19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

"We doing this right here?"

"Here is as good a place as any." Ember has her arms folded over her chest, pushing her tits up out of her tank top, and all I can think about is yanking her top down and sucking her perky nipples into my mouth. Too bad for me, there's too many people around, including kids. Who the fuck brings their kids to a biker rally? They need to hire fucking sitters so I can fuck my woman where I want to when I want to. Assholes.

She clears her throat.

"Right. You know I'm not good at this whole, expressing my feelings and shit."

"You're forgetting something."

"What? "

"Bend the knee." She shoots a jaunty smile at me, and I bow my head.

"You've been watching too much Game of Thrones," I tell her, but I do what my woman wants. I go down on both knees, kneeling before her as she stares at me with her big blue eyes full of amusement. She's loving every second of this. I gather her hands in mine and stare back at her. I want her to know that I mean every word about to leave my mouth.

"You know I was married before and it's no secret that I was a piece of shit back then. Treated her wrong, and I didn't do right by you either." My ex-wife wished this shit on me. Bet she wishes she were here to witness this.

"Growing up, my grandpa. He uh. He stepped out on my grandma a lot. I'm not saying it's an excuse. It was learned behavior. We all knew. The whole family did. Why my grandmother stayed and always forgave him, I'll never know. I always told myself I'd never be like him. I lied to myself. I became the man I hated. Fuck knows why I do the things I do. Can't even blame it on old habits. I knew what I was doing was jacked up and would hurt you, and I did it anyway. I've gotta own up to that."

I take a breath. "I'm sorry that I put you through this bullshit. Hate that when you look at me that a part of you is always going to think about what I did. Kills me to know that in the back of your mind there's always going to be some type of doubt. And I have no one to blame but myself. I'm a grown man who knew better. The only way I know to make it up to you is to prove to you that I'll never fuck you over or hurt you again with changed behavior. If you'll let me. If you'll have me and let me be your man. That's all I want is to move forward and start our life together. I swore I'd never hurt you and that I'd treat you right. I broke that promise. The vow I made to myself. I was wrong, and I knew that. I'm not asking you to forget. Question is, are you going to forgive me?"

Someone whistles, breaking the tension between Ember and me as an applause erupts.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "The club's behind me, aren't they?"

"Mhmm," Ember mutters.

"Fuck me." I shake my head and go to my feet. I turn to face my brothers as they whistle, hoop, and holler. Fucking Pam.

"That was beautiful." Hound wipes a fake tear from under his eye and I take a bow.

Prez claps and Sandman doubles over, unable to hold back. "Laugh it up. Pricks." I turn back to Ember. "So, we getting married or what?"

Ember taps her chin. "Hmm, I don't know. I think you need to get on your knees again and ask me."

"Babe." My patience with this shit is thinning by the second.

"We don't have a license."

"Big Daddy has connections. As long as you have your ID, we're good to go."

"Okay. Let's do it."

"Yeah?"

"I guess I don't have anything better to do."

I lean down, getting close to her face. "You've got about two point five seconds to cut the sass and kiss me."

She closes the gap between our mouths and the catcalls start again. I flip them the bird as I reclaim what's mine. Ember's body and her heart.

Ember and I prepare to say our I dos on Big Daddy's front lawn. Nothing fancy. Just my woman and me declaring our love in front of a small audience.

Corrupt, the enforcer for the KOAMC Anarchy chapter has a cousin who works in the local clerk's office who said she'd backdate and file the marriage license on Monday and mail us a copy since we'll be back on the road headed for home come tomorrow.

Prodigy serves double duty as both best man and giving his sister away. I know he still has some reservations about whether or not we've got what it takes to make this work. We've got everything against us. Our age difference. My stupidity. Her immaturity.

At the end of the day, none of that shit matters. We're having a baby, and I plan on being by her side every damn step of the way.

My babydoll struts down the makeshift aisle in her denim cutoffs, black tank top, and boots, looking every bit as gorgeous and tempting as the first time I set my sights on her.

Soulless is a man of little words and cuts straight to the chase. "Do you Smoke take Ember to be your Ol' Lady and promise to treat her with love and respect?"

"I do."

"Do you Ember take Smoke to be your Ol' Man and promise to treat him with love and respect?"

"I do."

"Then by the power the state of California instilled in me, I pronounce you Ember property of Smoke. You may now kiss your bride."

Hoots and whistles sound as I dip Ember in my arms and plant my lips firmly on hers, sealing our union with a kiss.

The music fires back up, and the liquor resumes flowing. I have no fucking clue what song is even playing from the live band. I have my woman in my arms and that's all that matters to me. Prez presents me with an envelope stuffed with money as a wedding gift and steals my bride for a dance.

I watch him twirl my woman around, whispering in her ear as she laughs. Who knows what he's saying to her?

Pam accosts me for a partner. "I wasn't sure you had it in you, but you did good earlier."

"Thanks for making sure I had a full audience." I give her a twirl.

"Hey, no one would have believed me if they didn't see for themselves. Besides, Ember needed that. Needed the club to get back some respect for her. You needed it, too. Especially when it comes to your friendship with her brother. A man doesn't take kindly to anyone treating his sister like shit."

"Yeah."

"She's a good one. Won't take your shit. You need a woman like that. Friendly head's up. That little friend of hers is trouble."

"Sabrina?"

"That's the one."

"She's a mouthy bitch. What'd she do now?"

"I suspect she stole Ember's pregnancy test and used it to trick Jimmy. "

"He'll clue in."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Cross that bridge when the time comes."

"Good. We don't need a bitch like that in our fold and Ember doesn't need a friend like that. Especially one that's buddied up with Angel."

"Doubt she'll be back."

"Women like that don't stop until they get what they want."

"She won't be a problem."

"Hope not."

"Is there something I should know?"

Pam smiles. "I just watch out for my girls."

"Right." I spin her into Link's arms and grab my woman. "Hey you."

"Husband," Ember says, and I like how sounds coming from her sweet lips.

"Say it again."

"It," she teases, knowing damn well what I want to hear.

"Ought to spank your ass for disobeying me."

"Is that a promise or a threat?"

"Definitely a promise." I kiss her forehead, and she makes a weird face. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Don't start our marriage off lying to me. "

"It's just something Creed did a lot."

"Not something a man wants to hear."

"This is why I didn't want to say anything."

"Would you rather be with him right now?"

"No, and don't do that. You won. I'm here now with you."

"I wasn't aware it was a competition."

"Well, this is going great."

"All I want is to put all this shit behind us."

"You're right. I don't want to think about anything or anyone but this. Us," she whispers against my lips. "I want this to work, Smoke."

"Why don't we make this a private party?"

"So romantic."

"That's me, Mr. Romance. Pam and the others decorated our tent with some string lights and flowers and shit. Setting the mood and all that."

"I'm sure it's perfect, honey."