And they'd planned to take full advantage of it.
* * *
A week later, Rock and Clotille's house was bustling with people. It was the first formal party they'd thrown. Clotille wanted to make sure everything was perfect even though Rock kept telling her to "calm the fuck down."
"Clotille, your crab and shrimp étoufée was fantastic. You've got to give me the recipe," Cara said as she dried the pots and pans.
"I never cared much for Cajun food, but fuck, girl, you converted me." Cherri sat at the island folding the desert napkins.
Clotlille laughed. "That's a compliment, Cherri. When Rock and I left Lafayette after the trial, we went crazy and bought a bunch of spices, dried chiles, red beans, and other things. We had the back of the SUV filled. Andrew thought we were crazy as hell, but I still have some of the spices."
"You can order those things online, can't you?" Addie picked up a chocolate covered strawberry and popped it in her mouth.
"Yeah, but it's not the same as the local neighborhood markets."
"These are delicious." Addie took another strawberry. "You should have these at your wedding, Cara."
"I can't believe you're finally going to do it. I can't wait to see Hawk walk down the aisle in a tux." Belle laughed as she put the leftovers in tupperware that Clotille had given her.
"Hawk's wearin' a tux? No fuckin' way." Cherri clapped her hands while she laughed.
"Not so loud. If Hawk knows we're laughing about him wearing a tux, all my hard work in convincing him will be gone in a minute. In a few weeks, I'm dragging him to a cake tasting. He doesn't know it yet." Cara's bemused look made Clotille grin.
"I can't believe you talked Hawk into a country club wedding," Baylee said before taking a sip of her wine. "And he's been so involved in picking the furniture for your house. When I told Axe that, he didn't believe me. He thought I was exaggerating. These guys." Baylee rolled her eyes, but her smile was soft and tender.
"I can't picture Rock agreeing to a country club wedding." Clotille commented.
All the women stopped talking and stared at her. "Are you hiding something from us?" Addie asked. "Are you guys going to get married?"
"Axe will totally not believe that," Baylee said.
Clotille's face turned red and her fingers touched her lips. "No. Oh no. I didn't mean that. I just meant it's funny to think of one of these guys dressed up and in a country club. Rock and I are taking it slow."
"Taking it slow doesn't exist in these guys' vocabulary. When they want something they go for it no matter what." Cara shook her head. "Hawk was a persistent one, that's for sure." The group of women laughed.
"How did you get Hawk to agree not to have a biker wedding?" Belle asked. "Banger wouldn't even consider not having one."
"Chas and I had a beautiful one. I loved every minute of it." Addie leaned her chin on her hand.
"You had a fuckin' awesome wedding, Addie. If Jax and I decided to get married, I want you to help me plan it. I loved what you did." Cherri sat on one of the stools at the island.
"The compromise for Hawk indulging me and my parents was for me to agree to a biker wedding. So we're having two. I'll be dead before we go on our honeymoon." Cara folded the dish towel over the towel rack.
"Two weddings? That's insane." Baylee laughed.
"It's not as bad as it sounds. Hawk's planning the second one."
"What the fuck am I planning?" Hawk walked into the kitchen, and all the women stopped talking. "I knew you were talkin' about me. I could sense it in the other room. What shit you been telling the ladies about me, babe?" Hawk swung Cara into the circle of his arms and nuzzled her neck. She giggled. "You telling ‘em about our love life? I fuckin' hope not ‘cause the room's going to explode if you are." He kissed her, his hand running down her back.
"Aren't you inflating our love life just a bit?" Cara said, pressing closer to him.
"Am I, baby?"
"No. Not at all," she whispered, but Clotille overhead her and smiled. She really liked Cara, and she seemed to be able to handle Hawk, who usually had a scowl on his face except when Cara was around. Hawk sort of scared her, but Rock told her he wasn't as mean as he looked. Clotille wasn't too sure about that.
"What are you ladies up to?" Rock asked as he came over to Clotille and tugged her close to him.
"Just talking," she said.
"Talkin' or gossiping?" Banger's deep voice filled the room. His blue eyes twinkled as he went over to Belle.
"Talking. Don't you guys have some motorcycle stuff you need to discuss?" Addie placed her hands on her hips, smiling when Chas came into the room followed by Axe and Jax.
Soon the kitchen was filled with all the couples and Clotille and Cara laid out the pastries, cookies, and fruit on the island, creating a dessert bar. Rock poured shots of Jack, and opened up several more bottles of wine. They ate, talked, and laughed until late in the night.
After the last couple left in the frigid night air, Clotille closed the door. "I can't wait to take these damn heels off. My feet are killing me."
"I'll help you with those, chérie." Rock led her to the family room where they sat on the couch. She rested her back against the arm of the couch, and Rock, sitting next to her, took her feet and placed them in his lap. He took off her shoes and massaged her feet.
She groaned. "That feels so good, cher. You've got the right touch."
He chuckled and kept kneading her feet. "You did a good job with the dinner party. The food was excellent. Everyone had a real good time." He bent down and kissed her toes. She giggled. "I love you so much, chouchou."
She leaned forward and ran her fingers through his hair. "I love you, too. I'm so happy." She took a deep breath. "What would you say to us having another kid?"
Rock stopped massaging her feet. He looked at her. "Are you pregnant?"
A smile whispered across her lips. "No, but I'd like to be. I'm thinking of getting off the pill. I want another child. I'm hoping you do, too."
A wide grin spread over his face. "Fuck yeah. I wanna have more kids with you. What you told me has made me very happy, chérie." He held her hand and pulled her up with him. "Andrew's over at Jack's grandparents for the night. We've got all fuckin' night to love each other. Let's get started."
They climbed the stairs and when they went into their bedroom, he tenderly undressed her and kissed and caressed every inch of her body. By the time they lay down on the bed, they were rabid for the feel of their skin against each other's. Flames of desire licked over them, and she spread herself wide, desperate to feel him inside of her. They had the whole night to savor, but for right then, she needed it fast and hard.
"You want it bad, chouchou." He chuckled, the vibration tickling her stomach as he slid his tongue further down her body. Then it landed on her aching, sweet spot, and she cried out, pulling at his hair. "I fuckin' can't wait anymore." And he pushed his hardness inside, and her walls clamped around him, and everything was a whirl of emotions, feelings, and ecstasy.
After their breathing returned to normal, he lightly fingered a loose tendril of hair on her cheek. "If we're going to start a family, we need to get hitched. I'm fuckin' old fashioned when it comes to that."
Her heart soared. "Me too."
He kissed her head. "I've loved you for years, ma pétite chérie. Je t'aime. I'm never letting you go again."
She squeezed him tighter around his waist. "Je t'aime, aussi. Being with you is like a dream come true. For so long I was searching for something that was missing in my life, and now I've found it. I love you."
"We were both lost for a while, but we found our way back to each other. It's fuckin' awesome."
After a couple of minutes, she asked, "When we get married, will you wear a tux?"
"What the hell? Fuck no. It's leather and jeans all the way, chérie." She laughed until her eyes watered. "What's so funny?" He stroked her cheek with his thumb.
"Nothing, cher. I love you so much."
He pulled her tight to him, and she relished the warmth of his body. As she looked out the window, watching the snowflakes dance in the sky, she realized that she and Rock were finally whole again.