by Erin Trejo
“Guess who your date is?” she asks with a smirk.
No way. No fucking way did Kimi set me up with Temple for the wedding.
“You’re fuckin’ with me.” I didn’t mean for it to sound rude but judging by the look on her face, it was. She pulls her arm away from me and turns on her heel to walk away. “Hey!”
She doesn’t stop. She keeps walking and I follow behind her feeling like a complete asshole but that’s kind of what I do. She enters the venue and heads down the hall. I still follow behind her. People are gathering all around but I need to fix this shit. I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings with that so when she pushes into the bathroom, a sob leaving her on the way in, I know I messed up. I don’t need to get my ass ripped by Kimi on her wedding day for messing up her man’s sister. I glance around and when I don’t see anyone looking, I walk into the women’s bathroom. She’s standing there with her head hanging between her shoulders taking deep breaths.
“I didn’t mean to be an ass. I was just surprised.”
“Fuck me, Shaft,” she says looking over at me with sad eyes.
“What?”
“I said, fuck me.” She slowly pulls the shoulders of her dress down her arms not giving a shit that we’re standing the bathroom. I watch the silk as it slowly glides down her curves, my cock getting harder. My breathes are coming faster as I watch her in front of me.
“You’re crazy,” I whisper as I lick my lips. Her fucking curves are calling to me, begging me to lick them, grip them.
“Lock the door.” Her demand does something to me. I don’t think twice before reaching back and flipping the lock. She moves toward me in a thong, bra and heels that I’d like to be wrapped around me. She grabs the front of my slacks, undoing them quickly before shoving them down with my boxers. When she looks up at me and raises her eyebrow, I move. I kick my shoes off and grab her, lifting her in my arms and slamming my lips against hers. I walk over to the counter and set her down. Reaching for the top of her lacey thong, I tear them on one side before moving to the other. She’s panting, tears still lingering in those big brown eyes.
“You sure?” She doesn’t answer. She reaches down and grabs my cock, stroking it in her hand. My eyes roll back, tingles racing through my body. I arch into her touch, wanting her to touch me more. Everywhere.
“Marc,” she whispers my name and that’s it. I lose it. Shoving her hand away, I move into her. Pulling her hips so her ass hangs off the edge, I finish removing her thong before thrusting into her. Temple’s hands slide around my shoulders, her heels digging into my ass. I lean in and suck on her neck, kissing and touching her as I thrust slowly. She moans and I chuckle.
“Want them to hear you?” She doesn’t care. She digs her heels in deeper until I hiss between my teeth. Her moans do little more than spur me on. Each thrust, each clench of her around me. Why is something I shouldn’t be doing feel so right? She wanted a night, which I gave her, and now I’m fucking her in the bathroom at my cousin’s wedding. I should feel bad but Kimi knows me and knows how I am. She wouldn’t be shocked at all to know that I did this. Temple pulls my face in her hands to hers and kisses me deeply. Her tongue slips into my mouth and groan around her. My balls tighten just as she clenches and that’s the end of our bathroom sex.
Seven
Temple
His stare unnerved me all through the ceremony. I couldn’t focus on anything but his gaze. My body was tight, coiled with tension as he watched me. I can still feel the way he felt when he was inside of me in that bathroom. I shouldn’t have slept with him again, but damn it, Shaft makes me feel different. I know he has a mess of his own to deal with but I can’t get past the feeling of being with him.
“No more, Temple,” I tell myself as I walk out of the break room and toward the front. During the day I work at a doctor’s office as a nurse. At night and some weekends I work at the hospital. I like to keep busy and keep my mind off things, and my work does that. Until I call the next name on my chart.
“Riley Hudson.” I’m too busy looking down at my chart to realize who it is I just called. Until I look up and lock eyes with her. The super model from the clubhouse.
“You,” she says snotty as ever.
“Follow me, please.” I don’t make a note to be a bitch to her. I can’t lose my job and I won’t as long as she keeps her smart ass comments to herself. “I need a urine sample and then we’ll do some blood work and your ultrasound.”
“Why?”
“It’s routine.”
“No, I mean why did you sleep with him? You heard what I told him.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath before turning to face her.
“I’m sorry. It was wrong and I know it. It won’t happen again,” I tell her even though it rips my chest apart to say it. I won’t touch Shaft again. In fact, my plan is to avoid him altogether. Riley crosses her arms over her chest and glares at me before slowly relaxing.
“Thank you. I just want what’s best for the baby.”
I nod my head completely understanding that. I grab the little cup and pass it to her watching the smile on her face. She takes it and heads into the bathroom as I stand outside the door waiting on her. I take deep breaths trying to keep myself under control. I can’t tell her that I fucked her man in the bathroom at the wedding. Hell, I don’t even know why I did that. Yes, I do. Who am I kidding? He felt right, and in the moment, I know I needed him. Riley comes back out and I smile, leading her down the hall to the ultrasound room.
“Remove everything from the waist down and they will get the ultrasound before you see the doctor,” I tell her and just as I turn to leave she stops me.
“Would you stay? I know it sounds stupid but…I mean I just don’t have anyone else.”
When I turn to face her, I’m shocked that she even asked. I don’t know what to say. I open my mouth but words don’t form. Absentmindedly I nod my head. She smiles and I turn to look away while she undresses. The tech comes in and does the ultrasound, showing her all the little details as my heart hammers in my chest. I’m looking at Shaft’s baby on that screen. The man that I was fucking in a bathroom!
“Are you okay?”
I find myself startling when I realize its Riley asking me. I nod my head slowly, swallowing hard and plastering a smile on my face. That’s his child growing inside of her.
“Excuse me,” I say turning on my heel and leaving the room as quickly as possible. I hurry through the office grabbing my bag and heading toward the door. I tell my boss it’s an emergency and no one questions me. As soon as I’m in the lobby I rush into the bathroom, throwing up my lunch. I can’t believe I did that. I slept with that baby’s father. I can’t come between them. I can’t do that to a child. What is wrong with me? My cell rings, and when I pull it out I see it’s Greg.
“Hello?”
“Hey, baby. I’ll be home in an hour. Can you leave early?” He sounds so happy but he won’t be when he gets to his car. I smirk at the thought.
“Yeah. I’ll see you there.” Hanging up, I shove away from the toilet and clean myself up. I already packed all his shit. It’s all ready and waiting for him in boxes at the front door. This is going to be interesting. I dial Dez as I walk to my car needing to tell her.
“Hey.”
“Greg is going to be home in an hour. As soon as I get there I’m putting you on facetime. Keep your phone on,” I tell her through a laugh.
“Are you shitting me? This is going to be the funniest thing ever! I can’t wait to see his face. He’s going to cry, I know he is.” Her laughter is infectious. I laugh along with her.
“He’s going to be so pissed. I killed his baby,” I giggle as I climb into my car.
“Killed it? You buried it. That will teach his cheating ass!”
“Okay. I need to drive. Keep your phone on. We’ll probably get there at the same time.” I hang up and pull out of the parking lot. A part of me wonders what I’m going to do without him. I’ve grown accustom
ed to having him around and living with someone. Now it’s going to be and that’s going to be a little strange. Nevertheless, he cheated on me and he doesn’t deserve the love I have to give. I drive until the house comes into view. I know his car won’t be here which makes me laugh a little more. I park in my usual spot and climb out, grabbing my bag and phone as I go. I pull up facetime and call Dez before muting it so Greg can’t hear her laugh. Just as I’m walking up the steps toward the door, it flies open. He comes out in a rage like I’ve never seen him in before. Grabbing me by the neck, he drags me into the house before throwing me to the floor. Everything spirals.
“What the hell were you thinking?” he roars before kicking me in the ribs. “You ruined my car!” Another kick. I roll and grab my side, the pain shooting through my body.
“Stop!” I cry when he drops to his knees and punches me. Stars blast behind my eyes from the blow.
“Fucking bitch!” he roars.
“Temple!” I can hear Dez screaming. What the hell? Did I unmute it when I fell? I must have. “Temple we’re coming!”
Greg sneers in my direction, his fists clenching. “Called for help?” he asks snidely.
“Get away from me,” I say weakly. My body aches, my face burns. I can hear myself repeating the words over and over and I’m not sure how long as I fall in and out of consciousness.
“Never. You fucked me over and now it’s my turn to fuck you back,” he growls, reaching down and grabbing my pants. He yanks them off my body and kneels between my legs as I try to fight him. I scream, kick, and punch. He doesn’t care. Not until the front door gets kicked open.
Eight
Shaft
“I get it, Riley, I do, but we don’t work, darlin’.” I feel like I’ve repeated myself at least twenty times in the past five minutes. She holds the sonogram pictures in her hand, shoving them in my face for the hundredth time. I’ve seen it. I’ve seen the baby or the spot that’s supposed to be the baby.
“He has a little heartbeat,” she says smiling. I run my hand through my hair and nod once more.
“You told me. Look, I’m not gonna disappear, Riley. I just don’t think us bein’ together is the best idea. We don’t work.”
“We can work, Shaft. We can. Don’t you remember how good things were?” she pleads with me. I grab my beer and take a long pull before leaning back in the seat.
“Yeah, before you cheated on me.”
“Don’t act like you were innocent, Shaft! Look at this place!” she screams, motioning around the clubhouse at the girls lingering around. I shrug my shoulder, because frankly she’s pulling at straws here.
“Never touched a club whore while I was with you,” I state. Her eyes widen before they narrow once more.
“And the bitch the other night?”
“Are we together, Riley?” I ask her leaning forward. Honestly, I’m about over this line of bullshit with her.
“We’ve never been apart, Shaft!”
“We’ve never really been together! Jesus fuckin’ Christ woman!” Grabbing the cigarettes off the table, I shake one out and light it up. We’ve been doing this for over an hour. The same thing back and forth. My head telling me to leave her alone, let her go. My heart longing for that connection we had when we first met. It’s not there anymore. It hasn’t been in a long time.
“Just give me another chance, Shaft,” she asks softly. I look up and see the look in her eyes. I don’t know if it’s regret or she’s just desperate, but it’s there. I’m about to open my mouth when I hear the commotion coming in the door.
“I’m fine! I don’t want a damn doctor!”
That voice. I know that voice. Turning my head to look over my shoulder I see Gauge, Dez, and Wolf storming through the doors with Temple right behind them. Her face is covered by her long hair, hiding her from view.
“Yeah, you do. Need those ribs checked,” Gauge snaps casting an angry glare Wolf’s way. He doesn’t look to be in any better of a mood. I shift in my seat so that I can take in the scene a little better when Sly comes around the corner. It isn’t until Temple looks up at him that I see the bruise forming around her eye.
“Fuck,” I grumble under my breath. She moves quickly, fixing her hair to cover it once more.
“Shaft, come on!” Riley whines once more. I look over at her, but just as I look back at the show happening behind me, Temple’s eyes raise to meet mine. Gauge and Sly are talking about how she needs to see a doctor but Temple’s eyes are begging to get away. She doesn’t want to be here, and judging by the look in her eyes, I’d say Dez forced her here.
“Shaft?” Riley says once more. I run my hand through my hair, drop my cigarette in the ashtray, and stand. Riley screams my name but I walk quickly toward Temple, grabbing her wrist and dragging her back out the door she came in. She doesn’t say a word, just follows along.
“What are you doing?” she asks when I walk past Gauge’s bike, grabbing Dez’s helmet, and passing it to her.
“Fuckin’ up my life a little more,” I grumble when we stop at my bike. I grab my own helmet and pull it on before climbing on my bike. Temple just stares at me, I can feel her gaze. Glancing over my shoulder at her, she looks like she’s about to cry. Instead of saying anything, I give her a soft smile and watch her pull the helmet on and climb on behind me. I reach back, pulling her thighs so that she sits closer to me. She immediately wraps her arms around my waist, holding tight. I can hear the door close behind us but rather than looking to see who it is, I rev the bike and pull out of the parking lot. Hitting the road, a sense of calm sweeps over me. I’d like to think it’s just the open road but I know that’s not it. It’s her. It’s Temple.
I drive for about thirty minutes until I pull off on a dirt road. Temple doesn’t tense up, she just curls her fingers, touching every muscle under my shirt. Swallowing hard, I pull to a stop. She untangles her hands and climbs off before me. I do the same, pulling my helmet from my head and leaving it on the seat. Holding my hand out to her, she stares at it hesitantly. Dragging my gaze to hers, I can see the pain and questions. I see the hurt and unsureness. I can’t blame her there. I know how hard that is. Temple finally takes a deep breath and reaches out, slipping her fingers between mine. I smirk and start walking.
“Where are we going?”
“You needed a break, yeah?” I ask looking over at her. She nods her head slowly and I smile. I don’t say any more, just lead her toward the rocks. I release her hand and start to climb up the rocks with her right behind me. “Watch your step,” I tell her nodding toward the jagged areas I just climbed up. She huffs out a breath but keeps climbing. Once she’s almost at the top with me, I hold my hand out once more. She takes it again and I pull her up next to me.
“What’s this?”
“Just watch,” I tell her turning her to face the water. The suns setting. “Closest place to God you can get on earth,” I whisper. Temple gasps and turns to look at me.
“You believe that?”
“What? That this is close to God or do I believe in God?” She shrugs her shoulders, not sure what she wants to say here. I get it. An outlaw biker who believes in God. Doesn’t make a lot of sense but I was raised to believe.
“Both,” she says softly.
“Yeah, I do. I come here when my head isn’t right. When I need to talk to him. Need his advice.”
“Does it work?” Looking back over at her, I shrug.
“I’m still alive, yeah? That says somethin’.”
“I wouldn’t have pegged you as the praying kind,” she says softly.
“You seem to peg me as all kinds of shit that I’m not,” I remind her. She smiles but that bruise that’s forming around her eye pisses me off a little more. “Wasn’t happy about his car?” I ask nodding toward her eye. Temple belts out a laugh shaking her head.
“I think I underestimated his love of that car,” she responds.
“Doesn’t matter. Love shouldn’t hurt.” Her eyes come to rest on mine an
d that’s when I see it. The fact that I’m right and I’m giving her advice that I should be taking myself.
Nine
Temple
I toss small rocks toward the water, watching as the waves slowly drag them out to sea.
“Have you thought about that a lot?” Looking over at Shaft, he sits with his knees bent, forearms resting on them as he gazes out at the water.
“More than I thought I would. At first, I thought we had everything. Thought we were in love and all that shit. I think I just wanted too much from her.”
“What did you want?” I ask seeing the lost look in his eyes. He turns his head slowly and stares at me, unnerving me before he speaks.
“What everyone wants. A lifetime of love. I wanted us to be happy, have a family. Just because I do what I do doesn’t mean I don’t want those things, you know? She didn’t, I guess.”
“What happened?”
“She cheated on me with a shit ton of others. Guess I wasn’t enough for her. She needs be told she’s beautiful. She needs to be told that she’s the best, and I’m not the guy who can do that,” he says shaking his head before he begins again. “I’m the guy who can give you that but you have to find that in yourself, you know what I mean? I can only tell her so many times, and if she doesn’t see it herself, I can’t help her.” The sad look in his eyes tells me that he loved her. I don’t need to ask that part because I can see it but it still makes me wonder.
“Ask me, Temple,” he says with a chuckle.
“Ask you what?”
“I see the questions in your eyes. Ask me. I’m not afraid to tell you the truth, darlin’.”
My heart nearly leaps out of my chest. I didn’t expect him to look so closely. “You loved her at one point. Now that she’s pregnant, why can’t you try that again?”
Grabbing a handful of tiny rocks, Shaft looks away, tossing them into the water much like I was.
