by V. Theia
“That’s bullshit,” Luxe scowled. Not really minding, but it was still a bullshit excuse. She’d seen the blondie and Ruby doing more strenuous stuff than holding decorations before now.
It wasn’t as though Luxe wasn’t trying to be more social around the MC. And it wasn’t like the group weren’t friendly … welcoming.
She still felt out of place in settings that weren’t of her own making.
She’d had everyone over to the house this past summer for a cookout but spent most of the time seducing her boy in the bathroom.
Her unsociability was a work in progress. And she supposed she could hold some stupid bows for a minute.
The place was beginning to look good. Festive.
As dictatorial as the blondie MC queen could be, she was proving to be quite the party planner, maybe she could help with Nathan’s birthday next year.
“Hey, Luxe. We got those canapé recipes from your grandmother, so we’ll have lots of veggie options for you.” Informed Zara.
Luxe, though surprised such consideration had been taken for her dietary needs, soon relented on helping with the décor with just a little huff of surrender as she moved along the wall with the boy up the ladder, passing him each one until her hands were empty.
She was easily bought with food.
As Nathan could attest, he who often calmed her moods with a bag of hot food from the local vegan deli counter she loved.
“See,” Ruby grinned, pointed her sweet heavy spoon her way. “Told you she would be soft as a kitten once you mentioned food.”
“You should use your powers for good and not evil,” Luxe fired over her shoulder.
Maybe she could stay for a few minutes.
Nathan was spending time with his dad and being around the girls wasn’t so bad, she supposed.
No one demanded of her time or expected her to be anything other than herself. Even if that meant she was quietly reflective the whole time listening to the back and forth conversations of what girl was getting their man for Christmas.
“A sex coupon booklet,” she interjected and brought quiet around their sofa gathering.
All three ladies looking at her.
“That’s what you’re getting Grinder for Christmas?”
Among other things, yeah.
And everything she had for him had not been stolen.
How was that for winning wife of the year?
Not that he’d care where his gifts came from.
He’d probably be proud had she told him she stole it off an Arabian prince. But she’d wanted his gifts to be legal. It meant more, she realized. Because she’d earned the money to buy her boy something because she fucking loved him.
She shrugged. “Sí.” The girls began to hum and clack all together.
“I never thought of that. Rider would love cashing it in.”
“Preacher would probably spend all his coupons by the 26th,” laughed Ruby.
“What kind of coupons do you have?” Zara asked.
“I printed them on the computer while Nathan was out.”
It was only supposed to be a silly gift. Something to make him smile before she gave him his real gifts. He was always so good, so attentive to her every need, that she ached to do the same for him.
“Will you do some for me? But different designs?”
“Ohh, me too!” Piped in Ruby.
Luxe held back her amusement as they discussed between them what coupons they wanted.
“What about you?” She asked of Gia who was smiling across at her man who was in a conversation with Jed. Gia turned her way. “Me? Oh, I don’t need anything like that.” Which said a lot for her sex life, Luxe decided.
“Don’t mind her, she’s screwing around the clock already. She’s still in the honeymoon phase.”
If Luxe had to guess, she’d bet none of this girls needed to use coupons to get sex. Their men were dangerously virile to say the least and didn’t mind personal displays of foreplay in public.
“This Christmas is going to be so much fun,” squealed the blondie in her red “Elves do it better,” T-shirt. Before she rushed off … as fast as a pregnant woman could, to chastise the poor young bearded boy on where to place the extra-long table.
A text from the man of the hour interrupted her musings.
Nathan: WHERE’S MY WOMAN?
She grinned and replied.
Luxe: Why? Is it time for a kidnapping?
Nathan: YES. Get home to me, thief. I have a very full package for you to unwrap.
That was her cue. She popped to her feet. Dirty chico.
“See you at the party, girls.”
“Don’t forget our coupons, Luxe!” Called out Ruby.
Smirking, she strode outside, the cold hitting her cheeks first before she slid into her car.
Tis the season to get all the girls laid.
“It’s a sociopath’s wonderful life.” – Gia
December 22nd
“Close your eyes, Colton!”
Love of her life.
Provider of everything sighed gruffly but did as he was told with his arms folded and their pup dressed in her Christmas onesie sitting obediently half over one of his feet chewing on his sock.
“I feel like this is a trap,” he remarked.
“Suspicious boys don’t get nice things.”
“Need I remind you how much of a man I am, little bit?”
Gia nearly choked.
Not because of his offer. That heated her insides and made her cheeks ache she was grinning so wide.
But because her father was walking into the back door at that precise minute.
And from the look of his grimace he heard every suggestive word.
“Please fuckin’ don’t,” he said, and had Hawk’s eyes pinging open.
Khaleesi gave a token barked greeting, her tail wagging, but stayed by Hawk, her faithful master and human crush. It was a rare occasion to have two of her favorite men in the same room together, so Gia enjoyed it for the few minutes she knew it would last for.
Her father dumped a black holdall case on the kitchen floor and she watched Hawk’s eyes narrow as if to silently say he is not fucking moving in, Gia.
She held back a laugh.
“Thank you, dad.”
“No problem. I love driving in 40 minus snow, mikrí kóri.”
She chuffed and hugged him. “You exaggerate worse than Ambrosio.”
“What’s going on?” Hawk finally asked.
“This,” she answered hearing the back door opening again and in walked one of the few people her husband cared for. “Merry Christmas, baby.”
Her man was like whiplash, no one saw him move when it was needed, the most dangerous and feared of the Renegade Souls and Gia had rendered him speechless.
She felt the grin spread on her face.
“Yay,” she clapped. “Are you surprised?”
“Where the hell is your cane, old man?” Was the first thing he growled at Krusher brushing snow out of his lily-white hair and jacket. “You’re just asking to break a hip and I’m not dragging your dead weight carcass up off the floor.”
Aww. Emotion stung her eyes. Hawk was so happy to see his old friend.
She’d done the right thing in getting Krusher here, she thought. Even begging her father and getting her mom in on it. Because Hawk stepped forward, clasped Krusher’s hand before leading the older man to sit at the table.
“Damn, son, can’t I give your lovely wife a hug before you chew my ass off? I had to listen to Mad-dog yap my ears off the whole way.”
Gia’s father chuffed a snort. He was not much of a talker.
“No way, you, randy goat. I know your game.” Hawk deadpanned. “You’d try to grab a feel. And then I’d have to bury you in my yard.”
“I’m so glad you could make it, Krusher.” Gia fawned with a smile as she hugged around his shoulders and kissed his forehead.
When she’d called him, it hadn’t taken much persuasion. She su
spected he missed Hawk a lot. The next plan was to get him to spend more time in Colorado, not just for the holidays. Maybe move here.
She’d let her man persuade him.
Those two got on like a house on fire. If that house was snarking at each other.
“You are looking prettier than ever, Gia. Said to this one at your wedding just how pretty you were and what did you see in him?” Hawk rolled his eyes and Gia grinned.
Family wasn’t always in the blood stream. And watching Hawk catch up with Krusher, quizzing him on how many old lady girlfriends he had now at his senior citizen club, it was more than evident they had a father-son relationship.
And for Hawk, who’d never had that in his life, she needed to excuse herself into the other room before she bawled her eyes out.
“Little bit? What’s wrong?” Not even a minute later hands touched her shoulders. He was highly attuned to her emotions and god, she loved that about him.
Turning in his arms, she snuggled in and got one of the best hugs she’d had that day. Not counting the ten others they’d shared so far. Her quiet man was a hugger. “Nothing, baby. Just very happy. Did I surprise you?”
“You could say, yeah.” A kiss dropped to the top of her head.
“You wouldn’t tell me what you wanted for Christmas—”
“Got all I want right here,” another kiss and his hand stole between them to rub her belly.
“—so, I brought your friend home for the holidays.”
“’I’ll take his bag up in a minute.”
She fell so much more in love with Hawk in that second. Not only didn’t he mind the older man was here without warning, but he assumed he was staying at their house and didn’t complain even though he guarded their private sanctuary like fort Knox.
“We got him an Airbnb not far from here, baby. He insisted before he’d agree to come.”
“He was wrong you know.”
“What about?”
“You’re not pretty. You’re more beautiful than you’ve ever been, little bit.”
Now she really did start with the waterworks. Damn hormones.
Squeezing him around the middle she didn’t let go for a good five minutes before her dad called through that he was leaving.
“I love you so much,” she said against Hawk’s mouth. He took a sweeping kiss, one that was full of love and passion and filthy man that he was, he gave her ass a good squeeze before releasing her.
“Love you more,” he was wrong, but she never corrected him. Still her heart skipped a beat hearing the words from him. “I’ll rally the old man for that damn party. I don’t know why we gotta go, little bit.”
“Because it’s a club holiday party and we are club.”
That was one sentence she never thought she’d utter in her lifetime.
But there it was. She was as much part of the MC life than she ever was.
And the funny thing was.
She loved it.
She loved being part of that connection and closeness.
She loved walking in through those double doors and having everyone know she was Hawk’s old lady.
God knows, her best friend Grace Kelly’s eyes had widened so fast this past summer when Gia had taken her visiting friend to an MC cookout on the compound grounds where everyone greeted Gia like family, someone they all respected whole heartedly.
Grace Kelly had been parts impressed and envious whispering to Gia the entire time with her eyes saucer wide watching every biker.
Now, what Grace Kelly got up to on her missing two hours that night … She was still to find out.
“Will you wear that red dress?” Hawk asked, brushing his mouth to her ear. “I love you in red, little bit.”
He loved her in all colors.
He loved her best out of clothes.
She hummed and rocked into him.
“Gia!” Her father called again.
“A minute, dad!” And then to Hawk. “I’ll wear anything you want if it means you’ll dance with me at the party.” He groaned like she was ripping out his lungs.
But he didn’t say no.
December 23rd
“You didn’t mind me being here? Gia wanted it as a surprise. I told her she best ask you first.”
“I told you so, didn’t I?” Hawk’s brow folded in.
What crap was the old man spewing? He would have said wouldn’t he if he minded. Mentally rolling his eyes at the earnest look on Krusher’s face, Hawk jutted his chin to one of the dark-haired Souls prospects who came sauntering over dressed in jeans and his prospect vest.
“Yo, VP, it’s a banging party Z-girl’s thrown. You need something?”
“You met this old timer earlier?” He asked Coop who nodded. “You make sure he has anything he needs tonight, you got it?”
“Yeah, yeah, VP, you got it.”
“That means if you’re dipping your dick in a groupie, and Krusher wants a beer, you drop the chick, understand?”
“Sure thing, boss.” Nodded Coop, earnestly. Punk just better do as he was told. It would come a day when he wanted a vote in as a brother and Hawk could hold a grudge like a bitch if need be. This one was sponsored by Capone, if he remembered right. He’d give the nod to his brother to keep his boy in line tonight.
“Thanks, son. It saves these old bones from creaking,” Krusher grinned and toasted him with his glass of scotch. “Sure is some shindig. We got nothing like this at home. Ty don’t like the holidays, so he doesn’t allow parties.”
Hawk grunted. “Rider’s old lady wanted to make it a thing.” He would have preferred being at home. As it was he was watching Gia like his proverbial namesake while she stood across the way with a gaggle of women and Sebastian as ever with his little hands on Gia’s belly talking to the bump. Weird kid, but he didn’t mind him hanging around so much. Hawk wanted her at home, with her feet up so his organ system could fucking calm down.
But there was no stopping his wife. She was full speed ahead even being told by the doctor that she had to slow down, or her blood pressure would elevate higher.
She was gonna give him a damn stroke.
“Back in a bit, old man. Gonna find Gia.”
“Enjoy yourself, you look like you’re chewing rocks.”
He supposed he did. His jaw ached and so did his back teeth. No wonder people were giving him a wide berth. Not that he cared.
At the last second, he turned back to face Krusher. “You can stay as long as you like, old man, okay? Gia would like that.” So, would he, he supposed. At least the old man didn’t bother him. “The baby will be here soon, you’ll wanna meet them.”
Krusher’s craggy face split into a grin so bright it rivalled the big fucking tree across the room twinkling its thousands of lights.
“Thank you, son. I’d like that.”
“We’ll park you in the corner over there, just like those relics you see in a museum.” He deadpanned, and the old man barked a rusty laugh.
On his way over to Gia, Hawk saw Lawless talking to his phone screen. The music was too loud to hear what he was saying. Either he’d gone cray or he was on facetime with someone.
Prince Charming was still avoiding Hawk and he wasn’t ready to let the brother off the hook yet. Not with the urge still in his fingertips to rip Tag’s head off. But the guy nodded, and Hawk gave him a chin jut. Best he could do.
The place was bouncing, everywhere he looked it spewed festivity. Food platters on every table. They’d gone with Christmas rock music. And everyone was feeding their faces with liquor and grub.
And Hawk only had one agenda; and it wasn’t joining in the party. It was talking his little bit into going home where he could tuck her into bed and bring her food.
All this standing on her feet for hours was fucking with his head.
Didn’t she know she was supposed to take shit easy?
His baby books said so.
“Colton,” she yelled over the music, splitting off from her crowd, her grin lit him
up and made him rock hard behind the zipper teeth.
She was in his arms in a second and he felt some of his worry cool its jets.
His little bit was okay, and she’d continue to be okay.
“I’m having the best time, baby.” She told him.
Let’s go home, climb into bed and I’ll lick you to sleep.
“Will you dance with me? Please? Pretty please with me on top?”
What could he say.
“Yeah, come on.”
Her happiness was worth more than his worry.
He’d take care of all her aches and pains soon enough and rub that coconut cream of hers on her swollen abdomen.
“This is going to be the best Christmas of all, Colton.” He would agree with that. It would be the first Christmas he’d ever celebrated as an adult, and as a kid … he’d rather forget any of those holidays happened.
His first Christmas started right here.
With the women who owned a monster in his arms.
Singing out of tune.
And more beautiful than ever.
“The ghost of Christmas past was not invited to this shindig.” – Rider
December 23rd
This was not the kind of conversation he wanted to have at his girl’s holiday party.
Or ever.
He was good with fucking never.
Rider’s jaw tightened as he fisted both hands into the front pockets of his worn jeans.
His Icy had wanted him to dress up in a suit.
Like that was gonna happen. Fuck that.
He was Prez of the club, not a damn penguin. She’d relented when she’d seen him fresh out of the shower with his hair wet and his jeans unbuttoned.
After a hot round of quiet sex sitting in her reading nook in their bedroom Zara agreed he could wear the jeans.
“I know you won’t confirm it, son. I guess … I’m just saying it for my own sake, really.” Jerome, his pseudo father in law said, with his head downcast. A choke in his voice told Rider the older man was holding back emotion.
