17. Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Coming to, I crack my neck, feeling a warm body pressed snugly into mine. I don't panic. I smile because I know I have my babydoll back in my arms where she belongs and where she's going to stay.

Strumming my fingers through her hair, I don't want to leave the comfort of this bed, even if she laid in it with Creed night's prior. She shifts slightly and traces the tattoos on my arm.

"Missed this," I tell her, meaning it. Only been apart a little over a week and it seemed like a lifetime too long.

"Me too." Her lips press to my neck. "I'll probably check on a flight after breakfast."

"What for?"

"To get back home. "

"You'll ride with me."

"Did you forget the part of our conversation last night where I told you I'm having your baby?"

"Nope. Remember that part. The rest is a little fuzzy." I grin as she scowls. "I'm teasing. Besides, we're not going straight home."

"Why?"

"Taking a detour. Vegas. Making this official before you can change your mind."

"I'm not getting hitched in some quickie Vegas shindig."

"Suit yourself. We'll do it here."

"Here?"

"Good a place as any."

"Oh no," Ember mumbles, capping a hand to her mouth.

I roll out from under her and dash for the small trash can from the bathroom, making it back just in time for her to vomit up yellow spit while I attempt to hold both her hair and the can while completely naked.

My head feels shit, but I'm damn happy. I've got my woman. Even if she's puking, she's wearing my ring, and her belly has my baby planted in it.

"Knock. Knock." The door swings open and Andi's wide-eyed stare meets mine. "Sorry. I wanted to check on Ember." She covers her eyes. "I'll give you guys a minute."

"Next time, wait for someone to tell you to enter." I shake my head as she shuts the door.

"Can you get your dick out of my face?" Ember wipes her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Yeah. Sorry." I put the can down. "I'll see if my clothes are dry."

"Good idea."

I leave Ember to talk to her friend and thankfully my clothes are only a little damp. I can't hear a damn thing they are saying, so I take a quick shower, get dressed, and look for a toothbrush. My mouth tastes like ass and probably smells like it, too.

Need to track down Holy and see if he can perform the ceremony here or if I gotta get Big Daddy's chaplain, Soulless, to do it.

When I leave the bathroom, Andi is gone and Ember's color is returning to her cheeks. "Better?"

"Andi has some stuff for nausea that is safe to take while pregnant and she gave me some prenatal vitamins to take until we find a doctor back home."

"Even more reason to marry me."

"Why? Are you secretly a doctor?"

"No, but I get good health insurance through the fire department."

"Damn. You caught me. That's the only reason I'm agreeing to this. "

"And here I thought you simply wanted me for my body."

"That too."

"Oh yeah?"

"Mhmm." I move in for a kiss, and she presses her fingers to my lips. "Hold that thought. I need to brush my teeth."

"I've been a week without this mouth. I'm not waiting, babydoll." I claim my woman's pouty lips and get a taste of puke that changes my mind. I pull away and she laughs.

"Told you."

"Yeah, okay. See to that breath of yours and I'll go rustle us up some grub. Don't go anywhere."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"I'd track you down before you got too far."

"No doubt. I'll meet you downstairs in twenty. I need a shower."

"Or I could stay here and wash you."

"Go."

"I'm going."

"This," she motions between us, "doesn't look like you're going anywhere."

"My breakfast is here."

"Stop it. I'm going to shower, and you are going to find me something to eat that won't upset my stomach."

"See you got your head out of your ass," Prodigy tells me as Zoe gushes with Ember over the engagement ring adorning her finger.

"Something like that."

"What the fuck?" he mutters under his breath. "Is that who I think it is?"

I glance in the direction he's staring, seeing Dirty Diana and wondering who her victim is this year. The cunt sinks her claws into a different biker at every rally. I can't fight the smile that spreads over my face at the sight of an old friend I thought for sure was dead. Figured Kingpin had killed Hallow when he went off the radar.

His gaze catches mine and he signals me over. "Be right back. Don't let my woman stray too damn far," I tell Prodigy. "You son of a bitch." I go in for a hug, not giving a damn that doing so could land my ass in some serious hot water if the wrong prying eyes realize who he is. "You've been busy." I take in his new road name. Maverick and the fact that he now belongs to the Road Monsters. "Where the hell have you been hiding?"

"Can't talk here. Too many eyes and ears."

"Right. But Dirty Diana?" I chuckle. "What? You need a new motorcycle or some shit?" I laugh, knowing he's in on the joke. The fat bitch paid for my first set of wheels. She's still up to the same old shit. Some things never fucking change.

He shrugs. "You know how it is."

"Hey, Smoke," she greets me, licking her lips, curling her fake red nails tightly around Hallow or, I guess, I should say, Maverick's bicep.

"Diana."

"How's the bike holding up?"

"Traded it in. Upgraded."

"I can see that." She sizes Ember up as she struts over to me. My babydoll puts that whore to shame in her short shorts with holes in the pockets and black tank top that molds around the curves of her breasts and hips. Her long dark hair styled in a braid over her left shoulder. No makeup. All natural and drop dead gorgeous.

"Don't be a stranger," I tell Maverick, avoiding eye contact with Diana. Don't want her getting any ideas and seeing my good manners as an invitation.

Maverick shoots me a chin lift as they move off to mingle.

"Who was that?" Ember questions.

"A damn ghost," I tell her, knowing she has no clue what the hell I'm talking about.

"Do you know that woman? She keeps looking at me. "

"More like who doesn't know her. Let's just say she gets around."

"Hmm."

I hate the suspicious expression on her face. I can sense the gears in her head turning while she's trying to work out how I know the bitch.

"Gotta ignore her, babydoll. You know the type. Getting saddled with the cunt is a punishment."

"What'd he do then?"

"If I told you, we'd be here all damn day."

"If you don't tell me, I'll find out from someone else."

"Not here."

"Why?"

"She's trouble and not the good kind."

"There's a good kind of trouble?"

"Yeah, like sweet little virgins walking into the Devil's Playground and getting mistaken for a bunny by a big bad wolf like me." I grin as she rolls her eyes.

"Ha. Ha. Think you're cute, don't you?"

"So I've been told."

"I'd beg to differ."

"You saying I'm ugly?

"You're alright I guess."

"Just all right?"

"Decent enough. "

"No bag over my head, then?"

"No. I'll close my eyes, though."

"No, you won't. You'll look right at me when I make you come."

"That's if you can do the job."

"You doubting my skills?"

"You're the one who couldn't get it up last night."

"That was the liquor and besides, I got it up enough to knock you up."

"I don't know if I can marry you without further testing the goods. Have to make sure the equipment meets my standards."

"All right. Sign me up for an inspection."

"I'll pencil you in."

"Sonner rather than later. Might need a tuneup."

"I'll see what's available. Gotta check my calendar."

"Stop playing and kiss me." I pull her in close and claim her mouth.