Sour Cherry(34)

The heavy metal music drowned out most conversations, but from what I could tell as I made my way around the property, everyone enjoyed themselves. Too bad I couldn’t.

The person I wanted to celebrate with hadn’t shown up yet.

I hadn’t seen Cooper since that night he’d saved me from getting my head chopped off, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever see him again. Satan’s Army had overthrown their president the second news of Ryder’s arrest came through, and Cooper had taken Vazquez’s place as president. The CIA had what they wanted, and so did Cooper. As the first order of business, he’d officially severed ties between the clubs, with my support, and had no reason to come to a rival club’s party, even if his club had shown up.

Another hand landed on my back as I passed through a group of riders and I shot them a quick smile. My legs felt like jelly and my back bruised from so many congratulations. I headed toward the clubhouse with my mind on the extra apartment shoved in the back. I only wanted to lie down for a couple minutes. It’d be rude to completely disappear from my own party.

When I opened the door, however, I found somebody already had the same plan, only what he and his groupie were doing didn’t qualify as rest. I eased the door shut and leaned back against it.

I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the sounds of ravenous sex behind me, but failed. Memories of the times with Cooper flooded my mind and my stomach twisted. I missed him. I wished he’d had the guts to show up.

“You look tired.”

My eyes shot open, focusing on Cooper less than two feet away.

I hadn’t heard him approach and straightened. Clearing my throat, I pushed a stray piece of hair behind one ear. “Yeah. Long week.”

My entire body vibrated in happiness as he stepped closer.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” he said. Cooper placed both hands on either side of my head, boxing me in.

I didn’t mind in the least. “Ditto. I’m sure your friends are very happy with your new post in Satan’s Army.”

Cooper tilted his head, his brown gaze studying me from toe to head. “I wouldn’t know. I resigned.”

My lungs deflated in less than a second. I couldn’t wrap my head around his statement, yet wanted to jump up and down with the excitement galloping in the center of my chest. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I heard you right. You resigned?”

He pressed me back into the door with is body, his feet pushing mine apart to fit right up against me. “You have no idea how awful it was to see Treja hold a machete to your perfect skin.”

I swallowed hard from the memory, but didn’t pull away from him. I wanted to hear more. “Well, I know how awful it was to feel it.”

“When I opened my eyes and saw you tied to that chair, I knew I could never live with myself if something happened to you. I would have killed him outright and hunted down every man in his organization to bring you justice.” Cooper’s breath brushed against the sensitive skin of my collarbones and sent shivers straight between my legs.

“Can you please forgive me, Cherry? I was an idiot to think my job was more important than you. It just took me almost losing you to realize it.”

Cooper kissed me then with a brush of his lips over mine. “I’m so sorry. I love you and I never want to let you go.”

I couldn’t answer with arousal licking up my body and I pressed against him harder. Pulling him down by the collar, I kissed him back, my aches and pains disappearing as I relaxed into his hold. When I pulled away, I had to force myself, but the smile on my face remained. “How is this going to work with both of us as president of rival clubs?”

“I had an idea.”

“You’ve thought this through?” I asked.

He nodded and my love for him expanded. With such a simple action, he'd told me he wanted us to be together and that we could be happy apart from our clubs. I sobered in that instant. “Let’s hear it.”

“Patch over.” His expression remained light and full of love, but his eyes explained his seriousness.

“You want Outriggers to patch over Satan’s Army? Into one club?” I barely waited for him to answer. “Who’d be president?”

“You.”

With over twenty members, the entire Las Vegas valley as territory and Cooper at my side…I couldn’t even imagine the possibilities. I hadn’t been prepared to take the president’s chair for my club, but now that I’d accepted the position, I was familiar with the sense of rightness flooding my instincts. Cooper wanted us to be one club, to be together. “In that case, I love you, too.”