But as I walked in and saw the selection of dresses hanging on the wall, I realized that we weren’t just going to a party.
“Where did you get wedding dresses?” I demanded, turning to frown at the four women.
“Lyric knows someone,” Mila said with a casual shrug. “I ordered ones I thought you might like in your size. We can send back the ones you don’t choose. The only problem is these all came off the rack because it was so last minute. So, the fit might not be the greatest.”
Suddenly, the realization of what was actually happening hit me, and my eyes filled with tears. “Mav planned a surprise wedding?”
“No tears,” Mom commanded, pointing her finger in my face, but I saw how glassy her own eyes were. “You’ll make me cry too, not to mention, you’ll ruin your makeup.”
The twins hugged me from either side. “You need to pick a dress,” Mila reminded me. “I know it’s a hard decision to make, but we are kind of running out of time. I promised my brother we would get you to the clubhouse by a certain hour, or he will come looking for you.”
Sucking in a deep breath, I blinked back my tears and glanced at the dresses again. “I always thought we would run off to Vegas and get married in one of those little chapels, so I never really thought about a wedding dress before.” But I couldn’t say I was unhappy to have to pick one out now.
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Aunt Willa said. “That’s what James and I did.”
“It was just your dad and me on a beach in Hawaii,” Mom reminisced. “I had a simple silk dress and was barefoot. It was perfect.”
The mention of my dad made my heart hurt, but I pushed down all thoughts of him and focused on the dress options.
One was a huge ballgown-like dress, while another was mermaid-style. But my gaze kept returning to the one with double spaghetti straps. The top was a mixture of floral lace and pearls that extended down to about the waist. The bottom was a slinky, crepe skirt that flowed into scalloped edging, with more of the floral lace for the train. It was the perfect blend of old-school Hollywood elegance mixed with a touch of contemporary that had me falling in love with it before I’d even tried it on.
Mom noticed my gaze returning to it again and again, and she walked over to take it off the wall. “Don’t just stand there, little girl. You won’t know if it looks good on you or not, just looking at it on the hanger.”
With a happy squeak, I pulled off the dress I’d worn to graduation and then let the others help me into the white dress. When I turned to look at myself in the mirror, fresh tears stung my eyes. “Is there a veil, by any chance?” I asked Mila.
“They sent a veil for each of the options,” she assured me. “Hold tight. I’ll get it.”
An hour later, after Mila and Monroe both changed into bridesmaid dresses, we got into the limo that was waiting for us and rode over to the clubhouse. The parking lot was packed with cars and motorcycles.
Excitement was already making me jittery, but realizing that I was walking into the clubhouse as River Hannigan and walking out as River Masterson made me dizzy with happiness. The others got out of the limo first, and then Mom turned to help me so I didn’t wrinkle my dress.
The twins and Aunt Willa rushed in to make sure everything was in order, while Mom stayed outside with me. The sun was starting to set, and I was glad it wasn’t raining like it had been on the twins’ wedding day. As the door closed behind the others, Mom turned and took my hands.
“Maverick helped plan today, but he’s not the one who made it possible,” my mother informed me, her face suddenly very serious. “Your dad did.”
I stiffened and took a step back from her reflexively. “No, he wouldn’t. He’s been nothing but an asshole since he found out about my relationship with Maverick. And then the other night…” I was getting pissed just thinking about what had happened to Maverick.
“I know, sweetheart. Believe me, more than anyone, I know.” She gave me an imploring look. “But your dad is sorry. He’s trying to make amends and show you that he accepts your relationship now.”
I didn’t believe her. My dad was too stubborn to do a complete 180 like that and suddenly be on board with me being with Maverick. Not wanting to argue with her about it, I turned and walked back to the limo, tempted to get in and let the driver take me as far away from all of this as fast as he could. But as my hand touched the door handle, I stopped.
No, damn it. I was not going to walk away. Not when the man I loved was waiting for me in the clubhouse. Marrying him was my dream, and it honestly didn’t matter to me how it happened, as long as I did happen. Why should I let my feelings for my father ruin it?
Determinedly, I turned to go back, only to find Mom was now gone.
Dad stood where she’d been only moments before, dressed in dress slacks, a white button-up, and his leather MC cut. There was a vulnerable, almost pleading look in his eyes that hurt me to see, but I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.
For the longest time, we stayed just like that, both of us too stubborn to look away or be the first to break the silence. The sun was almost completely set before he cleared his throat. “You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he choked out.
“Did you come to stop the wedding?” I demanded instead of accepting his compliment.
His throat bobbed before he shook his head. “No, River. I heard Kelli tell you that I was the one to set all of this up. Why would I stop something I want to happen?”
I shrugged. “Because you wanted me to get my hopes up. Then, at the last minute, pull the plug on it all.”
“No, I’m not going to do that. I realize how much Maverick means to you now. If I’d realized before—” He broke off, a muscle in his jaw working for a moment before he could speak again. “I’m so sorry for what I did. I know it doesn’t make any sense to you, but when the boy asked to date you, I thought he was just bullshitting me. I didn’t like him playing with you to get a reaction out of me. I honestly didn’t know how serious you two were about each other.”
“He’s my life. I would do anything for him.”
“And I see now that he would do anything for you, too.” He gave me a grim smile. “I’ve realized I don’t know anything about you, River. And I’m sorry about that more than anything. I guess I stopped paying attention somewhere over the years, and for the life of me, I can’t remember when or even why. Maybe if I’d opened my eyes sooner, I would have noticed how you felt about the boy.”
Tears blinded me, and I quickly blinked them away, not wanting him to see them. “It only took you losing me to open them.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. But you, more than anyone, should know how stubborn I am.” He tried to grin, but even through my tears, I could see it was more of a pained twist of his lips. “You’re just as bad. Where did you think you got it from?”
“Mom.”
“Okay, so you got equal parts of our stubbornness,” he conceded with a snort. But the noise turned into an agonized sound when a tear broke free and dripped down my cheek. “I-I would like the chance to get to know you now, if it’s not too late. Maybe…” He stopped and swallowed hard a few times before he was able to continue. “Maybe we could have dinner once a week, just the two of us.”
“I…” I stopped and pressed my lips together, holding on to my angry words at the sight of his own tears spilling over his lashes. Seeing his pain gave me no joy. If anything, it only made my broken heart ache more. “I don’t know,” I muttered instead. “Maybe.”
“I realize winning back your trust and forgiveness will take time, River. I’m just asking for a chance.”
“I-I’ll think about it,” I offered.
“While you’re thinking, could I walk you down the aisle?” he asked. His voice was so full of hope, and with his tears still falling freely, I found myself nodding.
Dad lifted his hand toward the front door of the clubhouse. “After you, sweetheart.”
Holding the train of my dress, I walke
d into the clubhouse. Mom and the twins were right inside, and the three of them rushed to get me cleaned up since my tears had messed up my makeup.
The music started, and my heart jumped into my throat. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to run into the common room and rush into Maverick’s arms. A simple “I do” from the both of us and we would be married. But if he’d helped set all this up, with Mayor Jenkins even getting our marriage license taken care of so it wouldn’t ruin the surprise, that must have meant he wanted a wedding shared with our family and friends, so I wasn’t going to ruin it for him.
Kingston was waiting to walk my mom down the aisle, and then the twins followed behind them. When it was our turn, Dad offered me his arm, and I hesitated for a moment before finally placing my hand through it.
I was still mad, and my heart still ached, but I knew he was trying. His walking me down the aisle meant a lot to me. It showed me that he had accepted that Maverick was my forever.
Unlike at Mila and Monroe’s wedding, the clubhouse wasn’t overflowing with people. Lyric’s huge extended family had all come, and the building had been bursting at the seams with a mixture of rockers and bikers. Now, there were only bikers, which meant there was room for chairs, so the guests could sit.
As Dad and I started down the aisle, everyone stood and faced us. I heard several people close to us murmuring how beautiful I looked, but I was too entranced by the sight at the end of the aisle to pay attention.
Maverick stood there, Kingston and Jack at his side, wearing a suit for the first time in his life—but, of course, his cut was on over it. His hair was pushed back from his face, and he’d shaved. I’d never seen him look more handsome than he did right then. His gray eyes ate up the sight of me in my wedding dress, and I watched as he struggled to swallow.
Halfway down the aisle, he lost the battle against his tears and the first one spilled free, but he didn’t lower his gaze or try to hide them from me. His smile was trembly but so full of love that my own tears started to flow again.
It felt like it took forever to reach him, but it was only a matter of seconds. And then the minister was asking who was giving me away.
I held my breath as the entire clubhouse seemed to fill with tension. I’d been worried about this part from the moment I’d agreed to let Dad walk me down the aisle, wondering if he would actually let Maverick have me. The two men I cared about the most in the world stared each other down, and then Dad offered Mav his hand. The two shook, then my dad pulled Maverick in for a hard, backslapping hug.
I was blinded by my tears, and by some miracle, I was able to hold back my happy sob as the hug ended and Dad placed my hand in Maverick’s. At the feel of his touch, everything and everyone in the room seemed to disappear. Not even the minister existed for me except when he instructed me to repeat my vows.
It was just Maverick and me, the way it had always been. The way it always would be.
I slid the ring on to Mav’s finger then had to hold back a sob when he did the same. It was official. Nothing could ever come between us. Nothing and no one could take him from me now.
He’d always been mine, and now the world knew it.
Twenty-Four
Maverick
As soon as the driver closed the door of the limo, I had River’s dress up over her hips. She was already soaked, her pussy lips glistening with her need for me, and it took me a second to truly grasp how perfect this moment was.
I felt like I’d been waiting my entire life for this day, to show the world that she was mine—that she fucking chose me.
She could have had any motherfucker she wanted, but I was the lucky bastard who got to be her man.
Her fingers were already working on my pants. The moment her hand wrapped around my shaft, I threw my head back, groaning at how good her touch was. It had been too goddamn long since I’d last had her, but I hadn’t wanted to chance hurting her. Staying away the night before after the doctor had given us the green light at her appointment had been one of the hardest things I’d ever had to do. “Baby, put me in you,” I pleaded. “I can’t wait.”
She bit her lip, hesitation suddenly on her beautiful face when she’d been just as desperate for me as I was for her only seconds before. “What if…?”
My heart stopped, and I cupped her face. “I’ll respect whatever you decide. There’s protection in my wallet. But if you want to try…”
Sucking her bottom lip between her teeth, she considered the options for a moment before lifting up and then guiding my cock into her tight little body. “If it’s meant to be, it will happen,” she said on a moan as my girth stretched her pussy walls. “I won’t be scared if you promise to hold me the whole time.”
I clenched my hands on her hips as her body welcomed me back by squeezing my shaft like a tight, silky fist. “Baby, I’ll hold you for the rest of my life,” I vowed through gritted teeth. “I love you so fucking much. I will protect you and our family until my last breath.”
Her hands went to my shoulders to steady herself, and I helped her ride me as the limo drove us toward Hannigans’. Her walls started to contract around me, trying to trigger my own release as she threw her head back and screamed my name. “That’s it, wife,” I growled, lifting and dropping her on my throbbing cock faster. “Come all over your husband’s cock, baby.”
Her pussy pulsed even harder, making me see spots at how good it felt, and I came harder than I ever had in my life.
Breathing hard, she lifted her head just as the limo began to slow, a grin on her face. “That was a great first ride as a married couple, but I’m going to want more.” Her eyes darkened hungrily. “Soon.”
“As a wedding present, Gian and Monroe are lending us their jet to fly to Mexico tonight for our honeymoon,” I informed her. “Tonight, I’m going to make love to my beautiful wife, listening to the ocean waves crash against the beach.”
“That sounds perfect,” she breathed, rubbing herself against me for a moment, teasing me before lifting off my cock and fixing her dress.
“No panties?” I asked with a frown, realizing there hadn’t been any to take off her earlier.
“They would have caused a line,” she said with a smirk.
“Fuck,” I muttered, rubbing a hand over my face. “Now that’s all I’m going to be thinking about. You can’t dance with any guy who isn’t related to you by blood or marriage.”
Her sexy laugh made my cock twitch as I stuffed myself back into my pants. Once we were both presentable again, I opened the door and stepped out before helping her.
Most of the guests were already inside the bar when we walked in. The four-tiered cake Kingston had helped his mom make sat on a table by itself in a corner. As soon as everyone noticed we’d arrived, we were swarmed by people congratulating us. I pulled River closer, growling at any of my MC brothers who tried to hug her who weren’t related to her in some way.
For the next hour, we were constantly surrounded by people wishing us well, and all I really wanted was to get my wife alone again. Every few minutes, I would check the time, wondering if it was too soon to leave for the airport.
“You can’t leave until you cut the cake,” Mila hissed to me when she noticed what I was doing for the fifth time in as many minutes. “Mom will murder you if you even try.”
“It would be worth it,” I whispered back just as Colt came up to us.
Nervously, he held out his hand to his daughter. “I was hoping for a dance.”
River stared at his hand for a long moment before giving a ghost of her usually bright smile and placing her much smaller hand in his. “I’d like that.”
I released the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding as they stepped onto the makeshift dance floor. I honestly hadn’t known if River would let her dad walk her down the aisle earlier or not. It had been her choice, which was why I’d stayed inside and hadn’t tried to convince her one way or the other. It had to be her choice, just like having a relationship with him going fo
rward would be.
As I watched them dance, I saw Mom looking at them wistfully, and I walked over to ask her for a dance. Her gray eyes lit up, and she practically dragged me out onto the dance floor. Laughing, I tucked her close and began to sway to the music as other father-daughter and mother-son couples joined us.
Lexa and Uncle Bash passed us as they took to the dance floor, while Uncle Jet and Nova followed. Kingston swept his mom into a dip, making her sweet giggles fill the bar. Jack looked stiff as he danced with Aunt Gracie, but she looked so happy that I couldn’t laugh at my brother for how uncomfortable he seemed.
“Raven is pouting,” Mom murmured, glancing around with a frown. “I wonder where Max is…” Her voice drifted off as her gaze landed on the door as it opened.
Max was just entering, but unlike at the wedding, he wasn’t alone now. At his side was a girl I’d never seen before. She was gorgeous, with a mass of dark hair and golden skin that had to be natural. Her dark eyes glanced around the room in a mixture of fear and wonder as she kept one hand in Max’s and the other fidgeted with the skirt of her dress.
The girl stopped walking after they’d come several yards into the bar, and Max looked down at her with concern. Releasing her hand, he moved his own as he spoke to her using sign language. He’d taken American Sign Language as his language elective in high school, and his mom had taught him the basics when we were all kids. I didn’t know a lot of it, but I did know the bare necessities, and it looked like he was telling her not to be scared.
A gasp to my left had my head shooting around to find Aunt Kelli staring at them as if she’d seen a ghost. Not observing any possible danger to her or anyone else, I shifted my gaze to my wife, but her eyes were on the newcomers as well. Noting her frown, I stopped dancing, needing to fix whatever was putting that look on her face.
“Mom.” Max’s deep voice reached us, and everyone in the bar was suddenly looking at where he and the girl at his side were now facing Aunt Raven. He signed the words as he spoke, “This is Delaney.” His electric-blue gaze zoomed around the room, glaring at all the guys before settling back on Delaney and softening. “And she’s mine.”
Sacred Vow Page 16
