by Krane, Kasey
No beer in sight.
Finally satisfied, Jules sat back on her heels, inspecting Turbo and Maggie. She made them practice walking and throwing flower petals (which seemed to mostly consist of Maggie dumping them on Turbo’s head) until she was satisfied with the results. I looked longingly towards the door but Jules gave me the stink eye every time I edged towards it, so I reluctantly stayed.
Leia showed up then, a white rose pinned to her dress. “They sent me to pin this on you,” she said with a shy grin, and held up a white rose.
At least it isn’t pink…
I stood still as she pinned it into my lapel, enjoying her citrusy scent wafting up to my nose. God, she smelled good. Everyone else always wore strong perfume that smelled like old ladies but my Leia smelled delicious - something I could just eat up.
She smiled up at me and I shifted, suddenly growing more interested in the “eating up” by the moment.
“You know,” I whispered, “it’s customary for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to hook up at a wedding.”
“I know,” she said, her voice full of husky promises as she winked and then stood back.
“Okay, looks like you’re ready to go. We ought to go line up.” She held out one hand to Maggie and one to me and we took off through the house to the kitchen where the rest of the wedding party had gathered. We were supposed to leave the kitchen, walk through the backyard and the rows of chairs set up, and up to the front where a slightly cranky looking pastor was standing.
Or at least, I assumed that was what we were going to do. No one had bothered to tell me anything yet.
Or hand me a beer.
Carmen had managed to change into her wedding dress since I had seen her last and fuck, did it look good on her. I had always been a big tits sort of guy and she was a little on the small side for my taste but goddamn, the way the neckline dropped in the back to nearly show off her ass crack was sexy as hell. Judge was gonna be lucky if he could speak during the ceremony.
But as gorgeous as Carmen was, I looked down at Leia standing next to me, and realized that he’d won the girlfriend lottery. Let Judge have Carmen. I would choose Leia any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.
Which is how we ended up making out, right up until the Wedding March song began.
26
Leia
I stood, arm in arm with Knight, and watched Maggie walk as sedately as she knew how, winging flower petals everywhere as she went. More than a few landed on poor Turbo’s head but other than a few shakes of his head, he didn’t seem to notice. Laughter rippled through the audience and Maggie grinned at them all, obviously happy with her moment in the spotlight. They finally got up to the wedding bower, where Maggie split off and headed straight for Mary.
“Mary, I got to throw roses,” Maggie said in a stage whisper as she sat down next to Mary as Turbo settled down at her feet.
I wasn’t sure I had ever heard so much laughter during a wedding ceremony before.
Bishop and Jules walked next down the aisle between the rows of chairs, the brilliant white chairs contrasting starkly against the green of the lawn.
This is a small wedding? I don’t think Carmen knows the meaning of low-key.
Then, finally, oh God, it was our turn and I flashed a smile up at Knight before we began our walk down the grassy aisle. He was so goddamn handsome in his suit and hair loose, flowing down his shoulders. It was rare for me to see him with his hair without a braid and I couldn’t help the hitch in my breathing every time I snuck a glance at him.
We made it successfully to the end of the aisle and then split apart, me heading to stand next to a radiant Jules. Apparently, morning sickness hadn’t hit her yet, thank God. It would make for an awkward wedding if Jules was hanging her head over a trash can every ten minutes.
When Carmen appeared, the “ohhhh’s” and “ahhh’s” rippled through the crowd. Her hand looped through her father’s elbow, she was holding three long-stemmed pink roses in her left hand.
Carmen’s eyes locked on Judge’s and as she walked towards him, it was as if the rest of the world did not exist. I felt tears prick at the edges of my eyes - the love between them was palpable and only made mine ache more for Knight. I looked over at him, and saw he was staring at me. Every other eye in the crowd was on Carmen…except Knight’s.
I couldn’t help it. The devilish side of me that appeared with or without my consent at times caused me to wink at him and send him a saucy grin. His eyes drifted down me and back up again, ever so slowly, and I could have sworn I could feel his hands on my body.
He made his way back up to my eyes and then winked back, no grin on his face. His face was serious and hot and turned on and oh God, I couldn’t breathe when he looked at me like that.
“Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here today…”
The pastor’s voice rang out over the crowd and, biting my lip with anticipation, I turned to listen to the ceremony.
Only half of my attention stayed on Knight, which I thought was pretty damn good.
* * *
“Congratulations!” Another well-wisher that I didn’t recognize came up to hug Carmen. After they chatted for a moment and the older lady drifted away, Carmen whispered, “Leia. Help! I need food.”
“Food?” I echoed.
“Yes. Finger food. There’s no way I’ll be able to sit down and eat a real meal right now but if I don’t get food into me, my stomach is going to eat its way through my back bone. Oh yes, thank you,” she said with a wide smile to an older gentleman who came up to hug her. “Yes, I know that it’s been a while since I’ve lived in Deming but I’m happy to be back.”
As I slipped away to find food for Carmen, I wondered at her backstory. How had she ended up in Mexico? And what was her and Judge’s story? They seemed incredibly happy, considering they haven’t been together for very long.
“Hey there, beautiful.” Knight’s deep voice whispered right in my ear while he also captured my elbow and dragging me into the gardens. I let out a little yip of surprise and then whacked him on the shoulder. “Knight, you can’t surprise me like that. Plus,” I turned her head to give him better access to my neck as he began kissing his way down it, “I’m on a miss…mission.” I was having a hard time concentrating.
“Sounds serious,” he murmured as he switched to the left side of my neck and began kissing his way down it.
“It is. I’m going to…” A little sigh or whimper, I couldn’t really tell anymore, escaped my lips. “…To save Carmen. The bride.”
I opened up my eyes, struggling against the desire to just melt into a puddle of goo at his feet, and said, “I need to be a good bridesmaid, Knight.” I patted his arms, half patting, and half whacking, to get him to stop.
He pulled back and looked up at me, his eyes bright with desire.
“You can come with me if you want, but I’m going to the banquet tables and getting some food for Carmen.”
With a beleaguered sigh, Knight followed me, muttering totally inappropriate comments about brides and what it was that they really needed on their wedding days.
I knew I shouldn’t laugh and encourage him, but I apparently couldn’t help myself.
* * *
When I delivered the food to Carmen, Carmen pulled me in for a quick hug.
“Oh thank you,” she said as she began gobbling down the bread and cheese. “My stomach just rumbled out loud when I hugged the last person who congratulated me, and I lied and told them that it was the music playing. No one ever told me that guests don’t allow you to eat on your wedding day.” She began shoving strawberries into her mouth next. I couldn’t stifle the grin on my face.
“Listen, while there’s a break in the crowds,” I said, “I wanted to give you my present. I really…I really hope you like it.”
I grabbed the bag sitting next to my feet but instead of taking the gift bag from my hands, Carmen just gestured at it and said, “Open it for me. I promise to love it, whatever it is,
but I have to get some more of these stuffed olives in me before I pass out.”
“Fair enough,” I laughed, and pulled the charcoal drawing out of the gift bag. I had worked on it for the last week, ever since Mary had given me a picture of Judge, Carmen, Maggie, and of course, Turbo, for me to draw from. I hadn’t worked with charcoal before but I thought it’d be fun to experiment with, and gods, was it. Getting the expressions just right, the adoration in Turbo’s eyes, the love in Judge’s…I had put a lot of my own love into the drawing.
“Oh, Leia!” Carmen exclaimed, setting her plate aside for a moment to take the drawing from my hands. A smile spread over her face as she admired the drawing from every angle. “This is absolutely gorgeous. I will treasure this always.” She pulled me in for a hug and whispered, “Welcome to the family, darlin'’. I hope you love it as much as I do.”
* * *
The canopy of lights twinkled above us as I dragged Knight out onto the grassy dance floor. His usually impassive face was a mask of, “Oh God, don’t make me do this,” but I was determined. Slow dancing wasn’t scary.
Wasn’t really scary, anyway.
I pulled him against me, took his hands and draped them around my waist, and hooked mine around his neck. We began swaying to the music from the four-person band; first, Knight was as stiff as a board but as the song continued and the earth didn’t open up and swallow him whole, he began to relax. He looked down at me with a smirk on his face.
He leaned down and whispered in my ear, “You should’ve told me that dancing was just rubbing your body against mine. I would’ve followed you much more willingly.” I felt shivers dance down mine spine at his words. Fuck, he was sexy.
“My bad,” I whispered back. “Next time, I’ll be sure to more fully explain the true purpose of dancing.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” he said, his dark eyes catching the twinkling lights, lighting them from within. “I won’t forget.”
I laughed and snuggled against him. We were down to just swaying against each other; I doubted a piece of paper could slip between us.
“Wanna head home to our own after-party party?” His deep voice rumbled against my cheek. I could feel him start to harden against my belly, and knew exactly what he wanted to do.
I pulled away and snuck a look around. No one seemed to even notice us there, and probably wouldn’t notice if we weren’t.
“Yes,” I whispered and he grinned down at me, grabbed my hand, and pulled me towards my car. I was now quite sad that we hadn’t ridden the Harley over - if we had, I would’ve been able to spend the ride back to his house snuggled against his back.
We burst through the front door, Knight slamming it closed behind us with his foot while slamming me against the entryway wall.
Instead of pulling away from him in shock, I grabbed his hair and shoved my fingers deep into his silky strands, trying to make him mine.
Meld with him.
Become one with him.
His lips were bruising mine and I simply pulled him down to me harder, the animalistic need to claim him pushing everything else away. I yanked on his jacket, dropping it to the floor, and then began fumbling with the buttons on his shirt, trying to slip them out of their holes, get the damn shirt off him - just get off already - and then the shirt was flying apart and buttons were shooting in all directions and he grinned down at me.
“Better?” he rasped out and then came down for another kiss. A kiss that was even better than the first one because this time, oh God, I could feel him. I could run my fingers over his skin. Feel the ridges of his chest. It didn’t matter how many times I felt the hard planes of his body, it kindled a need inside of me that seemed to never die away.
“The dress,” I panted, trying to get him to understand that I didn’t want it ripped off me but not fully capable of forming words at the moment. “Help.”
His hands felt around to my back and began tugging the zipper down until it was loose enough to drop to a puddle on the floor at my feet.
“Yessss…” he hissed, and yanked my panties down and out of the way, joining the dress.
It didn’t seem fair now - he was still in his slacks and shoes, a tie hanging askew from his neck, while I was down to my bra and high heels. He was beating me in the “able to feel every part of you” contest we were having, which simply wouldn’t do.
I dropped my hands to his belt and began undoing the buckle, pulling it out of the way. When my hands brushed against his fly, he gasped, his breath disappearing, and I knew I was starting to regain some ground. It wasn’t fair for him to be the only one who was able to touch the other person…
His pants and belt dropped to the floor, leaving only his boxer-briefs, shoes, and tie in place. I made a split second decision to leave the tie in place - maybe it would come in handy later, who knew? - but I also knew he’d be faster at shoe removal.
“Shoes!” I demanded, flinging my own shoes off, one after another as I leaned against the entryway wall. He smirked at me.
“If you insist…” he growled, and pushed them off his feet and stepped out of his own pile of clothes. In the darkness, only lit by street lamps, his tattoos glowed as if lit from within. They were beautiful, winding around his body, creating a pattern more intricate and gorgeous than any dress shirt ever could.
I reached out to brush my hands over his tats but instead, I palmed him through his boxer briefs, cradling his length in my hand. I couldn’t leave it alone, no matter how enticing his tattoos were.
He groaned and his dick jumped.
“Oh…Leia…I…”
I pulled his damn underwear down and out of the way, and finally, just as I was about to drop to my knees and suck on his long, thick, straight cock, he instead picked up, carried me over to the couch and laid me over the back of it, my ass high in the air, my head hanging down against the couch cushions.
“Knight!” I squealed in surprise.
“Fuck yes,” he growled and drove into me, slamming into me, and I saw stars and sparklers and the moon and the universe explode as I came apart into a million pieces, riding wave after wave of pleasure pulsing through my body. His back arched and he shattered too and shouted and cursed as his body went rigid and after endless moments, finally curled over me, hearts beating together as one.
27
Knight
I rolled over and looked at Leia, sleeping in the early morning light, her kinky, curly hair spread around her like a crazy curtain of brown and gold. My Leia-inspired morning wood strained upwards and I reached out to stroke a few strands of hair away from her face as a way of gently waking her up.
I hesitated over her face, and then pulled back. Yesterday had been a hell of a day for her, and she deserved to sleep in. She’d been a virgin just weeks ago and then last night, I had fucked her without any control, any restraint at all. She deserved a day of recovery. I could hold back for one day. It wouldn’t actually kill me.
I slipped out of bed, threw on my clothes and cut, and headed out the front door. As the Sgt. at Arms for the Dead Legion, I should check on the clubhouse. All of the Dead Legion had begged to be able to attend the wedding at Judge’s mansion yesterday, so Bishop had relented and agreed to let the clubhouse stay unguarded overnight. After all, the Sangre were most likely long gone.
But I couldn’t relax until I knew for sure that everything was okay…plus, if I was being honest with myself, if I stayed at home with Leia, there was no way I would be able to keep myself from wanting a repeat of the night before.
It wasn’t until I came around the final corner that I spotted the blue and red lights flashing.
What the hell?
I felt my pocket begin to vibrate just as Bishop and I spotted each other. Bishop yanked the phone away from his ear and jabbed at it with his finger while jogging towards me. Police cars were parked haphazardly on the street and a crew of investigators was crawling all over. It was the chaos of the scene that kept me from realizing at first what was wrong, un
til the acrid smell hit me.
Explosives.
“Someone threw some pipe bombs a couple of hours ago,” Bishop said, his face tight with anger. There was a giant hole in the chain-link fence gate that led into the compound, and a chunk was missing out of the side of the garage bay where we worked on the semis.
“Any idea who?” I asked as I skimmed the area, looking for more damage. My chest was tight with panic. The club had been my safe haven my whole life - where I had gone for safety and trust and freedom. The violation that I felt at this destruction of my safety net thrummed inside of me, painful and hard and tight.
“Not according to the police. But I think it’s pretty clear that it was the Sangre or the Outlaws . We don’t have a beef with any other club right now, and why pick a fight over nothing? But I have to know: Did you get any intel when you went to the Outlaws clubhouse with Leia?”
I shook my head. “Butcher was careful to keep us upfront in the lobby. He kept leaving too - wouldn’t stay and talk to Leia. She was upset and we left.”
“I don’t like this. Between the rumors that the Outlaws are trying to push back into Copper and these pipe bombs, we just can’t take the chance that Butcher will play nice if Leia goes out to visit him. You can’t let her go out there, at least not until we get this shit—” he waved his hand at the chaos behind him, “—figured out.”
I nodded curtly, knowing that Bishop was right, feeling better already at the idea that Leia wouldn’t be spending more time with that bastard…but also knowing that Leia wasn’t going to take the news well.
The chief of police hollered for Bishop. He jerked his head in goodbye to me before taking off again.
I swung back onto my Duo Glide. I had to go home. I had to tell the two guards about the bombing - they couldn’t relax their guard. They had to keep Leia safe.
