Snake Charmer (Rawkfist MC Book 2) (9 page)

Journey knows what her words do to me,
yet she isn’t flirting. She says what she thinks and faces the consequences of her
words.

I’m the opposite. I contemplate a
situation to death before finally acting. With Journey, I waited for months to
make my move. I know I’ll have to move more quickly if I want to keep her.
Except we’re both set in our ways, and I doubt either of us is willing to
change.

Journey

N
o doubt I’ve lost my mind.

Watching Donovan leave, I’m thrilled
he’s gone, and I’m home. I’m also ready to burst into tears and desperate for
him to return. Dating sucks, and I could spend a lifetime without it. Except I
also crave Donovan and his approval.

Blaming lust for my weird, all over the
place thoughts, I figure I’ll be okay after I masturbate. Donovan got me worked
up something fierce, and my entire body is pissed I didn’t seal the deal with
the sexy man. Why hadn’t I asked to go to his place where he could fuck these
feelings out of me? I’d be happier. He’d be happier. The burning ache between
my legs would most definitely be happier.

Wearing a dark frown, Otto stands on
the other side of the door.

“What took so long?”

“We lost track of time while talking
about you.”

His frown shifts into concern, but I
only laugh and mess with his overgrown hair.

“Chill, kid. We hiked too far and then
had to hike all of the way back. That takes time.”

Poppy glances up at me from her spot on
the floor. “I’m not at all interested in your date.”

“Good because I’m not sharing the
details.”

“Did he still want you even though I
didn’t get to put makeup on your ugly mug?”

“Yep. Does that make you want to curl
up and die?”

Poppy gives me a dirty look, but she’s
dying for details. For a sixteen-year-old, she’s shockingly clueless about
dating. Boys don’t interest her except as friend material. Swapping spit with a
guy makes her gag dramatically. Justice liked boys at Poppy’s age, but she
didn’t do anything with them. Christine didn’t even hold a guy’s hand before
meeting Jared. Apparently, the women in my family sexually mature slower than
the rest of the population.

“Have fun?” Court asks, appearing from
the backdoor.

I open my mouth to tell him to mind his
own business, but Justice appears from behind him. She’s morally against
minding her own business, and her need to know has no doubt infected her
husband.

“We hiked. It was neither fun nor sexy
so save the questions. I’m hot and sticky from the sunscreen.”

“You got a little sunburned too,”
Christine says, emerging from her bedroom.

I sense I’m about to be cornered by
these different factions. They’ll want to know details, and I’ll spill
something embarrassing like how my vagina throbs with need. Otto will hear me
say something gross and end up scared for life.

“I’ll talk to you after my shower,” I
say, hurrying out of the room.

Their voices follow me down the
hallway, but I shut them out with the door first and then the running water. I
wish I could grab my vibrator since masturbation with my fingers takes for
fricking ever.

To my surprise, I don’t need much help
to find relief. The hot water washes off the bug repellent and sunscreen but
does nothing to alleviate the desire I feel. Closing my eyes, I guide one hand to
my clit and the other to my left nipple. I spend a minute or two of stroking
with the fantasy of Donovan doing the touching. Groaning, I lean my forehead
against the shower wall and soak in the orgasm.

It’s not enough, though. Donovan got me
so worked up that my vagina craves more even after my shower. I end up darting
across the hall to my bedroom where I lock the door.

The TV plays music while I get comfy in
bed with my vibrator.

I think of Donovan’s thick hair against
my fingertips. I imagine his hands on my ass. The image of him playing with my
tits makes me smile. Maybe he’d bite at the nipples. A little rough touch would
go nicely with the soft stroking between my legs. Yes, he’d use his long
fingers to fill me up first before exchanging them for what must be a sizable
dick. I recall how it felt between my legs. I’d wanted so desperately to rip
off my pants and spread eagle for him on the picnic table. His dick could break
free of those khaki pants, and soon we’d know if the sweaty reality was half as
good as our fantasies.

I’ve never masturbated as much as I do
after my date with Donovan. The dirty pictures in my head are intoxicating, but
I suspect I’ll never be truly satisfied until I’ve known how he feels inside
me.

Later, I sit with my family and watch
TV and convince myself the lust is sated. I’m back in control, and dating again
feels like a waste of time. Donovan is a good man, and I like him, but I can
walk away if I need to.

Yes, I’ve filled my head with lots of
lies that reality threatens to destroy. Until that happens, I’m back to the
Journey I know and understand.

Journey

S
unday is our cleaning day when the
entire family scrubs down the house from top to bottom to ensure a new week
begins on a positive note. The problem with this plan is how lazy we naturally
are at home.

By the time we finish cleaning, the
kids collapse in front of the TV in the living room while Christine watches a
show in her room. Justice, Poppy, and I sit silently on the porch. We are too
exhausted and lazy to form words. Our only goal is waiting for Court to arrive
with dinner. Until then, we stare blankly at our green surroundings and attempt
not to drool on ourselves.

Into this trance-like atmosphere, Jared
rides up the driveway, startling Hal from his snoring. The dog barks wildly at
the approaching Harley. When the bike gets too close and loud, the Puggle takes
off running toward the backyard.

“Such a big man to scare such a little
dog,” Poppy says from the floor of the porch.

“What’s your problem?” Jared asks and
then shakes his head. “Never mind.”

“My period arrived!” she cries. “I
might die. Feel free to give money to charity in lieu of flowers.”

Jared frowns at the blonde sprawled
flat on her stomach. Louise rests on Poppy’s butt because the cat is always
looking for ways to annoy.

“Journey, can we talk?”

“Sure. Have at it.”

Scratching at his jaw, my father looks
around the yard and then at the sky and then at Poppy and finally he focuses on
Justice.

“In private.”

“How dare you?” Justice growls,
sounding a lot more intimidating than Hal. “I’m a member of this family too,
and I have the right to know every single thing that happens to every single
person. Now spill it, old man.”

“I wish I could ground you.”

“We all wish that,” Poppy mumbles.

Sighing, I ask, “If I get up from my
spot, how far do we need to walk for this private chat?”

Justice leans against me. “I’m planning
to spy on you two, so feel free not to walk far at all.”

Jared climbs back on his Harley. “Let’s
go for a ride.”

“Too far.”

Jared glances over the three of us
lounging on the front porch. “Is there a gas leak in the house? Why are you all
so lazy?”

“We cleaned earlier. We really ought to
be napping, but I’m too tired to sleep.”

Jared rolls his eyes and starts the engine
just in time to scare Hal back around the house. Meanwhile, Louise remains
oblivious to the noise, and I become concerned the old cat is deaf.

“Let’s go for a quick ride, Journey.”

“Why should I?”

“It’ll prove you’re my favorite.”

I roll my head sideways to look at
Justice. She’s seething at the idea of my superiority. Unable to give up the
chance to annoy her further, I stand slowly and slide on my flip-flops.

Justice mutters, “Mom loves me most.”

“No, she doesn’t,” Poppy immediately
says.

“I think it might be time to sweep the
porch,” Justice threatens.

“Bring it, bitch.”

Despite their threats, my sisters never
move from their spots. I watch them and feel more than a hint of jealousy. I
wish I could sit on my ass rather than ride around with Jared who likely plans
to give me a lecture.

We drive for only a few minutes before
stopping at an abandoned diner on the outside of town. He parks, we climb off,
and then nothing happens. Jared stares down the road and ignores me. He’s
working on his words as if I have nothing better to do than wait.

“What?” I push.

“I heard about you and Donovan Mooney
making out at Rock Crest Falls Park. I don’t think you should see him anymore.”

His words aren’t much of a surprise.
Jared was just as weird when Justice hooked up with Court, and that was his
fricking club brother. Getting his boxers in a twist over my dating a cop makes
a heck of a lot more sense.

Sensible or not, I can’t allow Jared to
think he’s my boss. No, that would set a bad precedent.

“You know what’s weird? I was just
planning on dumping Donovan. However, now that you’ve said I should, I’ve got a
powerful urge to love him forever and breed his cop babies.”

Jared exhales hard as if shocked by my
response. “Kid all you want, but his family isn’t the kind to mess with.”

“I’m not messing with anything. Well, I
might mess with parts of Donovan’s body when the time comes. You know, for
scientific purposes, but I have no interest in his dang family.”

“They won’t want him dating you.”

“Because I’m your daughter.”

“And Zeb and Coretta’s granddaughter.
And Court’s sister-in-law. Lots of reasons.”

“Look, I know you want to protect me,
and that’s your job as my father. But this lecturing feces didn’t work with
Justice, so what in the heck makes you think it’d work with me?”

“You’re more rational than she is.”

Lifting an eyebrow, I sigh. “More
stubborn too.”

“Are you?”

“Geez, way to notice feces, Dad.”

“Stop saying feces.”

“Shit is a bad word, and I don’t want
to cuss in front of the kids.”

Jared glances around. “They’re not
here.”

“Practice makes perfect.”

“Donovan isn’t just a cop.”

“I know. He’s my future husband and
baby seed provider. Thanks for pushing me toward him.”

“Did he tell you how he helps Court
with club business?”

“Of course not. Court doesn’t tell
Justice about club feces, so why would my brand new walking stripper pole share
secret feces with me?”

“Please stop saying feces. It gives me
the creeps.”

“I wish I could, but I’m genetically
unable to bow to your will.”

“I’ve noticed that,” he says, smiling
grudgingly.

“You want to keep me safe.”

“That I do.”

“And I want to keep me safe.”

“I hope so.”

“But this guy interests me, and not a
lot of people do. I have to give it a shot and find out what happens.”

“I understand,” he says, getting
rational on me. “However, there are factors at work in Tumbling Rock that you
don’t know about. The Mooneys won’t be okay with one of their own dating
someone from this town. Donovan will need to make a decision eventually, and
he’s been a cop a lot longer than he’s known you, baby.”

“Did you throw that baby thing in to
make me feel sentimental?”

“Yeah. Did it work?” he asks, smirking.

“A little. I get nostalgic when I think
about visiting you as a kid.”

Jared’s tense face eases until he can’t
help smiling. “You were a sweet kid. Kept your sister in check. Never
complained.”

“What are you talking about? I
complained a lot.”

“I know, but I couldn’t hear you over
Justice.”

“True,” I say and give him a hug. “I
want to have a family here, so my kids can grow up with you and Mom in their lives.
I missed having that with you.”

“How about with your grandparents? Not
living here means you missed out on a lot of screaming matches.”

“True, those are good times I’ll never
get back.”

“If this guy makes you happy, I’ll be
supportive,” Jared says without completely meaning the words.

“Did you hurt yourself with that lie?”

“He’s a cop and a Mooney. That’s two
strikes right there.”

“He likes me, so you ought to give him
credit for having good taste.”

“I worry about the big picture stuff.
Justice dealt with a lot of trouble being with Court. Now I have you with
another man I’m not sure about.”

“Why don’t you wait until something
concrete happens before you pull this intense daddy move? If he turns out to be
the super awesome love of my life guy, you can feel him out. If he breaks my
heart, feel free to beat the feces out of him.”

“Can I bribe you with something to make
you stop saying that word?”

“No, and stop whining. You sound like
Justice. No, even worse, you sound like Poppy.”

When I laugh at his expression, he
mutters, “Well, now you’re just being mean, Journey Sheerer.”

“I have your last name, your eyebrows,
and your common sense. Trust me to know what I’m doing with Donovan.”

Jared gives me a smile, and I think he
truly buys my bravado. If he had any clue how out of my element I was with
Donovan, he’d never leave my side.