I might not have been back to Tucson much over the nine years we’ve been apart, but there’s nothing about Drew I don’t know, or not the important stuff. I know he’s loyal and trustworthy. I know when he gives his word he means it. Even as a kid he’d never stand me up when he’d promised to take me on an outing. I loved him since I was a kid, if I’m truthful, I never stopped, just gave up any hope of ever being able to show him how much.
He’s tempting me with a vision of a future so perfect, I’m almost scared to reach out and grab it.
“But I live and work in Phoenix,” are the words which come out of my mouth.
“You’re a good nurse,” he says fast, dismissing my objection. “Any hospital in Tucson would be grateful to have someone like you.”
He’s right. It probably wouldn’t be that hard to find a local job.
“Of course, I’d prefer you barefoot and pregnant.”
Oh, I’ll be fucked if that didn’t get me right in my lady parts. Even though the feminist side of me tells me, I should feel insulted.
But then he winks. He. Winks. God, that undoes me, and I have to turn away, not knowing what I want. No, that’s wrong. I know what I want, I’m just not sure if I should take it.
He turns me back to face him and smirks. “Think we ought to check if we’ve got chemistry? I’m giving you just this one warning. Unless you say no, I’m going to kiss you now.”
His words, so dominating while not being a Dominant, give me exactly what I need. Not for one second do I think about Flint, or that I should be scared.
I don’t utter any refusal. I make no objection when he lowers his lips to mine, slowly, but determinedly. Then his mouth is pressing against my mouth, moving gently side to side. My hands move of their own accord, pressing against his chest. My touch excites him, and he increases the pressure, his tongue intruding into my mouth. For the first time ever, I taste him, and it’s pure heaven.
His arms come around me, holding me to him, crushing my hands between our bodies, giving me no chance to get away. I don’t feel trapped, but cared for. The aroma of leather and oil filling my nostrils is the perfume of home, the scent of him being the cherry on the top.
He’s held me before. To comfort me when Grunt, the wolfhound cross that seemed to have been in my life forever eventually died when I was thirteen. He’d held my hair back when I was vomiting, having snuck alcohol out of the clubhouse just to try it, making excuses for me so my dad and Marc never found out. He’d stopped holding me, stopped touching me when I began to mature. This is the first time we’ve come together as man and woman.
I lose myself in his kiss, even trying to follow his mouth when he eventually pulls away, then cradles my head to his chest. “Tell me yes, Amy. For fuck’s sake, say yes. I’ll never knowingly hurt you, never step out on you. Make it my life’s purpose to make you happy, well, after the club of course.” There’s mirth in his voice as he adds the last. “Make me a better person, Amy. Be at my side as my old lady and my wife, and on top of everything, accept my love.”
So many declarations my head is spinning. “Does Dad know?” Was this something they’ve cooked up? I know Dad wants me home. But Drew wouldn’t make declarations of love if it was that.
“Know that I’m going to step in and sweep you out from under that… Xander’s feet? No, that’s between us, so you can say no or yes. Won’t be any comeback on you. But do they know what I feel about you? Yeah, doubt there’s anyone in the club who hasn’t got some sort of inkling. You might not have noticed Amy, but whenever you come back, I’ve only got eyes for you.”
“Why now?”
“Why now?” he repeats. “Because up to now the time hasn’t been right. I’ve known for years that Drummer was grooming me to eventually take over as the prez, setting me up so a yes vote was on track. Had to keep my eye focused on that. Knew you were doing okay in Phoenix, thought I’d leave you to make your mark. If I was going to be a man worthy of you, worthy of the club, while you were establishing your career, I needed to step up and concentrate. There wasn’t the space in my life to keep a woman happy by my side.”
“And now you’re the prez?”
“Now, I’m the prez,” he admits. “And I need a first lady.”
“Maybe anyone would do.”
He chuckles, but seriously responds, “Nah. No one could be more perfect than you. You understand the club, know all the men, are loved and respected by everyone. But no one loves you more than me. I couldn’t see myself with anyone else, no one has ever measured up to you, Amy.”
We need to get back. We’ve been out longer than I expected, and Christmas dinner will be served soon. I’m feeling guilty that I should have been there helping, alongside all the old ladies. Alongside my brother and sisters, and my MC cousins with whom I grew up. But I push my thoughts of attrition away, I wouldn’t, couldn’t have missed this. Now, when our age gap no longer matters between us, there is only one answer I can possibly give, despite all the difficulties which come along with that.
“Yes.”
Drew waits for a moment as though stunned. “Yes?”
“I’ve loved you forever, Drew. So yes, but,” I add with my sensible head on, “let’s see how this goes. We’re moving from friends to having a relationship, maybe I’ll find out you snore in bed…”
“I don’t snore if that’s your only objection.” He smirks.
“Well, you might fart or leave pubes in the basin…”
“The basin? What the fuck…?”
“How do I know what bad habits you have?”
