Page 86 of Jasper
She’s all smiles. “You’re too much, babe.”
“Yeah, I know. Come, I’ll show you.”
I guide her towards the back patio. Excitement pounds in my chest as I take her outside. She deserves something special, something that lets her know how important she is to me. I hope she fuckin’ loves what I’ve put together.
Tessa hesitates slightly when she steps onto the patio, her eyes going wide with surprise. My brothers and I made the back of the building off-limits today so we could decorate the area for her engagement party.
The setup is intentionally private. Tessa hates her special moments to be witnessed by strangers, so I only invited the club brothers, their girlfriends, and club girls. That’s why the room was so tense earlier—they knew what I had planned, and it would have been pretty embarrassing if she’d turned me down. I was pretty confident she wouldn’t because we are head over heels for each other.
I feel Tessa relax beside me, her tension easing when she realizes it’s not crowded or overly extravagant. I squeeze her hand gently, reassuring her that I understand what she likes.
Slate approaches quietly, offering us both genuine congratulations, and hugs Tessa. Jinx follows, his typical smirk softening into a sincere expression of happiness.
Tessa moves through the small gathering with graceful ease, personally thanking everyone. Watching her now, I realize she looks more comfortable and confident than I’ve ever known herto be. Pride fills me, knowing I’ve managed to create a moment that suits her tastes so well.
I stick by her side, moving through the gathering, accepting congratulations from everyone that matters to us. Seeing her so at ease, genuinely enjoying herself, makes me feel like I’ve successfully balanced the club’s traditions with her comfort.
It doesn’t take her long to realize my parents aren’t at the gathering. “Did Queenie and Rock not want to come to our engagement party?”
“They’ll be along. They’ve got a surprise of their own to give you.”
“That’s really sweet. They didn’t have to do that,” she says, smiling up at me.
Half an hour later, my parents show up with her grandmother. Tessa is so happy, she rushes over and helps her gran out of the car. My ma helps get her set up at a table. I try to help, but they just elbow me out of the way in their rush to make a fuss. I should be bothered, but I’m not. It gives me too much pleasure to see the woman I love so happy. I just quietly go and get her some snacks and a drink. By the time I get back, the fussing is over, and her gran greets me warmly.
As the darkness creeps in, small strings of lights glow warmly around the patio. Laughter floats through the air, easy and genuine. Unfortunately, her grandmother tires easily, and my parents dutifully take her back home. I think this is the nicest gift they could have given both of them.
When the party finally winds down, I sweep Tessa gently into my arms. She gasps and laughs in surprise, her eyes sparkling as she wraps her arms around my neck. Her warmth against mefeels right. Everything in my world tilts back into alignment as I carry her up the stairs. Having found the right balance between my biker world and the woman I love gives me reason to believe this relationship will not only be amazing, but it will last.
I kick our door shut behind me, carrying her directly into our bedroom. Softly glowing fairy lights, a recent touch Tessa added around the headboard, bathe the room in a warm glow. Gazing down into her face, I find a contented, drowsy expression.
I settle beside her, immediately leaning in to brush a gentle kiss across her lips. I murmur, “You were beautiful down there. Seeing you happy, smiling like that’s convinced me I am capable of giving you what you need.”
Tessa’s eyes soften, a shy smile spreading slowly across her face, but there’s a hint of vulnerability lurking there.
“Don’t ever think you’re not enough, Jas. Always remember that in my eyes, you’re the hot biker with a heart of gold.”
Her fingers trace gentle circles over her still-growing belly, her brows knitting slightly in concern.
“What is it?” I ask softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek. “Is everything okay with the baby?”
She hesitates, eyes dropping briefly before meeting mine again. “The baby is fine. He’s going to be a linebacker by the looks of things.”
I slide one hand down and splay my hand against her belly. “Sorry he’s getting so big and kicking your organs.” As a man, I can’t even imagine how awful that must be.
“That’s not the problem.”
“Then what is, darlin’? Tell me all about it. If I can fix it, I will.”
She glances away, clearly embarrassed. “I’m getting stretch marks, big, ugly ones.”
“Yeah, that’s the kind of thing that happens when you’re carrying a linebacker.”
“It’s just that… you have all those club girls downstairs, beautiful and flawless. I’m just worried that one day, you won’t see me as attractive anymore.”
Her voice cracks when she speaks about one of her darkest fears out loud. I silence her gently with another kiss, soft yet insistent, pulling away only when I feel her relax beneath my touch. My hand moves tenderly across her belly, pulling up her shirt and unbuttoning and unzipping her pants.
“These marks,” I whisper as I stroke her stomach and hold her gaze steady, “are all part of the woman I love. They’re proof that you sacrificed your body to carry our child. No one downstairs or anywhere else in the entire fuckin’ world compares to you.” I press my palm softly against her belly, “This is everything to me. I’ll never want anyone else but you. In my family, women aren’t disposable. They’re cherished.”
