by K E Osborn
Chills is rushing about like a madwoman making sure the decorations are placed everywhere they need to be, and Chains is ordering everyone around like he’s the damn president. For a couple of people who have been in this club for a short while, they sure have settled well. I have to remember this day is just as big for them as it is for Luc.
Their history with the prospect goes back further than I’m sure I know all the details of. I’d love to get into the nitty-gritty of Chains and Luc’s past. Of when they were kids growing up together in what sounded like a boys’ prison camp. The Sovereigns are disbanded now, but when Chains left Luc, there were years when the practically brothers were separated and living apart. Chains went into a foster family with Chills, but Luc stayed behind in the prison camp, ascending the ranks with his father. His intentions became tainted. When they met again years later, shit got heated between them, and all hell broke loose. It was Chills who brought them together in the end. She got through to Luc by stopping his vengeful mission.
She’s the glue that binds them.
Luc’s come a long way since being a Sovereign.
Actually, he helped bring them down.
Luc joined Chicago Defiance, then moved halfway across the country to stay with his family.
Luc is loyal. There’s no doubting that—I owe him my life. That’s part of the reason he’s getting his patch today because he proved himself.
Nessie rushes inside the clubhouse doors waving her hands through the air. “They’re here!”
Everyone chuckles at Nessie’s excitement as we all take our places.
I kiss Prinie on her temple, then head over to stand with Zero in the middle of the main room. A single stool sits proudly next to a small bench with a medium-sized wooden box sitting on it. We all stand back waiting for the trio to walk inside.
Their chatter becomes louder as they approach, then recognition appears on their faces at us all standing around, and that halts their movements. Ruby gasps, her hand rushing to her mouth as Luc tries to hide his excitement.
“Well, get your ass on over here, prospect,” Zero exclaims.
Luc turns to Ruby, smiling at her so fucking wide his cheeks must be hurting. Then he spins back striding like king-fucking-dick through the middle of the room. We all cheer loudly.
Chains drowns us out, he’s that fucking loud as he throws his fist in the air in celebration. “‘Bout fuckin’ time!” Chains hollers.
Luc turns back to him. “Been trying, brother, not like I didn’t have a reason.” His eyes shift to Ruby, and her eyes flood with tears as she wraps her arms around herself trying to keep her shit together.
“Okay, it’s safe to say we all know what’s happening right now. So, Luc, take a seat. We wanna have a little chat.”
Luc turns and sits on the stool facing out to everyone.
I place my hands on his shoulders. “Thing is, Luc, you’ve been a prospect for a long-ass time… we all know your story. From villain to hero. You were willing to withstand the heat it took to come from your past and join the MC you tried to bring down… that takes fucking guts.”
Zero strides out circling him. “You started off small, but when small things are compounded, they can turn into something big. A force so strong it’ll withstand extreme temperatures and corrosive environments.”
I open the box, pulling out his club cut. “Bringing you into the club is only going to make us stronger. Make us a force to be reckoned with.”
Zero yanks Luc up by his shirt, his head turning around to face me. I move in hooking his arms into his cut. “Accept this cut, and welcome to the club, Nickel. It might only be considered small change in the US of A, but you, Luc, you were willing to change. And just like strong metal, you can withstand the heat and pressure of any situation.”
Ruby bursts into tears as Nickel pulls on his new club cut with ease. He turns around to face Zero and me with pure honor shining back from him. “Thank you… you don’t know how much this means to me.”
I grip his shoulder as Zero dips his chin. “Yeah, brother… we do.”
“To Nickel!” Chains calls out, throwing his hands in the air again, letting out a loud cheer.
I can’t help but laugh. Chains rushes forward, barreling into Nickel, lifting him up like he’s a damn lightweight. Nickle backslaps Chains in a bromance-style embrace the second Chains puts him down.
Their relationship is unique.
They have been through a lot together.
Chills rushes forward, wrapping her arms around Nickel in a move like you would see from a sister.
Then the crowd parts, and Ruby walks toward him. Her eyes overflowing with tears running down her cheeks as Nickel finally catches sight of his woman.
It’s like the room disappears when they spot each other—we all see it.
She starts running, his arms fly open, and she lands in them as they embrace so tightly it warms even my once-dead heart. She kisses him, and I can’t help but glance over at Prinie.
I’ve never been a man to take in moments like this. They’ve never hit home before, but now I know what it feels like, what you would give to be with the person who completes you, and I have a newfound respect for Nickel and Ruby.
They’ve waited, bided their time to be together in the eyes of the club.
Now they can.
They pull apart, all of us watching with bated breath as Nickel gives some kind of signal to Chains. He rushes off to the two supporting beams just below the second level. Ruby’s bottom lip quivers as we all stand back waiting for Nickel to claim Ruby.
Hell, it’s been coming for a long-fucking-time.
Chills pulls out her cell and ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ by James Arthur starts playing through the clubhouse speakers.
Ruby starts doing that crying-laughing thing chicks do.
Nickel grabs Ruby’s hands in his. “Ruby, I’ve loved you since the first moment you brought me that stack of pancakes back in Chicago… you took my fucking breath away.”
She giggles with a sniffle. “Why do you think I winked at you? The attraction was always mutual.”
Nickel grips her hands tighter. “I love you, Ruby. You’ve known that for so long, but… I can’t claim you. Not yet.”
We all jerk our heads back as a collective gasp is heard.
Ruby’s face begins to pale.
Nickel drops to one knee pulling a ring box out of his pocket. The song sings about staying with you until we’re old and gray, and it all clicks into place. Another collective gasp resounds as Chains pulls on a cord. The room pops in small explosions, gold glitter falls from the roof as a banner drops in front of the beams.
On it in gold writing are two simple words, ‘Marry Me?’
Nickel opens the ring box showing Ruby the engagement ring. “Just say yes, Ruby.”
Ruby bursts into tears. “Yes. Of course, yes.”
Nickel jumps up as Ruby falls forward into his embrace.
I had no idea this was coming.
It must be why Chains and Chills took over everything to do with today’s events. Nickel must have known his patch was on the cards today.
They kiss passionately in front of everyone as we all circle around them, patting them on their backs.
Nickel detaches himself from his fiancée for a brief few seconds, just enough time to say, “Just to be clear, I am claiming her. I just had to get the proposal out of the way first. I was nervous as fucking shit.” He takes her hand.
Ruby slaps him on the chest. “You scared me for a second, you asshole.”
He leans in, kissing her again.
“Welcome to the family, officially,” Chills says. “We just need to hear your Old Lady name. What’s it gonna be, Nickel?”
“I gave Ruby a nickname a long time ago, but it was kept only between us. I used to tease her with it when we were… well, getting this thing off the ground. I called her a Siren ‘cause she lured me in, and every-fucking-thing she does kills me.”
Ruby beams from ear to
ear. “Siren… mmm, I like it.”
“To Nickel and Siren,” I call out as everyone throws their hands in the air in celebration. “Now, someone clean this fucking mess up.”
Everyone laughs as we all move in to congratulate the happy couple.
WRAITH
Six Months Later
There’s an emptiness in the pit of my stomach as I pace back and forth in our bedroom. I moved Prinie into mine once we knew about her pregnancy. I need her with me all the time. My mouth is dry, my heart palpitates giving me a headache I really didn’t want today. I don’t know if I can handle the wait much longer.
“She said she would be half an hour. It’s been fifty damn minutes! Where the fuck is she?” I blare louder than I meant to.
Prinie struggles to lift herself from the bed as she waddles over. She grabs my shoulders either side forcing me to look at her. “She’s probably caught in traffic. Give the woman a break, Talon. Take a breath, you’re gonna stroke out.”
I clench my eyes tight as Prinie presses her forehead to mine.
“I need you both to be okay.” I try to stop thinking about what an undesirable result could mean for us today, but it’s becoming harder by the minute. What if something bad were to come from these results.
Prinie pulls me to her, wrapping her arms around me, her full belly pressing against me. I pull my shit together as I rest my hand on her stomach. Exhaling, I stare in her eyes. “If anything happened to you. Either of you…”
“We’ll deal with it. As a family. Okay? Let’s not jump to any conclusions because Chills is a little late.”
A knock on the door has both of us turning.
“See, I bet that’s her now.”
I quickly kiss her forehead, then walk over to the door pulling it open.
Chills seems frazzled as she barges past me, carrying a fifteen-month-old Kobe in her arms. “Sorry I’m late, Chains is out doing SAA shit with Texas, so I had to pick Kobe up, but the traffic on the highway was backed up worse than downtown after an Astros game, so… there’s that.” She hoists Kobe up higher on her hip as she comes in, then places him on our bed. He sits there playing with the threads on the pillowcases. “Be a good boy, bubba. Mommy needs to talk to Prinie and Wraith, okay?”
Kobe nods dramatically for effect. Then he slams his hand down on the pillow making the feathers squish under the pressure. I close the door, walking back over to where Prinie’s tapping her foot nervously. Seems all her bravado is now wavering too. I wrap my arm around her waist for support.
Hers and mine.
“So, hit us with it, Chills. Are we celebrating or preparing ourselves?” I ask.
Chills clears her throat, yanking out a piece of paper from inside her bra. “Sorry, it was the only place I could put it while wrangling with Kobe. You’ll get it when your little one comes along.” She hands it over, but it’s just a bunch of long words and numbers with markers on them.
I shake my head confused. “I don’t—”
“No, I know you don’t understand, it’s for your records. I thought you might want to keep a copy.”
Prinie inhales sharply. “Does this mean?”
Chills reaches out grabbing Prinie’s hand. “The trace markers for everything have come back clear. Prinie, you’re officially clean of all infections and viruses.”
I let out a shocked gasp as I grab Prinie in my arms and lift, spinning her around in a circle. She giggles, tears sliding down her cheeks as I bring her back down to face me. “You’re okay… you’re both okay.” I lean in planting my lips to hers, just needing to feel her.
She kisses me back while Chills laughs. “I’m so happy for you guys. You should have heard the scream I let out when I read the results. The whole department looked over at me. Thought I was having some kind of seizure, I’m sure.”
Prinie rushes forward taking Chills into a tight embrace. “Thank you. Thanks so much. For everything you’ve done for us these past six months. Honestly, we couldn’t have gotten through all this without your support and guidance. You’ve been a godsend.”
She shakes it off. “Well, first of all, it’s my job. But secondly, it’s my pleasure. I’m so fucking happy for you both.”
“Happy!” Kobe calls out throwing his little hands in the air.
We all turn to him and chuckle. “Yeah, little man, we’re all happy.”
Kobe squirms on the bed, his arms reaching out, his little hands clenching and unclenching begging for Chills to lift him. “Momma, up?”
Chills moves over to him, hoisting Kobe into her arms. He plays with her long blonde hair as she snuggles with him. “Let’s go get you a snack and leave these two to celebrate, yeah?”
“Yeah!” Kobe calls out, excitedly.
“These past six months have been difficult for you. I understand the strain it’s put on you both mentally and physically. But, Prinie, every single test came back with absolutely nothing to worry about. You’re both free to go about your lives as a normal couple. Everything can go back to normal.”
I clue into what Chills is putting down.
Prinie widens her eyes. “So even with my belly being this big, it’s safe for us to… you know?”
“Very. Just nothing too strenuous or adventurous. Take your time getting to know each other’s bodies again. A lot has changed since you were together last. Prinie will be more sensitive, more reactive. And, Wraith, before you ask… no, you won’t hurt the baby.”
I tilt my head in understanding. “Good to know.”
“Time to go, bubba. I know that fire in a man’s eyes.” Chills winks at me, turning for the door.
“Thanks again, Chills,” Prinie offers as she walks her to the door.
“Have a good night.” Chills exits, closing the door behind her.
Prinie turns to face me, flicking the lock on our door.
She’s fucking gorgeous.
Her long, dark brown hair is flowing over her ample breasts which have only gotten bigger in the last six months. The form-fitted tan dress clings to her baby bump, only making her fucking sexy as hell as she saunters toward me. Prinie took on a grunge look when she left for Chicago, but in the last six months she’s replaced her dark eyeliner for a more natural glow.
I don’t care how she dresses, she’s always going to be fucking gorgeous to me.
My cock jerks in my jeans at the thought of being inside of her again after so fucking long.
I’ve dreamed of this day.
Ached for it.
Now it’s finally here, and I want to take my time with her—worship her body. I need to make sure, in no uncertain terms, my sexual addiction does not rear its ugly damn head. I know I can keep a lid on it. I need to take all the precautions I can because if there’s one thing I never want to do, it’s to hurt my Old Lady or my unborn child.
She reaches me, her eyes taking me in. Her hands move to my cut, sliding it carefully over my shoulders. “It’s been so fucking hard with my pregnancy hormones in overdrive not to rip your clothes off so many fucking times and be damned with the consequences. But those consequences always came back to your health.”
A low growl rumbles from my chest as she places the cut on the desk beside us. “Sometimes delayed gratification is worth the wait. You’re worth the wait, princess.”
Her eyes meet mine, sparkling with unabashed lust. “I love you, Talon.”
“I fucking love you, too, woman.” I slam my lips to hers. That spark, that intense fire ignites inside of me the second my lips touch hers. Our tongues collide as my hands slide down her curvy body. Kissing her always makes me feel like I’m the king of the fucking world.
I never in my life thought me—the man labeled a wraith, the harbinger of death—could ever be in a place where I would be settling down with one woman and with a fucking baby on the way.
Let alone be reveling in it.
But, I wouldn’t want my life to be on any other path than it is right now.
As I kiss my Old Lady like
I fucking mean it, my cock growing harder every second, I can’t help but think of how fucking lucky an asshole like me is. My hands run to the straps of her dress, sliding them over her shoulders, edging them down her arms. The material gathers at her breasts, so I detach my lips from hers, my hands grabbing the satin strands and sliding them down slowly. The material flows over her round stomach as I marvel in the little stretch marks marring her skin. As I squat at her feet, I press my lips to each stretch mark, tenderly, my hands splaying out either side of her stomach. Her hands running through my hair as she bites down on her bottom lip seductively.
“You’re so fucking sexy right now,” I rasp.
I loop my fingers into her panties, guiding them down her tanned legs. She steps out of them as I throw them across the room. “God, six months has felt like a lifetime to be away from you.”
She grabs the hem of my shirt, pulling me back up to meet her. “Then stop talking, Wraith,” her voice is breathy, practically panting.
Reaching around her back, unclasping her bra, it falls to the floor as I back her toward the bed. She sits, her hands coming out unbuckling my belt as I pull off my shirt, throwing it any-fucking-where. I just need to get my clothing off.
She yanks my jeans down over my ass, my cock springing to life right before her eyes. She widens them in delight as she licks her lips. “Oh fuck, I’ve missed him.”
“He’s missed you, too.”
Her hand snakes out wrapping around my shaft, and I jerk in shock at her touch. That’s not what this is supposed to be about. But fuck, does it feel good. “This is about you right now, Prinie, so hands-off, and I’ll—”
Suddenly, she leans forward, her supple lips drawing my cock deep into her mouth. I let out a deep, guttural groan as I try to control myself. “Oh, fuuuck!”
I was not expecting that.
As my hand moves into her hair, I clench my eyes shut, panting for breath as she bobs her head up and down, her tongue circling the tip of my head. “Jesus Christ, Kharlie,” I pant, my breaths not coming in fast enough for me to catch them.
Tingles shoot all the way up my spine as I try to calm myself the fuck down, but she feels too damn good. I can’t stop myself even if I wanted to.