DEVIANT (Iron Kings MC, #3)
Page 19
I knew that look too well.
I eased her back, holding her hands between us. "You know if you turn it on, we're gonna be fucking hard and dirty on the nearest flat surface."
"And?" she teased. "Sounds delicious to me."
"Delicious, huh?" I teased her back.
"Yes," she said, with a little giggle.
"Well, save all that heat for a couple of hours from now, when everybody has gone home." I ran my gaze over her. She was rocking a pair of skin-tight black jeans, an off-the-shoulder flowy top and a pair of designer fuck-me heels. Stunning. My dick was getting hard just at the sight of her. This wasn't the time and place. I needed to take it down. I had something coming up that I needed to be completely focused for.
"Sky, can I—oh!" a voice came from the open kitchen door.
We pulled apart and turned to see Dani standing there. "So sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt anything. I'll just go."
"It's all good," I told her. "What's up?"
Her gaze went to Sky and she held up a tablet. "I can take those measurements now, if you want."
Sky's eyes lit up. "That would be great. I can't wait to get started on it."
Dani led her out and gave me a discreet wink before they left the kitchen. As far as Sky knew, it was a coincidence that Dani had picked now to take all the specs for the addition that Sky wanted added on to the house, a fancy-ass sunroom. I was fine with the way our three-bedroom house was, but Sky liked a higher level of luxury. All good with me, as long as she was happy.
We were lucky as fuck that we'd managed to find a house in such a perfect location, pretty much an equal distance from the club and her home base at Excite. Instead of moving into her condo located right in the center of the City of Landon, we'd both wanted a fresh place, one where we could begin our shared life together. It had been an adjustment getting used to not living in Ridgefield, just as I knew it was for her leaving the condo she'd lived in for so long.
But things were different now. We were different, closer, more in sync. Settling down in this brand-new home reflected that.
Heavy footsteps had me looking up to see Spartan strolling in. "How you doing?"
"A little nervous. It's almost time."
"You got this. You're ready," he assured me.
I nodded. "Yeah."
The sound of the doorbell cut through our conversation. I frowned, wondering aloud, "Who's that? Everybody we know is here."
He tensed, moving to alert-mode.
I headed on out of the kitchen, Spartan following, having my back.
Walking through the living room, I smiled at the sight of everyone chilling and having a good time. Matt was talking with Anarchy and laughing wholeheartedly at something he'd said. Spartan's baby girl, Ashley, was in a deep conversation with Jesse, Wraith looking on as he stuffed his face with some of the appetizers. All my club brothers were there, taking in my new place. A couple of them were talking to Christina, who'd let Wrecker hold Rosie. All of the boys were enamored with her, trying to make her laugh.
When they saw me cutting through the room toward the front door with Spartan at my back, I saw them stiffen, their eyes darting to the door, watching intently. That was the brotherhood that we shared, through and through. Always watching out for each other. No matter what.
I shot a glance through the peephole and got one hell of a surprise.
"Shit," I exclaimed, as I drew in a breath, then hauled open the door.
"Mom?"
I felt Spartan fall back and head back into the party area, now he knew there was no threat.
A genuine smile lit her face. "Luke."
"What are you—"
She cut me off, telling me quickly. "Matt mentioned that you were having a housewarming."
So, he was in touch with her again then? I'd told him what she'd done to help me at the garden party, about her bid to divorce Dad and change her life. He'd said he'd consider talking to her and telling her about Rosie. But I hadn't heard anything about it since, assuming he'd needed more time. Apparently not.
"You came here to see him then?"
"No. I mean, yes. Both of you." Emotion flooded her as she uttered, "I wanted to see my boys." Hesitantly and more than just a little nervously, she added, "If that's okay. I know it's presumptuous and rude to just show up without so much as a call, but I… I was out driving and I found myself heading here."
"Mom," I spoke, cutting through her anxious rambling. Her gaze snapped to mine. "Are you all right? Did something happen?"
"I'm separated… we are… me and your father."
Huh. She'd actually done it. She'd left him. And now she was alone. She'd come here to make amends, to fix everything that'd been broken while she'd lived a life of subjugation under that asshole's thumb.
I smiled. "Come on in, Mom."
The relief in her eyes was painful to witness. "Thank you."
As I brought her into the house, she hesitated, when all eyes shifted to her.
I took her arm and led her forward. "We're all family here," I told her.
She nodded and drew in a calming breath.
I started introducing her to everyone.
Anastacia Reilly was more than used to being social and she fell into it within a few moments, shaking hands and striking up introductory conversations with my club brothers.
As I was halfway through the greetings, a gentle pull on my left leg had me stopping short and looking down to see Rosie trying to get my attention.
I grinned. "Hey, kiddo," I said, hauling her up onto my hip.
Christina was right there a moment later, smiling at the sight of me with my niece. I gestured to Mom and she nodded her agreement.
"Mom," I called.
She spun around and her breath caught in her throat as her gaze landed on Rosie.
Matt was beside me in the next second. "Mom, this is Rosie, your granddaughter."
"Oh my God," Mom breathed. "She's a beauty." She took a step forward, clearly wanting to reach out to Rosie. But she held off, looking to Matt and Christina for the go ahead.
It was upsetting to see the hesitancy, that something like that existed at all between granddaughter and grandmother, between family. Things were different now though. Mom was different and trying hard. She was looking to make amends, desperate for our love. She'd changed her life in an attempt to make it a reality.
Knowing this was between her, Matt and Christina, I gave Rosie a kiss on the cheek, and handed her to Christina. Stepping back, I watched as Christina and Matt interacted with Mom.
It took a while, but eventually things moved beyond mere civility and they relaxed in each other's company.
"Wow," a voice came from behind me.
I turned to see Sky watching on as I was.
"I know," I said, as Mom reached out to Rosie and was met with her grasping her finger in her tiny little hand.
"I guess miracles do exist."
"You've got no idea," I said, giving her a kiss on the top of her head.
"Well, that was loaded. What does that mean?"
"You'll see soon enough," I told her cryptically.
I caught Spartan's eye over on the other side of the room and he leapt into action, doing what we'd arranged and dimming the lights.
It had everyone's conversations coming to a sudden halt. Surprised whispers filled the room.
"What's going on?" Sky asked.
I couldn't believe it was finally time.
I couldn't believe I'd actually pulled off the impossible—getting something past Skylar Wright. She was always on the ball, so I'd had to tread extremely carefully in order to pull this off without her finding out about it beforehand.
But I'd done it and as I dropped to one knee right in the middle of the living room in front of everybody we knew and loved, the excitement in her eyes was worth every second of the effort. Hell, she was worth everything.
I pulled out the ring from the front pocket of my jeans and held it out to her.
&
nbsp; "Sky, I love you. We know each other inside out. We get each other on every level. That kind of connection is so hard to find, so incredibly rare. Just like you. You're one of a kind. My one of a kind. I've never felt this way about anybody before. Hell, I've never wanted to settle down with anyone. There was a time when I couldn't imagine it for the life of me. But you, you fly in the face of everything I thought I knew. This life we're building together here, I don't want it to end. I want you by my side for the rest of our lives." I reached out and took her hand. "Skylar Wright, will you be my wife?"
The room went stone-cold silent.
Time seemed to stretch as I waited with bated breath for her answer.
My mind stalled, my only focus on her.
And then a huge smile spread over her face. Her eyes welled with tears.
She dropped to her knees beside me and kissed our joined hands. "Of course," she choked out. "Yes, Luke. I love you so much!"
I slid the ring onto her finger, then threw my arms around her, hauling us both to our feet in the process.
Cheers erupted all around us.
It reflected the euphoria I was feeling. After everything we'd been through, all our reservations, all the obstacles standing in our way, we'd made it.
I tightened my hold around her and whispered in her ear so she could hear me over the cheers and wolf-whistling flooding the room, "Is the party perfect enough now?"
"Perfect doesn't quite cut it." Eyes full of love looked up at me. "I really didn't see this coming. I had no idea you were going to do this tonight. You always have the ability to surprise me."
"Right back at you."
She chuckled. "Life together certainly won't ever be boring, will it?"
"Never," I vowed.
"So, forever, huh?"
"That's right."
"Mmm. I like it. I like it a lot."
"I'm sorry it was such a long time coming."
She reached up and kissed my cheek. "I wouldn't change any of it. Even the bad. All of it led us here." Gazing at her diamond ring, she breathed in wonder, "To forever."
I smiled. "Forever."
Next Book in Iron Kings MC
ANARCHY
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STEEL TITANS MC
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IRON KINGS MC
WRAITH
SPARTAN
DEVIANT
ANARCHY
BLACK THORNS MC
RECKLESS
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BLAMELESS
HEARTLESS
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RIDING ROUGH
RIDING WRONG
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Succumb to a Bad Boy.
Franca writes stories about bad-boy alpha males and the tough women who turn their worlds upside down.
She is best known for her motorcycle romance series, BLACK THORNS MC.
When she's not writing, Franca enjoys watching action movies and binging on great TV series. Spending time with her lovable lab, hiking, and listening to hard rock music, are her passions.
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