The Biker's Fate Chapter 318

He held his hand out to me, and I made my way to him, letting him pull me gently onto his lap. "I'm sorry I busted your chops, baby."

"Thank you." I cupped his face. "Now, how was your day?"

He smiled... the first real smile I'd seen since he got home. "It was good."

"I didn't plan for dinner." I grimaced. "I kind of fell asleep."

He chuckled. "I'll cook."

"That'd be great. I'm starving."

He raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"That's great, baby. Let's get you fed. You need to fit in your wedding dress."

"Sounds good." I'd lost weight over the past few weeks—not a huge amount but enough to concern Maverick. If I didn't gain some of it back, I would have to have my wedding dress altered. Lucky for me, my grandma could sew like a boss, so she was ready should we have to go there.

Maverick slid my hair away from my face and kissed me gently. "I love you, baby doll. I'm glad you're feeling better."

"Love you, too." I smiled. "Now, rustle up some grub for your woman and baby."

He left me on the couch and rustled me up some grub.

The morning of our wedding arrived, and I was strangely calm. Possibly, because Mom had kept to all of my rules and we were keeping the ceremony small.

I woke up feeling really good as well, which I think added to my Zen-like calm. The doctor had switched my nausea meds, and not only could I stomach more food, but they didn't make me sleepy. My only disappointment was I woke up without Maverick... in my old bed. Maverick had been the one to set this edict, weirdly enough. He wanted to keep to some traditions, the biggest one being we didn't sleep together the night before the wedding or see each other until I walked down the aisle. I felt this was ridiculous—the man had already knocked me up, for Pete's sake—but he wouldn't bend.

I showered and dressed in my "bride" sweats that Poppy and Mom had purchased and headed downstairs to the kitchen.

"Bride comin' through," Dad announced.

I giggled. "What gave it away? The white velour or the title covering my butt?" I doubted I'd ever wear these pants again in public, but man, they were comfy, so around the house was pretty much a given.

"I'm gonna go with the white, baby girl. Not in the habit of lookin' at your ass." He pulled me in for a hug. "How are you feelin'?"

"I'm good, Daddy."

"Baby good?"

I nodded. "Really good."

He studied me for a few seconds before letting me go. My dad had this incredible ability to say everything with a look. Mom said it was one of the reasons she didn't need him to verbalize his thoughts. He told her just how he felt about her without saying a word.

"Lily!" Mom called.

"In the kitchen," I called back.

"Maverick's heading to the church. He wants you to stay put."

"He's not the boss of me," I retorted.

"Don't make this a thing, Lil," Maverick joked.

I rushed to try to see him—he was so close—but Dad grabbed my arm. "Nope."

"Gah! This is the dumbest tradition." I heard the alarm beep and the door close, and I sighed, leaning against the kitchen counter.

The toast popped up, and Dad slathered it with peanut butter and handed it to me. "Eat."

"Thanks."

"You ready?"

"More than ready." I smiled. "Are you worried?"

"Always." He chuckled. "But I know he'll take care of you."

"And I'll take care of him."

"No doubt." Dad sipped his coffee. "Proud of you, baby girl."

"Thanks, Daddy." I took another bite of my toast.

Mom walked into the kitchen and smiled. She looked gorgeous... funny but gorgeous. Her long, dark hair was in rollers, and she was wearing her fluffy white robe.

"You just need a rolling pin, and your ensemble would be complete," I said.

Mom chuckled. "Some of us aren't blessed with beautiful blond curls that provide natural body."

"I happen to love your hair, baby," Dad cut in, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her temple.

"Thanks, handsome." Mom focused back on me. "You ready to get pampered? Kim and Darien are already upstairs."

I nodded. Kim and Darien were my hair and makeup people. We only had about two hours before the ceremony, so we needed to hustle.

I followed Mom upstairs and hugged my beauty team; admittedly, I was a little excited now that my family surrounded me. I missed Maverick, but I had the rest of my life to act out my co-dependence.

"You may now kiss the bride," Crow announced.

Amid hoots and hollers from the Dogs, Maverick kissed me quite thoroughly. I smiled against his lips, and he kissed me one more time before facing the crowd and lifting me in his arms to carry me back down the aisle.

I squeaked in surprise and then settled in, looping my arms around his neck, as we rushed down the aisle and out to the lobby. We'd been married in the church where Sadie used to be a nun. She'd set it up so Crow could marry Maverick and me... and everything had been perfect.

Maverick couldn't control his tears as Dad walked me down the aisle, and I knew I'd nailed the dress, which fit perfectly. No alterations needed since I'd managed to gain back a little of the weight I'd lost.

Maverick set me gently on my feet and kissed me again. "You're beautiful."

"So are you, Möosh." I grinned up at him. And he was. He wore a black tuxedo with his cut underneath and a pair of motorcycle boots. Delicious.

He grinned, pulling me close. "Can't wait to get you to the hotel so I can start by kissing every inch of your body then I'm gonna—"

He didn't get to list anything else he planned to do to me because our family suddenly surrounded us.

Maverick kissed me gently. "We'll put a pin in that."

I smiled with a nod.

The rest of the day went by in a blur... a really fun blur, but a blur, nonetheless. By the time Maverick decided he'd had enough, I could barely keep my eyes open, so he loaded me in his truck, and we drove to the Monaco hotel where we'd be staying for a couple of days. We didn't have the time (or the money) to take an actual honeymoon, but Knight had given Maverick Monday off, and I didn't start my next shift until Tuesday, so we were making the most of it. Charleston would have to wait, but we'd made a commitment that we would go as soon as I felt comfortable enough to leave the baby for a few days.

Arriving at the hotel, Maverick guided me up to our room (he'd already checked in and dropped our bags off earlier that morning). He helped me out of my dress, kissing my neck as he undid the pearl buttons at the back. He stripped me down to just my panties... then he forced me into bed.

I gasped. "But—"

"Sleep, Lil. We'll consummate our marriage when you wake up."

"Honey—"

"Don't make this a thing."

I rolled my eyes. "I will sleep because I'm exhausted, but promise me something..."

He stroked my cheek. "Anything."

"Don't ever use the word consummate in reference to our love life again."

He chuckled. "Got it."

I bit back a yawn.

"Time for bed," he said, throwing back the covers and lifting me onto the mattress.

I bit my lip and watched as he stripped down to nothing and joined me, pulling me close and kissing my forehead. "How are you feeling, wife?"

I chuckled, kissing his chest. "I feel amazing, husband."

He stroked my stomach gently. "How's our baby boy?"

"She's amazing."

"Yeah?"

"We both are," I confirmed. "So..."

"Nope. You need to sleep." He kissed me gently. "Don't worry, baby, we'll make up for lost time."

I yawned again. "We'd better."

Maverick tucked me closer, and I closed my eyes...

Soft lips on my shoulder, and a gentle hand cupping my breast awakened me. I sighed and leaned into Maverick's touch.

"Time to make up for lost time," he whispered.

"Yes," I breathed out.

My husband did not disappoint.