Page 12

Grease

“Prez, can you load my bike onto the trailer? I’m riding back with my woman,” I say, slinging my arm over Lyra.

“Wait, who said I’m going back? I can…” She starts to argue, but I sigh, roll my eyes, and throw her over my shoulder.

“We’ve got your bike, brother,” Swift says with a smirk.

“Bout time the last of us fell. Ain't that right, brother?” Hitter smirks.

“Still got Cutter to think about,” Swift muses as Lyra kicks and screams. Pounding my back.

“Tootsie, I'm warning you right now. Grab my ass again, and I will be returning the favor,” I say through a growl as I give a chin lift to the guys, then turn and head for the van.

“Grease, please. You have to let me go,” Lyra keeps protesting.

“Prez, I think we might have to take the small car after all. We don't have room for everyone in the cage,” Comp says, looking around the group. I nod and then turn and stalk back toward the fucking clown car.

“Shotgun!!” Lyra’s mom yells out. Then she looks around. “That is unless one of you double, dark, dangerous devils wants to let me ride piggyback.” She wiggles her eyebrows, and I can't help the chuckle that escapes at the groan Lyra lets loose.

Lyra, fuck, her name is so beautiful. Becky was beautiful as well, but I want to be comfortable with both. She will have to pick one, and I want to make it as easy as possible for her. I want her to know I accept both, and either of those names and who they represent her being.

“Miss Tizzy,” I start but readdress her when she narrows her eyes on me. Well, shit, that’s a scary look. “Tizzy, do you mind driving? Me and my woman need to have a long conversation, and Imma need the backseat for it.”

“Oh, you overbearing, bossy, son of a bit…” Lyra starts.

“Sugarplum, watch that language, and after that young man just offered you the sweetest, most romantic ride of your life. Hop on in sugar; I’ll hitch this ride!” Tizzy says, jumping in the driver's side.

I climb into the back seat with Lyra on my lap as she continues to struggle.

“Tootsie, if you don't want your mama seeing a show, you might want to stop with the wiggling of that sweet ass. Only so much control I got left,” I whisper in her ear. Her struggles stop immediately, but she still turns her head to glare at me. There's my girl. Tizzy turns the car on and pulls out behind Swift at my direction.

“Just follow where they lead,” I tell her, then turn and give my full attention to my Toots.

“I’ve missed you so much, baby,” I say, not realizing my voice cracks. Her eyes widen further, but I don't let her respond. I take her mouth in a hard kiss. I don't give a fuck who might be watching. This is what I’ve wanted for fucking years! Not seeing her every day created a monster only she can contain. As she wiggles against me again, I decide now's the time to pull back. She protests, but I just smirk, causing her eyes to narrow. Fuck, I love her fire.

“You need to behave. This is no way for me to meet the in-laws. Your mama's gonna think I’m trying to take advantage of you.” I wink.

“Lord howdy, take advantage. My little Lyra Lynn needs some advantages in her life. Take control, too. She might think she wants to be in control, but she's lying to herself.”

“MAMA!” Lyra gasps.

“Baby sugarplum, I would tell you to tame that wild stallion you got back there, but darlin’, you already have him by the cobblers! Boys whipped and whipped good.” Just as I’m about to reply, Tizzy screeches, “Oh! This is my jam. We’re going to jam out on this road trip! YEE-HAW!!”

“Sure you want to take us back to the clubhouse? She’ll have it wrecked by hour three,” Lyra says, smiling softly. As her eyes meet mine, her smile drops, and she sighs. “Grease, on a serious note, I can't go back. I can't put all of you in danger.”

“We can take care of ourselves,” I growl, then louder when she starts to deny it.

“No! Lyra, you are coming home. That is the end of it. We will protect you. There is nothing more in this life that I want to do. I want to fight with you, I want to protect you, I want to build a life with you! I want you to let me love you! Stop running and just….” I pause, waiting for her to look at me again, needing her to feel the strength and truth in my words. “Just let me love you with everything in me. I'm already there, tootsie. I just need you on board.

“What if someone gets hurt because of me? What if one of the kids gets hurt? I couldn't live with that.” She crumbles as tears stream down her face.

“My brothers and their wives are well aware of the risk and what might come for us. Believe me, it wouldn’t be the first time someone has come after the club. We have measures in place to make sure the kids are well protected. You should know. You’ve been in that panic room before,” he tells me.

“You all do that for family. For old ladies!”

“Woman! When are you going to learn? You. Are. Mine,” I tell her forcefully and then plant my mouth firmly over hers when she protests. She moans, then pulls back quickly.

“Stop doing that! It's distracting!” she says, but I can see she’s trying to hide her smile.

“You are mine, Lyra. And I will fight any war brought to our doorstep to keep you safe, my brothers at my back. Just like I was at their back every time they needed me,” I tell her, cupping the side of her throat. I give it a quick squeeze and watch her lips part, her tongue poking out to wet them. Glistening in the moonlight shining throughout the car.

“You called me Lyra, not Becky.” She smiles. “Why?”

“I just want you to know it's your choice. Whether you want to come back to the compound as Becky or want to start fresh as Lyra, I guess, fresh by going back to the past. I mean, not going back. Fuck, that's confusing as fuck, ain't it?” I ask her and smile at the shake of her shoulders. I love getting to see that laughter, finally. I don't notice the music turned down until Tizzy speaks.

“Sugarplum. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if you wanted to keep your new name and new identity. It's not like we came from much, baby. You can go back to Becky and dream up castles and ponies with rainbow birthday cakes your dad made. I would have loved to give you that childhood. At least Becky could have had that,” Tizzy says, and though I can tell she's trying to make her voice sound chipper, the pain laces the statement.

“Mama, I’ve never been ashamed of my childhood. I wouldn't trade my life with you for all the ponies or the biggest castle on earth. My childhood and my life with you have made me who I am. I’ve never been ashamed of you, mama. You gave me everything I needed growing up, and you're still doing it now,” Lyra says to her mama over the front seats, then she turns back to me.

“I want to come home… but I’m coming home Lyra Loretta Lynn Leman,” she says, raising her chin. Sitting in the back seat of a clown car, I ride back home with my woman, my queen, sitting on my lap.

Now, if I could just get her home, I could finally sit her in her rightful spot upon her throne.

Also known as my mouth.