Her Older Biker - Page 14

“Thirty-six hours,” I supply, and take a quick sip before I look back over at her in surprise. “This is—”

“I know,” she replies, beaming. “Pretty good, right?”

“Honestly, yeah.” I pick up the glass and take a longer drink of—well, whatever this tropical island bullshit is—and enjoy the bright, fruity flavors.

“Where’s your girl at?” Mom asks as she throws the ingredients for another drink into the blender. She blitzes it for a few seconds and pours the resulting concoction—bright orange, to match mine—into her own glass before plunking a straw into it.

I stir my drink with my straw and take another sip. “Should be back any minute. She had class today, but she told me that she’ll probably work tonight unless she has too much reading.”

My chest practically puffs up every time I talk about Emma and school. Just like I swore she would, she enrolled in everything that interested her at Fairview College. With the time and space to study and figure out who she was, she blossomed, and I fall in love with her a little more every day as I watch the woman she’s become. The woman she’sstillbecoming.

A soft hand lands on my back and I spin around on my stool to see Emma, eyes sparkling, fresh from class. I put my drink down and press a warm kiss to her smiling lips as I haul her into my lap.

“What’s this?” she asks, gesturing at my blended drink. She leans forward and takes a sip, then makes a face. “Too sweet.Waytoo sweet.”

“More for us,” Mom says, then takes a long pull on her own straw.

“How was class today, baby?” I ask. I slide a hand under her shirt and rest my fingers on her warm skin—right on top of herProperty of Wardentattoo on her lower back. The brand she got a few days after I claimed her.

She lights up at the question, and launches into a detailed description of her classes that day as I listen intently. I love that this makes her so happy, and I’m content to wait as long as she needs while she pursues her education and continues to grow and thrive the way she deserves. The way I promised her she would.

We aren’t married yet, and there aren’t any babies on the horizon right now. Those things will come in time, but there’s no rush.

However soon those things come—tomorrow or five years from now—life with my old lady, my Emma, the love of my life—that’s what matters to me most of all. And if I have that? I have everything.