Chapter 8 Bodie

D ecember 21 st —

Stepping into the kitchen, I headed for the fridge to grab a beer but stopped when I saw my woman and her delicious ass as she bent over, pulling a dish out of the oven.

“Sasha, Baby, what you doin’?”

She glanced over her shoulder at me, shaking her head as she placed a couple of pans of lasagna on the stove. “Cooking a few meals for Grim and Trish. They’re going to be so tired once they’re home with Colter. I figured I’d help out so they don’t have to worry about meals for a few weeks.” She slid off her mitts after placing both pans on the burners to cool. “You remember how it was when we first came home after Mavy was born. We were so clueless,” she laughed.

“I do,” I laughed, sliding close enough to wrap my arms around her. “But I’m thinkin’ more about the part where I got you knocked up.”

“Uh-huh.”

“What?” I asked, feigning ignorance. “It’s your fault.”

She snorted. “How is that? I don’t have a dick.”

“Babe, your curves are pure sin, and your pussy is fucking magic.”

A giggle escaped from her softly parted lips. “It didn’t feel like magic when I had to push out Maverick.”

I shivered. “Let’s not focus on the painful aspect. I’m here to ensure all you feel is pleasure.”

She smacked my arm. “You’re in a playful mood. What’s going on?”

I shrugged. “Club business.”

Her brow arched. “No. I bet this has something to do with Rael, the mysterious presents he won’t stop talking about, and the lesson everyone wants to teach his stubborn, annoying, but loveable ass.”

Damn. She called it exactly as she saw it. My woman was rarely, if ever, wrong. Of course, I pretended I didn’t know where she came up with it since it was my turn to prank our S.A.A. next. I had plans for him and couldn’t wait to get started.

Mavy chose that moment to rush into the kitchen, slamming into my legs. “Daddy!”

Saved by a three-year-old. Nice , my Reaper chuckled.

“Hey, my little Buddoo.”

Mavy loved to call me his buddy, but he said the word slightly differently. I loved his variation.

“I wanna sing Hippo.”

Ah. Maverick had grown obsessed with the song “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.” He listened to it on repeat, giggling at his stuffed animals as he arranged them on his bed, acting like he was Santa pulling a sleigh.

Of course, I indulged him and found antlers for his bears. We had spent the last few weeks watching all the classic Christmas movies for kids, and he absolutely loved Rudolph. Funny enough, the abominable snowman never scared him. He just smiled at it, even when it gnashed its teeth on screen.

I had a feeling my Reaper had something to do with it. His pride and affection for my son made him fiercely protective. Whenever Mavy had a bad dream, he often woke me before I had a chance to rouse myself. I bet he found a way to explain the scary monster in Rudolph without scaring Maverick.

I didn’t mind.

“Let’s get you back in your room, and I’ll turn on Hippo for you.”

Mavy held my hand as I kissed Sasha and led him down the hall. Once I had him settled and his Hippo song playing, I secured his gate in the doorway. Mavy loved to play with all his animals; it was the safest space since Sasha was busy cooking. She’d check on him often and probably pause to play with him before his nap. It was their routine.

“Love you, Buddoo,” I announced, hugging him before I left.

“Bye, Daddy!”

I headed toward the front door but stopped in the hall when I noticed my beautiful wife leaning against the wall, arms folded across her perfect tits. “Babe. If you’re trying to get me to fuck you, just drop your panties, and I’ll slide right in.”

She pursed her lips. “Bodie Whitman.”

Shit. “Honey, I’ve got to get to church.” Well, I did have church later in the afternoon, but not yet. I had to fuck with Rael first, and there was plenty of time for that.

“What are you going to do?”

Damn. Why did she always have to call me on my shit? “My gorgeous, intelligent, sexy as fuck wife,” I began.

“Bodie,” she warned.

“Everything is good, Babe. Real good. I swear.” That was the truth. So what if it wasn’t the entire truth? A little lie of omission wasn’t hurtin’ no one.

Just Rael , my Reaper, reminded me with a chuckle.

My lips almost twitched as I held back a laugh.

“I see that gleam in your eye, Bodie. It means trouble.”

I slapped a hand over my heart. “Never, Babe.”

She sighed. “Don’t be late for dinner.”

I grinned so damn wide my cheeks hurt. She just gave me the equivalent of a free pass. “You’re my fucking air, Sasha.”

Her pretty smile almost made me want to bend her over and make her come before I left. But shit, I had to go. “My air, too,” she breathed. “Always.”

I leaned in and kissed her, pushing enough promise into it that she’d know what I planned for later. “Do me a favor?”

“What?”

“Skip the panties. Give me unlimited access later. After dinner, I’m havin’ you for dessert.”

She shivered. “Bodie.”

Yeah, she was sayin’ my name a hell of a lot softer now than a few minutes ago. “No panties.”

Her cheeks grew pink, and I loved that I could still get that reaction from her. “Okay.”

“Can’t wait to taste you and that lasagna.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“It’s a date.”

I left the house, meeting Waith outside as he stood on my driveway.

“You ready?” he asked as he flicked ash from one of his Marlboro Reds. He’d been tryin’ to quit but he couldn’t seem to stop completely.

There were a few brothers lookin’ to make healthier choices. Different things motivated each of us but our ol’ ladies and their concern for our health topped the list.

I joined him on my driveway, staring at the quiet street. Since we moved in, nobody fucked around in this neighborhood. I felt safe leaving Sasha and my son. Who’d be stupid enough to mess around where half the houses belonged to a motorcycle club and their families? “Yep. Where are we ridin’?”

“Not far. I wanna pick something up.”

When your club brother said something that vague, it meant we had to stay vigilant. Since this little detour didn’t involve club business or a decree from Grim, I knew there wasn’t a reason to be concerned. Either way, I had his back and nodded.

“Let’s roll out.”

“I’VE HAD ENOUGH,” I complained to Nylah, throwing a paper towel in the trash after I dried off my hands. “Yesterday, I had to pull Vaseline layered plastic wrap off my fucking Harley. Last week, grease was smeared all over my riding goggles. When I took them off, I looked like a goddamn raccoon,” I seethed. “This is getting fucked, Beloved.”

She nodded and agreed with me. “I know.”

“I can’t tell who the hell is messing with me. Chrome ain’t heard shit either. If it’s a member of the club, they’re holding onto that secret pretty damn tight.”

“Rael?”

“Yeah?” I asked, swallowing my irritation. It wasn’t aimed at my beautiful ol’ lady.

“Why don’t you wait around and see who it is?”

Huh. Well, I could. “It’s not a bad idea.”

“Right? Whoever is doing this carefully plans when to drop off the presents. What if you don’t leave and you keep watch?”

“From the porch? They’ll see me,” I reminded her.

“Not if you find a place where they won’t notice you. Maybe Scythe can help.”

I felt his presence and decided to shake things up a bit. “I’m going to ride to The Crossroads and let them think I’m gone. Then I’ll take one of the shop SUVs and double back.”

“That’s a good plan. I’ll keep the boys in the living room with me today. We’ve been planning some holiday arts and crafts.”

“You’re a wonderful mother,” I praised her, gathering my woman close as my hand slid around her back, pressing her into my chest. “I love you, my Beloved.”

“You’re so good to me.” Her lips met mine as I lowered my head. “Now, find out who’s leaving those gifts.”

And that was exactly what I fucking did. I rode to the clubhouse, parked my Harley, and walked inside, making a point to show that I’d arrived. Grim could tell I had something brewin’ in my head, but he didn’t stop me. He ticked his chin my way before I snuck out, grabbing the keys for one of the black company SUVs inside the shop without anyone noticing.

By the time I made it back to my house, I knew I’d gotten lucky because there wasn’t a gift waiting on my porch. Good.

My bike was safe, and my family was tucked inside, gathered around the coffee table as Nylah helped Gavin and Gage make holiday presents for the other club kids. Everything felt normal except for the sudden appearance of two familiar Reapers.

Son of a bitch! I knew it couldn’t be only one of my club brothers fucking with me.

I stayed hidden around the side of my house as Bodie and Wraith walked toward the front. They must have stashed their bikes where I couldn’t see them with my cameras.

“You sure he’s not around?” Wraith asked, scanning the street. “I can sense his Reaper.”

“Yeah. Shadow said he saw Rael in the bar about fifteen minutes ago. Maybe it’s”

Wraith nodded. “Let’s do this.”

Bodie pulled notepads from his pocket and handed a stack to Wraith. I watched as they approached my porch and began drawing on the paper, peeling off their designs and slapping the artwork onto my wooden railing and the supporting beams.

What the fuck did they draw? I crept closer, holding my secret weapon in my hand. Before leaving my house earlier, I stashed an air horn in the garage. I had retrieved it when I returned home, and now I had it with me, ready to use on these fuckers.

Wraith and Bodie seemed pleased with themselves. They snickered at their genius idea, unaware I had started creeping closer. I noticed two things as I got within distance to use the horn. First, those assholes drew cocks with hairy balls on the sticky notes. Dozens of dicks covered my front porch. Two, they weren’t done. Cans of Christmas flocking pointed toward my windows.

They must pay for this , Scythe snarled. We are not dicks!

I agreed with him and decided to rush to the house, pressing down on the air horn as it blared. The loud, piercing sound surprised Wraith and Bodie as they both jolted.

“I got you, motherfuckers!” I shouted.

Busted.