I saw Kat look down at my bare ring finger curiously. Axel must have noticed as well. “The proposal I’d been planning got moved up due to an unexpected call on the way here from your mother,” Axel replied, looking pointedly over at Sal.
“What?” Sal demanded, his eyes narrowing.
“It’s time to throw down the gauntlet, man. Her father is fucking losing it. Thinks she’s still gonna come back and marry that Benjamin kid.” He shook his head in disbelief. “You knew I was already gonna propose, but I had her say we’re already married.”
“Good idea,” Sal agreed. “You guys are gonna have to act quick then.”
“Yeah,” Axel nodded.
“What location can we pull together on such short notice?” Kat thought aloud.
“I know the exact spot,” I put in, the image already clear in my mind.
Axel looked down at me in surprise. “What are you thinkin’?”
“Home,” I grinned up at him. “The back deck would be perfect. It’s big enough.”
“I thought we’d all just go to Vegas,” Sal admitted.
I shook my head. “I want to get married in the only place that’s ever felt like home.”
Axel’s face warmed as he pulled me close. “You’re okay with that? I figured you might want something more…” he searched for the right words.
I shrugged. “We can always do something more formal later if we want to. For now, I’m fine just having a big party as long as everyone can come on such short notice.”
“I’ll call the girls. We’ll get everything planned for the day after tomorrow? That soon?” Kat verified.
“That soon,” Axel nodded as my head spun.
She winked at me. “I love spontaneous marriages. I think they’re good luck,” Although engaged before their trip, she and Sal were married on a whim in Spain.
“Baby, don’t get all spun out over this. Let Scar and Connie handle it. I don’t want you stressed out,” Sal told her.
“Okay, babe,” she agreed, turning to me to roll her eyes.
“I saw that.” Sal slapped her firmly on the ass.
The next twenty-four hours were a chaotic blur as the whole club worked to pull our wedding off. I was exhausted but so full of love for everyone around us that it gave me all the energy I needed.
The house was transformed in such a short time; I wouldn’t have thought it possible if I hadn’t seen it myself. The living room became the reception area filled with flowers and tables and chairs. Kat even insisted on a dance floor. I had no idea how she got her hands on it.
The back deck had chairs lined up with a proper aisle down the center. We’d say our vows with the backdrop of evergreen and mountains.
The cake was ordered along with the food. Wes volunteered to handle the alcohol, which didn’t surprise anyone in the least. We had our marriage license and Ryker got ordained online to marry us. It was all coming together.
During a quick trip to Vegas with the girls, I found a beautiful dress that fit like a glove. It was a gorgeous champagne color with a hint of a peach hue. Strapless with a tulle skirt, it was elegant and fun.
I’d meant it when I said I didn’t need anything formal. If anything, this felt like the perfect way to marry the man of my dreams. In our home, doing what felt right to us without anyone else’s expectations affecting our day.
In lieu of a formal bachelorette party, the girls were all coming over for drinks the night before the big day.
I’d put Mad down for the night and had fingers crossed that he stayed that way.
“I’ll be back,” Axel told me just as Connie, Scar, Ettie and I were settling in with our drinks in the living room.
“Back?” I asked, confused. I’d thought he was going to hang out with the guys until later.
“I have something to drop off,” he replied mysteriously.
“Okaaay,” I replied, intrigued by what he meant.
“Hank and Tag drew the short straws. They’re on their way to watch over you ladies tonight,” he chuckled.
Short straws indeed.
“Thank you, guys, so much for everything,” I sighed wistfully. I looked around the living room, which was – despite a few small details – ready for my wedding day. White string lights hung throughout the room, basking the space in a warm glow, lighting the room. Axel was going to have to fight me not to keep it just like this.
“It was fun.” Connie smiled, clinking her glass with mine. “You ready?” she asked with a grin.
“Yeah, I really am,” I nodded. “It’s fast but nothing about our relationship has been conventional so far; might as well stick with the trend.” I laughed with a shrug.
“I think it’s really freaking romantic,” Ettie sighed. “The man is practically salivating to marry you as soon as possible. If you hadn’t been the one talking to your mother, I’d have thought he made the whole thing up just for an excuse.”
“Right?” I laughed. Axel had been…enthused by the prospect from the moment I’d agreed to marry him. It endeared him to me in a totally new way.
We sat around talking and laughing for a while before I heard the front door open. When Axel walked in with Jill and a sleepy Mason in tow, I almost fell out of my chair.
“Jill! Oh, my God!” I squealed, running over and throwing my arms around her. “How did you? When did you?” the words tumbled from my mouth as Axel chuckled.
“Your man here flew us out,” she grinned, cocking her head toward Axel.
I turned to him with wide eyes brimming with sudden tears. “Babe,” I tried to finish my thank you but the words were trapped in my throat.
He kissed me chastely, running a thumb over my tears. “It was nothing, baby,” he replied simply.
Maybe to him. To me it meant the world and he knew that.
“Thank you,” I managed.
“You’re welcome,” he replied, stooping to touch his forehead with mine. “Now, I’ll let you ladies have your fun. See you in a few hours, baby,” he grinned, his eyes alight.
“Yeah,” I beamed, watching my gorgeous man stride out of the room before turning my attention back to my friends.
We put Mason down in the guestroom where Jill would also spend the night. I was so beyond excited to see her I could barely stand it.
“Tim couldn’t come?” I wondered aloud as I grabbed her a drink and we all got situated in the living room.
“No,” she shook her head, not offering further details.
“Everything all right?” I asked carefully, not wanting to pry in front of the rest of the girls but wanting to make sure she was okay.
She shrugged. “It could be better but I’m not here to talk about me.” She forced a smile. “I’m here to watch my best friend get married.”
I eyed her thoughtfully for a minute, trying to decide if I should push the subject.
“Really, Soph,” she added quietly. “I want to enjoy myself.”
“Okay,” I agreed, reaching over to grab her hand. I’d let it go but we were going to talk – and soon.
By the time Axel got back with Wes and Mack in tow, Ettie was passed out on the couch, Connie was dancing to music only playing in her head and Scarlet, Jill and I were immersed in a very serious conversation about the TV show Scandal.
I’d taken it easy on the alcohol, not wanting to be hung over the next day, but I couldn’t say the same for the rest of the ladies.
“Have fun?” Axel asked with a lifted brow, eyeing Connie with evident amusement.
“Yeah,” I laughed as Wes sauntered over to his lady and twirled her, despite the lack of music. It was as though they were in their own little world as he grinned down at her with obvious adoration. Connie was a free spirit through and through. I loved that about her. Obviously, Wes did too.
Mack lifted Ettie off the couch and with a chin lift, carried her out to his truck. “Come on, ladies,” Wes said to Scarlet and Connie. He draped an arm over his
wife, and headed out with Scarlet fol
lowing as they both called their goodbyes.
“I’ll turn in,” Jill announced, rising to stand a bit unsteadily on her feet.
“Okay,” I hugged her close. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I murmured in her ear.
“Me too,” she agreed, hugging me tightly.
“Come on, baby,” Axel coaxed, quietly taking my hand. “Night, Jill,” he called over his shoulder as he led me to our room.
“I think something’s really wrong with Jill,” I professed through the darkness after we crawled into bed. “She won’t talk about it but she’s always been dodgy about Tim.”
“I’m sure she’ll talk when she’s ready,” he replied, his fingers stroking through the hair at my temple. “For now, try not to worry about it. She wouldn’t want you worried about her – not with the wedding.”
“You’re right. I’ll try.”
“You ready to be Mrs. Black?” I could hear the smile in his voice as I lay with my cheek pressed to his firm chest.
“Very ready,” I grinned.
“I got you something,” he surprised me by saying. I eyed the beautiful diamond ring he’d slipped on to my finger the same evening he’d proposed and wondered what else he could possibly have to give me. He gently moved me so he could sit up, pulling what looked like a jewelry box out from his bedside drawer.
“What’s this?” I asked, sitting up cross-legged on the bed.
“Open it.” He shrugged, his intense expression countering the casual movement.
I opened the box and sucked in a gasp. Inside, sat a beautiful silver necklace, almost identical to the one my grandmother had given me. The one I’d been forced to leave behind. I was floored that he’d remembered.
I simply stared at it for a few beats feeling warm tears slide down my face.
“Hey, what’s this?” he asked, quietly swiping my tears away. “It wasn’t supposed to make you sad.”
“It doesn’t,” I assured him hoarsely, my eyes lifting to meet his. “It’s just so beautiful and so incredibly thoughtful. I’m just so…” I searched for the right word settling on the one that eclipsed everything I felt. “Happy.” I smiled through tears. “Thank you.” I leaned in to kiss him deeply.
“You’re welcome, darlin’. Is it close?” he asked with a wrinkled brow and I knew he meant the likeness.
“Very,” I nodded, unclasping the necklace and putting it around my neck. He moved my hair over to my shoulder and fastened it securely in place around my neck.
It was close to my heart where, like Axel himself, I planned to keep it for the rest of my days.
Chapter 17
The small part of me that had been concerned Ryker wouldn’t take his officiant duties seriously, needn’t have worried. From the moment I walked down the aisle with Sal, watching Axel’s eyes grow bright and his chest heave with a shuddering breath, Ry had led us through the ceremony with a type of assured calm I hadn’t seen in him before.
I clasped the large hands of my gorgeous husband-to-be and let Ryker’s soothing voice wash over me. Holding Maddox for part of our vows, we promised to devote our lives to each other, to be the family we’d never had. With tears obscuring my vision, I put my gold ring on his finger where it would stay forever.
“I love you, Sophie,” he said with a fierce growl after Ry had pronounced us husband and wife. He kissed me with a passion not entirely appropriate given the fact that we had an audience. I didn’t give a damn and gave as good as I got. He pressed his forehead to mine, our breathing labored and a different kind of warmth spread across my skin.
“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 ho
w 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.
Axel (Ride Series Book 3) Page 14
