Page 41 of Piston

Just us. Just this.

And for the first time in my life, I know with a bone-deep certainty that I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.

FOURTEEN

PISTON

I wakeup with Jenny curled against me, her hair tickling my nose. Damn, how'd I get so lucky? Just a few months of her living here and everything feels calmer, more settled. My days have a rhythm now - no more aimless drifting from one fight or bike rally to the next. With Jenny, I've got something real to come home to.

Rolling over, I watch her sleeping peacefully, a slight smile on her lips. My stomach twists into knots as I psych myself up for what I'm about to ask her.

"Morning, sleepyhead," I murmur as her eyes flutter open.

She smiles up at me. "Hey you. What's on your mind? You look nervous."

I take a deep breath. It's now or never.

"Jen, these past couple of months with you staying with me have been better than I ever imagined. You've brought so much light into my life. I don't want it to end. Move in with me, officially. We can make this our home together."

My heart pounds in my ears as I wait for her response. Please say yes. I need this, need her, more than I've ever needed anything.

Slowly, her smile widens into a radiant grin. "Yes! Of course yes, you big softy!" She throws her arms around my neck, peppering my face with kisses.

Relief floods through me as I pull her close, burying my face in her hair. She said yes. My girl is staying right here with me, where she belongs. In this moment, everything slides into place. My future is clear, and it's full of Jenny - her laugh, her smile, her warmth beside me every damn day. I'm the luckiest bastard alive.

"I love you, Jen. So damn much," I whisper against her skin.

She pulls back to look at me, eyes shining with happy tears. "I love you too, Piston. Here's to our new life together."

Our lips meet in a deep, passionate kiss, sealing our commitment. This is really happening. My woman, in our home, our life, from this day forward. I'll do whatever it takes to keep her happy and safe, always. She's my everything now.

"Oi, save the smooching for later, lovebirds!" Tank's booming voice interrupts our moment. "We got work to do."

I flip him the finger, but he's right. My brothers from the Iron Reapers are all here, ready to help move Jenny's stuff in. Time to make this official.

"Alright, let's do this," I say, reluctantly untangling myself from Jenny's embrace. "Sooner we get her moved in, sooner we can christen the bed, yeah?" I throw her a wink.

She swats my arm, giggling. "Behave! I don't want your bros knowing all our business."

"Too late for that, darlin'," Ripper chimes in with a smirk. "You two ain't exactly subtle."

Laughter erupts from the guys as they start hauling boxes inside. The next few hours pass in a blur of good-natured ribbing, grunts of exertion, and the occasional dropped F-bomb. My brothers giving me shit is their way of showing love. They're happy for us, I can tell.

"Damn, girl, you got a lot of crap," Dagger huffs, setting down another box. "This is like playing Tetris."

"You're just mad I'm beating your high score," Jenny retorts playfully, wedging her box in.

"Ohhhh!" the guys hoot. "She got you there, Dags!"

"Whatever, I'm still the Tetris king. Just wait till we add Piston's junk to the mix."

I survey the cramped space, boxes piled high. He's not wrong. My apartment was barely big enough for me, let alone adding Jenny's stuff too.

An idea starts percolating. Maybe it's time for an upgrade. Give my girl the home she deserves, with room to grow... especially if I've knocked her up already. My heart races at the thought. I'm ready to build a family with her, a real future. She's it for me.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" Jenny asks, slipping her hand in mine. "You've got that Look."

I lace our fingers together, squeezing gently. "Just thinkin' maybe we should start house hunting. Get a place that's ours, with space for us to really make a life together. 'Specially if we end up addin' a little one to the mix soon," I add with a meaningful glance at her belly.

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