***
We’ve been at the clubhouse for hours and the ol’ ladies didn’t disappoint. They completely decorated the outside of the clubhouse with flowers, ribbons on the chairs, and have truly transformed the back yard. I really didn’t expect anything less though. The women who love the men in this club always go above and beyond when it comes to celebrating anything. Each bite of food I put in my mouth was better than the last and the cake was something out of dreams. This woman made the cake in four layers. The very top one was untouched because my mom lost her mind and removed it before setting it aside for some reason I don’t understand. Each layer of the cake is covered in flowers and butterflies with a double heart in the center of two layers. When we ate our small bite, I was in heaven. My mom passed out the cake and made sure Sheridan and I got thebiggest pieces. I wasn’t about to turn it down either. It’s the best cake I’ve ever eaten in my life.
The biggest surprise of the day was Shelly showing up. When we walked in the clubhouse after getting married, she was the first one to greet us. I watched on as she ran up to my wife and pulled her into the biggest hug ever. The two of them cried and held one another as if they haven’t seen each other in years instead of a few weeks or so. I barely got a hug from her before she saw Leo and he captured her complete attention. Everyone else disappeared from the world as Shelly met her nephew for the first time. She’s been holding him and won’t let anyone take him from her. Shelly is definitely making up for lost time with Leo and I can’t wait to watch their relationship grow as he gets older.
I gave Sheridan her rag after we enjoyed our cake. She cried as I slid it on her shoulders and I know without a doubt I’ll be fucking her in nothing but her rag when we finally leave the clubhouse for the night. My mom hired a photographer for the day and the moment I gave Sheridan her rag was captured for us to remember. I plan on putting one of the pictures in our home along with the rest of our wedding photos. Something I never would have thought of having until I saw the girl snapping pictures before having us pose for several.
After giving my wife her rag, we were ushered onto a make-shift dance floor.It’s Always Been Youby Caleb Hearn played as I danced with my wife for the first time as a married couple. I haven’t danced with Sheridan in years and now it’s one of the things I want to do with her on a regular basis. Sheridan rested her head against my chest with her eyes closed as we slowly moved to the music. She played with the hair at the nape of my neck and we once again got lost in one another. For the length of the song it was just the two of us in a world of ourown and everything else didn’t matter. By the time we were done dancing, I was more than ready to take my wife home and claim her as mine completely.
“Take me home,” Sheridan says, her voice a whisper as she laced her fingers with mine.
“You read my mind,” I tell her as I pull her from the back of the clubhouse toward the front where her new SUV waits for us.
Shelly lets us know she’s staying with my parents and will take care of Leo for the night so we can spend our wedding night without worrying about him. I get Sheridan into the SUV and quickly rush to the driver’s door to climb in and take us home. The second I park, I’m jumping out and getting my wife out. I carry her to the front door kissing her and not paying attention to anything else. My need for her is all consuming and I’m ready to taste every single inch of her. It’s been way too long since I’ve been wrapped up in Sheridan and I can’t wait to take my time with her. I want to discover every inch of her body and find out the places that make her moan and squirm for me. Hearing her moan my name is something I’ve dreamed of for longer than I can say. This woman drives me insane and I plan on spending the entire night showing her what she truly means to me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sheridan
DESPITE HAVING FOUR years left of school, I’m already putting plans in place to turn the property I inherited from my grandparents into the ranch I’ve dreamed of for so long. Axel has been part of the process and gone to every single meeting with me. I’ve met with several construction companies and engineers to ensure everything is built to my exact specifications. I want a riding arena when the weather is horrible so we don’t have to postpone anything involving children and adults with their therapy. There will also be outdoor riding areas when the weather is nice out. I’ll have a barn with several stalls for the horses and other animals I plan on keeping at the ranch. There will be a secondary barn in case I ever get called to rehome animals for any reason. I also plan on having a building specifically for dogs, cats, and other animals people can come adopt as family pets. Closer to the house will be three more buildings. One will be apartments for anyone here needing therapy on a more intense level than outpatient. The second one will be offices and living quarters for the staff. The third building will be my veterinary office for the public. Axel and my dad are happy with the plans I’m making and how well thought out everything is.
The last month has been busy with the meetings, school, and making memories with Leo and my family. Axel is there as much as possible, only leaving for church, runs, and when hehas to work at the strip club. Thankfully, there hasn’t been any drama with the girls because Axel made it clear he’s a married man and anyone who tries to fuck with our relationship will be out on their ass without hesitation. He even took me to Slayer’s Pit so everyone would know who I am in case I ever show up for any reason. The girls were all really nice to me and didn’t treat me like shit because of my relationship with Axel. If anything, they praised me for making him a happier man who actually smiles and spends more time at home than he does locked in his office. I enjoyed getting to know the girls and plan on going there once a week to have a drink with them before the club opens.
Shelly has also become someone I spend every single day with again. I’ve missed my best friend more than I could ever admit to myself. Learning that she transferred schools to be home and not so far away was one of the happiest days I can remember. My sister from another mister spends most of her time with my son and he’s already got his auntie wrapped around his little finger. Yeah, I foresee the two of them causing trouble and creating chaos as he gets older. Axel wasn’t wrong in thinking Shelly will be Leo’s alibi and help him get out of any trouble he causes. She’s already said as much when we’ve talked about him.
Axel and I spend as much time as possible together. When we’re both home, our phones are put up and we focus on our son and one another. The only time I don’t pay attention to him is when I’m completing my school work. Though he does sit there with me and makes sure I have snacks, drinks, and regular meals when I’m busy working on a paper that’s due. He truly takes care of me and anticipates every single one of my needs without me needing to say a word to him.
My dad has been at our house on a regular basis as well. He spends time with Leo and helps Axel in the garage. I’m notsure what they’re doing, but I’ll find out eventually. I love the bond my dad and Axel are forming with each passing day. They were always close when we were in school, but the bond kind of faded as years passed and they didn’t spend as much time together. Now, it’s like no time has passed at all and they’re building a relationship again. Shelly and my dad have picked up right where they left off. She treats him like her own dad and they get together for a few meals a week. My family has definitely grown in the last several months and I couldn’t be happier.
Knuckles, Janessa, their children, and Axel’s parents are also at the house on a regular basis. We share meals on a weekly basis and just spend hours together doing whatever we want. Some nights we just hang out and talk about everything going on in our lives. Other nights we watch movies together. There are even nights the men and women separate and do our own thing. The women of the club have made it extremely easy to let them in my life and share parts of myself I always found hard to be open about in the past. They never judge me and always make me feel as if I belong. Every single one of them has also accepted Shelly as well. She has no interest in the men of the club, but enjoys hanging out at the clubhouse when we have family day and when she’s not busy with us or school. My life has changed in so many ways and it’s all because of Axel.
Eric has healed and is back to working for the club. I’ve talked to him a few times and apologized profusely because of him getting shot. If he weren’t trying to defend me, he never would have taken a bullet and needed to be rushed to the hospital. Thankfully, the damage wasn’t as extensive as I imagined it to be with the amount of blood he lost on the side of the road. He spent some time in the hospital before being discharged. Eric didn’t need surgery to repair any damage like they thought so his recovery wasn’t as long and hard as everyoneexpected. Honestly, he’s proud of the scars he now wears from protecting me that day.
“Miss Sheridan, can I possibly talk to you for a few minutes?” Eric asks, walking up on the porch of the house I share with Axel and our son.
“Of course, Eric. You know I’m always here for you no matter what,” I answer him, offering a smile as he remains several feet away from me out of respect for my marriage with Axel.
“I’ve heard you’re gonna be openin’ a ranch in the next few years. I don’t know if you know this about me, but I grew up on a ranch before movin’ here. I never dreamed I’d be in a motorcycle club. My goal was to come here for school and then go back home. I don’t have a home to go back to any longer. My dad passed away and the ranch was too much for my mama. She sold it to one of my uncles and we don’t get along very well. That’s when I found the club and accepted their invitation to become a Prospect,” Eric says, allowing the subtle southern drawl to come out he usually hides. “Anyway, if you need help, I’d love to get back on a ranch around the animals and everythin’ else that goes with operatin’ somethin’ like you’re puttin’ together. I’ve done multiple harvests, worked with horses and other animals, stored hay, fixed things that needed repair, and so many other things that come with runnin’ a ranch. I know yours won’t be a traditional ranch, but I’m still offerin’ my help for anythin’ you need.”
I’m shocked by this new knowledge about Eric. I’d never have guessed he grew up on a ranch. I guess it’s true that we all hide parts of ourselves we don’t want the world to know about. Not that he’s ashamed of growing up on a ranch. Eric stands tall as he talks to me and I can see the pride shining from his eyes.
“I’d love to have your help on the ranch, Eric. I’m going to need someone who has experience. In fact, I’d love it if you were there with me when I hired people to work the ranch because I don’t have the first clue about what to ask or anything like that. This is all new to Shelly and me. She’ll be helping me with everything and we’ve been doing our research about what we need and how to go about everything but we’re still so damn lost. Would you be interested in that kind of help?” I question the young man in front of me as Axel walks out of the house with Leo in his arms.
“It would be an honor, Miss Sheridan. Like I said, I’ll do anythin’ you need me to. I just want to get back to workin’ with my hands and bein’ around the animals. There’s just somethin’ so peaceful and calmin’ about workin’ with them and bein’ surrounded by nature,” he says as Axel hands our son to me and turns to face Eric.
“What’s goin’ on?” he asks, leaning against the chair I’m sitting in.
“I was just askin’ Sheridan if I could work on the ranch when it gets up and runnin’. I grew up on one and miss it. I’ve got years of experience and won’t let it get in the way of my duties with the club. That’s a promise I make here and now,” he answers Axel honestly.
“I think that’s a great idea. We knew you grew up on a ranch but never asked about it because we don’t pry into the lives of anyone here. If we thought you needed to talk, then we would have sat you down and questioned you. Since you never let it get to you, we’ve just waited for you to open up a little. You know we’re all here for ya, yeah?” Axel asks him, his voice serious as he continues to look at Eric.
“I know. Like I told Miss Sheridan, the ranch was sold to one of my uncles when my dad died because my mama couldn’tdo it all on her own. I didn’t have anywhere to go back to after school so my life changed in ways I wasn’t expectin’. You guys have helped me figure out where I’m meant to be and I love my life here with the club. There’s just somethin’ about bein’ on a ranch though that doesn’t compare to anythin’ else in this world,” he says before letting us know he has to get in the clubhouse to stock the bar for the night.
Axel and I watch him walk away and I can’t help but smile at the young man who is slowly coming out of his shell.
“You doin’ okay, Little Fairy?” Axel asks, taking the other seat on the porch and moving it closer to me before sitting down.
“I’m good, Axel. Life is settling down and I’m finding a routine that works for all of us. Leo is getting bigger every day and growing so much. It seems like I just had him yesterday and now he’s a few months old and learning so much each day that passes,” I answer him, looking over with a smile on my face at the man who has made my life the best it can be.
