by River Savage
“What cobwebs?” I ask, taking a steady breath. I’m ready to do whatever I need to do in order to reclaim my man.
“From your vagina, Kadence.”
I laugh at her forwardness but don’t argue, because I agree. I need this. I need to let go, to help us get back to where we were.
“Okay, let’s do this.” I nod, ready for Holly’s expertise.
“Good. Now show me this lingerie.” She moves back to the bed with her own smile on her face. “I want to see boob. Lots of boob.” Her laugh almost wakes X, and still I don’t argue. I follow her orders, praying her confidence pays off.
Dear God, it better. I have a date with my husband.
With Nix Knight, President of the Knights Rebels.
God, I’ve missed that man. I think I should stop trying to push him off the cliff.
***
“Hey, baby,” Nix whispers as he climbs in bed behind me. “Did you get my text?”
“Yeah,” I yawn, turning to face him. “What time is it?”
“Just after two.”
“Everything okay?”
“Fuckin’ shit goin’ down. Club business.”
“Anything I need to know?” I ask, knowing he hates talking shop, but he will share if he thinks I need to know.
“Beau brought a woman and kid to the clubhouse yesterday.” He rests his head back against the headboard.
“One of his pickups?”
“Yeah, only this one belongs to another club.”
“What other club?”
“The Warriors.”
“Shit.” The Warriors are a rival club, one the Knights have always had trouble with. They struck a truce last year and now this shit? This isn’t good at all.
“Yeah,” he sighs. “Gotta shit storm brewing. I can feel it.”
“What was he thinking?”
“He wasn’t. Says he had the opportunity to save her, so he took it.”
“So, what now?” Panic rises in my chest. King and his men might have come to a truce with Nix and the Rebels, but you mess with them, a truce means nothing.
“We wait. Nothing connects us to her. Got her set up at the safe house,” He assures me, pulling me into his body. “I do need you to get some baby shit together though.”
“Okay. I’ll ask Holly, too.” I rest my head against his chest.
“Good, Jesse is gonna head up tomorrow.”
“Is this bad, Nix? Should I be worried?” I close my eyes, waiting to hear his response.
“You have nothing to worry about. King and I are good. As long as we keep her hidden, it’s not gonna come back to us.”
“I don’t like this, Nix.”
“I know, but trust I got this. Not gonna let anythin’ happen to you, okay?”
Trust. That trust word again. The first step at getting back to where we were.
“I trust you, Nix.”
“Good. Now go back to sleep. We have a hot date tomorrow.” I smile into his chest. Yes, a hot date. How could I forget?
“I’m very excited,” I yawn, shifting back into a good position.
“You should be,” he jokes, and I chuckle. “Don’t worry, babe. I got you.” He pulls me closer to his front.
“You always have me,” I whisper, feeling myself fall into the dark bliss.
“Never not gonna have you, Kadence. Would fuckin’ die before I didn’t have you. Now go back to sleep,” he orders again, and that small flutter of lust stirs in me.
Yes, that trust, it’s coming back.
CHAPTER NINE
Nix
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I slam the phone down the next afternoon and walk into the hall, kicking the first thing I see—a fuckin’ stool.
“What’s up your ass now?” Jesse asks from the sofa, sitting up from the racket. He just got back to the clubhouse from his trip to Beau, dropping the baby supplies off to the safe house.
“Fuckin’ Red is sick. Just cancelled on me.”
“Cancelled what?” Jesse asks.
“Shit. What about Kadence’s parents?” Brooks joins the conversation, walking out from behind the bar.
“They’re away for the weekend,” I answer, ignoring Jesse.
Fuck.
My fist slams down on the bar in frustration.
“What’s got your panties in a twist?” Jesse moves off the sofa and comes to stand by me.
“There’s always—” Brooks’ nods to Jesse.
“Fuck, no.” I watch as Jesse tries to figure out what we’re talking about.
“He’s your only hope,” Brooks pushes.
“Someone fucking tell me what is happening,” Jesse interrupts again, this time getting Brooks’ attention.
“Nix needs a sitter. You’re it.” Brooks slaps Jesse on the back and walks back to the bar.
“So, you finally need me,” he says, no doubt ready to rub it in.
“No,” I repeat, not in the mood for Jesse’s shit.
“Why not?” He folds his arms across his chest and cocks a brow.
“Yeah, why not? You’re desperate. Everyone’s out or busy,” Brooks repeats Jesse’s question, his grin pissing me off. Fuck, he’s right, and the last thing I want to do is cancel on Kadence.
“Fuck, fine. Can you watch the kids, Jesse?” I ask, watching his shit-eating grin spread wide.
“Ask nicer.”
“Fuck you, Jesse.”
He doesn’t respond, just waits quietly while I rack my brain thinking who else can watch them, but I’ve got nothing. Fuck.
“Fine. Jesse, can you please watch Low and Z?” I practically have to bite the inside of my cheek when asking.
“I have a date, but—” he shrugs, but I stop him from going on.
“No.”
“You didn’t let me finish.”
“You’re not fucking some whore on my sofa as my kids sleep upstairs.” He watches me carefully. I know he’s fucking with me, but this week has been fucking hell and I need this night with Kadence.
“Fine. I’ll do it for twenty an hour.”
“Fuck off.” I hit him over the head before walking away. “Be at my house at six. Don’t be fuckin’ late,” I warn, heading back into my office. Sometimes I really fucking wonder about the asshole.
“You owe me,” he calls out after me.
“Call it even after the shit you bring me daily.” He doesn’t respond. He gets it.
“Nix, I left the important info on your desk,” Brooks adds before I turn the corner.
“Info?” I look back, confused as hell. He raises his brows, waiting for me to get it. Oh, shit.
“Yep, thanks. Got it.” I nod, walking back into my office.
“I want dinner too,” Jesse calls out one more demand, but instead of replying, I slam my door. It’s probably the worst idea to ask Jesse to watch the kids. Kadence might flip, or she might not. I’ll probably kill him before he even gets to the house anyway.
***
“Ten minutes, Kadence, or we’re gonna be late,” I yell from the bottom of the stairs later that night.
“I don’t know much about dating, since I’m only eleven, but I don’t think you should do that,” Z says to the TV screen as he plays one of his Xbox games with Jesse.
“Yeah, I’m with you there, bud.” Jesse fist bumps Z while Low sits beside them in her walker.
I ignore my son’s advice ‘cause he’s probably right, and decide to give Jesse one more warning. “You better not fuck this up, Jesse.”
“Nix, language,” Kadence reprimands me.
I turn and watch her take the last few steps down the stairs. “Jesus.” I clear my throat and turn, taking a good look. She’s wearing a pair of black jeans, practically painted on, and an off-the-shoulder top that hugs her tits and shows off her collarbones. Her hair is down in soft curls, just the way I fucking love it.
“Jesus, Joseph, and doggy-style Mary.” Jesse whistles from the sofa.
“Jesse!” Kadence scolds, breaking me from my stare.<
br />
“What? I was just giving Nix some words. He looks lost.”
“The kids.” Her eyes bug out, worried Z might have been listening but he’s too focused on the game to pay attention, missing out on the adult conversation.
“I got them, Kadence, all good.” Jesse smiles his stupid smile and goes back to the game. She looks back to me, but I’m still stuck in the moment, relishing what a fucking knockout my wife is.
“You okay?” she asks, picking up her purse.
“Yeah. Just not sure if I’m going to be able to handle you on the back of my bike.”
“We’re taking the bike?” Her voice sounds excited, shocked even.
“Yeah, that okay?”
“It's great.” She smiles and my gut twists. Jesus.
“You remember what I told you, Jesse?” She walks toward Low to say goodbye.
“Yep, got it. You do know I’m a decorated ex-marine, firefighter and badass biker. I got this, sweetheart.”
“I know, I know.” She bends down and kisses Low. I was surprised by her reaction when I told her Red pulled out and Jesse was in. She didn’t seem too worried. I think she likes Jesse more than me some days.
“Okay, let’s go.” She moves to Z, kissing him briefly before coming back to me.
“Call us if you need anything.” I nod to Jesse.
“I got it. Go.”
“Yeah, Dad, go,” Z repeats.
We walk out to my bike in silence. The only sound in the air is Kadence’s fuck-me heels clicking on the pavement.
“You okay?” I ask when I place the helmet on her head.
“Yeah.” She nods but I can see a small amount of unease in her.
“You look fuckin’ beautiful.” I kiss her hard and her hands come around my waist, pulling me closer.
“You look sexy.” She bites at my lip, sending pain from my mouth straight to my dick.
Fuck, I forgot about the fucking pill. “You ready?” I cut the kiss short, pulling back to help her on my bike.
“Where we going?”
“Got us a table at Moda.”
“You got a table at Moda?” Shock laces her voice as a smile graces her face. I can’t blame her for being shocked. A man like me, eating at fucking Moda. I wouldn’t normally, but my woman deserves a special night out, so I’ll eat at the stupid over-priced place.
“Yeah, baby.” I place a kiss on her lips and tap her helmet. She doesn’t reply. The huge grin is enough to tell me I did good.
“Do you think the kids will be okay?’ She looks back at the house. I don’t have to see her face to know she’s freaking a little.
“Yeah, baby. You know I give Jesse shit, but I trust him with my life.”
“Yeah, me too.” She turns back and gives me one of her smiles.
“Let’s go.” I straddle the bike in front of her, reaching my arm back to move her closer.
“Is it weird that I’m nervous?” she whispers close to my ear. I turn my body to face her. Her worries are my worries. Her nerves are mine.
“Baby, you haven’t been on the back of my bike in over a year. I’d say it’s normal.” I try to reassure her, but my words do the opposite.
“Has it been that long?”
“Yeah,” I nod, hating the truth of that one word.
“Damn.” She looks down at her hands. I twist further around, forcing her chin up with my finger.
“There’s been a lot of things we haven’t done this year, baby, and that’s okay. We don’t have to rush. We’ve got forever.” I lean in and kiss her.
“I just wish our journey was different.” She doesn’t look me in the eyes, and it guts me that she thinks that.
“It might have been a tough year, Kadence, but it’s been the best one of my life. You gave me Low, gave Z a mom, and made us a family again. We might have lost ourselves along the way, but we’re findin’ those people again, and I don’t think anythin’ could take that away.”
Her eyes shine with unshed tears so I kiss her again, stopping with the mushy shit.
“Let’s go.” I smile, turn back and start the bike. The engine roars to life as Kadence’s fingers dig into my cut and I’m thrown back to the first night I had her on the back of my bike. The Kadence from that night, only slightly resembles the woman now sitting behind me, but I don’t let it get to me. Instead, I focus on giving my wife one hell of a date. Later, I will worry about bringing the sassy, fiery woman back to me.
***
“What do you mean you don’t have me down?” My voice rises and Kadence’s grip in my hand gets tighter.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have your reservation here, sir.” The young blonde standing in front of me tells me for the second time.
“Well, I called and booked it. So I suggest you find a table for my wife and me. Now,” I grind out as she nods carefully.
“Give me a moment, sir.” She turns and leaves us standing there.
We walked in two minutes ago, after a quick detour to the clubhouse to pick up the pill Brooks left me. I didn’t tell Kadence what I was doing. She waited outside while I raced in to get it. I didn’t ask Brooks when to take it, so instead of calling him, I quickly googled it on my phone. Some people said to take it a few hours before you planned on needing it, so I quickly slipped it down without any water and met Kadence at the front.
“It’s okay, Nix. We don’t have to eat here.” She pulls on my arm, but I don’t give a shit what the waitress is saying. I booked it.
“Yes, we do. I fuckin’ booked it.” I keep my eye on the girl as she moves through the restaurant back to us.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t help you.”
My fist comes down on the front desk causing her to step back.
“Damn it,” I curse, watching a man walk forward.
“I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“This is bullshit,” I begin, but Kadence steps in between me and the fucking punk.
“Let’s go, baby.”
“Kadence.”
“No, let’s go to the bar. It will be like our first date.”
“You kicked me in the balls our first date, baby,” I remind her, still eyeing off the fucker who thinks he’s tough.
“Well, if you don’t move your ass from here, I’ll kick you again.”
I smirk at her sass. “You sure?” I look down at her to get a read on what she’s thinking.
“Please, it will be fun,” she responds, so I don’t argue. I take her hand and walk out. The club bar is only a block down on Main, so we decide to walk.
“You always act like this on a date?” she jokes, nestling closer to me under the warmth of my arm.
“Only with girls I like.” I try to be smooth and it gets me an eye roll. My favorite kind.
“You really want to eat here?” I ask again, when we get to the front door.
“Yesss.” She drags it out and pulls me inside.
The bar is busy. The table we sit at every time we come in is occupied, but as soon as Hunter sees us, he clears them out.
“Hunter doesn’t have a date tonight?” Kadence asks, sliding into the booth.
“Don’t give a fuck if Hunter has a date.” I slide in after her. She shakes her head but doesn’t reply.
“So not what I was expecting when I wanted to take you out.” I lean down and run my nose along her hairline.
“I think this place is fine, Nix.”
I nod to Hunter as he brings us both our usual drinks and a menu.
“You hungry?” she asks, looking over the menu. I don’t know why she bothers. She orders the same thing every time we come.
“Starved.” My hand moves down to her thigh and my cock stirs in my jeans. This is what I miss, just being with each other. Comfortable and in the moment.
“You keep groping me and you’ll end up like the first time we met here,” she sasses, and I can’t help but grin.
“You mean in my bed, with your pussy milking my cock?” The hiss of her breath s
tirs my dick, and I hold in the groan at seeing her nostrils flare. Fuck, this woman has no idea what she does to me.
“No, I meant the scene where you got kneed in the balls.” She smirks when the waitress comes to take our order. I remember that night clearly. The night I fell in love with my wife. I don’t know if it was the knee to my balls, or the way I watched her eyes light up after going on her first ride on the back of my bike. I knew that night, when I held her in my arms, I was going to love her. I knew then it wouldn’t be easy. With a woman like Kadence, you wouldn’t want love to be easy. I knew going in it would be fierce, raw, and by fucking God, this woman has given me everything and then more.
“I fuckin’ love you. Do you know that?” I stop our playful banter and turn serious on her. “You still ruin me, woman, fuckin’ sittin’ here with your sexy self. I still can’t believe you’re mine, you know that? You’re fuckin’ mine.”
“Stop it.” She smiles but it’s an awkward one, as if the compliment makes her uncomfortable.
“I know we have a long way to go, baby, fuck I do. But I’m tellin’ you now, your man tells you you’re sexy, you don’t fuckin’ smile like you don’t believe it. You hear me?” The air between us changes, like a switch has been flipped, and her eyes come back to life. And fuck me if it ain’t the most amazing fucking thing I’ve ever seen. “You do that shit again, I’ll fuckin’ bend you over the nearest surface and spank your hot little ass. You hear me?” I watch as her lips quiver at my tone. “Kadence,” I push when she doesn’t answer.
“You wouldn’t dare.” She swallows and I know I have her attention. I twist my body to face her and lean into her space. “Try me.” I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing, or if I’m doing it right, but something in the air tonight tells me this is what she needs. Maybe I’m going about it the wrong way, but I’m at a point where I don’t care. This is not just what Kadence needs, but what I need.
“Let’s dance.” She breaks the moment and moves into me. I know she’s trying to escape our table, but I don’t argue or push with my previous threats, just pull her out and follow her to the dance floor. The music is slow, and normally I wouldn’t dance to this shit, but tonight is about Kadence and with the fuck-up at Moda, I’m not about to deny her.
She turns to face me and slowly begins to move.
“Don’t go all shy on me.” I pull her into me.
