RAGE: President & First Lady Of The Death Dealers MC (59 page)

***Gage***

We walk back to the pool, and into a weird mix of bikers and
socialites. Seems the guys made themselves at home. I couldn’t care less about
the party. I have my baby doll back and that’s all that matters.
That
reminds
me
. I reach into my pocket and pull out her necklace. Her face lights up
like the North Star when she sees it. She turns her back to me, moving her hair
out of the way so I can put it on.

“The rest is waiting for you at home.”

When she turns to face me, she’s rubbing the pendant between
her thumb and index finger.

“You don’t know how much I missed this… how much I missed
you.”

“I think I do, doll. That’s why I’m here.”

She throws her arms around my waist, clutching the back of
my shirt. I kiss the top of her head, happy to have her back in my arms.

Chopper wanders up to us with a big grin, keeping one hand
behind him.

“We good?” he asks.

“We’re great!” Raven answers.

“Well, then… seems you’re just missing one thing, lil
darlin’.”

“What’s that?”

With an even bigger grin, he shows us what he’s been hiding
behind him
—
her cut. He helps her into it, then pulls her into a bear
hug.

“Are you going to tell him or should I?” she asks me.

“Hey, Pop. Raven tells me you’re getting that grandbaby you
wanted.”

“What? You’re…” He trails off, looking down at her stomach.
“Are you okay? Do you need to sit… something to eat, drink?”

“I’m fine, Chopper.” She giggles. “It’ll be a while before
I’m even showing.”

“Doesn’t matter. That’s my blood in there.” He points to her
stomach. “I’m going to spoil you rotten ’til he gets here, then when he does,
I’ll do the same to him.”

“How do you know it’s a ‘him’?” I ask.

“I just do.” He turns back to Raven. “I’m going to get you
some food.”

When he leaves, I pull her into my arms, and whisper in her
ear, “Happy?”

“I am now.”

“Me, too. Things are finally the way they’re supposed to be.
Next order of business is to get you in front of a preacher as soon as
possible.”

She turns to face me, her eyes filled with love.

“I can’t wait to be your wife.”

“Yeah. No getting rid of me then.”

“Who says I want to? You’re stuck with me, Gage Hunter.”

“The same way you’re stuck with me, Raven Alvarez.”

She smiles and presses her cheek to my chest. I take a deep
breath, praying for morning so I can take her home; take my woman, my child to
my house, my bed, where they belong.

Ain’t no way I’m letting her go again.

***Raven***

“Sweetheart, are you sure you want to do this?”

I face Laurelyn with a heavy sigh of annoyance. This is
getting old. I’m tired of trying to explain to her that this is exactly what I
need. Why does she insist on ruining my day? My
wedding
day
?

“You don’t have to marry him just because you’re pregnant—”

“I’m
not
. I love him. We love each other and we want
to get married and have babies and spend the rest of our lives together.”

Turning back to the mirror, I watch as Ellen fixes the veil
and my hair. She ended up making the preparations for the wedding, and I have
to say, she really has a knack for this event planning thing. She’s going to be
over the moon when Gage gives her his surprise.

“It’s just… I want the best for you, Raven.”

“And what makes you think it’s not what I already have?”

Ellen raises a brow at me in the mirror. I know she must be
annoyed, too, wanting to stick up for her brother. I leave my chair, taking
Laurelyn’s hands in mine.

“Look… I understand how you feel. But you need to understand
and accept
my
feelings, Mom. This is what I want.
Gage
is what I
want.”

Her fingers tighten around mine and tears well in her eyes.

“Don’t cry.”

“No… You… You called me ‘Mom’.”

“Oh. I guess I did.” I move closer to her, thinking about
how far our relationship has come. It was hard at first. Her timing wasn’t
exactly great. But, we’ve become close, and I’m at a point where I feel like I
can talk to her about anything.  “When you first showed up here,” I continue.
“I had every intention of brushing you off, but it was Gage who convinced me to
give you a chance. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have the relationship we
do.”

Her eyes soften, tears running down her cheeks in earnest as
she tries to smile.

“He’s more than the MC; more than what you see when you look
at him. I see a side of him I’m sure no one else does. I just wish he wouldn’t
hide that part of him. If he didn’t, then you’d know why I love him so much;
why I know he’s the one.”

Laurelyn tugs me to her, wrapping her arms around me in a
tight embrace.

“Okay, baby. I promise I won’t say anything else. The next
time I see him, I’ll be sure to thank him for giving me my baby girl back.”

“Thanks… Mom.”

She chokes out a sob at the word, then pulls away, carefully
wiping her tears. There’s a knock at the door before Toni and Chrissy bounce
in, followed by Aunt Nita.

“You ready to walk down the aisle, Miss Alvarez?” Toni asks.

“I been ready. I just need to put on my dress.”

Ellen clears her throat behind me and I turn to find her
holding the dress for me to step into it. I move excitedly toward her, thinking
about Gage waiting for me at the end of the aisle.

“Girl, that entrance!” Chrissy squeals. “When you two rode
up on those bikes, it was totally badass. How did you get Gage to agree to it?”

That little bit was my idea. I thought there was no better
way for us to show up to the church, both of us wearing our cuts. He opposed it
at first, but I can be persuasive. That’s how he ended up buying me an Iron
883.

“He was worried about me falling and hurting the baby, but I
have methods of getting my way,” I answer with a smirk.

Everyone giggles, except Laurelyn, who clears her throat in
obvious disapproval. I laugh as Ellen finishes hooking up the back of my dress
and helps me with the garter belt.

“Okay. I think we’re all set,” she says. “You look gorgeous,
honey.”

Everyone agrees. With a wide grin, I stare at my reflection
in the mirror. The next time I see it, I’ll be Mrs. Gage Hunter. Holy fuck. I
can’t believe this is happening! It seems like I’ve been waiting forever. I
know he feels the same, so I won’t keep him waiting any longer.

“Okay, ladies. Let’s get me hitched!”

Aunt Nita walks up, tears shimmering in her eyes as she
takes my hand. Oh, God. I hope she doesn’t say anything to make me cry.

“Gage made the right choice,” she says, nodding to emphasize
her words. “I couldn’t be more proud than if he was my own son. You’ve been
good for him… made him happy. I never needed a piece of paper to call you
family, but I’m glad you’re making it official.”

“Thank you,” I reply, frantically blinking back my own
tears.

“Come on, baby. It’s time to go.”

I acknowledge my mother with a nod. Ellen helps me with the
train of my dress while the others walk ahead of us. I went with a more
traditional, poufy, princess dress. The strapless corset top adds a little sexy
with sheer insets around the mid-section.

Daniel greets me with a proud smile as I approach him.

“You look beautiful, Raven.”

“Thanks, Daniel,” I reply as I take his arm. He’ll never
replace Daddy, but he’s a good man and I’m happy he could be here to walk me
down the aisle.

Laurelyn and Aunt Nita kiss my cheek, then leave to find
their seats. I nod to Ellen, letting her know it’s time, and she hurries inside
to get everything ready. When she returns, she, Chrissy, and Toni—my
bridesmaids—head inside as the music begins.

“Nervous?” Daniel asks.

“No way.”

Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” begins, making my heart beat
to the rhythm of the strings. We step up to doors of the church, and as they swing
open, my eyes go directly to the end of the aisle, meeting Gage’s. His mouth
falls open in awe. As I slowly make my way toward him, I watch his eyes travel
up and down my body, then he swallows hard, his gaze meeting mine once more. I
bite into my bottom lip, not giving a damn about my lipstick. He is absolutely
gorgeous in his black tux and sapphire blue tie that matches the ribbon in my
bouquet. This man is going to be my husband and father of my children. I don’t
think I could possibly love him more than I do at this moment, yet I know what
I feel now, will seem like nothing compared to the love I’ll feel for him
tomorrow.

Daniel kisses my cheek, then shakes Gage’s hand before
releasing me to him. I take his arm, staring up into his beautiful blue eyes as
we step up to the altar. The pastor starts to speak, but I don’t hear a word,
completely lost in Gage’s gaze. It’s filled with such love, such promise, it
pulls me into a world where only the two of us exist. It’s not until Dr. E
walks up with our rings that I snap back to reality.

“Do you, Gage Harley, take this woman, Raven Selena, to be
your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward? In
sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, ’til death do you part?” the
pastor asks.

“I do,” he answers without hesitation, slipping the ring
onto my finger.

He repeats the questions to me and I answer in kind, putting
Gage’s ring in place.

“And now the groom and his bride would like to say a few
words.” The pastor nods, motioning for us to proceed.

Gage opts to go first.

“My baby doll.” With a tender smile, he strokes my cheek
with his thumb. “I remember calling you that the first day we met. Now, today…
I make you mine in every way. Mine to have, to hold…” His lips curl up in that
mischievous smirk I love. “And other things.”

The congregation bursts out laughing. The pastor clears his
throat.

“Mine to love,” he continues, losing the smirk. “And here,
now, in front of all these people, I’m going to say, I
do
love you. I
love you more than I thought I could ever love anyone. You’re everything I
could ever want—smart, strong, kind, caring, loyal… Not to mention the most
gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to start our lives together as
husband and wife.”

Tears begin to gather in my eyes as I stare up at the man I
love, openly and publicly declaring his love for me. The same man who—only a
few months ago—thought he wasn’t capable of that emotion. He strokes my cheek
again, wiping away an errant tear.

“Your turn,” he says with a smile.

Taking a deep breath, I prepare myself. The pastor, the
church, and everyone in it, fade away once more as I see our future in his
eyes.

“It’s funny you mention the day we met. I think I told you
we would never happen. But… you’re a persistent man, Gage Hunter.” His smirk
returns. “I’m glad. If you weren’t, we wouldn’t be here today.” I take his
hands in mine, sniffling through my tears. “Every time I think about our
future, I get more excited because… I fall deeper in love with you every day.”

“I don’t deserve you,” he mutters, shaking his head.

“You’re the reason I’m still breathing.”

“I wasn’t there for you when you needed me the most.”

“You’re wrong. After what happened, I was ready to give up
on…
everything
. But you were there. You pulled me back from the darkness
time and time again. The light of your love is what saved me,” I cry
desperately. “You gave me something to hold on to.”

He tugs me closer, placing his forehead on mine, his palm to
my cheek.

“No, babe.
You
saved
me
.”

“We saved each other. I can’t wait for our son or daughter
to meet you. You’ll be an amazing father, Gage. Just like you’ll be an amazing
husband. I love you.”

I don’t know how long we stood there like that, holding each
other, shaking with the strength of the emotions passing between us. It’s the
pastor clearing his throat that brings us back to the moment. We break apart
and I look to the crowd when I hear all the sniffling. There’s not a dry eye
among the women, and the men are staring at Gage with a sort of new respect… a
more profound one.

“Well,” the pastor says quietly. “I’ve never heard vows
quite like that before, but they were, by far, the most beautiful.”

“Thank you,” we answer simultaneously.

He smiles, then directs his attention to the rest of the
church. “Is there anyone here who objects to these two being joined in holy
matrimony?”

Silence.

“Ladies and gentlemen, by the power vested in me by God and
the state of Georgia, it is my honor to pronounce this man and this woman,
husband and wife. Mr. Hunter, you may kiss your bride.”

As everyone cheers, Gage wraps his arms around me. I do the
same, settling into the one place I feel safe.

“You’re mine now, Raven… in every sense of the word.”

“I was always yours, Mr. Hunter.”

“I know, Mrs. Hunter,” he mumbles as his head descends. “I
know.”

***Gage***

My wife. This gorgeous woman smiling up at me, staring with
such love in her eyes, is my wife. I can’t believe it. Those are two words I
always thought I’d never say, but here I am—a married man. In a few short
months, I’ll be a father. I also never thought I’d have kids, but I can’t wait
to meet my son or daughter.

“What’s with the grin?” my wife asks.

Holy shit. My
wife
.

“You.”

“Me? I haven’t even done anything… yet.” She smirks.

I pull her closer, swaying against her body as we have our
first dance as husband and wife.

“What do you have planned?” I ask.

“You’ll see.”

“Well, I plan on being inside you all night, so prepare for
that
,
Mrs. Hunter.”

“No complaints here.”

Stepping back, I twirl her around, then tug her back into my
arms. As our song plays in the background, she giggles, wrapping her arms
around my neck.

“Love you, babe.”

“Love you, too,” she replies.

Gently, I press my lips to hers and we both stop moving. Her
fingers slide up my neck and into my hair as she parts her lips for me. Our
tongues meet, and the urge to bend her over and fuck her in front of all these
people blazes through me. It’s an over-the-top caveman reaction, but I can’t
help it. She’s mine.

She moans, crushing my body to hers as I explore her mouth
with my tongue. It may be familiar territory, but her taste is something I’ll
never get enough of.

I pull back at the cheers and applause from our family,
greeted with the sight of my beautiful wife’s face tilted toward me, eyes
closed, lips parted. Her lids flutter open and she smiles, licking her lips as
her gaze slides down to mine. Fuck this party. I need to get her alone.

“Let’s go.”

I grab her hand, leading her off the dance floor. Before we
can leave the room, we’re stopped by a few well-wishers. During all of this,
Raven gets pulled in one direction, me in another.
Fuck
.

“Congrats, bro!”

Grateful for the interruption, I turn to E, taking his
extended hand and pulling him into a one-armed hug. “Thanks, man. I’m
officially off the market,” I say as we move away from the crowd.

“Please. You’ve been off the market since you met that
girl.”

“Yeah.” I chuckle. “I guess so.” I scan the crowd, spotting
her back on the dance floor with Chopper.

“Look who’s itching to jump into the marital bed.” E laughs.
“You’re an old married man now. Say goodbye to all the freaky shit.”

I turn to him with a raised brow. “Fuck that shit. It’s just
getting started, brother.”

While he chuckles, I meet Raven’s stare as she moves in our
direction. She looks around carefully, then smirks. Sticking her tongue in her
cheek, she makes a fist and simulates a blow job. My dick threatens to burst
through my zipper.

“See that? My baby just put out the bat signal. Old married
man my ass.”

“Just wait ’til that brand new feeling wears off. You’ll
see,” he teases.

“Yeah, whatever,” I say as I watch her approach me. “Stop
worrying about me and go get some pussy before your dick falls off from lack of
use.”

“Don’t you worry about my dick, motherfucker.”

“We’re talking about dicks?” Raven asks as she slides her
arm around my waist.

“Yeah. This one that I got for you,” I answer. “Ready to
go?”

“I’m kinda tired. Netflix and chill?”

“Net what and who?” I exclaim.

She giggles and E bursts out laughing next to me.
Motherfucker.

“Yeah, we can watch
La
Bamba
.”

I catch the twinkle in her eye and realize she’s teasing me.
I wrap my arms around her, joining in on the game.

“As long as you make monkey bread.”

“Oh, I have some monkey bread for you all right.”

“Okay, that’s my cue to leave,” E says. “I’ll see you two…
whenever.”

“Bye, Dr. E.” Raven wiggles her fingers at him.

“Let’s go, baby doll. It’s time to get the real party
started.”