“Hey, sweetheart. You okay?” I ask, missing her like fucking crazy. My heart constricts thinking how far I am from her.
“Yeah, I’m good. Me, Alexis, Rhonda and I, along with one of the prospects, are playing poker. Well, he’s trying to teach us but we’re awful,” she chuckles. “How’s it going there?”
Knowing I can’t tell her the details, I let a sigh slip through my mouth before replying, “Done and dusted. We’ll be riding home tomorrow after we finish off some business with the LA Rebels. Fuck, I miss you, baby.”
“I miss you too. Ride safe, yeah?” She wistfully sighs in the receiver. I can hear the worry and anguish in her tone. With this shit and Christmas around the corner, I can’t blame her for being a bit stressed.
“I’ll make this up to you when I get back, baby, I promise.” A few silent seconds go by, content to listen to each other’s breathing. “I’ll see you tomorrow, sweetheart.”
“See you tomorrow. I love you, Champ.” Hearing her profess her love to me will never get old and it’s something I’ll never take for granted.
“Love you, baby.”
After hanging up, I climb beneath the comforter, dreading sleep and the nightmares it will most possibly bring. Exhaustion wins out in the end, and I drift off into slumber.
Chapter 11
Lauren
It’s early evening and I’m pacing the main room of the clubhouse like a madwoman. Champ should be here any minute and I’m anxious for him to get here so we can go home and prepare for Christmas together. Not only that, I’ve missed him so damn much that my heart hurts.
Hearing the rumble of bike engines, I rush out of the main doors and bounce on the balls of my feet, waiting for Champ to disembark his bike. Nothing stops me rushing to him and jumping in his arms once his feet hit the asphalt of the courtyard. Wrapping my arms and legs around him, he had a split second to catch me before I knocked him to the ground.
His deep chuckle vibrates and he murmurs into my hair, “Did you miss me, sweetheart?”
“Yes! I missed you so so much!” I squeal, tightening my hold on him.
He taps my butt, indicating for me to climb down. My feet hit the floor but my arms never leave his neck. I’m not ready to let him go just yet. Turning my face into his neck, I smell his aftershave and melt a tiny bit. His male smell and cologne mixed together is like an aphrodisiac to my body.
“Don’t even think about it, let us get home first. I have to go to Church but wait for me in the main room with your stuff,” he tells me, kissing me on the forehead before proceeding into the clubhouse. I follow on his heels but he turns to go toward the church room and I head to the bar for a quick soda before we leave.
“Cola please,” I smile at the prospect manning the bar and heave myself onto a bar stool, settling in for a short wait for my man. “Can you add a slice of lime?”
“Sure thing, Loz.” He smiles at me before turning to prepare my drink.
The brothers and the prospects started calling me Loz because they’re too darn lazy to say my full name. The same goes for Alexis, they call her Lex. We’ve truly become part of their family and I couldn’t be any happier.
Champ
Placing our asses on the chairs around church room, we wait for Prez to open the meeting. “Job done. Well done, boys. You made me proud these last few days and I couldn’t be happier with the clean, if you so wish, and tidy way this was cleared up. All our men and the LA Rebel’s men are safe and the threat has been averted. On the contrary, an alliance has been formed between the two clubs and in future events, if they happen, we’ll have each other’s backs. Transports that may run between each territory, as long as the opposite club is notified, will be no issue. This makes me a very happy man. You did well.”
Clapping and cheering ensues around the room, the stress of the ordeal and stress of the ride leaving our bodies. We may look like shit but as Prez said, we did fucking good. My minds back on the right track, thanks to a good prep talk with myself this morning, and my woman is just down the hall. Life is fucking awesome right now.
“Calm down, boys!” Prez shouts, gaining our attention. “Christmas is in four days, so go to your families. It’s time we paid a little attention to them.” Prez pauses, taking a drag of is ever present cigarette. Blowing the smoke up to the ceiling, he continues, “New Year party here as always. Party hard, boys, you fucking deserve it.” With that, his gavel comes down and we file out the room, smacking each other’s backs in respect and appreciation. The guys will always have my back and I will always have theirs. Now it’s time to show some of my own appreciation to my woman.
Lauren