Page 16 of The Biker's Forbidden Love
“My dad’s a brute. I can’t believe he did this to you.” There’s a tissue in my pocket, and I blot it against the blood. “We need to get you to the clubhouse; get you patched up.”
Jesse stops my hand. “Not yet, Lily.”
There’s something about the way he says it, the seriousness in his voice that gives me pause. He’s spoken to Dad and agreed we can’t be together. The last few days didn’t mean the same to him as they did to me.
“What is it, Jesse?”
“It might be hard for you to understand, but I deserved that. Your dad and I have been friends for a long time. It was disrespectful to go behind his back.”
Panic flutters in my chest. This isn’t how this was meant to go. Dad was meant to give us his blessing, not scare Jesse off.
“But it’s what I want. It’s what we both want, isn’t it?” My voice goes up an octave, and Jesse rest his hand on mine.
“Relax.” He smiles and then winces. He’s hurting, and I hate that it’s because of me.
“I’ve sorted it out with your father. We have his blessing.”
I stare at Jesse, not daring to believe him. “Are you serious?”
“There’s just one condition.”
My heart sinks. This is where he says we have to wait for two years, or we can’t date seriously.
“I can’t wait, Jesse. I’ve waited too long.”
He’s smiling again, and I don’t know what the joke is.
“I wanted to show your father how serious I am about you. But even if he didn’t give us his blessing, I would have done this anyway.”
I don’t know what he’s talking about, and not knowing makes me irritated.
“Get to the point.”
You’re so impatient.” Jesse chuckles as he slides off the rock in front of me. “I didn’t have time to pick up a ring. Lily, I’ve loved you since the day of your eighteenth birthday party. I tried to stay away from you, but this thing that’s growing between us is beyond my control. We’re meant to be together, Lily. I can feel it. Will you honor that connection and make me the happiest man alive? Will you marry me?”
My breath catches in my throat, and happy tears sting my eyes. It’s more than I could have hoped for.
“Of course I’ll marry you. Of course.”
It’s everything I ever wanted with the only man I’ve ever wanted. I don’t care about the age gap between us or my father’s disapproval. Jesse is the man I’m meant for.
I slide off the rocks, and he captures me in his arms. As our lips meet, I taste his blood and I know our love was hard won. But it’s the right kind of love, the love that will last forever.
EPILOGUE
JESSE
Six years later…
Brightly colored balloons are tied to the backs of chairs, the juke box, and every damn thing I could attach them to. I used three bottles of helium to fill up this place with balloons. But it's worth it for my little girl's 5th birthday.
“Daddy, can I have a cupcake?”
Bella tugs on my leather jacket and looks up at me with big round eyes. They’re the same green as her mother’s and just as irresistible.
“Please Daddy…”
Lily and Gina spent hours arranging those cupcakes into a three tiered birthday cake. But I’m sure they won’t miss one…
