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It makes me want to puff up my chest in triumph because I know that I have something to do with the way she’s sparkling from the inside out tonight. Having her on the back of my bike was life changing. I’ve never had someone ride with me, but it felt so damn right.
I never wanted the ride to be over, which isn’t a new feeling because I love the open road and the freedom my bike gives me, but it was so much more with Sioux’s arms wrapped around me. As much as I knew we needed to get to the compound, I was tempted to just drive right past and take her on an adventure.
I know there will be time for that later and I didn’t want to push the limits of what her body could handle. You need to work up to longer trips and I’m not willing to do anything to put her recovery in jeopardy.
And I’ll get to feel her wrapped around me again when I take her home.
Home.
She’s not ready to admit it, but it is our home. Soon I’ll be able to get her not only in our home, but in our bed. I can’t fucking wait until that happens.
“You’re gone for her, aren’t you?” Prodigal’s voice has me glancing away from my woman and looking at my brother as he leans against the bar next to me. “You’ve been watching her all night,” he points out with a shrug.
“You’ve been watching your old lady all night,” I lob right back at him.
“I know,” he smugly responds, not at all intimidated at being called out or embarrassed about it being true.
“She’s mine,” I tell him honestly, “and I think she’s finally coming around to admitting it to herself.”
“Why hasn’t it happened before now?”
There is genuine curiosity in his question, and it is written across his face when I look at him. Which is why I don’t haul off and punch him, VP or not. If he was being a disrespectful asshole that would be another story. I won’t tolerate anyone talking shit about my woman and their position in the club wouldn’t make a bit of fucking difference.
“She was scared of being hurt.” When Prodigal opens his mouth, I clarify by adding, “Emotionally. Then after she was shot, I didn’t want to push her while she was healing.”
“Makes sense,” he murmurs. “She’s good now?”
“Yeah,” I find myself smiling softly as I look back over at my woman, “she’s doing great. She’s about to finish up her physical therapy as long as everything is good at the next follow up with her doctor.”
Prodigal breathes a sigh of relief, “That’s great news.” He slaps me on the back and has to tear his eyes away from Wrenley to turn around and nod at the bartender for another beer. “I was worried and wanted to ask, but it was hard to bring up that day.”
I get what he means. The memory of what should have been a good day, one that raised a lot of money for a worthwhile charity, is tarnished by what went down. I hate that my woman was caught in the crosshairs, but I also know she wouldn’t have been anywhere than at Wrenley’s side, no matter the outcome.
Sioux is fiercely loyal like that. It’s something I love about her. It’s something that will also make her a great old lady.
I hope to earn that level of loyalty from my woman. I think I’m almost there. Patience, which has never come easy for me before, really does pay off. Apparently.
“You’re good for her,” Prodigal says, surprising the fuck out of me.
My voice drops an octave, the words laced with insecurity, “You think?”
“Fuck yes,” he grunts. “She’s a strong woman, but she needs someone at her back. She needs a safe place to let her guard down. And she deserves it because she was there for Wrenley when no one else was.”
There’s something in Prodigal’s voice that has me looking at him, really looking at him, and recognizing the shadows in his eyes. “They’ve been friends for a long time,” I hedge because I do know that much.
Prodigal nods slowly. “Sioux was there for Wrenley after Jessica was killed and her parents lost themselves in their grief. My woman didn’t just lose a sister that day, she lost her whole family.”
I’m a little stunned by his words, but I’m also not surprised he’s never talked about it before now. Prodigal holds things close to the vest. He’s not alone in that shit either. I’ve avoided talking about my woman with my brothers because I didn’t want their shit…or their pity.
I knew what I needed to do and was resolute. But that doesn’t mean it’s been easy.
Maybe I should have leaned on my brothers a little more, given them more credit.
At least the ones who understand how I feel about Sioux. I don’t know if the single brothers, who haven’t been blindsided by the other half of their soul, would understand.
I know I wouldn’t have before I saw my Firefly for the first time.
I nod, his words swirling around in my head. I knew she was strong and fierce, but knowing about how she gave Wrenley support when she needed it the most, while just being a kid herself, adds another layer to the woman she is.
