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I can’t remember how we got home or anything else about the next couple of days. Entirely numb, I hardly speak to Vegas or anyone else. Today, we’re meeting to arrange Carl’s funeral to be held on Thursday. We’ve delayed the rally until Friday and informed the Restless Slayers, who were very understanding.

The mood at the clubhouse is subdued. Everyone’s minds are on Carl and his blood family, or rather, the lack thereof.

The funeral will be simple. Spen and Dawg did most of the organizing. We’ll bury Carl in the club cemetery, on club land. The local minister will hold a short service and give him a proper sendoff. We’ll meet the hearse in town and ride behind it along his favorite roads. Clusseaud planned the route and, of course, he’ll have a Harley hearse. Jamie will ride Carl’s bike up front.

Caroline, Ally, and I are planning the wake here at the clubhouse. It’s to be a celebration of his life, which is what he would have wanted. He’d want us to laugh and joke, eat, drink, and be merry. And for him, we’ll try.

I went into the attic this morning and pulled out boxes of photographs. Caroline and Ally are sorting through to find some good ones of Carl that we’ll have blown up and hung on the walls. There will be a Harley emblem in flowers placed over the coffin and the word ‘Brother’ spelled out in white carnations. Chloe called to ask when the funeral was, so we invited her. She was close to Carl, albeit only for a short time.

Thursday morning arrives and we all quietly gather at the clubhouse. Vegas disappears with Spen and returns with a large box. “This is for you. I thought you might want it today.” A small smile plays around his eyes as I take the box from him and open it. When I realize what’s under the tissue wrapper, I burst into tears and jump into his arms. With my legs wrapped around his waist, he chuckles and sits us down on a sofa. I’m trying hard not to cry because it would ruin my makeup, which I applied just for Carl.

“Thank you,” I whisper in my man’s ear. He holds me close and strokes my back, then he gently smacks my butt.

“Come on, get up and put it on,” he tells me.

I oblige and shrug on my new cut. It has the Stormy Souls top rocker on the back, and on the front left, it has three patches. The top one reads, ‘Princess’, while the second one says, ‘Property of Vegas’. A little lower, just above my heart, is the last patch. ‘Flakey, 09/20/2021’. Tears well up, and I can’t stop a few from falling as the guys stand around me, clapping and hooting. With my hand over Flakey’s patch, I take a small bow.

It’s almost time to go, and the roar of bikes is getting louder. Lots of clubs are joining us today to lay Flakey to rest. Restless Slayers MC has sent condolences, flowers, and now thirty of their bikes ride through the gates. I watch as Ghoul, the VP, and Masher, the SAA, step forward, hugging and back-slapping Raven and the other officers.

We mount up and start riding, with Raven at the front on Carl’s bike, followed by Slender and Pennywise, then the other officers and the rest of the members riding in double file formation behind Jamie. The Restless Slayers MC are also riding in formation behind us.

At every corner we pass, more bikes join us. Small clubs, normal citizens, Carl was popular, and the advertising for the bone marrow donor drive has touched many. By the time we get to the funeral home and meet the hearse, the line of bikers is massive. The Harley hearse takes the lead, and Jamie raises his arm, the procession waiting to follow behind him. I turn around and see hundreds of bikes behind us. People are stopping in the street, bowing their heads in respect. We ride for about an hour, slowly making our way toward the clubhouse. About a mile away, the hearse stops.

We all stop and take our helmets off. We ride the last mile without lids, very slowly. At the gate, the hearse stops again. Raven stands, both feet on the floor, straddling Carl’s beloved bike and starts revving.

The roar of over a hundred Harleys thunders in respect and appreciation of our brother, Carl. He would have loved it.

After a minute, the hearse slowly rolls through the gate and everyone follows up the path to the small cemetery. All bikes are parked on both sides of the road, forming an honor guard along the path to the cemetery, while the hearse waits halfway.

Dawg, Dougal, Vegas, Ferret, Jamie, and Slender step up to receive the coffin. They carry our brother to his final resting place, followed by Mom, Pennywise, me, and the rest of the club. The minister holds a short service, and finally, we each throw some earth onto his coffin. The girls each add a flower, and the guys each pour a shot of Carl’s favorite liquor into the grave. One by one, in our own time, we make our way back down to the clubhouse to celebrate his life.

The main room and bar area have been decorated beautifully, with lots of pictures of Carl everywhere, his smile looking at us from every angle. Around us, a lot of singing, drinking and talking, telling stories about his life, his friendships, and his mishaps, but above all, about his loyalty.

I look around, smiling. I’m sure Carl is watching and raising his glass to us from Heaven. Vegas has not left my side all day, and when I look at him, it hits me just how lucky I am to have found this special man, who I love to the moon and back.

He’s my strength, my support, my confidante. The one who loves me, keeps me safe and in line, and makes me unbelievably happy. The emotion is almost overwhelming. I realize I want nothing more than to feel his babies growing inside me, to build a home and a family with him. He’s it for me, forever.

I pull on his cut to get his attention and motion to the door. He wraps his arm around me and we walk outside. Lots of people are loitering around the picnic benches and oil drum fires dotted throughout the yard. We make our way to one of the benches, and I stand between Vegas’s legs as he sits on the table.

“Are you okay, princess?” he asks softly.

“Have I told you today how much I love you?” I ask just as softly, leaning in and capturing his lips with mine. As I pull back, I smile up at him. “I’m fine, Vince. I was just looking at you and a few thoughts crossed my mind.”

He looks at me with soft eyes and asks, “Oh, yeah? What are they? Do I need to worry?”

I tilt my head to the side, appearing deep in thought when I reply, “Hmm, that depends, honey. What would you say if I told you I’ve changed my mind?” I wink at him, but he looks confused.

“About what?” he asks.

“About having ten children with you, of course.” I smirk at him. The look on his face is priceless. Several emotions race over his handsome features at once—confusion, shock, understanding—and then he breaks into a blinding smile.

“Have you now?” he asks, pulling me closer. “What changed your mind?”

“I thought about Carl and how we only have one chance at life. We have to live every day as best and as hard as we can. It’s not a dress rehearsal. You never know what’s around the corner. I don’t mind looking back, regretting some things I’ve done, but if Carl has taught me anything, it’s not to have regrets about things I didn’t do,” I explain. Vegas pulls me even closer and kisses me deeply, his tongue stroking mine languidly. My panties are on fire right now. How does he manage that with just one kiss?

“So, princess, when do you want to start practicing?” he whispers in my ear.

“How about right now?” I respond.

A shriek escapes me as he lifts me up and carries me through the clubhouse, wolf whistles following us everywhere. He opens the door to his room, then kicks it shut behind us.

Pushing me against the door, he pins me there by my wrists, and I can feel his erection pushing into me. He lifts me higher, and I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist. His tongue delves into my mouth, and as I moan, I feel his dick jump in his jeans, putting pressure on my clit.

I balance myself against the door and start rubbing my wet, denim-clad heat against his hardness, chasing the friction I need from him right now. He breaks the kiss and stands back from me, eyes dark with lust.

“Off,” he commands, pointing at my clothes. I jump into action and get undressed at lightning speed, toeing off my socks last and kicking them and my jeans away from me. My breasts are heaving, nipples pebbled and in dire need of attention. I feel the heat and wetness between my legs and rub my thighs together to give my aching clit some relief. Vegas opens his button fly and takes out his hard length, stroking it. I lick my lips, needing to taste him. Not being able to is driving me insane.

His hands reach under my butt cheeks and lift me. I automatically wrap my legs around his waist again and scream in pleasure when he shoves into me to the hilt in one big push. Whimpering, though not in pain, he reads my reaction and starts fucking me hard against the door. I don’t care who hears us. I whimper, moan, mewl, and scream as much and as loud as I need to.

He’s driving me out of my mind and even closer to the edge with each long, hard stroke.

“Yes, baby, fuck me hard,” I groan, and he’s only too happy to oblige. the tingle of an impending orgasm starts all the way down at my toes and begins to travel upwards.

As wave after wave of pleasure rolls through me, I scream his name and throw my head back. Suddenly, I feel myself fall and bounce on the bed. I hadn’t even noticed that moved. He’s right back inside me, taking my nipple into his mouth, teasing and sucking it, his teeth nibbling it. He bites down and a harsh pain shoots through me, but as it ebbs away, it turns into deep pleasure. He repeats the same with the other nipple, switching his attention back and forth while powering into me. I feel myself building again under his passionate strokes, fucking me hard. Writhing, I fist and clench the bed sheet, writhing. I can’t keep still, so I push back hard and meet him stroke for stroke.

“You’re going to make me come again,” I groan breathlessly.

“Come for me, princess,” he commands as he clamps his teeth around my nipple. The orgasm that hits me instantly is intense. Wave after wave of ecstasy causes my whole body to spasm. Vegas grunts loudly and roots deep inside me. His hot cum releases into me, again and again, with force, and his erection jumps inside me every time my walls clench around him. It’s mind blowing.

We’re both trying to catch our breaths when Vegas slowly rolls to the side, taking me with him. I snuggle into him and sigh happily. “You’re going to kill me one of those days.” He chuckles. “Here lies Vegas, fucked to death by his old lady but deliriously happy. That’s what they’ll put on my tombstone,” he teases.

“You didn’t complain five minutes ago,” I banter right back.

???

A few hours and several orgasms later, we make it back downstairs, where the party is in full swing. Caroline makes her way toward me, and Vegas smiles and watches her saunter over. At the last moment, she stumbles and bumps into me hard. She grabs hold of my cut and rightens herself.

“So sorry, my lovely, I gotta watch where I’m going. How are you, sweets? What a grand party we’ve put together, don’t you think? He’d love this!”

She looks at me, her eyes shining with tears, and suddenly so are mine.

“Yeah, Caroline, he’d have loved this.” We hug and she makes her way back to Dawg, who winks at Vegas.

I notice Vegas looking at Raven over the crowd, and they nod to each other. They have finally put their issues aside, and it makes me happy to see them get on so well now. Raven jumps on top of the bar and the room slowly quietens.

“Now that we’re all finally here,” he throws a knowing glance at Vegas and cat calls break out in the room, causing my face to burn bright red with embarrassment, “we can all raise our glasses and remember our brother, Flakey, who in life as in death is unforgettable. He was the best brother anyone could wish for, and he showed strength, loyalty, and dignity right to the end. Thanks to everyone for coming from near and far to support us on this difficult day and to honor our brother. Ride free, brother. May the sun always be at your back.”

Raven raises his glass, as do we all. “To Flakey,” we all chant together and throw back our glasses filled with his favorite. A roar rolls through the crowd. When everyone quiets down, Raven turns to Vegas and me.

“As you all have heard by now, Vegas, the reprobate, has claimed our princess as his old lady. He wants to say a few words.” I look at Raven in confusion as a quiet hush goes through the room.

Vegas stands tall next to me. “As you can see, I’ve managed to persuade Ashley, by the skin of my teeth, may I add,” laughter erupts around the room, “to wear my cut and be my old lady, for better or for worse, and no one was more surprised than me when she actually agreed.” He smiles down at me and pulls me close.

“Get a room,” someone shouts from the back.

“Look in your pocket, baby.” He smiles at me. I don’t understand what’s going on, but I push a hand into each of my cut pockets. After a moment of searching, my hand closes around something hard. I pull it out, and as I look up, I see Vegas get on one knee in front of me.

“Open your hand.” One hand covers my mouth in pure shock as I open the other, finding the most beautiful diamond solitaire laid in my palm.

“Ashley Saunders, princess, I love you with all my heart and want to give you the world, as well as my babies.” Snickers break out in the room, and I see Raven roll his eyes while Ally and Caroline are bouncing up and down. Vegas continues, “Will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife, my old lady, and my partner in life?”

I’m overwhelmed as the tears start to fall. “Yes! Yes! A thousand times, yes,” I shout as I throw myself at Vegas, the ring dropping to the floor as we do, and we lose ourselves in a soul-searing kiss. The ring lands at Ghoul’s feet. The VP of the Restless Slayers bends down, picks it up, and hands it to Vegas.

“You better put that on her, bro, before she changes her mind.”

He laughs, and Vegas agrees as he places the ring on my left hand. Then, he pulls me close and whispers, “I’ll never let you go, princess. You’re mine forever.”