Page 28 of Blackbeard (Blackjacks MC #2)

Blackbeard - One Year Later

When I returned from my monthly meeting at Church, I found my house had been invaded while I was gone. Voices chattered in my kitchen, accompanied by the smell of mouthwatering food.

Softening my footsteps, I made my way down the hall and peeked through the kitchen door.

“Am I doing this right?”

Leigh stood at the stove, spatula in hand, while she tentatively poked at something in a pan. Abuela stood beside her, doling out instructions, while she absently stroked Luisa’s wispy curls. Luisa clung to Abuela’s apron, singing nonsense to herself quietly.

My siblings were crowded around the kitchen island, piling food onto their plates from an afternoon buffet.

Five of my cousins were seated at the table, locked in a heated board game.

Mama leaned back against the counter, rocking a baby in her arms, while Papa helped Claudia to shape cookies and set them on baking sheets.

I smiled and stayed back, watching for a minute or two. Leigh had begged me to teach her how to cook six months ago. I taught her a few basics, but it was good to see her learning from Abuela, who taught me everything I know.

Carefully, Leigh scooped the food out of the pan and set it on a plate to cool.

“I did it!” she chirped. “It’s not burned this time!”

I chuckled. Luisa must have heard me because she whipped around and squealed with delight, racing toward me with her little arms outstretched. I swept her up into a bear hug, peppering her face with kisses.

Now that the room was alerted to my presence, everyone greeted me with a cheer, ushering me closer.

Sofia pushed a plate into my hands and my brothers began filling it with generous helpings of food—sopaipillas, stuffed peppers, chicken, and tacos.

I balanced Luisa in the crook of my arm as she crooned appreciatively, brown eyes wide with hunger.

“Wait! Make room for me,” Leigh said, shouldering between Esperanza and Manuel. She juggled a piping hot arepa between her fingers, golden brown and crispy. Then she held it up. “This is my third batch of arepas I’ve made today and I think I finally got it right. So you have to try it.”

I smiled down at her. She looked so…happy and light. Losing her relationship with her father had taken a toll that she didn’t like to talk about very often, even though I could tell it weighed on her.

But now she was in my kitchen, surrounded by my family, and learning how to cook, just like she always wanted to.

I didn’t think I could possibly love her anymore than I already did. But I liked seeing this side of her blossom, thriving. I liked seeing her comfortable in my home, my woman, my wife.

“Come on,” Leigh prompted, flicking her gaze up to me with impatience. “Take a bite. Is it too dry? Does it need more salt? I stuffed it with cheese, so be careful. It’s hot inside.”

I laughed softly, wishing my hands weren’t full so I could kiss her instead because she was fucking adorable.

Dipping my head, I bit into the arepa and chewed. Leigh swallowed, watching my expression. Crunchy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and a little chewy. She couldn’t have done it better. I nodded my approval.

“It’s perfect, princess.”

A grin spread across Leigh’s face from ear to ear. She bounced on her toes with delight and whirled back to the stove. Abuela patted her shoulder.

“See? That’s the way you soften him up. Now, when his belly is full, ask him for anything you want. He’ll agree right away.”

“Abuela,” I barked. “Don’t give my wife advice like that. It’s dangerous.”

She flapped her apron at me, her eyes twinkling.

“It’s not the first secret I’ve told her, and it won’t be the last. There’s plenty of talking going on when you’re not eavesdropping, young man.”

Esperanza scoffed.

“ Young man ,” she said. “Ha! You need your eyes checked, Abuela. Haven’t you noticed the gray in Diego’s hair lately? You’re getting old, brother.”

She stood on tiptoe, peering at my scalp. I huffed and pushed her away.

“I’ve noticed,” Leigh piped in with a sly look. “I think it’s sexy.”

Esperanza gagged.

“Ew. Gross.”

I crossed the kitchen to Leigh’s side and bent down to kiss her. Luisa giggled, hiding her face in my cut.

“Keep talking like that, mi vida,” I said. “And Abuela is right. You can have anything you want.”

She beamed.

A moment later, the roar of motorcycle engines echoed outside. The door opened and the thunder of boots in the hall approached the kitchen.

“I smell food,” Spike declared. “I’m starving.”

The next thing I knew, my house was overflowing with people. The Blackjacks grabbed plates of food for themselves, dispersing throughout the living room, spilling into the courtyard to enjoy the late August warmth.

Crash ended up skateboarding on the driveway with my nephews.

Luisa squirmed out of my hold and climbed into Vlad’s lap. She was so small, and he was so big, that she looked like a doll by comparison.

While Baby Doll sat cross-legged on the floor, stuffing tacos into her mouth, my sisters flocked around her, releasing her thick wavy hair from its ponytail with noises of approval. She let them twist and braid her hair up into a crown, decorated with flowers and ribbons.

“Not a word from you,” she said, pointing a finger at me threateningly.

I snickered and snapped a picture with my phone. She swore as I made my getaway.

When Leigh finally finished cooking in the kitchen, she found me in the courtyard with several other cousins and Blackjacks. She perched on my knee, plucking a bite of sopaipilla from my plate. I hooked my hand around her hip, letting my gaze wander over her while she ate.

Her hair curled softly around her face, brushing against her neck. And that breezy camisole top looked like it wouldn’t take more than a firm tug to get it off…

“I’ve been thinking,” I said.

“Wait, don’t tell me,” Leigh replied. “You’ve been thinking that your wife is an amazing cook—despite her many failed attempts and burned food in the past that you have conveniently forgotten about.”

I breathed a soft laugh and gave her ass an affectionate pat.

“Exactly. You read my mind.”

She smiled, pleased with herself.

“You’ve done an incredible job with the courtyard, too,” I added.

I never had much of a green thumb, but it turned out that Leigh took to gardening like a fish to water. She picked up a few plants at the local garden center, stuck them in the ground, and they took off.

The landscape had been barren and plain while it was in my care. Under Leigh’s attention, it was now blooming in a rainbow of flowers, with pillowy patches of moss, and lush vines of ivy.

“I always spent so much time with Dad’s club,” Leigh said. “I didn’t have time for hobbies. I didn't even know what interests I liked. I never dreamed that I would enjoy plants, of all things. It seems so…”

“Normal?” I replied.

“Yeah.”

I shifted forward in my seat, wrapping my arms around her middle. At this angle, my chin was nearly level with her tits—a heavenly place to be. She draped her arms around my neck.

“As I was saying before,” I said, bringing us back to the original topic. “I was thinking we should make our marriage official. Sign the paperwork, have a wedding.”

Everyone still acted like we were married, and Leigh lived with me, so we didn’t waste our breath pointing out that no, we weren’t technically, legally married.

From inside the house, Esperanza called.

“I better be a bridesmaid!”

I sighed and rolled my eyes.

“How the hell did you hear that?” I shot back.

“I’m not getting old like you are. My hearing is fine.”

Leigh chuckled, untying my hair and combing it with her fingers.

“Would I get to wear a white dress?”

“Only if I get to take it off after the wedding," I replied.

She bit her lower lip with anticipation.

“Technically, you haven’t proposed to me yet. We should probably cover that, too.”

“I’m sure my sisters would be very excited to give me tips on making a memorable proposal,” I replied. “My brothers, on the other hand, will give me nothing but useless advice.”

Leigh’s eyes softened and she smoothed her hand down my chest, tracing the patches on my cut with her fingertip.

She didn’t have any family to invite to the wedding, to be her bridesmaids, to walk her down the aisle.

My family had welcomed her into the fold, but nothing could ease the sting of her father not being present for her at such an important event in her life.

Hidden away in a corner of the courtyard was Gatling, probably overwhelmed by the chaos of my household. His phone rang and he answered it, pitching his voice low so I couldn’t hear him speak.

I didn’t pay any attention—it wasn’t my business anyway.

Until his voice rose, tense with concern.

“Slow down, Kelsie. Tell me what’s happening.”

My ears perked up. The courtyard went silent as every head turned toward Gatling. He hated being the center of attention, hated anyone staring at him like this. But something was wrong. And if he needed our help, we would be there for him as soon as he said the word.

He rarely talked about his private life, so I didn’t know who this Kelsie was. It sounded like he was ready to kill for her though, and I understand that part very well.

Gatling’s face clouded over and his ice-blue eyes turned deadly serious.

“Get out. Now. I’ll be there in seven minutes.”

He was on the move before he even hung up and gestured at Vlad.

“Sounds like my friend’s little sister might have an intruder in her apartment,” he said. “If things go sideways, I could use some muscle.”

“I’m with you, brother.” Vlad transferred Luisa to Kingpin’s lap. She whimpered, her little hands grasping for Vlad as he slipped out, following Gatling through the courtyard gate.

Eventually, after several hours passed, my house began to empty out. Guests left in a trickle, then a flood as the night grew late. Leigh yawned and slumped against my back as I deposited dishes in the sink.

“Leave those for the morning,” she said, gliding her hands down my arm to take my wrist.

I let her lead me out of the kitchen, turning the corner to the bedroom.

“You haven’t answered my question, you know,” I said.

“And what question was that, my dearest husband?” Leigh asked, tipping her chin up.

I fingered the frilly hem of her blouse and slipped my hand underneath, smoothing over her stomach, cupping her breast in my palm.

“Will you marry me?”

Leigh’s eyes brightened and a slow, sleepy little smile spread across her lips. She leaned into me, sliding her arms around my neck with a deep, languid kiss. She pulled back with a hum and tilted her head to the side, screwing one eye shut in consideration.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it. I’m just not sure that I’m ready to be tied down to you yet, Diego.”

I chuckled and scooped her up into my arms, toppling onto the mattress.

“Looks like I’ll have to change your mind then.”

Stripping her blouse off, I tongued at her tits until she gasped, yanking on my hair with exasperation.

“ Diego ,” she whined.

Reaching past her, I opened my nightstand drawer and pulled out my cuffs. Leigh’s pupils dilated full black.

“Let’s see how many orgasms it takes until you say yes, princess.”