Page 12 of Coal (QUEENS WRAITHS MC #2)

Reaching across Shea’s body, I lay my hand on his arm, giving it a squeeze.

“I don’t need much to be happy, Coal. If you keep my baby girl safe, are faithful to our vows, and live a good life—and by good life, I mean a life that isn’t into illegal things like drugs and selling people—I don’t care if you have to do bad things as long as they’re for good reasons.

“My only request is that if you ever want out of our marriage, you do me the courtesy of telling me before sleeping with someone else. If you give me all that, I’ll be happy, and you’ll have my loyalty forever.”

He’s silent for so long that I wonder if he’s fallen asleep and even heard my last request and vow. When he finally speaks, I’m hard-pressed to stop tears from falling.

“It guts me that you ask for so little for yourself, but I promise I can do all that, baby, and I’ll make you see you are worth so much more than the little you ask for.

I’ll work my ass off to make sure you have a beautiful life while you are with me.

” He turns on his side and runs his fingers through mine, curling them around mine.

“Now sleep. We have a long journey tomorrow and I want you rested before you get behind the wheel. My mom is looking forward to meeting you and her first grandbaby. I hope you don’t mind sharing Shea because when my mom and sister get hold of her, you probably won’t see her much. ”

“I won’t mind sharing her with your family, Coal, especially if they’re all like you and your brothers,” I assure him sleepily. Blinking my eyes open, I catch him watching me. “Night,” I tell him as my eyes close one last time.

“Night, baby, sweet dreams.”

***

And they were good dreams. It was the first time since my mother had been murdered that I felt safe, and I slept like a baby.

Just as well. The next morning, things were a little hectic with Aiden arriving before the sun was completely up with all my and Shea’s things, as well as my most important tools.

Maeve and Kara joined him to come and say goodbye .

It was hard. Harder than I’d ever expected to say goodbye to them. Even though I knew I’d see them again, Aiden was putting the girls on a flight out today. The clean-up had started, and with the amount of bruises Aiden was sporting, it looked like it had been brutal.

When it came time to leave, I clung to them—the four of us in a tight huddle.

It had been the four of us against the odds for so long that I wasn’t sure how to not have them in my life daily.

Finally, I had to let them go. “Be safe,” I whisper to each of them, kissing the girls on their cheeks.

Wrapping my arms around my big brother, I hug him tight.

“You watch your back, Aiden. Let me know when it’s over and done with so that we can visit. ”

“I will,” he assures me, kissing my head before turning me over to Coal, who was holding Shea.

Coal wraps an arm around me and tugs me under his arm as Aiden reaches for Shea, zooming her up, making her laugh before bringing her down and hugging her to him.

His eyes close for a minute, but it’s enough for us to see the weariness.

Kissing Shea on the cheek, he hands her back to us.

“Look after my family, Wraith. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to visit. ”

“I will,” Coal reassures him, holding out his hand. “Call us if you need anything. Family is always there for family,” Coal informs him.

Aiden nods and turns on his heel, ushering the girls to their vehicle. I don’t even notice my tears until Coal runs a finger along my cheek and presses his lips to my hair, whispering, “He’ll be okay. He kept you all safe while under your father. He can do this.”

“You’re right,” I agree with a nod. “It’s just I’ve not been apart from any of them for a long time.”

We’re interrupted by Shea smacking her hands on Coal’s face and babbling at him. He laughs and tosses her up into the air. “Getting impatient, baby girl. I guess you’re right. It’s time to leave. We have a long journey.”

Turning, he hands a smiley Shea to me, saying, “It’s a long journey. Let us know if you get tired and we’ll stop. I’ve arranged for us to stay in a motel tonight about halfway. It’s not good for Shea to be cooped up in a car seat for too long. We’ll continue the trip tomorrow.”

“There you go again, being sweet.” Rising to my tiptoes, I kiss his cheek, “Thank you, and I’ll let you know if I need to pull over. ”

Settling Shea in her car seat, I climb into the front of the vehicle they’ve hired for me.

Coal taps on the window, so I press the release button, allowing it to slide down, “We’ll be in front of you; if you need to stop, flash your lights at the mile marker before the services and we’ll know to get off the motorway. ”

“Okay,” I confirm. I’d been wondering how we were going to communicate with each other. We’ll need to get Bluetooth set up and hands-free for long journeys. I’d have to mention it to him. I was surprised that they didn’t have it already.

I’m brought out of my thoughts by Coal turning my face towards his.

I freeze in surprise when his lips take mine in a kiss.

My eyes feel like they’re going to pop out of my head when he draws back, and I take a shaky breath before leaning forward and placing my lips back on his.

When his lips part under mine and his tongue presses against mine, I moan as we deepen the kiss.

My belly clenches, and I press my knees together as I feel a tug low in my belly.

Whimpering faintly when he pulls back from me but not before pressing small, nipping kisses to the corners of my mouth.

“Fuck me, baby, it’s going to be an uncomfortable ride for me,” Coal mutters hoarsely. “I can’t wait to get you home.”

Until that moment, I’d wondered if the attraction I felt was one-sided, but it seemed like it wasn’t, which surprised me no end.

Our stare is broken by Bolt shouting, “Pres, we’ve got to get on the road!”

“Coming,” Coal calls over his shoulder before turning back to me. “Drive safely, baby.” He looks over my shoulder at the back of the car where Shea is safely ensconced in the most expensive car seat I’ve ever seen. “Be good for your mammy, baby girl.”

Shea burbles something at him, and he smiles at her. My heart flutters. Coal is hot all the time, and I’m not sure he realises it, but when he’s sweet to my girl, he’s smoking. I’m not certain how I got so lucky.

All the men I’ve met so far were good-looking. Coal was, without question, my favourite. With his dark black hair, green eyes, and a beard that was neither unruly nor too short. His shoulders were wide and his arms muscular, but his arse— ‘Oh my word, his arse’ —was something else.

I got a good view of it after he tapped on the top of my door, turned, and walked towards his sled, swinging a muscular thigh over it and settling in his seat.

Biting my lip, I focus my gaze on the flex and flow of his muscles encased in his tight jeans.

There was no way I wasn’t admiring his arse in those jeans because, fuck me, it was delicious.

Reminding myself to focus as the bikes—no, sorry, sleds, this lot called them sleds—pull out, and I follow on behind, waving at Butcher as I drive past. I’d known who he was before Coal introduced us. You couldn’t do business in the underworld without knowing about him.

It was a long trip, but Shea was as good as gold, and we made it all the way to the motel that Coal had booked before she made a peep.

We’d gone out for dinner at the local pub, and Shea was passed from lap to lap when she tired of her highchair.

As for me, I was having the best evening I’d ever had, and it wasn’t even a date.

Coal was attentive and seemed to know what I needed before I did.

Currently, I was snug under his arm, resting against his chest, and laughing at a story that Bolt and Blue were telling.

Shea was fast asleep against Copper’s chest, having given up the ghost a few minutes ago.

I stifle a yawn with my hand, reluctant to leave the camaraderie of the men who’d kept me entertained through dinner. I was comfy, warm, and relaxed for the first time in what seemed to be forever.

“Are you tired, baby?” Coal whispers. Tilting my head back on his shoulder, I look up at him.

“A little, but I’m having a great time and don’t want to move.”

Pressing his lips to my forehead, he smiles, “I’m glad, but it looks like our princess is way past tired, and honestly, I’m ready for bed.”

“Okay,” I say, sitting up. Coal stands and drops some money on the table. Leaning over, he takes Shea from Copper and settles her on his shoulder before reaching for my hand and tugging me up to stand next to him. Grabbing Shea’s nappy bag, I slip it over my shoulder.

“Not too late, guys,” Coal warns. “We’re leaving at six tomorrow so we can get home by ten.”

“Gotcha, Pres,” Iron nods. Some of the brothers follow suit while some do a chin lift.

We leave them to finish up and walk over to our room.

When we get inside, it doesn’t take us long to get ready for bed once I’ve put Shea down in the travel cot that appeared out of our vehicle and ended up set up in our room as if by magic.

These men never fail to surprise me. I’m not used to having so many helping hands.

Before long, I’m slipping into the cool sheets, my eyes closing as soon as my head hits the pillow.

Coal comes out of the bathroom and settles into bed next to me, wrapping his arm around me and dragging me closer to him.

It seems natural to rest my head on his shoulder, slide a leg over his hips, and rest my hand on his chest.

“Night, baby,” Coal whispers in the darkness.

“Night,” I respond, and as easy as that, I drift off to sleep.

It surprises me how quickly I’ve come to trust the man lying beside me.

You’d think that with my history I wouldn’t, but so far, he’s done everything that he promised me.

For once, I was going to look on the bright side.

Of course, I still had to meet his mam and da.

They may take one look at me and Shea and decide we were more hassle than we were worth. But that was a worry for tomorrow.