Page 14

RAE

Every time she heard a motorcycle, she peeked out the blinds. Santa leaning against his bike, smoking a cigarette across the street didn’t escape her notice.

She would take it up with Virus as soon as he arrived, and they were away from gooey-eyed Harmon. She’d practically melted into a puddle when they spotted Santa. Not because Harmon was enamored with him, but the notion of him. “It’s so romantic.” She’d declared.

Harmon was obsessed with her Hollywood version of the broody but protective biker. didn’t point out that every fictional biker she’d ever watched was not just hot as fuck for his woman, he spread the love around.

much preferred romance novel bikers. They didn’t cheat, and they didn’t run drugs that could end up in the hands of children. They had a tough exterior but were all squishy inside, but only for their woman. No one else.

Yeah, book biker beat TV bikers hands down. Especially the series that were set in Vegas. Those were her favorites.

“Okay, so how do I look?” She twirled for her friend as if she were wearing five-inch heels and the fuck-me dress she’d planned. Instead, she was in ripped jeans, boots, her favorite Fallin In Reverse tee, and a dupe of Dean’s jacket from season one of Supernatural .

“Like a perfect ol’ lady to me. I love it, but I thought the plan was to cook together here. You look like you’re dressed for a ride.”

“As I was strapping on my heels, I remembered we cooked together once when we first started dating and I was trying to impress him. I forgot the main ingredient in spaghetti.”

“The actual spaghetti?”

“Yep. So, he offered to drive me to the store to pick it up. On the way, we took a detour and happened upon the pond. It was so perfect; we ended up having sex in his old truck. We made it to the store like five seconds before they closed. We ended up sitting on the floor, eating spaghetti at the coffee table, Lady and the Tramp style. It was a perfect night.”

“So, your plan is to take him to the pond, bang him, and then come back here and slurp spaghetti. I gotta say I feel like I failed you as the sex sensei.”

“No. No sex, but I want to tap into that happy memory for us. I want us to get to know each other before we start having sex as our main form of communication. Been there, done that, didn’t work out.”

“First, the best way to tap into good memories is letting him tap it. Second, you two know each other better than anyone else I know. Third, you just banged him last night, so there’s that. Fourth, you are still not all in. You’re trying to hold back a bit of yourself because you’re afraid to get hurt again. Love is about risks, honey. Without the risk, you can’t fall all the way. And if you’re not careful, you’ll cause history to repeat itself by holding back.”

stared at Harmon for what felt like a lifetime. In reality, it was mere seconds, she was sure.

“You’re right,” she breathed. really thought she was all in. She wholeheartedly believed she wasn’t holding back but she was. If she wasn’t careful, she would push him away again.

She launched herself into Harmon’s arms. “You’re the best.”

“I know.”

“I love you so much.”

“Ditto girlie pop.” Harmon tried to end the hug. She played cocky but was uncomfortable with too much appreciation. “Now, go answer the door before he kicks it in.”

It had totally escaped ’s notice that someone was knocking. For a moment she jumped, thinking it might be Barker, but Santa wouldn’t have let that happen, plus she heard Virus call her name.

After disentangling from Harmon, she flung the door open and lost her breath. Virus stood there looking downright book boyfriend swoon-worthy. Black Henley under his cut. Jeans that hugged him like a second skin, scuffed boots, and a panty-melting smile on his face.

In his hand, he held a single dandelion that was missing some wisps.

Awkwardly, he spoke. “June told me before I left I had to pick a dandelion, the perfect dandelion, and tell you to make a wish. She guaranteed it was the way to any mom’s heart or, and I quote, unless they don’t have one, like Cinderella’s stepmom.”

held back her laughter, Harmon not so much.

“So, you’re taking dating advice from children?”

“If it works, I’ll try it.” He gave her a crooked smile and raised his eyebrow in question. reached for the less than perfect dandelion, closed her eyes and made a wish … and blew.

“What did you wish for?” Virus asked, and she was ready to tell him when Harmon interrupted.

“Well, we know it wasn’t dick, that’s for sure.”

“Harmon,” she scolded.

“What, I am a truth speaker. You won’t give it up and he’s bringing weeds and following children for dating advice. I can’t work with this. Sensei out.” She said with faux exhaustion. “Besides, I’ve been summoned to the clubhouse. My escort should arrive any second now.”

Harmon reached for her purse and they both stared at her in stunned silence.

“Um, since when do you answer summons ?”

She copped a look that said anything but docile compliance.

“Since I want to go and maybe knock a certain biker down a peg or two.”

As if on cue, Outlaw pulled up and Harmon bounded out of the house before he could even get off his bike.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” expressed.

“Yeah, bad for Outlaw.”

agreed, but they were both adults, and she had her own relationship to worry over.

“So, would you believe me if I said I forgot the spaghetti?”

watched as a look of understanding crossed his face and his smile grew impossibly wide.

“No, but I’d still take you to the store to get some.”

“Great, let’s go.” Her enthusiasm was hard to contain.

She noticed him wave to Santa across the street, and he pulled away.

“What was that?”

“I sent him home since I’ve got you covered for the night.”

Before he helped her with the helmet, he kissed her until her knees went jelly mode “You look fine as hell, Sunny.” He raked her with his gaze, and she felt it like a physical touch. “Fine as hell,” he reiterated.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.”

Before they pulled off, he shouted, “Hold on tight, babe.”

understood the fascination with motorcycles within two minutes of leaving Harmon’s. There was something so intoxicating about it. Something so … free.

They could’ve ridden forever, and wouldn’t have complained one single bit, but Virus slowed the bike to a crawl and was maneuvering a familiar but overgrown trail.

Their pond.

Driving his shiny bike on a trail on someone else’s property wasn’t part of the plan. She’d wanted to tap into that feeling they had that night, not trespass, but apparently, Virus had taken their role-playing to heart.

Although, she should’ve known; he’d taken the whole starting over thing literally, too.

Butterflies flapped around in her stomach, a whole freaking swarm of them, when the water came into sight, and he turned off the engine.

Virus doffed his helmet as she got off the bike. He helped with her buckle and when her helmet was free, and he pulled her to his lap. Guiding one leg over his hips to straddle him.

“Ooof.” The air left her lungs, but not from the suddenness of the movement—it was from the reaction of her body being spread across his. It was instantaneous. It always had been, and obviously, it always would be.

Virus didn’t say a word, he just stared into her eyes while rhythmically rocking her body against his. The heat generated from their bodies and the friction of their denim damn near ignited a fire between them.

“Fuck, Sunny,” he declared as shrugged her jacket off, ripped her shirt over her head, then shoved her bra to her neck. He devoured one breast, then the next. His mouth was frenzied and oh so hot. Nipping his way up to her mouth, he took her bottom lip between his teeth and held it there to the point of pain before sucking it into his mouth.

“Ahhhh.” A moan escaped her mouth but was born in her soul.

Her hands slid up under his shirt without conscious direction from her brain. Virus stops rocking her against him to stop her hands. He sheds his cut and hangs it with care on his handlebars, then tosses his shirt somewhere to the ground behind him.

smiled at the difference in the care he took. It hit her then, she’d read about that in one of her favorite MC romances, Virus respected his cut.

All thoughts fled when he grabbed her ass and slid her back against him, grinding their bodies together. The seam of the denim hitting her just right. He bent down and bit her breast, and a rush of desire flooded her entire being.

“How long do we have to date before we can fuck again?” Virus chuckled at her question. How the tables have turned.

“That was your idea, babe. I was all about going all in. It was you who wanted to date.”

He licked from one breast to the other before dragging his tongue up across her collarbone and all the way to her ear. After licking the shell, he nipped the lobe before uttering a harsh whisper.

“As much as I wanna fuck you right here, the ground is unstable. So, I’m gonna need you to stand up.”

He bit down on her lobe hard, while patting her ass.

“No,” she protested. She was burning for him. She’d be damned if she’d let him stop. “Please, Virus.”

He released her ear and slid her off his lap enough to break contact.

“Up,” he ordered.

She complied but pouted. Staring into his eyes, glittering in the moonlight, she cupped her own breasts, tweaking the nipples. He may tell her no because of her stupid ideas of dating, but she would not make it easy on him.

Moaning for effect, she held his gaze. Smiling internally as he stared at her hands with undivided attention.

He threw his leg over the bike and started toeing off his boots. When he reached for the button on his pants, he looked up at her. “Pants off, now.”

“But I thought—” He stood and was already shoving his jeans down his thighs.

“Stop thinking and get naked.”

“But you said no?—”

He stood before her naked, dick in hand, slowly stroking.

“The fuck I did.” He grabbed his shirt and turned back to see she was complying and smiled that wicked grin of his that turned her knees to ramen noodles.

Virus walked back into her personal space when she was naked. Wrapping the arm with his shirt around her waist, she followed the silent command to wrap her legs around him. When she did, he strode them over to the tree closest to the water. One they knew well.

Her heart melted when he placed the shirt behind her back before pushing her up against the tree with his body. Even with the lust that was riding him, he’d thought of her comfort.

Virus kissed her soundly before dropping his mouth to her shoulder. The heat of his mouth was rivaled only by the heat of his cock that was lodged between her thighs. With each thrust of his hips, it slid between her lips and dragged against her clit on his retreat.

“Put me inside you, Sunny. Welcome me home.” It was more of a plea than an order. The need in his voice was too much. couldn’t have denied him even if she wanted to. To be clear, she most certainly didn’t want to.

Reaching between them, she angled his cock so on the next thrust he slid home. had heard some people refer to sex as if it were a religious experience. Harmon certainly did. Personally, she never understood it, until right that second.

“I love you, Virus.” At her words, he pounded into her harder and faster until his name flew from her lips and echoed off the water.

He grasped her chin and kissed her harshly. A tooth-clashing, tongue-tangling kiss that dragged her orgasm out.

Virus ripped his mouth from hers and his grip on her chin increased. Without slowing his thrusts, he ordered in a guttural voice. “Say it again.”

“I love you. I love you. I love you.” Each syllable punctuated by his thrusts.

When he came, he didn’t roar words of love. Instead, it was a single syllable growled into the night. One four-letter word that held their entire future.

“Mine.”

Time hung suspended, and they stayed there against the tree, forehead to forehead until he slid from her body.

“Look.”

“What?” She dropped her legs and turned in his arms. Facing the tree, searching where he was pointing above her head.

Reaching up, she traced her fingers along the heart with the initials DW+AJ.

“It’s still here.” She hadn’t thought about that in years.

“Yeah, babe. And so are we.” He kissed her head. “Let’s get dressed and go grab that pasta, huh?”

“Um, no thank you,” she answered as she picked up her clothes from around the clearing. “Not my idea of fun to search for farfalle on aisle nine while your,” she indicated her crotch, “you know, oozes out with every step.”

Virus started laughing so hard, she thought he’d pass out. Once they were dressed and he was recovered, he caught her in his arms.

“I never thought you could make anything about what we did sound so unsexy, but I swear if you ever use the word ooze again when it comes to your junk or mine, I’ll have to spank your ass raw.”

Their kiss was intimate, but not carnal. “Yeah, well, if you ever call it junk again, I’ll spank yours.”

“The fuck you will.”

He helped put her helmet on and they made their way back to Harmon’s.

Virus walked her to the door like a gentleman, but when he tried to come in, she held him back.

“What? I thought this was a dinner date. You’re not gonna feed me now? You’re a spaghetti tease, that’s what you are.”

“Well, maybe if you hadn’t fucked me senseless in the woods, we’d have had time for dinner. How about we save the dinner for tomorrow and make it a family thing? You, me, and Adam.”

The smile that crossed his face transformed his whole essence. She didn’t realize what she’d said that made him so happy until he spoke.

“Family.” He kissed her hard and loud before dancing back off the porch. “Fuck yeah.”

stood with her hands on her hips long after his taillight disappeared.

When she turned to go into the house, a hand covered her mouth from behind and she felt what she suspected was a gun against her back.

“If you fight, I’ll kill the brat.”

Barker? No way he had Adam. He was safe with Virus’s friends. Wasn’t he?

“Adam’s not with you.” It came out with less confidence than she’d hoped.

“You sure about that, Sunny?” He sneered the nickname Darrin had given her years ago. “Do you wanna take that chance? Come with me, and I’ll send him back to his father. Alive and kicking. If not …” He left the threat unspoken.

was ninety-nine-point-nine percent sure that Adam was safe with Hook and Nova, but it was the point one percent that had her nodding and allowing him to lead her away.