"Hey, hey, what's wrong?" My hands fell away from him, and he wrapped those big arms around me, holding me to him, as close as possible.
Unwilling to say any words, I just moved to kiss him again, and he let me.
Large warm hands removed my clothes, and before either of us knew it, we were naked, pressed up against the handlebars of the motorcycle as we finally connected for the first time in so long.
Our bodies moved in harmony, and the room was filled to the brim with electricity. If you were to touch any surface, you would get a small shock from it. I was in heaven, even if we were both living in our own forms of hell. This is exactly where I was meant to be until the end of time, with him.
Gasping through the intense sensations overtaking everything in my body, he tilted my hips as he slammed back into me.
The handlebars of the motorcycle pressing into my back, bruising the skin, just like that of peach, as we both screamed out in ecstasy into the silent room around us.
Waking up hours later, I became aware of warmth, an almost burning heat across my entire body. Lifting my head up off the pillow, I could see Ashby's beautiful face was on my chest, our bodies had sunk into the mattress beneath us. With the sheet tangled around our naked bodies.
Flashes of what had happened between us ran through my mind, heating my body all over again. Hands down the best experience of my life, even more so than the memory of our first time together, in this very cabin.
His shallow breaths fanned across my skin, causing goosebumps to form. My fingers itched to run through his hair. It really was a lot shorter than it had been before.
A groan fell from his lips, making me cringe. Which, of course, made him laugh.
Looking down at the same time, he stretched while I grimaced.
"What is it?" He eyed me carefully.
"I have to get the car back, to Luke." I had promised I would only be a few hours and it was the next day, well over fifteen hours after I had borrowed it.
Ashby nodded his head instead of saying anything. Instantly I could feel the mood change in the room, the air almost becoming thick between us.
"Luke has to run to the suppliers in the mornings," clearing my throat. I added, "I can, if you want, I can come back this afternoon, when he's back" if not, I could find another way. I would find another way.
He sat up removing his warmth, which I instantly missed from my body. The corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly that I almost missed that hint of a smile. "Okay"
Sliding out of bed, I could feel his eyes on me as I searched for something to wear. My clothes were back in the outbuilding. I almost jumped when his arms wrapped around me, pressing his naked and warm body flush against my back.
"Call me, and I can come to get you if you want" the way he was holding himself against me, the way that he was speaking, it felt so much like before any of this bullshit had happened to either of us.
"On the bike?"
"I… maybe I haven't ridden it in a long time, it will need some TLC before it can be taken out."
"Oh," disappointment filled me. "Okay."
I didn't want to leave, and the way he was holding onto me, he didn't want me to go either.
"I really need to go, or Luke is going to kill me." He was probably already losing his mind. It’s not like I had let them know I wouldn’t be back last night. Shit, they were probably worried about me after everything.
Picking out a pair of gray sweatpants from a draw, he smiled, "I'll go and get your clothes" before disappearing from sight, leaving me in his bedroom with the smell of the two of us entwined that would be forever in my memories.
"And where the fuck have you been?" Claire screamed as I slammed the car door closed behind me. She was waiting outside, like a parent, and from the sour look on her face, she was about to scold me like one as well. Jesus.
"Just a little louder, I don't think the people in the back heard you there, Claire."
"Explain" her arms were crossed over her chest, she looked stressed. Damn it, she had probably been worried that something had happened to me. My cell phone had been dead when I left Ash's Cabin less than an hour ago.
When I stayed silent, her face turned ashen like a kid who just learned that Santa was not real, that instead their parents were the ones filling their stockings each and every year.
"Oh god, you were with him, weren't you?" Huffing a little, I passed her, pushing the door open to the bar. "You fucked him, didn't you?"
"Claire," I hissed a mixture of embarrassment and frustration.
"You can't… Nala, you have to stay away from Ashby Bronx."
I knew that she was hurting from whatever it was that had happened but, this was still my life, and I had spent enough time with other people dictating what I could and couldn't do.
"What?" Luke's head popped up from behind the bar as we passed. Throwing my keys down onto the bar top I ignored the both of them.
"Nala Reeves, spill it. Now!"
"Fine, I stayed with Ashby. Happy?"
"No, I'm not happy, Nala. What happened?" Her voice sounded more than pissed from this fact.
"Claire, I had sex with him, okay, and I understand you have a lot of pain from whatever it was you went through, but you do not get to tell me who I can and who I can't spend my time with."
"Nala"
"Claire, I love you with everything I have. Please, just…. be happy for me, even if you have to fake it."
"I love you," she says, sighing, looking over at her brother before looking back at me as I held the door to the apartment open, "be careful, please."
Smiling, I just winked at my best friend before running up the stairs to the apartment. Throwing on some running gear and leaving just as quickly as I had arrived.
Headphones were blasting angry metal in my ears as my feet pounded the sidewalk. The whole of White Church Creek felt brighter today. The sky that little bluer, the birds that extra bit chirpier, even the grass seemed greener. For the first time in, well, it was, without a doubt, the first time for over five years that I felt almost carefree.
All I could think about was being with Ashby, back at the cabin. It was our happy place. All of the memories I had of it made me smile. For the first time in a very long time, I actually felt calm and almost happy.
Passing the hospital, my eyes narrowed on someone I hadn't seen for just as many years. Molly.
Her eyes widened as I passed, not slowing my pace at all. Well, that was until she shouted my name, making my feet come to a skidding stop.
"Yeah?" turning to face her, my eyes widened. No matter what I would never truly feel comfortable around this woman, not after she threatened me because she had convinced herself Ashby was her boyfriend. She was crazy.
Balancing a small boy on her hip, she glanced down at him before lifting her eyes to mine.
"You're back?" If it wasn't for the fact that this little boy had dark, tanned skin, I would have been worried about who his father was. I couldn't handle any more secrets right now.
"Sure, seems that way."
Nodding her head, I could see her swallowing as if she was the nervous one, "Ashby know?"
"Sure, seems that way," I repeat the same words to her.
"Make him happy again, he deserves it, Nala, you're the only one who can do it," is all she says before turning her back to me and walking into the entrance of White Church Memorial Hospital.
Well that was…. odd. Why, after all of these years did, she want Ashby and I to get back together?
Starting to run again, I smiled looking down at my phone and seeing the time. I wanted to see him, feel him again. God, I just wanted him, in every god damned way, every single day for the rest of my life.
Little did I know how short-lived that happiness would be or that I wouldn't make it back to the cabin that day. Because as I rounded the corner at the park down the street from the hospital, a black van pulled up in front of me. The side door pulled open, and a gloved hand pulled me inside.
>
She had promised me that she would be back. It was seven in the god damned evening, and she hadn't so much as called for me to come and get her like she promised she would. She hadn't just turned up either like I thought she might after a few hours had ticked by. None of my texts had been read and calls all unanswered. I was starting to worry.
Was she okay?
Maybe she had just decided that she really did hate me and just wanted one last night before……. Fuck me, did I hate that thought.
Over the last few weeks, I had craved that hate. Begged for it even. Her being back in town had brought back the nightmares from four years ago, events that had terrorised me every god damned day. Every single night I have endured reliving the same dream, apart from last night. For the first time in over four years, the dreams didn't plague me. For the first time, I'd had a dreamless night, without using beer to knock me out. That didn't even always work, just dulled them to a fuzzy blur.
I hated that she had been a cause of that pain, indirectly and unknowingly. At the same time, I hated myself for missing her, hated that I didn't have her. Hated myself full stop.
Hated her full stop.
Maybe I could have her. Maybe having her back, no matter how short of a time it could be, well, just maybe it would be worth destroying myself along the way because I had never known anything like being in love with Nala Reeves. My Peaches.
I gave it another hour, and then I really started to fucking worry. Finding myself in my truck and on the way into town before I even realized what I was doing. My foot tapping away with anxiety, the closer I got to the bar. She was living in the apartment above it with that 'friend' of hers. Had she told Peaches everything that had happened since she had been gone? No. If she had, I would have endured so many questions from her about it all….. she didn't know. A part of me never wanted her to know those truths. She didn't deserve the pain.
Sitting outside of The Diamond bar, the sight of the crew, my old crew's bikes lining the sidewalk made me hesitate.
Damnit, I had to find out if she was okay, even if she didn't want to see me, I had to make sure. For my own fucked up piece of mind. This god damn chick had more power over me than any fucking thing else in this fucked up god damned world. She was my world. Even if she didn't want to be.
Walking in, I ignored the sensation of their eyes on me and spotting Luke behind the bar, I beelined towards him. Not daring to look at anything or anyone else as I moved.
"Is she here?"
"Nala?" He looked me up and down. More interest than anything on his face.
"Yes," clenching my teeth, I knew he liked her, I could tell he wanted her. Even if he wouldn't admit it to himself yet. He was not going to get her. She was mine.
When he didn't answer me, I added, "She told me she would call me, come back to my place over twelve hours ago, and she isn't answering her phone."
"Maybe she just doesn't want to talk to you."
"Is she here?" Repeating through gritted teeth as my fingers dug into the wooden bar separating us, for now.
"Ashby?" Pinky walked over, stopping by my side, "everything alright?"
Taking a deep breath through my nose, I turned and looked at someone who I had once classed as a brother, my best friend. For the first time in four years, I looked him in the eyes.
"You seen Peaches today?" His eyes widened in surprise and almost awe at me, speaking directly to him for the first time in so long before shaking his head. No.
"Look, Luke, I just want to make sure she is alright" and that she hasn't run off again, been taken again. That thought alone made me want to either crush something with my bare hands or drop off the face of the earth.
I hadn't even entertained the idea until now, but she has gone before, left me.
What if she had been taken again?
I knew I wouldn't survive it.
I couldn't.
There was no way.
She wouldn't have left voluntarily, not now after finally knowing what happened all of those years ago. Her dad had threatened her, forced her hand to leave back then.
Luke looked a little concerned before putting the cloth from his shoulder down onto the bar between my hands. His eyes pinched together. He was concerned, which didn't alleviate the anxiety that was taking over my chest. "I'll check upstairs."
Minutes passed, and neither Pinky nor I said a word. We just waited in silence. My eyes trained on the door Luke had gone through.
Please be there, Peaches.
Just come through the goddamned door, even if it's to tell me to get the fuck out of here. I'll take it just to know you're here, that you're safe.
Luke appeared suddenly with a solum look on his face. "She isn't up there, and I just called Claire, she hasn't seen her since this morning. She was going on a run."
"A run?"
"Don't even, she hates it."
"So, if she isn't here, where the fuck is she?" Pinky asked the question that we were all thinking.
Where the hell are you, Peaches?
We have scoured the whole town.
Every fucking spot.
There was no sign of her.
This was too similar to last time when she has disappeared, and I hated it, so god damned much.
My old crew were all helping to search, and I didn't know how to acknowledge that. After what I had done, how could they be there for me?
Harley hadn't spoken to me, just stayed silent as he helped with the search.
"What a fucking joke," Peaches, best friend Claire shouted. "They won't entertain her as a missing person until it's been twenty-four hours."
I was starting to lose my patience.
"What if he took her again?" Luke spoke, and we all froze, digesting that possibility. I think we had all thought it, but none had been brave enough to say those words out loud.
"This is not… I hate this" Claire dropped her shoulders, and I could see that Pinky was holding himself back from going to her.
"We'll find her," Luke sounded so confident. Way more optimistic than I was feeling right now. I hated him purely for the fact that he had feelings for my Peaches.
"I'm going back to the cabin" maybe she is sat there waiting for me. It was almost two in the morning now. Without finding her, there was no way sleep was on the cards for any of us tonight.
"Call me if you hear anything," I say to Claire, writing my number down on a napkin and holding it out to her in the air. She hesitated for a moment before nodding her head and taking it from my outreached hand.
"We will find her Stag," Pinky sounded as confident as Luke, his hand on my shoulder. Flinching at the use of my old nickname, I couldn’t stop the anger that flew from my mouth.
"Do not call me that fucking name, I swear to god I will…"
"Shit, Ash. Calm down," holding his hands up in surrender, he tentatively took a couple of steps away from me. Anticipating a fist flying in his direction.
Knowing how my life worked, I was not as sure as they were that we would find her.
The anger and fear were mixed in my blood in an almost toxic mix.
I needed to see her soon or break something.
Someone.
Anyone, it didn't matter who it was.
I needed to get out of here.
Without saying another word, just one nod at Peaches' best friend, I left.
The cabin was exactly how I had left it. Damn it, Peaches. Where the hell are you?
I could still almost smell her here, my sheets still unmade, I face planted, inhaling our scents mixed together from last night.
Where the fuck are you, Peaches?
I needed to move, get back out there and look for my girl. She had to be somewhere in that town. If I couldn't find her, my ass was about to get on a flight to England and find that friend of hers who sent the letters she had written. The address was on the back of all of them. The letters that were in the front room somewhere. She had tided up when I had been passed out yesterday.
A vibration from my jeans pocket made me move faster than a fucking crackhead when their dealer is in eyesight. It was a number that was not saved in my cell so I knew it could only be one person.
Peaches: MC Romance (The Unholy Confessions Book 1) Page 19
