill every time I folded Jonathan’s clothes with mine.
“God, that’s sexy.”
Turning, I found Jonathan leaning against the doorway of the bathroom, his hair wet from his recent shower. My heart flipped over in my chest as I took in his muscular form and the small pair of boxers that he had slung on his hips.
Lord, the man still could do a number on me, and he was all mine. “What? Doing laundry?”
He pushed away from the doorway, a gleam in his eye. “Is she asleep?”
I nodded. “She’s asleep and I hope she stays that way tonight.” Ella Kate was almost two months old and while I didn’t mind getting up in the middle of the night to feed her, I was starting to miss my sleep as well.
Jonathan did his fair share of getting up as wel
l. So far, he had proved to be an awesome dad, learning right along with me how to care for our bundle of joy. Labor had been a piece of cake and from day one, Jonathan had been there, ready to change a diaper or rock her to sleep.
That little girl already had him wrapped around his finger and I couldn’t wait to see the big bad biker when she was a teenager.
Jonathan snagged me around the waist, and I laughed softly, wrapping my arms around his neck. “So, tonight’s the night, right?” he asked, nuzzling my neck.
I arched into his touch, feeling the warmth start to spread throughout my body. “Yes.” We had waited the right amount of time to have sex again and I was dying to feel sexy again, dying to have his hands on me.
Finally, the night had arrived.
“Thank God,” he answered, backing me against the bed. I had already taken my shower earlier, wearing a short nightgown so that he would have easy access to whatever he wanted.
And I hoped he wanted all of it.
Jonathan growled low in his throat as he kissed my jawline, his hand inching the nightgown up over my thighs, pausing briefly to pull it over my head and throw it onto the floor. I flushed as his eyes raked down my body, knowing that it didn’t look the same as before I was pregnant. I had tried to work on losing the baby weight, but there were stretch marks where there didn’t use to be, and my breasts were still tender even though I wasn’t breastfeeding.
I didn’t look the same.
But as Jonathan’s eyes caught mine and I saw the heat flare there, it didn’t matter. “You’re fucking gorgeous, Leigh,” he said, running a hand down my body possessively. “I can’t believe this is all mine.”
“It’s all yours,” I forced out, reaching to do the same to his chest. “Just like you are mine.”
“Always,” he said roughly, his lips finding my collarbone.
I closed my eyes as he pressed his body against mine, feeling his need. While he hadn’t suffered the entire time, I knew he wanted to go back to the way things were before Ella Kate was born.
I wanted the same thing.
His hand cupped my breast and I squeaked as his thumb rubbed over my nipple, the roughness of his pad teasing the sensitive skin. “Wait until you feel my lips there,” he said as his lips started to travel toward my breasts.
I whimpered as he latched on, my hands in his hair holding him there, my knees quaking with need. I couldn’t believe how much I needed him right now, how much I wanted him to touch me all over.
Jonathan moved to the other breast and I arched my back, urging him on. My lower half was drenched, waiting in anticipation for his touch.
When his hand traveled south, I allowed him to do so, not even caring that I wasn’t the same person anymore. Jonathan loved me regardless of scars, and now pregnancy scars, and that was all I could ask for from him. He made me feel like the most beautiful person in the world and nothing could change that.
His thumb pressed against my clit and I bit his shoulder lightly, feeling the pressure already starting to build. It had been too long. I wasn’t going to last.
“That’s it, love,” he said, leaning his head against mine. “Take it. It’s time for you to enjoy it.”
I pushed into his hand, urging him to pick up the pace and was rewarded with a chuckle as he did what I wanted, easing a finger inside my wet entrance. “Damn, you are so fucking wet,” he whispered, almost like a prayer.
I clenched at his shoulders as he rubbed my clit, crying out as the orgasm hit me so hard that my knees nearly buckled under the intensity.
Oh my God, it had been too long.
Jonathan groaned aloud as I rode the wave of pleasure, his body pressing against mine insistently. He wanted me just as badly.
With shaking hands, I pulled at the waistband of his boxers, kissing his chest. “Condom. Get the condom.”
He helped me get the boxers off, reaching over to the bedside table and pulling out the round foil pack. Taking it in his teeth, he ripped it open as my movements became frantic, helping him pull the condom out and roll it on his engorged cock. While we enjoyed sex barebacked, we did not need another child at this moment in time.
Not even close.
“It’s gonna hurt,” he said roughly, gripping my hips.
“I don’t care,” I said, urging him on.
His grin was quick as he entered me, stretching me as he filled me to the very core. I gasped, wrapping my legs around his waist and holding him still so I could get used to the feeling again.
It felt wonderful.
“You’re killing me,” he said roughly, his hands trembling at my hips. “I’m not gonna last long.”
I gave him a tender smile, my hand roaming down his chiseled front. “Good thing we will have more than enough time to do it again.”
His grin took my breath away. “And again.”
I shifted against him. “And again.”
Jonathan groaned and started to move, pushing me over the edge before he lost it.
I lay there against the bed, my eyes blinking rapidly as I tried to soak it in. We were back together in every sense of the word. While I would never regret having Ella Kate, it was nice to feel this complete.
“I’ve embarrassed myself,” Jonathan grumbled, running his hands up my side. “Like a damn kid on prom night.”
“You poor thing,” I said, a grin on my face. “It’s okay. You can make it up later.”
Jonathan looked down at me, a hopeful look on his face. “You promise?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but the baby monitor beside the bed lit up and Ella Kate’s cry filled the air.
With a groan, Jonathan pulled out of me and divested himself of the used condom before swiping his boxers off the floor. “I got it.”
I was glad. My legs felt like rubber. After a moment, I was able to push myself off the bed and grab my own nightgown, hurrying to the bathroom to clean up. My body felt alive and I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face.
I loved Jonathan. He had erased all that was bad in the world, at least in my world, and given me something I thought I never would have. The day I had moved in with him was the day I truly started living. While he had given up the club, he had found another love.
Well, besides me and Ella Kate that is.
No, he was taking some online courses for computers, wanting to work from home so we wouldn’t have to put Ella Kate in day care when the time came. I nearly fell over when I found out how much money he had saved over the years, and it was plenty enough for him to pursue his career without us having to worry about how to pay the bills.
And me, I was going back to work in two months, when the school year would start. He hadn’t protested and I was excited about doing so.
“Now you know you should be asleep.”
Jonathan’s voice filled the air and I picked up the monitor from the bedside table, watching as he cradled our daughter in his arms. It was a sight I would never get tired of seeing. Ella Kate loved her daddy and I hoped that never changed.
I watched as he rocked her a little, touching her tiny hands as she drifted back off to sleep. My heart tightened as he leaned down and kissed her brow, the simple movement bringing tears to my eyes. How had I gotten so lucky? How had I delivered a perfect daughter and found the perfect man for me at the same time?
After a few minutes, he placed her back in her crib, the crib he had made, and winked at me. “I know you are watching.”
I was. I did every time he got up.
“So,” he said softly, leaning against the crib. “Since you are watching, look under your pillow.”
Puzzled, I did so, gasping as I saw the box sitting there.
No, it couldn’t be.
“I love you, Leigh Greene, but honestly, I would love it more if you took my last name as my wife. Will you marry me?”
Tears clouded my vision as I picked up the box, opening it to find a simple diamond ring nestled against the velvet.
He was asking me to marry him.
Picking up the ring, I looked at it in the soft lamplight. I couldn’t believe this.
“Leigh.”
Turning, I saw him at the end of the bed, his eyes alight with tenderness and love. “Give me the ring.”
I did as he asked, watching as he got down on one knee, holding it up to me. “Marry me.”