Renegade
Two weeks and five days of physical therapy. That’s how long it had taken for me to walk on my own without assistance from even so much as a cane, and to gain back some of my muscle. The first time I’d looked in the mirror after waking up, I’d known that I didn’t want Darby to remember me like that. I’d worked hard, pushed through the pain, and now I’d get to see my family. Kiss my woman, hug my daughter. Fuck. It would be great to be home again.
Dixon was in the truck at the curb, having offered to pick me up. I dumped my duffle into the back seat and climbed in. I’d no sooner buckled than he pulled away and started down the highway toward the compound. He’d mentioned something about a club party, but I’d had him ask the guys to hold off. I wanted a few days with Darby and Fawn, just the three of us, before I was swarmed with everyone else. I’d even asked Nikki to give me a bit of space for at least the first forty-eight hours I was home. She’d understood, but I’d heard the disappointment in her voice.
When we pulled into the driveway, I bailed out of the truck, not even stopping to tell Dixon bye, and I rushed into the house. I froze in the living room doorway when I saw a Christmas tree lit up and standing in the corner. It had hit me hard when I’d realized I’d missed their first Christmas here. I didn’t know if Darby and Fawn had presents that morning or not. It was something I’d have to fix, and quickly. They deserved the best, and I intended to give it to them.
“Daddy!” Fawn saw me and flew across the room toward me, tackling my legs and holding on tight.
Tears burned my throat, not that I’d ever admit it. I scooped up Fawn, holding her close and breathing in her sweet scent.
“Hey, baby girl. I missed you.”
“Missed you too,” she said.
“Where’s your momma?”
“Room.”
I took that to mean the bedroom and set Fawn down. I pointed to the TV and told her to finish her movie while I went to check on Darby. Walking down the hall, there was a tightening in my gut. What would I find when I entered the bedroom? Did she even still sleep in there? I’d been gone so long, and so much had changed. We’d barely been together when I’d been shot. What if she hadn’t felt comfortable remaining in our room while I was in the hospital? I’d noticed the difference in the house, and I loved that she’d made it into a home. The fact she’d made the place her own, and the way she’d stuck by my side, made a warmth spread through me. I only wished I’d been here to help.
Darby was humming in the bathroom, so I quietly closed the door and toed off my boots. Padding across the floor as silently as I could, I leaned around the bathroom door to watch her. She was in the process of straightening her hair, leaving it in a long, silky curtain down her back. Her eyes were smoky from some sort of makeup, and she looked so damn good. She leaned in closer to the mirror and I couldn’t resist another moment.
“Stay just like that,” I said, making her gasp as her gaze met mine in the mirror.
I worked my belt loose as I moved in closer. Shoving my jeans and underwear down to my thighs, my hard cock led the way. The dress she had on was sexy as fuck. I carefully gathered the skirt in my hands, lifting it to reveal her shapely thighs and her luscious ass. Her bare ass. Fuck. Me.
“Naughty girl. Were you anticipating my return home?” I asked, rubbing my cock along the crack of her ass.
“Yes. God, Slater. I’ve missed you.”
“Spread those legs for me, angel.”
She parted her thighs and I slipped my hand between them. She’d either waxed or shaved and the lips of her pussy were smooth. I parted the lips and stroked her clit. Darby moaned and pressed her ass back against me. I plunged a finger inside her, groaning at how fucking tight she felt. Stroking it in and out, I wasn’t sure which of us I was teasing more.
“This is going to be quick, sweetheart. I’ll make it up to you later.”
“Just fuck me, Slater. Please. I need you so much.”
I lined up my cock and eased inside. Fuck! She was so damn tight, squeezing me as I slid a little deeper. It took several strokes before I was balls deep, and it took every bit of control I had not to come right then and there. I pinched and rolled her clit between my fingers as I drove into her. When I’d said it would be quick, I hadn’t lied. My dick was about two seconds from erupting, but I wanted her to come with me.
“Harder,” she begged.
I didn’t know if she meant my cock or my hand. I pinched her clit tight as I pounded into her. Darby screamed out her release and I followed, spilling inside of her. Had it felt that incredible before? It seemed like a lifetime ago that we’d been intimate. Slowly, I withdrew from her body, and grabbed the hand towel on the counter, placing it between her legs. While she cleaned up, I moved over to the other sink to rinse off my dick and straighten my clothes.
“You’re not supposed to be doing anything that strenuous, are you?” she asked.
“I’m one hundred percent, angel. Fucking my woman isn’t going to put me in the grave.” I turned to face her. “I’m sorry I missed Christmas. And Thanksgiving for that matter. Hell, it was Valentine’s Day while I was in rehab.”
“Speaking of that…” She folded her arms over her chest. Her attempt at looking stern just turned me on again. “The doctor said your rehab was supposed to last four to six weeks. You weren’t supposed to push yourself that hard. When you told me you’d see me in three weeks, I figured they would slow you down and make you stay the full time.”
I went to her, pulling her into my arms. “Angel, nothing was going to keep me away from you and Fawn. I didn’t want to miss another moment with the two of you. There was no way in hell I was staying in that place a month or more.”
I leaned down and kissed her, taking my time to savor her taste and the feel of her against me. This was heaven. I didn’t know why I’d run so far and so fast from having a family. Darby and Fawn were the best things to ever happen to me, that and the kid growing inside her.
Even though I knew we needed to get back to Fawn, I couldn’t help but explore her curves a bit more. I’d have loved nothing more than to strip her bare and fuck her again, and again. I had three months of making up to do. It took another few minutes before I could take a step back.
“Let’s go see Fawn. The two of you can show me the tree you put up.”
She smiled up at me. “There are a few things under there for you.”
“You got me presents?” I asked. “Darby, I didn’t get a chance to shop for you and Fawn.”
She pressed her lips to mine. “You already gave us the best gift ever. You. No one has ever been as kind to us as you’ve been. We love you, Slater, and the fact you love us back is more than enough of a gift. It’s more than we’ve ever had before.”
Dammit. My throat was getting that tight feeling again, and I was not going to fucking cry! I took her hand and led her back to the living room. Fawn’s movie was just ending and she hurried over to us. My daughter latched onto my hand and practically dragged me to the Christmas tree.
“Sit,” she said, pointing to my chair.
I sat down on the recliner and smiled as she handed me a stack of presents. Fawn settled at my feet, watching me expectantly, and Darby eased down on the couch nearby. With both of my girls watching, I opened every gift they’d gotten for me. My favorite was the Harley sculpture Fawn had made from clay, at least that’s what she’d said it was supposed to be. It was a misshapen lump, but it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, because she’d made it for me.
“Thank you, baby girl,” I told her, pulling her onto my lap for a hug. “I love it. Best Christmas present ever.”
There was a knock at the front door and I stood to answer it. Scratch was on my doorstep, a smile on his face as he handed a large paper shopping bag to me.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“For your woman and kid. It’s what you asked for before you went and got shot. Didn’t seem right to give it to them. You needed to do it.”
I looked inside and saw Darby’s property cut, and a T-shirt in Fawn’s size that said My Daddy is a Devil with the Devil’s Boneyard colors on the back. They were both perfect, just like my girls.
“And if I hadn’t been here to give it to them?” I asked, my gaze meeting his. From what I’d been told, I’d died several times both during and after surgery.
“Then we’d have given it to them, but only if there was no way you could do it yourself.”
“Thanks.”
The VP gave me a nod.
“Tell Fawn that my kids are looking forward to seeing her again. Clarity has picked her up for a few play dates while you’ve been recovering. I think Fawn and Caleb have become especially close.”
I glowered at him, not liking the thought of my little girl being close to a boy, even if the was the VP’s kid. Scratch smirked at me and stepped off the porch. I shut the door as his Harley rumbled to life and went to find Darby and Fawn. Neither was in the living room, but I followed my nose to the kitchen. I hadn’t noticed something was cooking earlier, too focused on seeing the two of them. Darby pulled a pan of cornbread from the oven and I saw a ham, as well as several vegetables already out on the table.
“Before we eat, there’s something I need to give the both of you. You were supposed to have these before I went into the hospital.”
I took out the T-shirt first and handed it to Fawn, who squealed and ran from the room, only to return a few minutes later wearing her new shirt. I smiled, thinking she looked too fucking cute.
Darby approached me, interest lighting her eyes. I pulled her cut from the bag and held it up for her. She slipped her arms through the holes and ran her hands down the leather as she admired it. She’d been mine since the day I pulled her from that dumpster, but now everyone would know it.
“You know, in about six more months, you’ll need another one of those shirts,” she said, placing my hand on her belly. “We have a bit longer until we know if you need to get a pink or blue one. I was thinking we could name a boy after your dad or brother, and name a girl after your mom. You ready for late night diaper changes and walking the floor when the baby won’t stop crying?”
“Looking forward to every minute of it,” I told her. My throat was tight with emotion again. The way she’d thought of including my family in our lives touched something deep inside.
Her lips twitched as if she fought back a smile. “I’ll remember that. No complaining about nasty diapers or not getting enough sleep.”
I kissed her softly, slowly. “As long as I have you in my life, then nothing else matters. You’re my one and only, Darby. I love you and Fawn, and I’ll love the kid growing inside you. You’ve given me the one thing I thought I never wanted, but what I needed. A family.”
She clung to me, holding on tight, and Fawn wrapped her arms around our legs.
I closed my eyes and breathed in Darby’s scent. This was home. Not the house I’d lived in since the new compound opened, but Darby and Fawn… they were my home, my heart, my everything.
And what do you know. I hadn’t fucked it up after all.