Our Last Road (A St. Skin Novel): a new adult second chance romance novel

by London Casey

  She broke the kiss, leaving me begging for more inside my heart. She eased back a little and bit her lip. She reached behind her head and finally let her hair down. The one thing I always wanted her to do. She was just there with her hair thick and curly, looking like a wicked dream.

  I moved toward her and touched the bottom of her shirt. I lifted her shirt as she lifted her arms. I wasn’t sure about the whole time and place of this, considering how raw emotions were. But for the moment, we were safe. We were home. Jason was sleeping. And I promised to protect everyone. For now, Kate needed me in a different way.

  My fingertips slid along her warm and smooth skin. She put her head back, letting out a breathless sigh. I came forward and bent my knees, pressing my lips to her chest. My hands eased around to her back and up, unclasping her bra. My hands spread wide across her back as I kissed down, nuzzling my way against her loose bra, finding comfort in her breasts as I took care of each one. I kissed back up and went for her neck. I smelled her hair as I battled it. A sweetness that drove me crazy.

  Her hands touched the front of my jeans. I broke away from kissing her and looked down, watching her open my jeans. The slowness of our movements was sexy as hell, but time wasn’t going to be a friend in that moment. So I sped things up. I put my hands to her hips and turned her, gently throwing her to the bed.

  “Now, darling,” I whispered with a head nod.

  That was the cue for her to take care of her jeans while I took care of mine.

  I climbed onto the bed and scooped her up in my arms, carrying her to the top of the bed. I placed her head on a pillow and stared into her eyes for a few seconds of wild silence. Our bare bodies touching. Everything about her capable of making me vulnerable, which I didn’t like. Her nails scratched up my back as I ran my hands down her body. I settled at her hips and took a firm grip.

  She was all mine.

  I thrust forward… and gave her all of me.

  TWENTY-FIVE

  KATE

  1.

  I walked into St. Skin with my heart in my throat. Jason was next to me, holding my hand. We were greeted by everyone. Tate, Cass, Axel, River, Maddox, Prick, and Zayne. There were people walking around, looking at pictures on the wall and flipping through some of the pictures in the books on the table.

  “There she is,” Prick said. “The one that got away from me.”

  I looked over at Sawyer. “What is this?”

  “Family,” he said to me.

  “You told them everything?”

  “Told them enough.”

  “We’ve got your back, Kate,” Cass said. “Whatever happens.”

  I swallowed hard and nodded. “Thank you. Everyone.”

  “Okay, show’s over,” Tate said. “Everyone get back to work.”

  Sawyer put his hand to my back and we walked toward Tate.

  “How did it go?” Tate asked.

  He was referring to the meeting with Sal.

  “It went,” Sawyer said. “Let me take Jason to the back and get him settled with Prick.”

  “You think that’s a smart idea?” I asked.

  “He’s good with kids,” Tate said. “They have the same mental frequency.”

  Sawyer laughed. “That’s true. Seriously though, I trust Prick with my life.” Sawyer looked down at Jason. “Hey, big guy, did you bring your stuff?”

  “Yeah,” Jason said. “Can I play now?”

  “Definitely,” Sawyer said. “I want you to meet my friend. His name is P.”

  “P… like… pee-pee?” Jason asked, his cheeks turning red.

  “Jason,” I said. “Don’t say that.”

  Sawyer leaned toward me. “Better than the kid saying Prick, right?”

  “That’s true,” I said.

  “Come on,” Sawyer said. “Let’s get you set up. P is a really cool guy. He’s really good at drawing too. I’m going to let you have my office.”

  “Wow,” Jason said. “Cool.”

  “Hey, wait a second,” I said. I grabbed Sawyer’s arm. “We’re in a tattoo shop. There’s needles…”

  Sawyer grinned. “Darling, I cleaned everything up. There is nothing Jason can get into to hurt himself. I even put a little TV in the room for him. He’ll be able to watch some cartoons.”

  I nodded. “Right. Okay. Sorry for-”

  “You’re a great mother, Kate.”

  Sawyer winked and walked away with Jason. He held Jason’s hand and my heart swelled.

  “He’s a good guy,” Tate said. “As much as I hate him.”

  “Join the club,” I said, looking at Tate.

  “I’m happy you’re here, Kate. I mean, the circumstances aren’t great. I want to talk to you about something.”

  “Tate, I need to apologize to you. For everything that’s been happening. Me pushing you all away. Avoiding this place.”

  “Don’t do that, Kate,” Tate said. “We’re beyond that now. You’re here now. Nothing bad is going to happen.”

  “I wouldn’t say that,” I said. “Sal is good at what he does. I know Sawyer wants to call every single lawyer in the country until he gets the answer he wants. Which he won’t get. Nothing is going to be easy with this situation, but if Jed does the right thing for the right amount of time…”

  I felt my voice break already.

  I couldn’t stand the idea of him going anywhere near Jason. It felt wrong. I hated it. Jed was a loser. He was a user. It would only be a matter of time before he fucked up again but that didn’t exactly comfort me.

  “Kate,” Tate said. “Let’s go into my office and talk about everything. It’s going to work itself out.”

  “Everyone keeps saying that,” I said. “But it’s not that easy.”

  “I never said it was easy,” Tate said. “We’ve all been through so much. I was there when your sister was pregnant. I was there when she lost herself for good again. I was at the funeral, Kate.”

  “I know you were, Tate. You were always there. And I was the one who walked away from you all.”

  “We can’t do that now. Please, Kate, let me…”

  “Okay, he’s good,” Sawyer said, returning. “I gave him a juice box and some animal crackers.”

  “I’m not leaving Jason,” I said. “He’ll be okay.”

  “I wasn’t talking about Jason. I was talking about Prick.” Sawyer winked.

  Tate laughed. “What a fucking business we have here.”

  “Let’s go talk in Tate’s office,” Sawyer said. “Try to figure this all out.”

  I followed them into the office and watched as Tate started to pace a little. Something had him nervous.

  Sawyer sat on the corner of the desk. “We need Sal to tell us where Jed is. Just to get an idea of what’s happening next.”

  “Does it even matter?” Tate asked.

  “To me it does,” I said. “I can’t miss work and keep Jason out of school and hide here for the rest of our lives. Today is one thing. But tomorrow? What happens then?”

  “We’re going to make this work,” Sawyer said. “I can have someone sit at the school while Jason is there.”

  “Who?” Tate asked. “You’re going to pay someone to guard the kid?”

  “Why not?” Sawyer asked.

  “That’s crazy,” I said. “If Jed tries anything, he’ll violate parole.”

  “Do you want to take that chance?” Sawyer asked.

  It was funny how suddenly the roles changed between us. I was trying to face reality while Sawyer was demanding the answers I once wanted. It showed me how much he cared about Jason.

  I touched Sawyer’s arm. “Thank you for caring the way you do right now. I don’t know what else to say or do right now. I’m trying to keep my emotions in check.”

  “She’s right,” Tate said. “About hiding here.”

  “Nobody is hiding,” Sawyer said. “We’re together as a family. Trying to figure this thing out. We can prove to a court. A judge. Whatever. That Jason is taken care of right here
.”

  “Sal said it’s not that easy,” I said.

  “Fuck Sal,” Sawyer snapped. He pushed from the desk and slapped his hand to the wall. “Fuck everything.”

  “Jesus, brother,” Tate said. “Take it easy.”

  I cringed at that comment, knowing what was going to happen next.

  Sawyer turned and went right at Tate.

  They were nose to nose, like so many times before.

  “Take it easy,” Sawyer said. “That’s what you want to say right now.”

  “Brother,” Tate said. “We need to work this out. I want to talk to you both.”

  “Break it apart,” I said. “This isn’t years ago. You idiots.” They both looked at me. “You know I’m right.”

  Sawyer backed away. “Fine. Send Jason to school. Kate, you go to work. Tate, you do whatever it is you do. We hope for the best.”

  “I’m scared too, Sawyer,” I said.

  He looked at me. “I’m not scared.”

  “Yes you are,” I said. “I’m terrified. And you held me when I was scared. But you heard what Sal said. We’ve got time until he has any chance of making a case.”

  “No,” Tate said. “He won’t make a case. Ever.”

  “How the hell do you know that?” Sawyer asked. “Don’t start spitting some positive shit on this situation, Tate. Kate’s right… I’m scared.”

  “Whoa,” Tate said. “You’ve never said that in your life.”

  “You’re scared,” I said.

  “I’m scared,” Sawyer said. “Fine. I’ll say it. I wasn’t scared to come back here. I wasn’t scared to face you, Tate. I wasn’t scared when you punched me. I wasn’t scared when I showed up at your apartment, Kate. But now I’m scared. I actually have a lot to lose in my life and I don’t want to lose it. I live this outlaw life with freedom all around me, I get it, but you, Kate, make me feel at home.”

  Maddox appeared in the doorway after a quick knock. “Hey, Tate, I need to talk you. Right now.”

  “On it,” Tate said. As he walked by me and Sawyer, he said, “You two stay right here. I know how to fix all of this.”

  I heard the words but didn’t really hear them. I was too fixated on Sawyer.

  Tate shut the door and I approached Sawyer. “You’re scared.”

  “I just said I was. I don’t want to imagine my life without you. And I don’t want Jason to grow up like I did. You asked me a question about my father. If things were different… if he wanted to be part of my life. You know what? I don’t give a shit. Guys like him, like Jed, they don’t change. They just keep hurting those around them. I don’t want that for Jason.”

  “I don’t think I can love you more than I do right now, Sawyer.”

  “Then let me protect you both.”

  “Think about what you’re saying,” I said. “Having someone park outside Jason’s school?”

  “What choice do we have? Your lawyer is going to do shit.”

  “He can’t.”

  “Fuck that,” Sawyer said.

  His eyes were wide and his nostrils flared.

  “Breathe,” I whispered. “You look so sexy right now. But you need to breathe.”

  Sawyer gritted his teeth.

  I had never seen him like this. The closest was the night he punched Tate and took off.

  I gently touched his face. “If I did this to you, I’m sorry. I put all my fears into you.”

  “No, darling. It’s not that. I just…”

  The door opened again.

  Tate stood there.

  Now, the look on Tate’s face was something I had never seen before.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Shit, brother,” Sawyer said. “What is it?”

  Tate’s lip curled. His eyes locked with mine. “I’m sorry… Jed is here looking for you and for Jason.”

  2.

  I was paralyzed with fear as Tate spoke those words. He went from looking at me to looking at Sawyer. By the time I looked at Sawyer, he was already on the move. I tried to grab him but it was no use. I wouldn’t be able to stop Sawyer. My only chance was for Tate to do the right thing.

  Which he did, by putting his hand out and touching Sawyer at his chest.

  “Brother, not like this,” Tate said. “Let me handle it. Let me talk to him and Kate together.”

  “Fuck off,” Sawyer spat. “You’re done fighting her battles for her. She’s my woman and I’m handling this.”

  “You don’t understand…”

  Sawyer shoved Tate away like he weighed nothing.

  I gasped. I had never seen someone move Tate like that before.

  When Tate looked at me, the look on his face was bad. Really bad.

  I finally came to my senses and rushed from the office.

  The second I saw Jed standing at the back wall, looking at the pictures of the guys with famous people, my stomach did a flip and my skipped a beat.

  Holy shit… he was really here…

  Sawyer was a foot away when he grabbed Jed and spun him around. “Get out.”

  “Who the hell are you?” Jed asked.

  “I own the place. You’re not welcome. Get out.”

  Jed’s eyes looked at me. He had short hair, his face clean cut. Tattoos on his neck, most of them ones I had never seen before. His eyes were sunken a little. He was thicker though. Weight and muscle. Amazing what years of not using could do to a person. It wasn’t as though I feared Sawyer being able to take Jed down in a fight, I feared that Sawyer wouldn’t know when to stop. Or worse yet, Jed would use this against me to suggest Jason lived in a violent world.

  “Look at me, asshole,” Sawyer said.

  Jed put his hands up and stepped back. “Easy, man. I don’t even know you. This doesn’t concern you.”

  “Yes, it does. You’re violating parole by being here.”

  “Fine. Call the cops. I haven’t seen my son… ever.” Jed looked at me again. “Ever.”

  “That was your fault,” I called out. “You know what you did. To my sister. To yourself.”

  “I didn’t get all banged out the night she died, Kate,” Jed said with a cocky grin.

  I fucking hated him.

  Sawyer grabbed Jed by the shirt and threw him back.

  “You all saw that,” Jed called out.

  “That’s enough,” Tate said. He hurried to get to Sawyer and pushed him back. “We’re not doing this here and like this.”

  “Right,” Jed said. “So let me say hello to my kid and I’ll go.”

  “No way,” I said. “You lost that right.”

  “I promised you, Kate, I was coming for him. He needs to know his father.”

  “You’re not his father,” Sawyer said. “You’re a low life piece of shit.”

  “I did my time,” Jed said.

  “I don’t care,” I said. “You don’t get to come back and do this. Someone call the cops for real. Get him out of here.”

  “Not until I’m done with him,” Sawyer said.

  He pushed forward again and Tate stopped him. But Sawyer was stronger as he threw Tate out of the way. It was like Sawyer was possessed. By anger. Love. Needing to protect me and Jason.

  “Everyone needs to stop,” Tate said. “This is the middle of a goddamn tattoo shop. Are you all out of your minds?”

  “I’m clear as day here,” Sawyer said. “I know what I want and I’m going to protect it.”

  “That’s romantic,” Jed said. “Kate’s going to need that when I take Jason back.”

  Sawyer moved again and this time it was Tate who overpowered him instead of the other way around. Tate got Sawyer by the shirt and flung him to the side.

  I reached for Sawyer. “Please…”

  “No,” he said. “Maybe we will do this the right way. Someone call the cops.”

  “There it is,” Jed said. “Take the pussy way out. Keep a father from his son.”

  “You weren’t ever there,” I said. “You didn’t care about her. You used my sister like
she was in a baggie. Right? Now you want to be a father.”

  “People change, Kate.”

  “Not you. You’re the same as always. I don’t even want to know how you got out of jail.”

  “Good behavior,” Jed said with a grin. “And I’ve already got a job. I’m going to get an apartment. And I’m going right to my lawyer with it all. There is no way Jason is going to be raised by you.”

  “By me?” I asked. “The person who took care of his mother while you were gone? The person who took care of him when his mother overdosed and died? The person who gave up their life…”

  “And you did great,” Jed said. “Bravo to you.” He started to clap his hands together, curling his lip as he did so. “But now it’s time for his father to step in and raise him properly. Last thing I need is for my son to turn out like some weak momma’s boy because of you, Kate.”

  I felt an ache inside my heart. Because in some sick way I could envision it. Court battles that would never end. Jason thrust into the middle of a fight he didn’t understand. And if I tried to keep him away from his father, I’d be the bad guy. At the same time, what if I let him visit with Jed and Jed was using? Or had guns? Or what if Jed turned into the deadbeat I knew he was and left Jason sitting there, waiting?

  “Oh, Jesus, she’s going to cry now,” Jed said.

  Sawyer touched my shoulder. “You’re not worth it, Jed. You violated your parole already. We have cameras. We have witnesses. You came here to threaten and harass us.”

  “Threaten?” Jed asked. “Harass? I’m fighting for what’s mine.”

  “So am I,” Sawyer growled.

  He inched forward and I put my hand to his stomach. “He’s not worth it, Sawyer. He’s a loser.”

  “Too bad you couldn’t tell that to your druggie of a fucking sister,” Jed said with fire in his eyes. “Before she fucking killed herself.”

  I felt the air get sucked out of me. If Sawyer wanted to make his move, I wasn’t going to stop him now. Hell, I wanted to attack Jed.

  But the one thing I didn’t expect…

  Tate dove forward and punched Jed.