“Wouldn’t expect anything less, baby. Now, go to sleep. I suspect the girls will be up with the chickens.”
Her giggles soon have me chuckling as I finally tell her what those clucking fuckers did to me. I don’t see why we can’t have fried chicken, but I suspect Esther wouldn’t allow it. Although, the thought is a good one.
As her breathing evens out, I replay the events of the day in my head, once again thankful that those two bastards will no longer be a threat to my woman. With one dead and the other now fighting off sepsis thanks to the fact that the pitchfork was old and rusty, her days of looking over her shoulder are done.
Because if by some miracle that bastard lives, well, he’s going to end up in prison where I’m sure justice will end up being served.
FOURTEEN
MARNIE
Holly and PJ, which is short for Paul Jeremiah, were in the hospital for a week, and between Esther and I, we kept Mina and Ruby occupied with endless games, crafts, and chores. Now she’s home, and thankfully, it’s just a walk across the covered breezeway to their house, which makes it easier for everyone to go back and forth between the two houses. While Rebel’s not fully back to one hundred percent yet, he’s working some of the easier jobs at the club’s businesses to take some of the load off the rest of the brother’s shoulders, leaving me, Esther, Paul, and the girls to help Holly as needed. Because of her C-section, she’s limited on the amount of weight she can lift and what she’s physically allowed to do, but thankfully, Mina and Ruby are enthralled with their baby brother and eager to help with the easier tasks, like getting diapers and wipes.
“Your house is definitely going to be noisy,” I tease as I come back into the living room from putting PJ down for a nap. Paul took the girls with him to the farmer’s market since Esther’s in canning mode and needed more squash. Or maybe it was tomatoes. Hell, at this point, I can’t keep up if I’m being totally honest.
She giggles as she reclines on the couch, an ottoman keeping her legs elevated and the blood flowing. “No kidding. But I honestly wouldn’t change it for anything. So, you and Ash, huh?” she teases.
I can’t help the blush that stains my cheeks. “Yeah. I still don’t understand how it all happened, Holly. One minute, we were dancing around the whole flirting thing, and the next, he’s telling me that I’m his and he’s mine. Is that biker lingo for something?” You’d think after all the time I’ve spent in their company, I’d know the answer to that question. I somewhat do, but I’d like to have it validated by Holly because she’s more familiar with the inner workings of the club and their linguistics.
Her eyes widen as she nods. “Um, yeah, it is. It means you’re his ol’ lady which in the biker world is pretty much the same as marriage. Except, once they claim you, it’s for life.”
“Life?” I squeak out. “So, no divorce or whatever they call it in the biker world?” In the back of my mind, I’d already sorta figured that out, but to have it confirmed has my heart pitter-pattering like a galloping horse in my chest.
She throws a pillow over her stomach to contain the jiggling as she laughs hysterically. I know how painful that is and commiserate with her to a point. “No, I’m sure there are instances when it happens, but at least for the Steel Raiders, that bond won’t break until one of you draws your last breath.”
In the grand scheme of things that’s a beautiful concept, except for one little thing that’s bothering me about it. Something I can’t help but voice out loud. “But we haven’t even had sex yet!” I exclaim. “That’s kind of important in a relationship.”
“Oh, I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about in that department when it finally happens. I bet it’s going to be explosive! Besides, he knows you’re still healing and he’s not the kind of man who’s going to push the issue. Your body suffered a major traumatic event, Marnie. I mean, you lost several organs, as well as some of your large intestine, for heaven's sake. I’ll probably be fully healed before you are if I’m being completely honest.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure how I feel about that. What if I don’t want to wait that long?” I question.
Her face grows serious as she says, “Marnie, you understand that you were knocking on death’s door, right? There’s no way Ash is going to go against what the surgeon said. If you want my opinion, I say you should just spend this time getting to know each other. It’s not about the sex all the time, it’s about the connection and y’all are building a strong foundation. Until your doctor releases you forallactivities, you might as well get used to it. I know he’s been spending the nights with you. There’s nothing wrong with taking your time, I promise.”
“Fine, fine,” I grumble. She doesn’t realize just how hot and bothered I get sleeping next to the man. He’s always respectful, and sleeps in a T-shirt and lounge pants, but I’ve woken up before him and felt his morning wood pressed against my lower back.
“It’s not going to be forever. Now, have you done the tour at the haunted house yet?” she asks.
“The adult one? Nope. Nuh-uh. Not happening,” I reply, shivering at the prospect of taking that trek through spook town.
“Why not? It looks like it’s going to be so much fun. I think the guys are going to do a trial run before it’s open to the public and I’m hoping Rebel will let me go. It’s the stairs that’ll give me a problem, but I’m positive if I take my time, I’ll be just fine.”
“I don’t like scary things,” I admit, causing her to snicker. “Especially things that jump out at you. I’m too young to add a heart attack to my health chart.”
“You’ve got to stop making me laugh,” she cries as she once again holds a pillow against her stomach. “I think this is the worst pain in the world!”
“Right? I know stuff is still doing its thing inside of me because there are tender and sore spots, but a few times I’ve been caught off guard by a sneeze or a cough and holy hell, it feels like someone cut me open all over again and rearranged my entrails,” I tell her. “And I’ve got several weeks of healing ahead of you.”
“We’re a helluva pair, aren’t we?” she asks. “You probably shouldn’t even be lifting PJ.”
“At my latest appointment with the surgeon he updated my can and can’t do outline. I’m now allowed to lift up to ten pounds,” I proudly announce. “What does he weigh, six?”
“A little less than that, he lost a few ounces after he was born, as most newborns do, but the way he’s such a piggy during his feedings, I don’t think it’ll be that way for very long.”
“He’s a beautiful baby, Holly.”
Sorrow hits me right between the eyes at the thought that I’ll never get the chance to carry a baby of my own. I think that’s why even though Ash suggested that we could get a surrogate Iwas so quick to shut him down. I’m not sure it would be the same because I wanted to go through those crazy pregnancy stages and out in left field cravings. Yes, I’d even like to suffer from the morning sickness phase, although I secretly hoped it wouldn’t last very long.
“I’m sorry, Marnie,” she quietly says.
