Page 34 of Coal (QUEENS WRAITHS MC #2)

COAL

Walking into our house is something else.

It’s loud, with laughter blending in with the shouting.

I never mind it. Our house is a happy house filled with love.

Today, the shouts and laughter are coming from the back and the play area the brothers and I’d set up there years ago because we didn’t want our kids too close to the clubhouse should any shit go down.

We felt they were safer behind the gate and fence we’d put up. Over the years, the brothers have moved from the static caravans and built houses close to where Thea and I live, meaning that we’re all within shouting distance and our kids are in and out of our houses.

The static caravans are still there, but we use them to hold any of our rescues that need a safe place to land for a bit before they move on.

On the kitchen cabinet is a note and present from my wife. My woman’s awesome. Even after all these years, she’s still looking out for me. Picking it up, I hide my hand behind my back and walk out my back door, and I’m immediately hit in the face with a squirt of water.

Spluttering, I wipe at my face and look into familiar brown eyes so like her mother’s, “Oh shit, Da, I’m sorry,” Shea’s eyes are wide, but I can see the mischief in them.

“That’s okay, baby girl,” I say, wiping at my face before taking my hand from behind my back. I shoot at her with the water gun Thea had left me in the kitchen. Except this one has a few modifications.

Shea squeals and tries to run, but I pounce and swing her over my shoulder, jogging towards the pool.

It’s a hot summer’s day, over thirty degrees.

To prepare for the heatwave we’d been expecting, Bolt had put the pool up, and it has been used daily.

The kids must have got bored with just the pool and decided that water guns would be more fun.

When I get to the pool, I stop because it’s full of Old Ladies, all with drinks in hand like they’re at some fancy spa.

Chuckling, I let Shea slide from my shoulder and onto her feet. She’s laughing and red-faced.

“It’s your lucky day, Shea-Shea. The Old Ladies are in the pool.”

Shea throws her arms around me. “I’m glad you’re home, Da.

We missed you.” At ten years old, my girl is tall like her mother and just as gorgeous.

We had three more after Shea. I love all my kids, but Shea and me?

We have a special bond. Maybe it’s because she’s my only girl, or maybe it’s because of how she became mine.

I don’t know, and I don’t really care as long as she’s happy. That’s all that matters.

Pressing my lips to her head, I return her embrace, “Missed you too, baby girl. Let me say hi to your mam, and then I’ll come and play with you all.”

“Okay,” she agrees and scampers off, calling for her brothers who hadn’t even realised that I’ve arrived home.

Thea stands up in the pool, and lust hits me hard when all her lush curves are revealed in the teal bikini she’s got on.

“Jesus, baby. I promised the kids I’d play with them,” I mutter hoarsely, my arms enclosing her, ignoring the way the cool water soaks into my shirt. I kiss her long, hard, and deep. I’ve been away from home for a few days on a run, and it has felt like weeks .

Thea laughs when we come up for air and runs her wet hands through my hair that, in the last year, has started to go grey. “Missed you, husband.” She pats my chest, looking at me through lowered lids and bites her lip as she runs her hand over my chest, then sighs and steps back.

“Go play with the kids. Your mam and da are taking them tonight, and then you’re all mine.”

“Fuck yes,” I rumble, kissing her one more time before I kick off my boots and throw my shirt on one of the loungers. Laughing as my Old Lady wolf-whistles at me as I jog away to huddle with my kids to make a plan of attack against their cousins and uncles.

We play hard, and the kids are tuckered out by the time Mom and Dad load them up. They’d no sooner left than I was chasing my laughing wife through our house towards our bedroom, where we spent the rest of the evening and night making up for the last few nights.

“God, I missed you, baby,” I tell her, breathing heavily. I roll onto my back and take Thea with me. She immediately settles in her favourite position on my chest.

“Missed you too,” she says, pressing a kiss to my chest. “I slept like shite. Hate not having you in our bed. Going to sleep like a baby tonight,” she yawns, snuggling deeper into me.

“Love you, baby,” I tell her, knowing it won’t be long before she’s asleep.

“Love you, Coal, a chuisle mo chroí, ” she replies sleepily, “Thank you for a beautiful life.”

THE END

Thank you for reading Coal. I hope you enjoyed him and Thea’s book. Bolt is up next in the 25 Days of Christmas series. He’s on pre-order and will be out on the 13 th December 2025.