Crimson Storm, Crimson Riders Book 1

Presents And Cuts

Rayne

I had finally stopped running a fever, and was feeling better. I still felt run down, but at least the infection was taken care of and the wound in my stomach looked better. My feet were now fine, and I was able to walk and take myself somewhere. I think Night was a little disappointed he didn’t have an excuse to carry me everywhere.

Hope was thriving, and I had started to sort of talk with some of the other Old Ladies around the club when they were here, and had somebody as well as Shannon to ask questions of. Sometimes I was so worried I would do something wrong with her, and she would be hurt because of it.

We are having a B-B-Q today, and I actually lent a hand to the club girls who set these things up. I was able to ask on the sly if what Night had said was the truth. The girls actually seemed surprised that I would ask about if they were treated well. They let me know they were treated very well.

Yesterday Night had given me the first present I had ever gotten, that I remember at least. He came into the room shyly just as I was finishing up feeding Hope. I had never seen him this fidgety and nervous looking.

After I put Hope down, “I got you something and I wanted to give it to you. If you don’t like it we can exchange it so don’t worry about that. I know the B-B-Q is tomorrow, and I know we haven’t gotten to the store for you or Hope yet, so you’re still wearing borrowed clothes. I saw this and I thought about you, so I got it.”

I was surprised at the length of that introduction. He handed me a box, and it was wrapped with a bow. At first I just held it and stared at it. I was speechless. He misinterpreted my silence.

“Baby, I’m not expecting anything as payment for that present. I just saw it, thought about you,, and got it. No strings attached I promise.”

I looked up at him,”It’s not that, it’s just I’ve never gotten a present before, so I was just kind of looking at the paper and the bow, it’s so pretty.”

I swallowed nervously and set down on the edge of the bed, and I started to unwrap whatever it was. It was a box, and I opened it. Inside was a blue dress and sandals. The dress was short sleeved, and it had a stretchy front part that would go over my chest, kind of like elastic. There were flowers as a border around the bottom portion of the dress, with kind of ruffles at the bottom. The shoes were just flat sandals in a light blue to go with the dress.

I looked up at Night and I couldn't keep the tear from falling down my cheek, worried that he would think I didn’t like it. I mumbled, “It’s so pretty. I never owned a dress since I was really little. I just am surprised you got me this and I am kinda not sure what to do or say, but I love it.”

He came over and sat next to me on the bed, “From now on, you will have presents, you will have surprised and fun times. You will be able to laugh and have fun. I hope you find friendships in the club, and I know Shannon already considers you one. So, there’s no more darkness and pain, and I will fight to keep it that way, always baby.”

He slowly, so as not to startle me, leaned in, and he softly kissed me. He put his hands on my cheeks and the kiss was more than just a brush of his lips this time, but he didn’t try to make it into a huge thing. It was just soft and nice. I kissed him back a little, even though I had no clue what I was doing.

When he pulled away he had a huge smile on his face. I looked into his eyes and saw joy radiating from then. They were the most unusual shade I had ever seen. I can’t say they were green or brown ,kind of both at once, I think that’s called hazel. Then there’s this darker brown ring around the outside, and if the light hits it they turn more green. He seemed just as happy to sit and stare at me as I was him.

The next day I was standing in our room wearing the dress. I had seen myself in the mirror and it shocked me and I paused. I hadn’t had mirrors around much, any at the clubhouse usually got broken so they weren’t any good. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see myself most of the time anyway.

Right now though, I looked different than the last time I had caught a glimpse of myself. There were no bruises marring my skin. My hair was brushed and clean ,not matted and tangled with dirt because I hadn’t been able to wash it for days. I wasn’t dirty and disgusting. I didn’t smell like the men who used me, and no one here did those horrible things to me. I wasn’t skin and bones anymore, and my skin looked healthy, not pasty and sickly looking.

Night came in the room and as soon as he saw me he stopped. He looked at me from head to toe and then this big grin just broke out on his face, “Damn, baby, you are so f*****g beautiful. I am going to be beating men away from you all the time, but you are mine and only mine, nobody gets to touch you but me ever again.”

He’d seen that split second when he said he would be beating men away from me, that I paused. Then he carried on with all that, and I relaxed. I knew in my head that he wasn’t like Blood or Buzzard, or the other bastards in that club, but my heart was taking a bit to get the memo.

He carried Hope and I walked beside him as he led us out to the clubhouse. We had been staying in his room upstairs, but he kept talking about getting us a house. I was just still marveling at a whole room, a whole bed, and a bathroom. So, I was definitely not complaining about sharing his room.

Hallow was surrounded by club guys, all wearing their cuts, and of course Night’s said he was V.P. and had his name on it. There were old ladies here and I noticed they were wearing cuts as well. I noticed one of them said she was the property of Digger. I think he’s one of the club guys. I hadn’t ever seen women wear a cut before.

“Do all the women here wear a cut like the guys? I’ve never seen women wear them.” I looked at Night for an answer.

“Those are the old ladies baby. When they become the Old Lady of one of the club members she receives a cut that says who she belongs to. It’s an honor and the women are really proud of those just like the men are. I have one being made for you, and you’ll have it for the next time we have a get together.”

My jaw was on the floor. He had gone so far as to have a cut made for me that said I belonged to him and announced to everyone that I was his old lady. I didn’t know much, but even I knew that to a club man, his cut was sacred. So him giving me one, was a big deal.

He leaned down and softly kissed me,”I told you they all know you’re mine that I’ve claimed you, so you will be referred to as my old lady more than your name probably. Hope will be referred to as my daughter and Hollow’s granddaughter, which he is extremely proud of by the way.”

I just nodded, not really able to get words past my tight throat at the moment. He then just continued leading us to the party. I had a feeling that I would have a lot of these surprise moments.

So, which one was next and would it be a good one?