Through The Weeds (Nightshade MC Book 2) (30 page)

“I've got something else for you right now. We'll get to the ring.” Buster leaned down and took her mouth with his. In the morning, he'd go to the bank where he kept a safe deposit box. Inside would be the ring that his grandmother had worn until she died of cancer when he was a teenager. His grandfather had left it to him when he'd died. He'd never thought that he would need it, but knew that Caroline would love it.

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“You sure that you're good with everyone being here, Caroline?” Buster looked around the crowded house. Somehow Caroline taking his brand had turned into a party. He figured it was only right that they celebrate, since there hadn't been much cause for it lately.

“I'm sure. Just a little nervous I guess. It's going to hurt.”

“It'll be quick. I promise, it'll be quick. If you're scared, we don't have to do this. I'll tell everyone to go the fuck home right now.”

“No. Let's do it. Get it over with, so I can have many many drinks.” She looked down at her hand, wiggled her fingers. “I still can't believe that this is my ring.”

“It is. How's the wedding dress thing coming along?”

“I think I found something that will work, so don't go in the garment bag in the closet, okay?” She grinned. “You'll see it soon enough.”

They'd marry the following day. Buster hadn't been kidding around when he'd said that he didn't want to wait. There had been enough time wasted. It was going to be a simple civil ceremony. Caroline had told him that she didn't want more. He'd taken her at her word. “Did you hear back from your parents?”

A dark look crossed over her face, but she chased it away with a smile. “They're not going to be able to come, and that's fine. I understand it's hard for them to travel. They're getting older.”

There was something in her tone that made Buster know there was more to it than them not wanting to travel. “We can go visit them,” he suggested.

“Maybe,” she replied. “We certainly don't have to decide right now.” Her smile was too bright; she wasn't telling him something. “Come on, I'm ready.”

Buster bit his tongue to keep from asking her if she was sure. He knew how close the setup that Train had put together was to what Jake had used on her. In his dreams the night before she'd lost her shit in the chair, completely freaked out and left him. It was stupid to let a dream make him nervous, but it had.

He led her over to the chair, and a hush fell over the crowd gathered there. Nightshade was in full force, every member there to witness the commitment. For them, this was more important than the wedding ceremony. It meant more than a simple piece of paper signed on the dotted line. Caroline blushed as she looked around. She'd never been entirely comfortable with attention being on her. It was just another reason Buster couldn't love her more if he tried.

She placed her arm against the arm of the chair, palm up with her other, still bandaged, arm in her lap. Buster slid one of his rings off. It was what he'd chosen to use. The initial in the middle was raised; there would be no circle around it. He needed it to be as different as possible from the smeared circles on her other arm. Train handed him the butane torch, and Caroline flinched.

“Breathe.” It was Train who spoke. He moved behind Caroline, placed his hands on her shoulders. “It'll be over in a second.”

Buster watched as Caroline nodded. She shut her eyes for a moment and then opened them again. She was completely composed, ready for what he intended to do. He gripped the ring in a pair of pliers, applied the heat until it glowed red. In the final seconds of heating it, doubt that he could inflict any sort of pain on her took over him.

“I'm ready.” She met his eyes and held his gaze as he turned off the flame.

Buster took a deep breath, gripped her wrist with one hand to hold it down, and with the other he placed the superheated metal against her skin. Caroline bit down on her lip and threw her head back. Train held tight to her shoulders.

The mark was perfect when he pulled away. Her skin was angry and red; he could see some blistering, but it was perfect. She looked down at it and laughed. “No backing out now, Buster.” Her eyes sparkled.

Everyone else laughed at that. Train patted her shoulders and stepped back as Buster placed the pliers back down on the table. He didn't say a word, he just pulled Caroline up from the chair and to him. He was careful not to bump her arm as he cupped her face with his hands.

He kissed her deeply, felt his cock fill out in his jeans. The love that she had for him, the trust that she was willing to show him, spoke as deeply as the mark now etched forever in her skin. She was his. He was hers. Together, they'd face whatever challenges came their way. Together, they'd build their family. Together, they'd always make it through the weeds.