“Why not?” Tara’s shock made me squirm in my seat.
“I don’t know. It’s like we say it all the time but without words. It’s in our actions, the way we treat each other. I feel his love every second of every day. It’s why I got his mark on me. I know he loves me.”
“But don’t you want to hear him say it?”
I did want to hear Storm tell me he loved me, but it wasn’t the be-all and end-all. Actions spoke louder than words, and Storm’s unspoken words boomed like thunder every time he made love to me. “Sure. I wouldn’t object to hearing him say, I love you, Angel.”
“You know, now that I’m thinking about it, he never calls you Maddy. It’s either Angel, baby, or Madeline.”
“I don’t see a problem. When we first met, he knew me as Madeline. I guess it stuck.” I shrugged.
“Huh, just seems strange to me, I guess.”
“Whatever. I love the sound of my name on his lips.” Wild flutters sparked in my stomach, remembering his sexy baritone voice as he said my name.
We picked Steph up along the way, making me later than I’d promised Storm. I was getting a little nervous, knowing how he worried about me. But I had two prospects to protect me. Still, Storm wouldn’t relax until I was in his arms.
After I confessed three days ago that I stopped taking the pill, we’d been going at it like rabbits. Having a baby wasn’t something I took lightly. I was a planner, like most teachers. School started the day after Labor Day, and I wanted to finish the school year with my students. It would be my last year teaching for a season so I could be home to cuddle and love our baby.
Returning to work and putting the baby in daycare didn’t appeal to me at all. Storm had told me I didn’t have to work, if I didn’t want to. If I did, Sugar and Tina could watch the baby at the clubhouse, where he would be around to care for it too. I thought his suggestion was sweet, but I also knew it had to do with keeping the baby protected.
“Wow.” Tara’s loud voice jerked me out of my thoughts. “I’ve never been out this way.” Tara gawked out the window.
“Yeah, it’s kind off the beaten path.”
“Me either,” Steph chimed. “Oh shit! There’s an armed guard?”
“Mhm. He’s a prospect.” I gripped the steering wheel. “Storm told me there is no one better to keep at the gate, than Dodge. I guess he grew up with guns. He should get his patch before the end of the year.”
Dodge had a large rifle in his hands. He didn’t usually have it out in the open, but Storm had warned me about it. Again, because of the Hunters, security was amped up for the party. The celebration was a thank you and farewell for the Fallen Soldiers MC. Several members came up from Iowa to help with the Hunters. I hadn’t seen much of them over the last couple of weeks. I think Storm preferred it that way.
I rolled down my window when Dodge approached my car.
“Hey, Madeline. Who do you have with you?” He ducked his head down, eyeing Tara and Steph.
“These are my closest friends, Tara, and in the back is Steph.” I looked sidelong at Tara. Dodge wasn’t much of a talker. The scowl on his face made me more than a little nervous most days. He took his job very seriously. I respected him for it. “Storm knows I’m bringing them.”
He nodded to the girls. “Have a good time, Angel.”
“Thanks, Dodge. Hope you can join in the fun later.” I smiled as I drove the car past the gate. I knew he wouldn’t be at the party.
The lot was packed with more bikes than I’d ever seen before. Finding a place to park might have been difficult, if Storm hadn’t given me a designated spot near the front entrance. I pulled my car in between two sparkling motorcycles, careful not to hit them, then turned the engine off.
Steph gasped. “Shit, my heart is racing.”
“Mine too,” Tara said.
My heart rate skyrocketed, but it wasn’t because I was scared about being on the compound. I was reacting to their reactions.
I checked my appearance in the mirror on my visor. “Ready?”
The girls nodded.
We exited the car, and AJ was waiting for us. “You ladies can follow me.” He had a boyish smile on his face. He didn’t have rough edges like the patched members, but he’d probably get them… eventually. The thought made me a little sad.
“Thanks, AJ.”
Loud music and a warm glow came from behind the clubhouse.