“I love you, too,” I smiled, rising on my tiptoes to kiss him again.
From there, it was all a blur of loud music, good food and rowdy revelry. The Knights knew how to party and I was happy to be swept up into the chaos. Everyone from the club was there and even a few Sinners too.
Kat had volunteered to watch Maddox and Scarlet seemed to be unofficially helping quite a bit with Mason.
In one of the few relatively quiet moments of the evening, I found a seat next to Jill who sat alone, admiring the view out on the deck. “Okay?” I asked, taking the seat at her side.
“Wonderful,” she smiled. “You are gorgeous.” She stroked a finger over the tulle of my skirt.
“Thanks. How long do you plan to stay?” I wanted to know, watching Axel as he stood laughing inside with Cole.
“I may not leave,” she muttered as my head whipped around to face her.
“What? What’s going on, Jill?” I asked as forcefully as I dared.
She shrugged, her posture too deliberate, too casual for my liking.
“Jill?” I pressed.
“I left Tim.”
The silence weighed heavily between us as I tried desperately not to react too strongly to her words.
“How can I help?” I asked instead.
“You’re already doing it. All this,” she gestured to the festivity inside “it’s a wonderful distraction,” she sighed wistfully.
“Stay as long as you’d like.” I reached over to grasp her hand in mine. “I love having you here,” I told her truthfully.
“Thanks, Soph,” she murmured and I could tell the subject was nearing a close. I’d press for more details later. This wasn’t the time.
Scar poked her head out then, holding Mason. “I think he’s hungry. Should I feed him?” she asked.
Jill shook her head. “I’ll do it, thanks.” She smiled, rising to take her son. “Thank you for watching him.”
“Sure,” Scarlet smiled, winking at me before walking back inside to Cole.
I followed suit in search of my new husband.
It was nearing morning by the time we wound things down. Despite the evening’s festivities and the hour, sleep was far from either of our minds.
“Ahhhhhh!” my cry was loud and piercing as Axel claimed me, driving so deep, it was as though he sought to pierce my soul.
His chuckle was low and satisfied as he lowered his lips to my ear. “Good thing we don’t have any house guests,” he rasped, his teeth finding purchase in the flesh of my neck.
Jill had taken Mason to stay at Kat’s old apartment. The club had bought the place, rightfully thinking they’d need it again. It had been a safe haven for many visitors, myself included.
His lips moved to my breasts, sucking greedily as I raked my fingernails down his broad back.
“You’re mine,” he growled. “Mine to love, to protect, to fuck,” he groaned as his thrusts became more rapid.
“Yes,” I cried out at his words and from the onset of my orgasm.
“Baby,” he groaned, his tone nearly reverent as he found his own release.
I wrapped my limbs around him, pulling him closer and relishing the feel of our sweat – of our heartbeats intermingling with a resounding tempo.
He rolled us so that we were side by side with my thigh thrown over his hip. “This looks good,” I sighed, my fingers tracing the outline of his wedding band.
“Yeah,” he agreed as he nuzzled my throat.
“Again?” I giggled.
“Again,” he growled.
When Mad woke us up the next morning, it felt like we’d just fallen asleep. We’d had many offers from friends to keep him overnight but we wanted him with us.
We chose to spend a quiet day as a family. Though it was nothing new for us to be together, there was something incredibly special to cement our vows, just the three of us.
We took lunch to the nursing home and celebrated with Sybil. We’d wanted to break her out of the home for a day to attend the ceremony but the nurses had recommended against it. The commotion and the new faces could have easily set her off. Instead, we had a quiet little celebration with sandwiches and sparkling apple cider. It was perfect.
I hadn’t asked if we’d be seeing his mother. I knew what the answer was. On occasion, he still got a call – and he always went without question. The difference was that now when he got home, he didn’t shut down, he talked. About how pissed off he was with her. About her lost opportunity with Maddox; I knew that hurt him the most. He was willing to share but he didn’t want her to be part of our lives and I understood that, respected it.
Ry had at least convinced Ax to take him with him most of the time. He wanted to share the burden. Axel had protected him his whole life; he wanted to give some of that back.
It did nothing to cure their mother’s addictions, but for two brothers dealing with a mother that had abandoned them for the bottle, it helped.
That evening as the three of us ate dinner, laughing as Maddox got more mashed potatoes in his hair than his mouth, I beamed with contentment. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate. Just us. Just love.
It was a good thing we had that time considering all hell was about to break loose.
Chapter 18
Early the next morning I felt Axel sit up abruptly. He vaulted out of bed before I could even form a question. When he slipped back into the room, I sat up, startled. “Wha—” I started to ask as he drew a finger to his lips to silence me.
Crap, that wasn’t good.
The gun I now noticed in his hand also wasn’t good.
“Get dressed, darlin’,” he whispered.
“What’s happening?” I whispered back.
“We’ve got company.”
I felt my eyes widen to saucers as I scrambled out of bed, grabbing my clothes. His knowing eyes watched my frantic movements, a beacon of calm despite the circumstances.
“What kind of company?” I asked as I threw on my jeans and tank top, hopping around the room as I struggled into my boots. “Where’s Maddox?”
“He’s fine. It's okay. Calm down,” he instructed, turning back to face me. “There’s a car parked just off the road. Ry spotted it. We’re gonna be cautious and head to the club,” he explained.
“Right.” I jerked my head in a nod and took a shaky breath in.
He crossed the room, putting his large hands on my shoulders and stooped to my eye level. “Babe, calm, okay? I’ve got you.”
I met his eyes and relaxed a fraction. “Okay,” I breathed. I threw on a sweater and my purse over my shoulder. “Ready,” I added with a tilt of my chin.
I thought I saw a note of pride in his eyes at my resolve when he nodded and took my hand. “Grab Mad. We’re gonna go out the garage, in my truck. Ry’s gonna be right behind us.”
“What’s Ryker even doing here? It’s so early,” I thought to ask.
“I’ve had a man on the house every night,” he answered as though that detail wasn’t important to share. We’d be having that conversation later.
“Sorry, baby,” I cooed to Maddox as I lifted him gently out of the crib. His little rosy cheeks were warm and soft as I swept my fingers over his face. He looked around, his beautiful eyes clouded with sleep as I carried him from the room.