Page 184 of Preacher Man

He had two titles before she got to know who he truly was; manwhore and biker. Neither of which appealed to her. Until one day she took a risk on a deep-seated attraction and she turned his page, she thumbed through his chapters, making notes, her mental kindle highlighted in bright pink of his special moments and by the end of the final word she knew Preacher was her favorite book.

Generous of spirit, so damn generous, how did a man like him even exist in this big bad ugly world? His own heart had been empty and hollowed out by grief and tragedy, stuck on pause within his own mind, hurting and still he'd reached out to her when she’d needed it the most and became her savior, the safeguard against a world not so kind to her.

She'd judged him brutally in the beginning, unfairly so, he was neither just one thing or another, he was colored outside of the lines, he was the box you had to think outside of, there was so much more to Asher Priest than most saw. And that was the thing, despite everything they faced, would face in the future raising a small child neither had the first idea how to do that truly, they were finding their way as they went, they'd do it together. Mistakes, flaws and bad days, they'd be together.

Love wasn’t something each had looked for, Preacher wanted the fast sex, it found them both when they were least expecting it and when they needed it the most.

Love was funny like that. Leaving Preacher to do what he had to do, she slid a frozen pizza into the oven, added chicken wings for her guys.

She could hear Seb giggling at cartoons on the TV in the other room, the noise of his little boy laugh made her smile.I’ll take care of him, sissy, I swear. I miss you. I’ll always miss you, but I’ll be a good mama to your boy.She swallowed past the lump of sadness. One day at a time, Pastor Danny told her recently. Grieving was a process. Fortunately for Ruby, she had a little man and a bigger man to always help raise her up when she falls.

His arms came around her from behind a while later, he smelled of the summer air as he brushed his smile against the back of her neck, arching greedily asking for more he didn’t disappoint, he skimmed his lips and beard the full length.

"Everything alright?" She inquired, lacing their fingers together.

"Yeah, beautiful, all's good now. In fact. I got you something earlier when I was picking up my wedding band.” Sandpaper rough voice, her eyes lit up. Oh yeah, he wore a platinum wedding band to match hers now, back off waitresses.

Greedy for gifts she spun in his arms and wiggled her fingers. She hoped it was chocolate. He produced a little box in front of her face and stepped back while she carefully unwrapped it.

It wasn’t chocolate.

“Oh, Asher.” A white gold bracelet sat inside a long box. Twisted metal curving in on itself. He was fastening it around her wrist before she spoke again. “It’s gorgeous. You absolutely should have, I really do deserve it.” He grinned that smile that did funny hot things to her belly.

“You do, beautiful. It’s engraved.” Oh, it was. Twisting it around to see on each link in small cursive lettering was;Without you, I don’t make sense.

"Asher. Ugh, you’re gonna make me cry." There was no gonna, Ruby was crying. Preacher pulled her in, rubbed her back, and pervert that he was, gave her ass a little squeeze to make her laugh. She stayed within the nest of his massive arms, safe, loved and warm.

“I love you so much.”

“Back at you and more, beautiful.” Hands fisted in her naturally curly hair. “Now, can I interest you in a little one-on-one while the little cockblocker is busy with his cartoons? I know this Priest you can pray to on your knees.” Oh, the wickedness of this man.

Ruby looped both arms around his neck, up on her tiptoes she brushed their lips together, a promise of what was to come. “You’re always my one,” she whispered.

“Hey, Ruby?”

“Yeah?” A little more kissing. He put his mouth against her ear.

“"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

The world stopped moving.

Ruby gasped blinking up at a smiling Preacher like he just knew he was about to get so laid.So,fucking laid. He'd just given her the biggest lady-boner.

She squealed and then laughed. “Did you just quotethebest movie of all time at me? You did. You really fricking did.” Fingers grasped his beard, Ruby tugged him down to her mouth, crashing their lips, making them one.

It’s true what they say, that if you just have enough faith in God he gives you exactly what you require to be happy.

And sometimes, in those rare distinct times, he presents a Preacher to lead you out of the shade.

There was nothing but light in Ruby’s future.

That, and a lot of sex. Starting in the kitchen.

THE END