Page 67 of Avenging Devil: Part 2

My face twists as I look down at myself. “Too late for me, darlin’.” Shamelessly I resituate my now chubby cock.

I lived without sex for years, now I’ve got to do it for months. Shouldn’t be a big ask, but that was before Mary. Without her, it’s going to be hard. And yeah, that’s no double entendre, that’s my normal state around my sexy wife.

“Behave yourself, Mary.” I point at my eyes, then at her. “Don’t overdo it, or if you do, when I find out, you’ll get a sore ass.”

“Go before you make me any more promises you can’t do anything about.” She laughs.

I leave her with a smile on my face which fades as soon as I exit her room, and immediately stand with my back to the wall, leaning forward with my hands on my knees and taking a deep breath. Fuck. All the fears I had on the plane ride back haven’t dissipated. The shock at discovering all wasn’t well with the pregnancy had hit me hard. While I keep a brave face on around her, I’m worried sick about where this could be leading.

“Grumbler? Is everything okay?”

At the concerned voice, I raise my head, then straighten my back to reassure Alicia. “Everything’s fine, darlin’. Your mom’s quite perky today.”

“Is she really going to be alright?”

Opening my arms, I pull her into me, holding her close. Of course she’d fucking worry, she lost her dad when she was ten. “Nothing’s going to happen to your mom,” I reassure my stepdaughter, using the words to also bolster myself.

“Is it my fault I didn’t notice how tired she was?”

“Not your fault at all,” I contradict fast. Mine, perhaps, for leaving even though I’d noticed her looking pale. But what more could I have done? As she’d told me time and time again, she was pregnant, not fucking ill, until she was proved wrong. “Just do me a favour, eh, sweetheart?” When she looks up, her head tilted to one side, I continue, “Your mom’s already given me more grey hairs. Just for the next couple of months, behave yourself.”

Lightly she punches my arm. “Are you saying I’m trouble?”

No, I wouldn’t say that. Yeah, a few months back she was, but having been burned once, her head’s now on straight.

“You’re a teenager.” I shrug. “It’s expected.”

“There is that,” she responds with a grin.

“Now go visit with your mom. I’ll be back later.” And I will. I’ll stay until they kick me out. If Mary’s got to be cooped up in this hospital, the least I can do is share that burden with her. Or as much as I’m able to.

Leaving the hospital, I divert to the house that I’d bought years back, but barely lived in and never called a home until Mary and Alicia moved in. I shower, change into a fresh t-shirt, then take a moment looking around our room. Fuck, but it feels so empty.

Invading Mary’s chest of drawers, I take out some of her underwear that she’d asked me to take in, taking a moment to run my hands through the items I’m used to seeing her wear. My Mary’s got a thing for nice panties and matching bras, not that the latter fit anymore.

Feeling like a perv, I raise the items to my nose and breathe in, but they’ve been laundered, no scent remains of her.

She’ll be back soon, I lecture myself. Seven, eight weeks and she’ll be home, bringing my son with her.

Maybe I should make the most of the peace while I can. Fuck chance, I admit. I had too much peace before she came along. Now I don’t know what to do with it.

I want the house to be full of baby’s screams, of her bustling around, of Alicia complaining she can’t find anything. I want that. Me, an old, seasoned biker who never knew he was missing anything until Mary dropped into my life.

Now what before was enough is anything but.

Don’t take her away from me, I plead to the mirror where Mary would sit, putting her makeup on.

Then, realising I’m sinking into the mistake of thinking the worst, I shake myself, pull on my cut and go out to my third most favourite lady. My bike, which had been trailered back from Nevada.

Yeah, this used to be my old lady, now she’s been replaced by Mary, and Alicia too. Once I thought she was my everything, now I know there’s more to life.

But old habits die hard. I spend a second brushing off invisible dust, before throwing my leg astride the seat, then starting the engine, kick into first, ease out the clutch and twist the throttle gently.

It’s not long before I arrive at the club, but the clubroom’s empty of all but the prospect. I’m late. I shrug. Before it would have bothered me. Now I’ve more important things to think about, things that take precedence over my club. And that’s something I never thought I’d be saying.

Church has already begun when I walk in. I march to my seat next to Lost, and as discreetly as a latecomer can, sit, and try to indicate my interest in the proceedings. I notice Dart, Pennywise and Salem have made it back from Utah.

Lost pauses. “Mary?”

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