Page 98 of Cash

“Love you too, little Bella. Even when you’re being a smartass.”

“Eh, can’t really blame me. Axel is my big brother, you know, and he’s rubbed off on me some,” Bella replies with a sassy grin.

I give her a one-armed hug and drop a kiss on top of her head before making my way to the doorway of Liam’s room. Leaning against it, I watch Livi sway softly back and forth with Liam cuddled close.

“Missed you, little man. You’ve grown,” Livi coos to Liam.

I smile when I hear Liam’s happy baby gurgles and watch as he grabs a handful of Livi’s hair. Tugging hard, legs kicking, Liam hangs on tight. I walk to their side and disentangle his fist. He’s gotten good at grabbing hair and earrings. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to save someone.

“He’s got fast hands,” Livi says with a laugh.

“Yeah, he does. Ready to go?”

Livi nods, kisses Liam’s cheek before placing him back in his crib. She turns on his mobile that hangs above his crib, and his eyes watch the animals float around. With a soft pat to his belly, she turns to me.

“Let’s go.”

Walking into the living room, Livi heads toward the front door. I grab her hand and guide her through the kitchen and into the garage instead. Walking to stand by my bike, I turn to Livi.

“When I lean, you lean. Hold on tight to me at all times.”

“I would rather take your truck, Cash. My intent has never been to force your hand about your biker beliefs,” Livi says quietly. “I don’t want you to compromise on something that’s important to you. We can take that step at a later date.”

“What I should have explained better before, Livi, is thatyouare what’s important to me. Yeah, I’ve held strong to the rule that no woman was going to ride my bike unless she was always going to be in my life. But I know now that’s unrealistic. Nobody can make that guarantee. Shit happens; life happens. My new rule is that no woman’s ass rides my bike unless it’s the one I care enough about to share the experience with. The woman who matters most to me and enough that I hope to have her permanently in my world. That’s you, Kitten.”

Livi stares up at me, and I see her eyes fill. She doesn’t allow the tears to fall, but I can easily read the emotion in them. I’ve finally said the words she needed and wanted to hear. The words I should have said long ago.

“Are you sure?” Livi questions while studying my face.

“I wouldn’t want you on my bike if I wasn’t. Let’s go for a ride and stop somewhere for dinner. For once, let’s just be alone and together.”

We go for a ride, and it feels perfect. Livi’s ass should have been sitting behind me several months ago, but the important thing is that it’s there now. It feels natural to ride with her, and I know this is the first of many rides that we’ll take.

*~*~*~*

Livi’s been back in my life for a few months now, and things couldn’t be better. We’re solid, and I see only good things for our future. She’s great with Liam, and Snots has become as much mine as hers. We’ve meshed our lives perfectly, but I want more. I want Livi to see this as more than just us dating. I want her to know that I see this as a serious commitment toward a future together. A permanent future.

Lying in bed, Livi curled up tight against me, I drop my hand and slide it back and forth across her back. Using my other hand, I pull Livi up until she’s lying sprawled on top of me. Tilting my head up, I capture her mouth with mine. I spend some time tasting her before dropping my head back to the pillow. Cupping her face with both hands, I speak.

“Want you to move in with me and Liam. Don’t sign another lease for your place.”

Livi’s eyes go from soft to sharp as she studies me carefully.

“Is this something you’ve thought about? It’s a big step, Cash. It means something to me to live with you. It’s not a step I’ve ever taken before.”

“I get that, but we’re together all the time anyway. I don’t want you to keep your place as a backup plan. I want you to commit fully to us. If we have a problem, we need to work it out like a couple and not just run back to our own corners. I don’t see my future without you in it, Livi. Do you see it differently?”

Livi’s eyes find a spot on the headboard above my head as she thinks about what I said. After a moment, they move back to mine.

“No, I don’t. When I look forward, all I see is you and Liam. That’s what I want to see too. But I can’t easily forget the things Axel’s mom said about losing everything when her marriage dissolved. I think you’re right that I’ve been keeping my place as a backup plan. If things were to fall apart with us, I need to know I have somewhere to land. But it also makes it easy to have one foot in and one foot out when it comes to us.”

“Axel’s mom lost everything because that was the path she chose. Leaving Petey didn’t keep her from still being a mom to her son or having friends in or out of the club. She left the area without letting anyone know where she was. She cut everyone off, not the other way around,” I insist.

Livi considers my words before speaking again.

“Yeah, I can see that. If you’re really sure about this, then yes, I’ll move in. I want us to work, Cash. I want you and Liam as mine. Forever.”

I grin before rolling us until I’m on top. Kissing the hell out of my woman, I push my cock deep into her without warning. Livi’s breath rushes out at the sudden invasion before she moves one leg to wrap around my hips.

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