Page 17

Slate

I t seemed weird not having the old ladies popping in to see him. His brothers did, and Artemis and Irish, but it was strange. There was a heaviness in the air, and it was affecting everyone. The hospital was readying itself for the war. Slate had no doubt casualties would be high on both sides.

Drake took his leave as he’d to organise things and go over plans with Howser one more time.

Slate had been hearing bike pipes all day and guessed allies were arriving. Phoe had managed to secure housing for everyone, using Reading Hall and the clubhouse and spare bedrooms in member’s houses.

Howser wanted everyone positioned, safe from ambush. Nurses and doctors hurried back and forth.

Inside Slate’s room, though, it was peaceful. Too damn peaceful. Slate needed to be out there helping and instead was lying battered and bruised in a bed. Talk about shit timing.

Night had fallen, and Slate had one day left with Jaelynn before she was whisked away to safety. He had to ensure he claimed Jaelynn.

“Marry me,” he murmured.

“What?”

“Be my old lady,” Slate stated.

“Seriously!” Jaelynn squealed.

Slate winced.

Jaelynn lowered her voice. “Do you mean that?”

“Yes. I want my ring on your finger, my cut on your back, and you on the back of my bike forever. I want crazy aunts and two dogs that keep shedding fuckin’ hair everywhere,” Slate replied.

“Wait till the summer,” Jaelynn stated, wincing as she thought how Molly and Roscoe would moult then.

“Marry me. Axel is ordained to carry out marriages. We can get Axel here and marry tonight,” Slate insisted.

Jaelynn went quiet. “Call Axel, and I’ll phone Aunt Elsie and Dorothy,” she ordered after a few moments.

Slate grinned. “Fuckin’ love you, baby.”

“Back at you,” Jaelynn said, pulling him down for a kiss.

◆◆◆

Jaelynn looked amused. She remained curled on the bed against Slate’s side, but her aunts had bullied her into a white blouse and brushed her hair. Dorothy had applied a light makeup. Between her two aunts, Phoe, and Axel’s old lady Ellen, Jaelyn had her something old, something new, something blue and borrowed.

Axel appeared to have a huge mouth because all the Rage brothers had turned up, plus the Presidents and VPs of the other clubs. Ramirez and Ben were also lurking with Nando and Bobby Lucas. Their room hadn’t been big enough for everyone, so Doc Paul had their bed wheeled to a large area where events were held for the hospital. Mac was live streaming because the old ladies had been informed, and they’d all linked in.

“That’s a new one, the bride and groom getting married in a bed,” someone said.

“Shut up, Carly,” another woman hissed.

“What, Andi? Am I wrong or what?” Carly retorted.

“Shut the fuck up, it’s my wedding!” Slate growled out, and every girl facing the camera glared

“I’d hit him, but Slate’s hurt,” Ellen said, waggling a finger.

Slate shrugged. He wanted this over with. Why the hell couldn’t Axel have just turned up with two witnesses, and hey presto, it was done?

“Got you something,” Savage said, putting a small box in his hand.

“A ring?” Slate murmured.

“One each for both of you. I had to guess sizes, so I hope they fit,” Savage replied.

“Thanks, brother.”

“Dearly beloved…” Axel began, and all attention swapped to him.

Slate settled in because Axel’s services were often short and funny. His wedding would be no different.

Someone had bought cake, and food appeared from nowhere. Slate didn’t question it. No doubt several takeaways had been tapped. There was no booze because they were in a hospital, but Slate was planning a massive blowout when the war was finished. Jaelynn would get her celebration.

Three hours later, they were both tired and falling asleep, and Doc Paul insisted on returning them to their room. One by one, friends, allies, brothers and old ladies took their leave until they were alone. Doc Paul had them pushed back to their room, and he pulled the blinds with a wink.

“I want to sleep with you,” Jaelynn announced, surprising him.

“You’ve been doing that on and off all day,” Slate replied, amused.

“No, I want sex, but we’re not in the fittest shape,” Jaelynn said.

Jaelynn

Slate stiffened.

Had I asked the wrong thing? Was Slate not attracted to me because of all the bruises covering my body?

“Are you sure?” Slate questioned, sounding guttural.

“Yes.” The word had barely left my mouth before Slate reached over and kissed me thoroughly. He dragged me across his body as his good hand slowly roamed mine. He cupped my ass and squeezed.

“I love this, it’s fuckin’ peachy. One day, I’m going to bite it all over and feast on it,” Slate murmured.

“Not today with your injuries.”

Slate grinned. He rolled onto his side, and Slate’s fingers cupped my breast.

I braced, but it felt fine, and I relaxed. Slate kissed me as his hand kneaded my breast, and his mouth made love to me. We’d shared some pretty hot kisses, but this seemed different. There was a pressure between my thighs that really wanted alleviating, and I needed Slate inside me. But rushing would be a mistake. My last sexual encounter had been horrific.

Slate seemed to read my mind as he brought me to arousal slowly. Slate kept kissing me as he moved his hand down between my legs.

The moment Slate touched me there, I stiffened, and a sob of fear escaped me. Slate immediately removed his hand and hauled me close as he rubbed my back.

“I want this. What’s wrong with me?” I felt sick and was shaking, and it was taking everything not to run off screaming.

“It’s fine, baby, I can wait,” Slate gritted out. His cock was hard against my leg, and my pussy was begging.

“What if you just shove it in?” I suggested, and Slate recoiled.

“No, babe, that’s force, and I won’t subject you to that,” Slate hissed.

“But I’m giving you permission. Slate, I want you, but my mind is screaming no,” I said as tears trickled down my cheeks.

“Jaelynn, you were almost raped. Seconds away from being forcefully penetrated. Of course your head is scared. That sort of trauma stays with you. I can wait as long as need be, but therapy is needed,” Slate murmured.

“No. This isn’t fair, I need to have sex,” I wailed, and Slate laughed.

“I want you, Jaelynn, but your health is more important than my cock and his demands.”

I lay there as I cried myself out and snuggled into Slate. A thought crossed my mind, and I started kissing his chest. Slate lay under me and didn’t move.

“Maybe…” I murmured as my hands began exploring what I could of Slate. I had to be mindful of his bad shoulder and side.

My hand moved downwards, followed by my lips, and I grasped Slate’s cock firmly.

Slate hissed, and I moved my hand up and down, and tiny droplets of pre-cum appeared.

A wanton smile crossed my lips as I bent my head and put him in my mouth.

Slate’s hips lifted off the bed, and a ragged gasp of pain left his lips. I stopped and hit the pain relief button.

“That may be the best way to do this,” I said as I latched back onto his dick.

I took him deep, and Slate’s breathing changed. It hitched and sped up as I played with Slate’s balls and sucked him off. His cock was long and thick, and I had to hollow my cheeks to take him.

Slate’s hips moved, but we were both being careful; he had stitches, and we didn’t want to reopen them.

Slate’s fingers wound through my hair, holding me in place as he carefully thrust into my mouth. Tiny moans left him as his dick pulsed in my mouth.

Feeling empowered, I wrenched my head free and licked his long shaft, and Slate shuddered.

“Keep your hands up,” I whispered as I climbed his body and straddled him. My pussy was wet and pulsing, and I needed Slate inside me or I’d burst.

“Jaelynn, don’t force this,” Slate ordered, his eyes flying open.

“Shhhh. Let me try,” I replied. Moving Slate’s dick into place, I experienced a momentary hesitation. There was a cock between my legs again… but this time I welcomed it.

My body relaxed as I fed Slate into me and slid down until he was fully sheathed.

My eyes closed in bliss as my pussy walls spasmed around Slate. Aware I couldn’t go to town on his body like I wished, I lifted and pushed down.

Slate slammed inside me, taking my breath away.

“Lift your knees,” I ordered. Slate did, and I laid back against them and held on as I began moving. I couldn’t go mad because of our injuries, but this speed should be okay.

My control was fraying as Slate’s cock moved in and out, and I felt the pressure in my pussy.

Slate applied friction to my g-spot, and I closed my eyes as I sensed my orgasm break, and I slammed down hard. His cock pulsed inside me; he was close too, and it only pushed me further to the edge.

A cry left my mouth as Slate spilt inside, and I ground against him, milking our joint orgasms.

With a happy cry, I fell back against Slate’s knees as I held his cum deep inside me.

“We forgot birth control,” I said with a laugh.

Slate opened his eyes and looked at me. “Who gives a shit?” he demanded. He reached over and grabbed a towel.

“Use this,” he said as I eased myself off. I shoved it between my legs and rolled next to him.

“Are you okay?” Slate demanded.

“Yes. I couldn’t handle you touching me, but if I was on top and in charge, I didn’t feel as panicked. And I really needed sex with you.”

Slate laughed. “We can build up to things, but, babe, consider therapy. Rape leaves a scar, I don’t want you to have an open wound. And I really need to get kinky with you,” he teased.

I laughed, with a hell of a lot of relief. I’d managed to be intimate with the man I loved. That was a huge step forward.

Slate was right, we deserved a normal sex life. And I’d make sure we’d get one. Tonight may have been quick and without a lot of foreplay and fun, but I’d accomplished it. Plus, I had the whole night ahead—an entire lifetime—for intimate activities, and I could bring him back inside me later.

Oh yeah, I smiled against Slate’s warm skin as I kissed it. There was a lot I could do to my husband, and I got busy doing it.

Slate

Jaelynn had tears in her eyes as she stood by the steps leading to the plane. We’d been discharged this morning, and this was the final flight. Phoe had delayed it, hoping Silvie would make it, but she was still fighting, although winning now, against her infection. Everyone else was on the plane but Jaelynn.

“Don’t make me leave,” she begged. Slate held her close as he ran a hand down her back.

“Baby. We may have made a baby. God knows I gave it my best. You need to be safe and ensure that our baby is too,” Slate murmured.

“If there is one,” Jaelynn argued.

“Let’s hope so,” Slate replied.

“Come with us,” Jaelynn begged.

“Honey, I can’t. I have to stay and fight. This is my city and home. Even if I man the communications pod and free someone up from there, it’s something that will help. You gotta go, babe,” Slate said and sounded choked. “I love you.”

Jaelynn flung herself at him and held Slate tightly before she stiffly climbed the stairs. She waved bye and disappeared inside.

Slate moved back to the SUV that Drake had driven with her aunts, Phoe, and the dogs in.

“This is fuckin’ hard,” Slate said.

“Yeah. But it’s for the best. It’s time to fight, brother,” Drake said, clasping Slate on the shoulder.

“Yeah. It is,” Slate agreed.

He watched as the plane took off and a weight lifted from his shoulders. His wife and possible child were safe. Should anything befall him, Jaelynn would be protected. She was an old lady, and Jaelynn had the same rights as every other claimed woman. Any old lady whose man fell over the next few days would never be alone.

Rage had a family behind them, Slate thought. And that family was called Rage MC.