Page 27 of Hard as Stone (Stoneheart MC #2)
POPPY
Three months later
“So,” I say, perched on the bathroom counter in our quarters at the clubhouse, “remember how you kept talking about putting a baby in me?”
Axel freezes in the act of brushing his teeth, toothbrush hanging from his mouth as his eyes lock with mine in the mirror. He spits, rinses, then turns to face me with an intensity that makes my toes curl.
“Trouble,” he growls, stepping between my legs, “what are you trying to tell me?”
I hold up the pregnancy test, positive sign clearly visible. “Looks like all that practice finally paid off, Road Captain.”
For a moment, he just stares at the plastic stick in my hand. Then his eyes lift to mine, and the raw emotion I see there steals my breath.
“You’re sure?” His voice is rough as his hands settle on my thighs.
“Got the blood test results this morning.” I bite my lip, suddenly nervous. “I know we haven’t really talked timing, or how this fits with my work schedule and?—”
His mouth crashes into mine, cutting off my rambling. The kiss is deep, possessive, full of promise and love and something that feels a lot like forever. When he finally pulls back, we’re both breathing hard.
“Marry me,” he says against my lips.
I blink. “What?”
“Marry me.” His hands frame my face. “Be my wife, not just my old lady. Let me give our kid my name, make us official in every way possible.”
“Axel...” Tears prick at my eyes. Damn hormones. “Are you sure? I mean, I’m already yours. The patch?—”
“Isn’t enough.” His thumb brushes away a tear that escapes. “I want it all with you, Poppy. The ring, the ceremony, the whole damn thing. I want everyone to know you chose me, that we chose each other.”
“Even though I’m a troublemaker who tried to tip over your bike?”
His laugh is low and rich. “Especially because of that.” He kisses me again, softer this time. “So what do you say, trouble? Want to make an honest man out of your biker?”
I pretend to consider, even as joy bubbles up in my chest. “Well, I guess Thorn is a pretty cool surname…”
“Is that a yes?”
I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. “That’s a hell yes.”
The grin he gives me is everything. “Good. Because I’ve had something ready for a while now, just waiting for the right moment.”
“Axel…”
His grin widens as he takes my hand, leading me out of the bathroom and into our bedroom. He guides me to sit on the edge of our bed, the mattress sinking slightly under my weight.
“Just give me a minute.”
Pulling open the drawer on his nightstand, his tattooed fingers fumble with something inside. My heart quickens as he glances up at me, then holds out his hand.
In his palm lies a delicate silver ring, glimmering in the soft light of our room. It’s simple yet elegant, adorned with a single diamond that catches the light like a tiny star, and I can barely breathe as I take it in.
“It’s perfect,” I whisper, in awe of his ability to choose a ring that is so ‘me’, as he gets down on his knee and slides it onto my finger.
“You’re perfect.” He wraps his hands around my hips, leaning in and pressing a kiss to my still-only-round-with-too-much-food tummy. “Both of you.”
And here, in our quarters, with morning sunlight streaming through the window, I finally understand what true happiness feels like. It’s not about fancy houses or perfect families or living up to someone else’s expectations.
It’s this—a big bad biker and his sassy traffic girl, building something real and lasting and completely our own.
“I love you,” I say, running my fingers through his hair, down his beard until my hand is on his chest.
He looks up at me, gray eyes that have seen straight into my soul from the moment we met. “Love you too, trouble. Always will.”
The club will probably make a huge deal about the engagement and baby. There will be parties and planning and probably more than a few inappropriate gifts from our crazy MC family. But right now, in this perfect moment, it’s just us.
Just me and my Road Captain, ready to start our next great adventure.
Together.
Thanks for reading!