Page 21 of Blackbeard (Blackjacks MC #2)

Chapter fourteen

Leigh

“Are you okay?”

Blackbeard startled and glanced up when I entered the living room. He had his medical kit spread out across the coffee table, going over every inch of the equipment, double-checking inventory.

For the past three days, I caught him staring into space like that. Looking at nothing with a vacant expression in his eyes, and there was no doubt that his thoughts must have been whirling a thousand miles an hour.

But he wouldn’t tell me why.

“I’m fine,” Blackbeard muttered.

Then he proceeded to count the rolls of gauze for a fourth time. I crossed my arms.

Blackbeard and I had been married for a total of five weeks now. Which still technically classified us as newlyweds. But I didn’t need to know him like the back of my hand in order to sniff out a bald-faced lie like that.

“Something has been bothering you lately,” I pointed out. “What is it?”

He shook his head.

“Just club business. Nothing you need to concern yourself about.”

Oh, I was locked in now. Taking a seat in the armchair next to him, I folded my legs under me and propped my chin in my hand, staring at him.

Blackbeard continued to work, tattooed fingers moving expertly over the medical supplies with well-practiced familiarity. But he diligently didn’t look at me.

“I’m waiting,” I prompted.

He huffed a laugh.

“I know you are. But I’m not telling you more than that.”

Just as I took a breath to speak, his phone buzzed with a text. Blackbeard glanced at the screen and grimaced.

“What is it?” I asked, leaning closer to get a look at his phone.

He shoved it back into his pocket.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re nosy?”

“All the time. Now why did you make that face? You looked like you swallowed a whole lemon. Or a worm.”

He sighed and finally lifted his gaze to look at me.

“Are you hungry?”

I blinked, confused at the change of subject.

“Not really. I had lunch an hour ago.”

“Well, you better change your mind soon. My parents are hosting dinner tonight at their house. And they’ve invited…everyone.”

I brightened, delighted at this piece of news. The information I could glean against Blackbeard would be priceless. And, if I was honest, I liked hanging out with his grandmother. I was looking forward to getting a chance to hang out with the rest of his family, too.

“I’m sure I could muster up an appetite. Does this mean I finally get to meet your parents?”

Blackbeard sighed and gave a vague gesture of defeat.

“I missed the last family dinner because of club business, so if I miss this one too, Abuela will never let me hear the end of it. Besides, if I don’t introduce you to my family soon, there will be hell to pay, so—”

I bounced up to my feet.

“Perfect! When do we leave? I have to figure out what I’m going to wear, then do my hair…”

“We need to be there by five o’clock,” Blackbeard said, accepting his fate.

I grinned and flung my arms around his neck, planting a loud, smacking kiss on his cheek.

“Your family is going to love me,” I said.

“I’m sure they will.”

“What do you think, honey?”

Blackbeard leaned back against the kitchen counter, idly scrolling through his phone with one hand.

Fuck, he looked sexy as sin. His long hair hung loose to his shoulders, half pulled back, studded with a handful of decorative, ornate silver beads. He wore a brand new pair of slim-fitting black jeans, and a long-sleeved, black cashmere shirt so snug that it looked like it was painted on.

Blackbeard’s gaze swept over me as he slid his phone into his back pocket. My stomach fluttered at his undivided attention. I gave him a slow spin, letting him get a good, long look from all angles.

The deep green emerald sundress matched the ring I had guilted Blackbeard into getting for me. Light and airy as a feather, the fabric was silky soft, and I definitely chose it in the hopes it would encourage him to touch me.

It dipped low in the back, with flimsy little straps that tied into neat bows at the shoulders. The V-collar was too revealing to wear a bra, but the pleats and lacy embroidered leaves provided enough coverage that I wouldn’t be indecent.

Instead of my usual cat-like winged eyeliner, I opted for a smoky eye that gave me a softer look without losing my seductive side. I touched my lips with a strawberry-blush pink gloss, and painted my nails to match my dress.

To top it off, I used a dark piece of ribbon as a choker to grace my throat. And just as I expected, Blackbeard’s gaze lingered there on my neck for several seconds longer than necessary.

When he took a step toward me, I bit the inside of my cheek with anticipation. He grazed his knuckles up my arm and across my clavicles. Hooking a finger under my chin, he tilted my head up to meet his gaze.

“You’re going to be on your best behavior tonight, right?”

I looked up at him through my lashes.

“If I’m a good girl, do I get a reward when we come home?”

Blackbeard took me by the waist and turned me around.

His breath ghosted along the curve of my neck.

I shuddered, my core clenching with need.

He smoothed his palm around my waist, teasing along just underneath the curve of my breasts.

Skating his hands down my back, caressing every swell and dip of my body.

Then he cupped my ass with a flirty little squeeze. He could probably tell I was wearing a thong through the thin fabric of my dress.

“I’m surprised,” he said softly. “You haven’t figured it out yet?”

I half turned, trying to get a look at him. Blackbeard leaned in close enough to kiss, his eyes dark, his entire demeanor radiating an addictive level of sexual energy.

“Figured out what?” I demanded. “Don’t leave me hanging like that.”

He chuckled and his tongue flicked out, tracing his lower lip.

“The last time we fucked, you weren’t being a good girl. In fact, you were acting like a total brat who needed to be put in her place.”

My mouth dropped open.

Blackbeard grinned and skirted past me.

“Let’s go, wife. My parents are waiting.”

I hurried after him, my mind spinning with possibilities.

Fifteen minutes later, Blackbeard and I walked arm in arm up the sidewalk to his parents’ house—a modest, cabin-style home, bordered by a profusion of pansies and petunias.

By the front door was a weeping cherry tree in full bloom, branches covered in frothy pink blossoms that smelled sweetly fruity.

Hooked over Blackbeard’s shoulder was a tote bag that bulged at the seams, clanking and rattling with every movement.

“What do you have in that thing?” I asked.

“Gifts,” he replied with a shrug. “Candy and toys for the kids. Mezcal for my parents. Chocolates for my sisters, and water pistols for my brothers.”

“No wonder you’re the favorite uncle.”

He flashed a smile that made my heart somersault. It didn’t feel like the same butterflies of anticipation that came with foreplay. This was…something else. Something I couldn’t put a name to yet.

As we approached the front door, curtains in a nearby window twitched. A moment later, a voice called from inside the house.

“They’re here!”

“Brace yourself,” Blackbeard muttered.

The door flew open and Esperanza emerged, scooping me into a bone-crushing hug.

“Leigh! It’s so good to see you again! Come meet everyone.”

“What about me?” Blackbeard called after us as Esperanza led me inside.

“You’re a big boy, I’m sure you can find the way into your parents’ house just fine,” she shot back with a twinkle in her eye.

“I brought you chocolate,” he called. “With caramel and hazelnut filling.”

Esperanza circled back to grab his hand, hauling him through the door while he laughed.

“Have I told you lately that you’re the best brother in the whole world?” she replied.

“Yeah, yeah.” He pulled out a golden brown box tied with a silvery ribbon and passed it to her. “Just remember that the next time you throw me under the bus with Abuela.”

Everything became a blur after that while I was introduced to dozens of faces with dozens of names—at least fifty people in all—that I desperately tried to commit to memory.

Blackbeard had barely set foot in the living room when over thirteen children came out of the woodwork, swarming him.

Claudia clambered up onto his back, looping her arms around his neck.

Mario and Bodhi tackled him to the floor.

Little Luisa nearly got lost in the melee, but Blackbeard managed to cage her against his chest protectively so she wouldn’t get squished or trampled.

Esperanza plucked his tote bag off his shoulder while he was pinned down. She peeked inside.

“Oh, mezcal.” She clucked her tongue. “Mama and Papa will love that. Looks like someone wanted to make a good impression tonight.”

“Esperanza,” Blackbeard warned. “Don’t you dare—”

Too late.

She beamed, whirled on her heel, and held up the bottle.

“Mama! Papa! I got you a little treat.”

Blackbeard growled as his sister stole his thunder. I laughed softly, watching the sibling rivalry play out.

I met his other two sisters, Sofia and Ana, who had the same dark eyes and sharp, sarcastic wit as Blackbeard. They pulled up a chair between them and brandished their phones.

“Sit here, Leigh,” Sofia said.

“You need to see these baby pictures of Diego growing up,” Ana added. “You should have seen his chubby cheeks! He was adorable!”

I met his brothers, Juan and Manuel, so close in age and nearly identical in appearance that they could have been twins.

“If you ever get tired of old Diego,” Juan said with a wink. “Just say the word. I’d marry you in a heartbeat, hermosa.”

Manuel gave a dramatic groan and shoved Juan out of the way.

“Please ignore him. He’s an embarrassment to the family, and I keep saying we should disown him. No one believes me though. But if you’re in the market for another husband—”

A woman protested from the other side of the room.