Daphne
Three days later …
“Okay, easy now.”
“Oh, who’s the big tough guy who doesn’t need any help?”
Daphne flashed Xander a sly grin as she helped him into the apartment. Xander’s arm was in a sling after his treatment at the hospital, and Daphne could tell that as much as he wanted to pretend that it didn’t bother him, it was still giving him a little bit of pain.
“I can’t believe you got shot!” said Jack, rushing into the apartment through the legs of his parents. “Jason’s gonna freak out when I tell him!”
“Okay, first rule about this whole situation is that no one tells anyone that I got shot. If I’m gonna be staying here for the time being then I think it’s best we don’t start blabbing to the neighbors about just how I earn my bread.”
“Aw, man,” said Jack, stomping his foot.
“Seriously, baby,” said Daphne, “no telling anyone. Maybe once we’ve moved out of here you can tell your friends your dad’s a biker, but only then.”
“Fine,” said Jack.
“Speaking of friends, aren’t you having a little sleepover at Jason’s tonight?” asked Xander. “Why don’t you go pack up your things?”
Remembering his plans for the evening, Jack zipped off to his room to get everything ready.
“Here,” said Daphne, “just sit down for a spell.”
She led Xander over to the living room couch and helped him take a seat.
“Moving out of here, huh?” asked Xander once he’d gotten himself settled.
“Well,” said Daphne, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “If you want to. I mean, I guess I just assumed that you’d want to stay with Jack and me for a little while.”
“You bet that sexy little ass of yours I do,” said Xander with a smile. “I just wasn’t sure how you felt about it.”
“I’m getting there,” said Daphne. “Especially after what Grayson told me.”
Xander’s eyebrows raised.
“You talked to Grayson?”
“Well, he talked to me,” said Daphne. “Wanted to make sure I was doing all right. He’s a good guy—for a biker thug.”
Xander half-smiled.
“And what did ol’ Grayson have to say?”
“Just that your performance with this operation proved to him that you’ve got what it takes to manage, um, distribution? Whatever that means. I’m sure he told you.”
“He did,” said Xander. “Starts as soon as I’m back on my feet. Fucker told me I had to take a couple weeks off; said I’m gonna relax whether I want to or not.”
Daphne smiled.
“At least you’ve got some good ways to pass the time,” she said, slipping next to him on the couch and placing her arm around him.
“That’s for damn sure,” he said, a sly grin on his face.
“This new job … what does it mean for, um, us?”
“It means regular hours,” said Xander. “Well, as regular as shit gets in an MC. I’m gonna be less hands-on, taking more of an overseeing role.”
“Does that mean fewer gun battles?”
“More or less,” said Xander. “And more money. Lots more money. Enough for you to quit that job of yours if you want. Enough for us to move into an actual house.”
“A house sounds nice,” said Daphne. “Especially one with you and Jack in it.”
Xander clearly sensed that that was his cue. Leaning forward, he kissed Daphne gently. She savored the taste of him on her lips, closing her eyes to enjoy every bit of it.
“Gross!” said Jack.
The pair broke from their lip-lock and saw that Jack was standing in front of them, his Captain America tote bag in his hands and a disgusted look on his face.
“Aren’t you a sneaky one, little man,” said Xander, mussing the boy’s hair.
“You ready to go?” asked Daphne, getting up.
“Yup,” said Jack. “And since you guys said we’re getting a house, does that mean we can get a dog, too?”
“You bet, buddy,” said Xander. “A big scary one.”
“Cool!” said Jack.
“We’ll see about that. Now, you wait here,” said Daphne to Xander. “Take a load off; you’ve earned it.”
Daphne and Jack stepped towards the door, but before they could leave, Jack stopped in his tracks. Turning around, he walked over to Xander.
“Dad?” he asked. “Are you gonna be here forever?”
Xander smiled. “You bet, dude. Whether you like it or not.”
“Good!” exclaimed Jack. “’Cause I want to ride on the bike again.”
“Maybe when you’re a little older, buddy,” said Xander. “Go have fun—I’ll be here when you get back.”
Daphne could see that Xander’s heart warmed at being able to say those words. The two of them headed downstairs, and moments later Jack and Jason were off to do their thing. Daphne and Amy spent a few minutes catching up, and soon Daphne was back in the apartment. But when she opened the door, something was very different. For one, the lighting was down very low. Romantic jazz music filled the air, and a pair of candles was lit on the dining room table, a bottle of red wine between them.
“Xander?” called out Daphne to the apartment. “Where are you?”
“Right here,” he said, stepping out of the bedroom, a small box in his hands.
Tears formed in Daphne’s eyes when she laid eyes on the box.
“Now, I don’t want to be premature, but I figured that if we’re gonna start living like a family, we ought be one. You know, all official-like. Wedding and everything.”
He popped the box open, revealing a beautiful diamond ring.
“So, Daphne Carver, will you—”
“Yes!” she shouted, tears in her eyes as she rushed over to throw her arms around Xander.
“Ow!” he shouted.
“Sorry, sorry,” said Daphne.
“You’re gonna have to leave me one working arm if I’m gonna put this on.”
With that, he slipped the ring on Daphne’s finger. Daphne couldn’t help but cry as she looked at it.
“I love you, Daphne,” said Xander, his voice warm.
“I love you, too, baby.”
“Now,” he said a sensual glint in his eyes. “I got one more surprise for you. But it’s in the bedroom.”
“A surprise, huh?” said Daphne.
“Yep, but, uh, you got go kinda easy on this one. Little bit of a war wound.”
Xander slipped his arm around Daphne and lead her into the bedroom.
“Go easy?” she asked. “No promises.”
Xander smirked.
“Just what I wanted to hear.”
THE END
***
Thanks for reading!
Did you like my story?
If so, sign up to my mailing list!
New subscribers receive a FREE steamy short.
Click the link below to join.