Page 85 of Wild Side
We walk out together, and I climb on behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist when I do. I inhale a deep breath and smell leather and oil. It’s the scent of my whole childhood, but it hits differently this time. It’s the man. This man. He makes everything about this world different.
Squeezing my arms around him tighter, I close my eyes as the wind whips through my hair. I know my hair is going to be a mess, but I don’t care. This is perfection in every way possible.
I love it, and I love him.
MAVERICK
Pulling up to the clubhouse after an amazing fucking dinner, I ride my bike up to the front, parking next to my pickup. I need to get Zadie her own ride. Brake asked me what she wanted to do with her car, because there was no way he was going to bring it across the country.
He told me it was a shitbox. I told him to do whatever the fuck he wanted with it. Scrap it, sell it, strip it, whatever the fuck. He laughed, but now I gotta buy my woman her own car. Goose had to take her to her first doctor’s appointment because I was stuck with fucking Kyle Alexander.
The club is already in full swing. Smoke, booze, and tits are all on full display. I smile at the sight of home. My people, my family. But this isn’t just a club party. There are no hangers-on. This is family only.
Bullet and Dakota are here, Ivy and Posey, and there is even Briana. The only person who isn’t here is Piggy’s little sister, Lainey, but that doesn’t surprise me because she very rarely comes down to the club.
Lifting my hands to my mouth, I slip my pinkie fingers inside and whistle. The music is turned down as everyone else quiets down, giving me the floor. Grabbing one of the chairs, I climb into the seat to stand above everyone.
“I have an important announcement tonight,” I call out.
I grin a grin that I don’t think I’ll be able to wipe off my face, maybe ever. There are a few jeers and men calling out, but I hold my hands up, my palms facing the crowd.
“Everyone knows that Zadie and I are having a baby, but there’s more.”
“More?” Dakota says, her brows knit together. It’s cute, but not as cute as the way Zadie looks up at me, her lips parted in awe.
“More,” I confirm. “We’re having twins.”
The silence is palpable. It surrounds me, and I swear to fuck I can almost see it. Then the entire room erupts in applause, shouts, and cheers. Family. Climbing down from the chair, I move toward my woman, the guys clapping me on my shoulder as I do.
I cup Zadie’s cheeks and touch my mouth to hers. Breaking the kiss, I look into her eyes. Bullet and Goose stand close by. I don’t even have to look away from her to know that they’re near. I can always feel my brother’s presence, and my president is almost as close to me as my brother, so I know he’s beside me.
“Go and celebrate,” she whispers. “Enjoy your night.”
“As long as it ends with you naked in my bed, I’m going to enjoy every goddamn second.”
She smiles against my lips. “That is where and how I’ll be waiting when I get tired.”
“Thank fuck,” I grunt.
Releasing her, I take a step backward. Then another as Goose and Bullet slap my back. Dakota slides up beside Zadie, and I know she’s safe with her friend by her side. She’s safe in here anyway, especially tonight with only the club members in attendance.
“Twins! Holy fucking shit,” Bullet hisses as he lifts his hand, motioning for the prospect.
He brings over three shots. And that is how the night goes. Nobody lets me leave the bar. It’s congratulation shot after congratulation shot.
One after the other.
Over and over, until I’m leaning to the side and unable to even stand straight. I’m going to be no good to my woman at all. The thought makes me chuckle to myself. I don’t know why it’s funny, but it is.
“You’re a good man, Chase,” my brother murmurs beside me. “I’m proud of you.”
Swinging my head to the side, I try to focus on him, but there are three of him. I choose the one in the middle, and my lips twitch into a smirk. “You’re proud of me?”
“You may have had a one-night stand with the girl, but you chose well. I like her, and I’m happy as fuck to be an uncle.”
That’s the last moment of the evening I recall. I don’t know what happens next, but what I do know is that I never make good on my promise to celebrate in bed with my old lady. My woman. My Zadie.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
