Page 37 of Wild Side (Vicious Reapers MC #3)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

ZADIE

It doesn’t take me long to get dressed. About the only thing that is semi-nice that fits me right now is a black cotton and Lycra dress. Thank goodness it’s stretchy. I am seriously going to have to go shopping soon for some new clothes.

I’m glad I have some money saved up from my job, especially since I doubt I’ll be working. That also poses an issue, because we haven’t talked about finances yet. I know he’s paying the rent here, but I can’t expect him to pay for everything.

Smoothing the skirt of my dress down, I look at myself in the full-length mirror that is hanging on the door.

I can tell the dress is a little too tight.

It’s also probably a tad too short, but it’s what I have, and while I know The Copper Pot isn’t fancy, we’re celebrating, and I want to look my best.

A buzzing sound causes me to pause. Turning my head, I look over to the bed. Chase’s phone is sitting in the mess of rumpled sheets. Reaching for the device, I start to place it on the nightstand so I can straighten the bed, when it buzzes in my hand again.

I shouldn’t snoop.

I know I shouldn’t, and yet when the screen lights up again and I see there is a new message from Goose, I stupidly slide my thumb upward. I don’t expect the phone to unlock. No code, no facial recognition, nothing. That’s weird for sure.

Immediately, the text thread comes into view. I don’t scroll through it. That would be another level of an invasion of privacy that would be beyond wrong. Although I can’t justify that even this much is right. But the moment my eyes see the screen, I know I can’t look away.

GOOSE: clubwhores cleaned bathroom and bedroom as requested all ready for zadie

The bathroom door opens, and I turn my head, watching as Chase walks out, a cloud of steam following him. He walks over to the closet, where he tugs a T-shirt off a hanger, then moves toward the dresser, opening one of his drawers before he takes out a pair of boxer briefs.

I don’t move.

I can’t seem to tear my eyes away from the phone or the message. Chase makes his way over to me, calling my name as he does. Turning my head, I drop the phone, and it makes a rustling noise as it lands on the sheets.

“Honey?”

He reaches forward, and I silently watch as he picks up the phone. Then he grunts but otherwise doesn’t speak. Turning toward him, I tip my head back slightly as I look up into his eyes.

“You’re upset,” he states simply.

I’m not sure how to respond to that. I open my mouth, then close it, chewing on the skin at my cheek. He arches a brow, his eyes searching mine before he says anything. I don’t know if he’s waiting for me to speak first, but I don’t even know what to say.

“You saw this message,” he says, continuing his thought about me being upset.

He would be correct. I did see the message, and I am indeed upset.

But I don’t know if I should be. I really don’t know what to think.

I’m trying to process the way I feel. I don’t want to just fly off the handle, but at the same time, the club girls cleaned his bedroom.

I think that’s what I’m most hung up on.

So, that’s what I decide to say.

“I’m upset they were cleaning your bedroom. It reminds me that they’ve all likely been in there with you. It’s the past, I know it is, but at the same time, I don’t want to be reminded of it.”

Inhaling a deep breath, I let it out slowly. I’m trying hard to be reasonable, when that is the last thing I want to be. I wait for his response, but he doesn’t say anything. His gaze stays focused on mine, unwavering, unmoving.

Silently, he moves toward me, closing the distance between us before he cups my cheeks and touches his lips to mine in a single hard, chaste kiss, then rests his forehead against mine.

“They will never step foot inside our room again, honey.”

“Our room?”

Chase’s lips twitch into a smirk. “Our room, Zadie. We’re together now. You’re my old lady inside the clubhouse, and my woman outside it.”

My heart pounds against my ribs. It slams against them as I look into the eyes of this man. I cannot believe this is my life. I cannot believe he wants me this way, wholly. I feel like the luckiest woman in the entire world.

“I like the sound of all of that,” I whisper.

He laughs softly, his hand falling from my face before he takes a step backward, holding said palm up and waiting for me to slip my hand in his. “Let’s celebrate our new adventure, honey.”

The moment I place my hand in his waiting one, he curls his fingers around it, and together, we walk out of the house. There is only the bike in the driveway, and I realize that his pickup is probably still at the clubhouse.

“We’ll go to dinner on the bike. Your last hurrah on it until after the babies come, then we’ll pick up the truck,” he murmurs.

“My first and last hurrah,” I point out.

I haven’t been on the back of his bike yet. I’m his old lady, and I haven’t even been on the back of his bike. I’m not sure I should be riding back there being pregnant, but he’s right; it’ll probably be the last time.

We walk out together, and I climb on behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist when I do. I inhale a deep breath and smell leather and oil. It’s the scent of my whole childhood, but it hits differently this time. It’s the man. This man. He makes everything about this world different.

Squeezing my arms around him tighter, I close my eyes as the wind whips through my hair. I know my hair is going to be a mess, but I don’t care. This is perfection in every way possible.

I love it, and I love him.

MAVERICK

Pulling up to the clubhouse after an amazing fucking dinner, I ride my bike up to the front, parking next to my pickup. I need to get Zadie her own ride. Brake asked me what she wanted to do with her car, because there was no way he was going to bring it across the country.

He told me it was a shitbox. I told him to do whatever the fuck he wanted with it. Scrap it, sell it, strip it, whatever the fuck. He laughed, but now I gotta buy my woman her own car. Goose had to take her to her first doctor’s appointment because I was stuck with fucking Kyle Alexander.

The club is already in full swing. Smoke, booze, and tits are all on full display. I smile at the sight of home. My people, my family. But this isn’t just a club party. There are no hangers-on. This is family only.

Bullet and Dakota are here, Ivy and Posey, and there is even Briana. The only person who isn’t here is Piggy’s little sister, Lainey, but that doesn’t surprise me because she very rarely comes down to the club.

Lifting my hands to my mouth, I slip my pinkie fingers inside and whistle. The music is turned down as everyone else quiets down, giving me the floor. Grabbing one of the chairs, I climb into the seat to stand above everyone.

“I have an important announcement tonight,” I call out.

I grin a grin that I don’t think I’ll be able to wipe off my face, maybe ever. There are a few jeers and men calling out, but I hold my hands up, my palms facing the crowd.

“Everyone knows that Zadie and I are having a baby, but there’s more.”

“More?” Dakota says, her brows knit together. It’s cute, but not as cute as the way Zadie looks up at me, her lips parted in awe.

“More,” I confirm. “We’re having twins.”

The silence is palpable. It surrounds me, and I swear to fuck I can almost see it. Then the entire room erupts in applause, shouts, and cheers. Family. Climbing down from the chair, I move toward my woman, the guys clapping me on my shoulder as I do.

I cup Zadie’s cheeks and touch my mouth to hers.

Breaking the kiss, I look into her eyes.

Bullet and Goose stand close by. I don’t even have to look away from her to know that they’re near.

I can always feel my brother’s presence, and my president is almost as close to me as my brother, so I know he’s beside me.

“Go and celebrate,” she whispers. “Enjoy your night.”

“As long as it ends with you naked in my bed, I’m going to enjoy every goddamn second.”

She smiles against my lips. “That is where and how I’ll be waiting when I get tired.”

“Thank fuck,” I grunt.

Releasing her, I take a step backward. Then another as Goose and Bullet slap my back. Dakota slides up beside Zadie, and I know she’s safe with her friend by her side. She’s safe in here anyway, especially tonight with only the club members in attendance.

“Twins! Holy fucking shit,” Bullet hisses as he lifts his hand, motioning for the prospect.

He brings over three shots. And that is how the night goes. Nobody lets me leave the bar. It’s congratulation shot after congratulation shot.

One after the other.

Over and over, until I’m leaning to the side and unable to even stand straight. I’m going to be no good to my woman at all. The thought makes me chuckle to myself. I don’t know why it’s funny, but it is.

“You’re a good man, Chase,” my brother murmurs beside me. “I’m proud of you.”

Swinging my head to the side, I try to focus on him, but there are three of him. I choose the one in the middle, and my lips twitch into a smirk. “You’re proud of me?”

“You may have had a one-night stand with the girl, but you chose well. I like her, and I’m happy as fuck to be an uncle.”

That’s the last moment of the evening I recall. I don’t know what happens next, but what I do know is that I never make good on my promise to celebrate in bed with my old lady. My woman. My Zadie.