“Easier said than done. My dad knows when I’m upset. He knows me too well. Besides, I’m not sure how to convince Jerry that I don’t want anyone but him. I love him so much. Why can’t he see that?”
“He does, but a man likes to feel like they’re the first focus in their woman’s life. Sometimes life gets in the way, like problems with the kids, work, school, whatever, and we become so focused on those issues that we don’t realize we’re not in tune as much as we should be with our man. Take a break from your studies and plan a romantic evening where Jerry has your undivided attention,” Clotille answered.
Kimber nodded. “Clotille is so right. When I became manager of Hawk’s shop, Throttle was such a pain in the ass about it. I had to pull in some late hours, and he was feeling like I wasn’t as into him as I used to be. So I told Hawk that I had to leave early two nights a week, and he was cool with it. When Throttle came home from work and found me wearing nothing but knee-high boots and a thong, he forgot about everything that’d been bugging him. He was just so happy that I’d made it a priority to come home early just for him. The whole night was all about him, and he fuckin’ loved it. I still surprise him on my early nights. It keeps him guessing and eager to get home.”
Bernie bobbed her head. “I’ve been hitched to PJ for twenty-five years. We hooked up when I was eighteen, had four kids, and have had a rough-and-tumble life with a lot of fucking and loving. Men think they got all the control, but it’s really the women. You just have to let a man think he’s calling the shots, and make him feel special in a way that has him running to get between your legs, forgetting all about them club whores. It also helps to let him know you’ll castrate him if you find out his dick was in anyone else’s pussy but yours.” She cackled.
“You’re so bad, but so right.” Belle laughed.
“Changing the subject, I’m scared to death to open the curtains and show off our Christmas tree. It’s fuckin’ ridiculous.” Cherri crossed her arms.
“I don’t blame you. I’d be terrified too. Has Jax found out anything about the guy?” Addie asked, buttering her biscuit.
“No, and it’s killing him that he can’t. I just make sure the alarm is on at all times when Paisey and I are alone in the house. This whole Christmas vendetta this fuckin’ psycho has is the freakiest thing I’ve ever heard of.”
As the evening wound down, they talked about the toy drive and how happy they were when Evan had contacted Cara, telling her the event was sold out. They’d hoped to double the amount they’d raised the previous year, and they were well on their way.
They said their goodbyes in the parking lot and climbed into their cars to head home to their men. While Addie waited for the defroster to clear her windshield, she leaned back and hummed the chorus to “Jingle Bells.” A sense of weightlessness settled over her as it always did after one of their ladies’ nights out. The friendship she had with the other old ladies was the kind that bloomed in the center of the heart. They all knew they could get together and spin their hearts out without worry of judgment or mockery. They gave each other advice, shoulders to cry on, and the warm feeling of belonging.
Ping. She looked down at her phone and swiped.
Chas: U coming home soon? Hope & Jack r in bed.
A large grin broke over her face.
Addie: On my way now.
Chas: Drive safe.
Addie: See u soon. ?
She sat up, placed her hands on the steering wheel, and drove out of the parking lot, heading home as fast yet safely as she could.
When she came into the living room, a full glass of white wine and a glass of whiskey were on the side table. In front of the dancing fire was a large Sherpa blanket, and playing softly through the stereo speakers was her favorite CD—a collection of ballads from Guns N’ Roses, Poison, Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, Iron Maiden, Pantera, and Killswitch Engage.
“What’s this?” she asked as Chas came into the room and headed over to her. He nuzzled his face into her neck and she cocked her head to the side, giving him better access.
“Picking up where we left off.” He licked the inside of her ear with the tip of his tongue.
“I’m glad you didn’t forget,” she said, shivering as she let him guide her down on the blanket.
“That’s all I thought about,” he replied huskily, his eyes fixed on her mouth.
She stroked the side of his face and brought hers closer to his. When their lips met, an electrifying current skipped across all her nerves.
Pulling away, she held his gaze as she slowly lifted her top over her head.
“Fuck,” he growled as her sheer bra came into view.
The side of her mouth tugged into a smile as she reached back and unsnapped her bra, letting it fall from her. The exposure to the air made her nipples harden. When he dipped his head and sucked one of them into his mouth, she closed her eyes and let herself feel the arousal taking hold of her body.
“We’ve got all night, precious.” He grasped her nipple between his teeth and pulled on it while his fingers trailed down her chest.
She moaned and arched her back, pushing her nipple deep in his mouth.
Yes… we have all night to love each other.
Lying down, she pulled him closer.
Chapter Twenty-One
Axe
Picking up a shot of Jack, Axe waited for Hawk to come in and give the word that they were ready to head out to Chad Bridgewater’s place. He’d had some time to kill after working at the club’s restaurant that day, and he wasn’t ready to go home. For the past two days, Baylee kept telling him they needed to talk, but he didn’t want to just yet. He felt like a pussy, but the thought of their life changing so drastically still weighed on him. The club offered him a respite from reality, and he needed that in the worse way at that moment in his life.
“Give me another,” he said to Brandi who was subbing for Rusty. The three prospects were busy loading the SUVs with guns and grenades. When the prospects weren’t available, the club women picked up the bartending duties.
“Here you go, sweetie. You look like you lost your best friend. Do you wanna talk about it?” Brandi leaned over and smiled when Axe glanced at her tits.
“I’m good.” He swiveled on the stool, his back to her. Baylee’s overjoyed about the baby. Why the fuck can’t I be? Maybe it’s different for a woman because the baby’s growing inside her. For him, everything felt the same way as it did when she first told him she was pregnant. His mother’s face floated in front of him. He couldn’t remember how many times she’d told him during his growing years that she hadn’t wanted him but his dad had insisted she had him. And then his dad had blown and his mom had acted like it was Axe’s fault she was stuck with him. Why am I thinking about her? He wasn’t anything like his mom, or was he?