Page 3 of Priest’s Sunbeam (Renegade Souls MC: Next Generation #2)

Sunshine

A pulse of awareness volleyed through the middle of Sunny as she stared into the darkest brown eyes. They were so dark, like two black dots staring back.

She knew what he was doing.

Sebastian’s patience was arrogant—he knew people would do what he wanted.

She’d been one of those people, so eager to do as he said.

She’d listened to everything he’d ever said because she’d been under the illusion he loved her as much as she adored him.

There were no words from him, but he cocked his brow, and she felt the tickle of irritation in the back of her skull. She wanted to yell that he wouldn’t get his way this time. But knowing she was stuck with him for hours, she chose her battles.

Inhaling to steady her nerves, she turned to grab her wallet.

“You won’t need that,” he said.

Of course not. Sunny didn’t think she’d ever paid for a thing when Sebastian was around.

Even if she’d dropped into a pharmacy to grab feminine things, he would whip out a card to pay before she could.

Things were now different, but whatever.

If he wanted to pay for the food, she’d order two hundred pancakes out of spite.

She dropped out of the truck, the cold nipping at her cheeks as she stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets and headed toward the diner without waiting for him.

But she was wholly aware of Sebastian’s firm footsteps behind her.

He beat her to the door, opening it for her.

After removing her coat, she located a small table by the window and grabbed a menu. Sebastian sat opposite her.

“What can I get you, folks?” the friendly server asked.

“Can I please get a stack of blueberry pancakes with whipped cream and blueberry sauce? Also, an egg sandwich with lightly buttered toast and a flat white coffee with two sugars. Thank you.”

“And you, honey?” the middle-aged woman asked Sebastian.

“I’ll take a sausage egg biscuit and a black coffee.”

“You got it. I’ll be back in a few.” She smiled, leaving them alone. Sunny would have paid for her to stay.

“You don’t need to be nervous, Sunny.” He said from across the table. She flicked her gaze up to see him watching her.

“I’m not.” She flushed.

“You only carb load when you’re feeling anxious. Nothing will happen. We’ll be home soon enough.”

He was right. Her system constantly screamed for carbs as comfort.

“I’m just hungry.” She replied stiffly and looked out the window until the server returned with their order.

The following minutes were spent eating the hot food.

Sunny didn’t have qualms about eating hungrily in front of anyone.

Having a crush on just one guy meant she never had to be dainty around the opposite sex.

Since that crush was sitting opposite her and he’d witnessed Sunny demolish her Easter candy countless times until she was sick, she had no pause in inhaling the fluffy pancakes until her stomach was stuffed.

She sighed, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“Do you want anything else?” he asked, and she shook her head.

“I need to use the bathroom,” she told him as she stood.

“Wait.” His voice held the power to stop Sunny in her tracks, and she mentally kicked herself for listening. It was like her system was wired to his motherboard. He held out a card. “Pay for the food, and I’ll book a room.”

“Can’t we just keep going?” Her brow puckered, thinking of the agony of spending more time with Sebastian within four walls. “I can take over driving if you’re tired.”

“You are not driving.” He said it like she’d offered to fillet a dog.

Her eyebrows jumped up. “Why the hell not?”

“Sunny, I don’t want to end up with fifty speeding tickets through the mail. You have a lead foot.”

Offended, she stuck her nose in the air and huffed. “It’s called economic driving. Look it up, old man.”

She heard his rough-sounding laughing behind her, and the sound felt like a punishment, but she refused to turn around. After exiting the restroom, she proceeded to the counter to settle her bill, at which point a younger man smiled at her.

“I saw you coming in,” he flashed his white teeth with a flirty glint, “Is that your boyfriend?”

“No, he’s like a brother.” She nearly choked on the words, but wasn’t it the truth? Sunny couldn’t think about that day a year ago, or she’d die another thousand humiliated deaths all over again.

“Does that mean I can get your number?” the bold guy asked.

He was cute, but she only smiled politely. “I don’t live here. We’re traveling through.”

“Ah, that’s a pity. You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”

She knew she should react to the compliment, but she felt nothing, not a flicker of interest from a cute boy trying to flirt in a non-pushy way.

Before she could gently refuse him, she heard a growl from behind. “Let’s go, Sunshine.” Stormy eyes locked on hers, daring her to ignore his demand. He wasn’t touching her, but he might as well have had a hand closed around her throat for the quickness with which she obeyed.

“Bye,” she told the cashier, and he winked at her. Sebastian glared at the boy as Sunny hurried out of the diner.

“Did you give him your number?” he rasped, and she couldn’t look at him. She didn’t think her feelings for Sebastian would ever fade.

“Yes, we’re going to have phone sex later tonight.” She snapped, heading toward the neon motel, and she wanted to cut her tongue out for her impulsive response.

“It’s number eight.” He gruffed and handed her a key. “I’ll grab our bags.” His fingertips grazed her palm when she opened it for the key, and she swore her vision dimmed a little. Hoping she’d had no outward reaction, she turned her back on Sebastian and heard his heavy footsteps walking away.

Only then did she glance over her shoulder to watch his long leanness as his masculine strides carried him toward his parked truck.

Her heart ached with how much she’d missed him.

It wasn’t only surface level, like how you’d miss a friend if you hadn’t spoken to them in a few weeks.

It went deeper than that. To that place, that was solely Sunny and Sebastian’s.

That place that had been created the day she was born was somewhere near the soul.

She missed him there so much that it was a physical ache she couldn’t outrun.

It hadn’t stopped her from thinking about him.

Or reaching for her phone to share stupid, funny jokes or ask for his advice.

Losing her best friend was awful. However, she needed to move on from Sebastian quickly; otherwise, seeing him with another woman would devastate her. That day was inevitable and could happen at any time.

But if she could get over it, she’d congratulate Sebastian without wanting to shoot the faceless woman through the heart for having someone Sunny considered hers.

Blinking out of the violent thought, she shuddered and realized Seb had stopped at the truck and was looking back at her, almost as if he could sense the direction of her thoughts, with his brows drawn down in a pensive look.

She spun to the door, shoving the key card into the electronic lock to open it.

It was a nondescript room, something you’d expect for the pay-by-the-hour type of place. It had two twin beds and a small TV on top of a dresser. The bathroom was clean-smelling, so when Sebastian appeared, she grabbed her bag and went there to catch her breath alone.

She heard the TV switch on, filling the room with blessed noise so she could pee peacefully.

The sight of Sebastian sprawled on the bed arrested Sunny’s heart like she’d been zapped with a cattle prod.

Goodness, he was stunning in only his jeans, a white t-shirt, and an arm slung over his eyes. His chest was rising and falling slowly with each breath.

She smacked herself for overreacting and dumped her bag and coat on the chair.

“Do you think it’s safe to take off my boots here? The carpet looks questionable.”

“I have,” he answered, sounding exhausted.

His hurried trip made her feel guilty. He must have set off late from Colorado, which meant he must not have had any sleep in over twenty-four hours.

Slipping out of her boots, she lined them up by the door next to Seb’s, then perched on the bed, looking at him.

“What’s happening back home, Sebastian?” she finally chose from one of the many questions floating around her head. He uncovered his eyes and looked over at her.

“It’s only taken you four hours to ask me. I thought you’d hold out much longer.”

Sunny shrugged a shoulder.

“Someone from your dad’s past has crawled out of the woodwork.”

“Who?”

“The details don’t matter, but pictures started arriving at the club last week.”

“What pictures?”

“Surveillance photos of you, your mom, and Clover. It was a blatant threat.”

Shock made her stiffen as she locked her fingers together, processing the information.

As security-conscious as her dad had always been with their safety, she could only imagine how insane he was feeling right now to protect them.

She was one of those kids who always had a guard wherever she went.

It’s only been in recent years that she was given more freedom.

Not that she’d ever felt stifled.

The love for her family, her dad especially, couldn’t be put into words. There had never been a day she or Clover had ever felt less than precious to their parents.

Whatever Hawk did, however strict he might have acted, she knew it came from a place of love.

“My dad must be going crazy.”

“Yeah,” Sebastian answered. “As a precaution, Rider called a lockdown for the immediate brothers and their families.”

“Is Harper in lockdown?” Because of studying, she hadn’t checked in with her friend—the prez’s daughter—in over a week.

“Not in the clubhouse grounds, but Cain has her under lock and key at their place.”

She snickered. Harper’s man was this side of demented, honestly, not just figuratively, so Sunny knew her friend would be well cared for.

No one would get near Harper without losing all of their limbs and intestines.

Harper had gone through an epic romance story in the past year.

If stalking and coercion could be classed as romantic.

Harper thought so, and it was clear how in love with Cain she was and how much that guy worshipped her to the point of madness.

There were more questions, but they could wait for her parents; instead, she fished out her phone.

As worried as she felt, there was one thing she could count on being part of the MC world: there was always someone in the shadows.

They might have had quieter years than others, but it made none of them relax too much. They were always ready. It was the Hawk way. It still didn’t stop the roil of uncertainty through her stomach.

SUNNY : How are you coping with lockdown?

HARPER : Lots of sex. Where are you?

SUNNY : Somewhere outside of Texas. I should be home before morning.

HARPER : Dad said Seb came for you.

SUNNY : Yeah. We’re in a motel right now.

SUNNY: Can you feel how mortified I am?

HARPER : Oh, shit. I’m sorry. I should have sent Cain.

SUNNY : That man would never leave your side.

SUNNY : Did he jump on you like a live grenade once he learned about the lockdown?

HARPER : HAHA. You laugh, but he overreacted so badly, nearly carrying me out of the club to get me home like he thought SWAT was going to burst through the windows.

SUNNY : He’s a sweet boy.

HARPER : He’s insane.

HARPER : Is it okay with Seb? Have you guys talked?

SUNNY : As little as possible. It’s just awkward. I hate it.

HARPER : I can stay on the phone until you get home. I’ll be your buffer.

SUNNY : What about all your lockdown sex?

HARPER : I’ll tie Cain to the bed. He can wait.

HARPER : Shit. The monster looked over my shoulder and saw what I wrote. GTG. Keep your chin up, Sunny! Seb is only one man. You deserve the world. Love you!

Sunny didn’t bother with a reply. Her friend was likely already naked.

She felt a pinch of envy. To be loved the way Cain loved Harper must be the best feeling in the world.

Hardly anyone her age has settled down yet. And not in the co-dependent, intense relationship she yearned to have.

But when she fell in love at a young age, twenty-one felt ancient when she was still without her person.

As usual, when he was near, her eyes found Sebastian, watching as he slept silently on the other bed, his chest moving soundlessly with every breath.

Harper’s words went around her mind.

She deserved to be loved in the way she needed; she wasn’t a bad person. And there were some good men in the world.

Her focus was solely on him, making her oblivious to others. It was impossible because her heart was made solely for one pair of hands to hold.

But those hands rejected her heart, and now it gaped open and raw.

With a shuddering breath, she dragged her eyes away from Seb’s sleeping form. Maybe it was time to look elsewhere.