“Yeah?” I giggled, straining to wonder what he'd look like with a nice, thick head of hair. He'd be just as handsome, I knew that much. “But what if you get a girl for your first born?”
“Then she knows she'll get your good looks,” he said, stamping his lips against my neck. “And I'm sure as hell not raining all over 'em by making her think she won't get this beautiful hair because her old man's got nothing on top.”
I purred when he fisted my locks and pulled them one more time. “Whatever, dad. I see you've thought of everything.”
“Babe, you don't know the fucking half of it.”
XII: Drive On (Asphalt)
Six Months Later
Our turn.
Brass, Rabid, and Roman stood next to the altar, their old ladies on their arms, little Caleb squirming in Sally's. Everybody here was getting officially hitched or renewing their vows today, and now it was our turn.
I grabbed Elle's little hand and stepped up, staring the Prez and our brother-turned-priest, Angus, right in the eyes.
“You've been a fine example to everyone, son,” Blackjack said. The old man took my shoulder and gave it a fatherly squeeze. He looked at Elle. “Both of you. It's only right you're joining the party today, doing this the way it should've gone down the first time.”
Ell-Bell and I shared a look. Christ help her, she blushed, a little remnant of the sweet virgin girl I'd married lingering in the badass bride carrying my kid.
“Don't be shy, babe,” I whispered. The church had gone so damned quiet I felt like I was talking in a library.
“I took this hand when I didn't have a choice, and I still wanted it then. Needed to own you so bad I almost fucking died,” I said loudly, so the rowdy gathering of brothers surrounding us could hear. I wanted her to hear it more than anybody else, but I didn't give a shit if the whole damned world found out the lunatic love I had for this girl.
“Today, I know I've earned it. I've killed for your heart, babe, almost died for it several times over. And I'd do it all over again without a shred of hesitation. You've given me things no woman ever will, and there's so much more on the way, sometimes it makes my fucking head spin.”
She smiled and suppressed a laugh, blushing again as my eyes fell down. The girl wasn't stupid – she knew exactly what I was looking at.
The little bump on her belly got bigger everyday. I reached out, laid my free hand on it, and squeezed her hand tighter.
“Things are changing in this club all the time. Two brothers turned newlyweds today, two more renewing their vows. Who the hell knows what's next.” I paused, trying not to notice how dangerously fuckable she looked wearing my brand on her new jacket. Thing had PROPERTY OF ASPHALT stitched on the backside, lightning bolts by the side.
Mine, mine, all fucking mine.
I was damned glad it wasn't staring me in the face just then, or I'd have lost my mind.
“Peace and plenty,” Blackjack said, finishing for me with a wink. “Every man standing here with his girl has fought, worked, and bled for what we have today. There's no going back for this club. I could stand here and rehash all the battles and sorrows we've all faced. There's no need. Tell her, son. Give her your promise.”
Shit. These grand speeches had never been my thing, but suddenly I had a fire in my heart.
I snatched Elle's hands in both of mine, held them up to my lips, and kissed her cool skin. Her blood burned. So did the beautiful spark rising in her clear blue eyes.
“Peace and plenty's for the club, and we're all happy to have it. But you and me, Elle Jo, we've got love. I know you feel it every night when you're pressed up against me. It's there, whether we're staring at the ceiling or the stars or just each other. Hell, I feel it every time you're on my bike, holding me so tight I think we're gonna become one right there on the open road.”
I paused and turned, watching her blot away a happy tear, staring at the brothers gathered around us.
My boys all held their women close. All the girls were crying, overwhelmed by the raw fucking emotion of the day. We were the closing act.
Out in the pews, Missy's little sis, Jackie, wept like the schoolgirl she was. I grinned, briefly wondering what kinda crazy shit lay ahead for her in the years to come, if she kept close to this MC.
“Babe, that shit they say about a man getting acclimated, getting bored with his woman – it's not true. Not even fucking close. Every day I wake up with you weighing heavier on my mind. You're sunrise and sunset. I think about you when I'm on my runs and sitting in church with the boys, even when you're laying next to me. No bullshit. Just truth, all of it.”
The Prez shot me the evil eye for a second when I said the part about being distracted in church. Then, he shook his head and smiled. Club business took a backseat to all this crazy fucking love today.