One Ride (The Hellions Ride) (20 page)

I Could Get Used To This

Since Vegas, our ride has been one of ease and comfort, for the most part.  Long days, back to back, on a bike are not comfortable and leave you stiff and sore.  We’ve passed through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma.  Tripp and I have since shared five nights of passion.  He’s even adjusted some of the accommodations to ensure we have our own private room.  I can’t get enough of this man.

The more I get to know him, the more I crave everything about him.  I find myself looking forward to our evenings alone.  He’s taken my body through highs I’ve never felt before.  It’s more than sex though.  We talk every night as he holds me close.

He shares little pieces of himself with me each day.  He’s told me how my dad made him get serious.  My dad taught him not only how to run a club but to run a business. 

The love he has for his grandparents.  His mom took off the first time when he was only days old.  His grandparents stepped in and took care of him.  When his mom came back months later, they tried to give her the space to be his mom.  According to his Aunt, his mom was young and she didn’t have the patience to raise a rambunctious little boy and would take out her frustrations on him.  He was just a toddler.  His grandparents made the hard decision to put his safety first and kicked her out to save him further abuse after she broke his arm when he was two years old.  There are so many pieces to the puzzle that make up Talon Ward Crews.  Every little detail adds to the depth of my feelings for this man.

Stopping at a truck stop for dinner, Sass and I head in first to use the restroom and get a table.  Just like every other truck stop in America, it has a gas station, open area for kiosks to sell a multitude of items from cell phones to truck accessories.  There are showers inside the restroom, an internet café, and a full restaurant serving everything from Chinese, to Mexican, to Pizza.  We settle ourselves into a booth while we wait for the guys to finish pumping gas.

“Okay girl, I love seeing you happy, but damn I miss our girl time.”  A sad expression is in her eyes.

“I know Sass.  I can’t help it.  You know when we get back home this is all over for me.”  I say fighting to keep my tears at bay.

“Doll, are you prepared to let him go?”

“What choice do I have?  Prepared for it, hell no.  I’ll deal with it when the time comes.  There is no other option but to let him go.”  I reply, looking across the table at her trying to reassure myself that I can walk away from Tripp at the end of this ride.

“You love him, don’t you?”  Pausing, I’m unsure if I’m ready to answer this question.

“Yes.”  I whisper.  My admission settles on my chest like a pallet of bricks.  How does someone prepare to say goodbye to the first person to make them feel truly alive?  When the time comes I’ll have no choice but to say goodbye.  Tripp’s life is in Catawba, not at the coast.  I may be accepting of his lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean I actually fit into his life. 

Someone touching my hair, tucking it behind my ear, brings me out of my musings.  Looking up, I’m met with crystal blue eyes.  The man before me is handsome enough and his confidence makes him all the more attractive.  He’s tall with broad shoulders, and the build of a working man.  His blonde hair is not long but definitely shaggy.  Any other time, I’d be ready to turn on the charm.

“Hello, beautiful.”  He speaks breaking into a grin that shows his perfectly straight teeth.

Before I can respond, he’s being yanked backwards away from me.  I watch as Tripp lets the stranger loose.

“She’s taken fucker.”  Tripp shoves the guy.

“No ring on her finger, she didn’t tell me to leave.”  The men are eyeing each other.

“I’m telling you she’s fuckin’ taken.  Walk away while you can still manage to walk.”  Something in Tripp’s tone let me and the man know this isn’t an idle threat. 

With one last look over his shoulder at me, the stranger walks away.  Tripp slides in beside me, draping his arm around my shoulders like nothing happened.

“What the fuck was that?”  I ask, pissed off at his macho display of ownership.

“He had no business over here.  It’s been handled.  Moving on,” Tripp says looking at me with what I see to be a mix of possessiveness and pride.

“I’m capable of sending someone away, Tripp.”  Knowing I’m playing with fire, but too irritated to care, I add, “or giving him my phone number.”

Leaning in, Tripp whispers, “Last night, was my cock not the one filling your pussy so deep you could feel it from your head to your toes?  Is it not my name you call out as you come?  You think he’s man enough to give you what you need?  Darlin’, do you think that fucker could handle having your nails rake his skin to the point you draw blood?  All because you’re so lost in the sensation, you can’t stop yourself.  Then, by all means, go give him your number.”

My expression is one of heated desire and surprise as he moves out of the booth waving a gesture of come on.  Thinking about the waterfall scratches down Tripp’s back, I begin to realize Tripp causes me to get lost in him every time we’re together.  I’ve never been so consumed in passion that I’ve scratched someone hard enough to mark their skin.

He’s challenging me.  In case he hasn’t figured it out, this bitch doesn’t back down, fucker.  Time to learn that real quick.  Sliding out of the booth, I’m standing up.  I take two steps before Tripp reaches out to grab me.

“Think about what you’re doing.  I don’t play fuckin’ games.  You want him, go get him.  I don’t share, Doll.  You go after him, we’re done.”  He releases me.  His stare is one of loss and a new distance between us. 

Once again, Tripp has me on a rollercoaster of emotions.  On one hand, it’s nice that he says I’m taken.  On the other, we’ve made no commitments to one another.  I’m perfectly capable to send someone away on my own, that was my point.  I never intended for it to be such a serious matter.

Sitting back down, I say nothing further.  I’ve messed things up.  Know your place, Doll.  Damn it, I know how bikers are.  Some people may find it degrading, but it’s not like that.  To stake a claim that I’m taken means I’m his.  He will take care of me, protect me, and be there for me. 

Our waitress comes over, smiling at Rex as she takes our orders.  Sitting here, I watch as Sass is fidgeting nervously.  What’s going on with her?  Is she upset about what transpired between Tripp and me?  I don’t know what I think of what’s going on between us much less understand what it looks like to everyone around us.  I’m sure she’s homesick because I feel it too.  I don’t have to wonder long as she looks over at Tripp and asks.

“Have you heard from Tank by chance?”  That is what’s on her mind, what she’s left behind.  The longing on her face as she asks shows she is desperate for even a crumb of acknowledgement from Tank.

There is a flash of sadness that blinks across Tripp’s face as he shares a knowing glance with Rex.  He stiffens beside me as he responds.

“No, Sass.  I haven’t talked to Tank.”  She seems to sense they are hiding something.

“Look guys, I’ll be honest.  I’ve been texting and calling Tank on the burner phones.  Usually I can reach him at least once a day.  It’s a simple reassurance he’s okay and for him to know we’re okay.  I haven’t been able to speak to him or get a response from a text back in more than a week.  Do you know something?”  Her concern is genuine.

“Sorry, Sass, I don’t know anything.”  The somberness of his tone has me on alert.  There is definitely more to this.  Tripp won’t lie, he’s said that many times over.  What is he leaving out? 

The saddened expression on my best friends face hurts my heart.  She has deep feelings for Tank, on what level I don’t know.  His safety is important to her.  His friendship has always been one she’s kept close.  Regardless of their hookup and subsequent fighting, she still needs that connection with him. 

The rest of our meal passes in strained but casual conversation.  Tripp doesn’t touch me once.  The weight of what’s gone wrong weighs heavily on my heart.  Getting back on the bikes, we leave to find our place for the evening while here in Arkansas.

Tension rolls off me.  The situation with Doll today reminds me soon enough this will be done.  Only a fool would get comfortable and make something out of this.  She wants to fuck around, fine, moving on.  She didn’t go to him though.  Wait and see how things play out between us has been my recent thoughts, but this has been a good reality check to remember there’s no real future between us.

Once we all get checked into our rooms, I call Rex out into the hallway.  Leaving him there to keep a watch over Doll and Sass, I go downstairs.  Needing space, I stay in the parking lot sorting things on my bike.  An hour later, I’m no more at ease than I was before. 

Going back upstairs, I nod to Rex to say thanks for watching out, and head inside my room.  Doll is curled up on the bed facing away from me.  Deciding not to face anything, I go straight to the bathroom and shower.  When I come out, Doll is sitting up in the bed waiting for me.

“Are you mad at me?”  She asks with sadness in her voice and a look of dejection on her face.

Moving over to her, I climb into bed.  Lying down, my head propped on a pillow up against the headboard of the bed.  Pulling her into my arms, I lay her leg across me and rest her head on my chest.  Running my hands through her hair I contemplate how to explain myself.

“I’m not mad, Doll.  We both have a lot going on right now.  Things are stressful.  It’s not you, okay.”

She nods her head against me.  Her fingers tracing over my tattoos like she’s come to do every night when we lay in bed talking just like this.  I’ve found it unwinds me and I sleep better after our chats.

“Something’s wrong with Tank, isn’t there?”  She asks.

“Doll, let it fuckin’ go.”  She looks up at me.   The depths of her blue eyes draw me in.