by Karen Renee
I stepped out of the compound onto a large concrete slab that served as their patio or something when Cal gripped the back of my neck like he did earlier.
“Get your hand off me!”
I heard approaching footsteps from our left, and a deep voice asked, “We got a problem here, Sarge?”
I turned to see a rugged-looking stout man with a black doo-rag over his head. His deep brown eyes examined my face, and then he turned to the woman standing next to him. “Go inside, baby. I don’t like you being out here, even if we are in the back.”
She stepped in front of the man to kiss him, and I saw the back of her leather cut said, “Property of Volt”
Being in rare form this morning, and on the edge of hangry I said, “Oh. So you’re the infamous Volt. Thanks for lending the prospects yesterday morning. Send me a bill and I’ll pay for the fence and their time.”
Cal growled, “Woman, what’d I tell you—“
I whipped my head at Cal, “What the fuck is so hard about my name? You can shorten it to Mal, if three syllables are too much. Or maybe you and your bud in there have had a threesome with a chick named Lori. Cause that’s the end of my name, if Mal is too much for you to remember.”
Volt chuckled. “You sure you got this, Cal? Looks like she’s a handful.”
Volt’s woman turned to look at me. She was stunning. Long, straight brown hair down her back, and chocolate-brown eyes. She had a heart-shaped face with an angular nose in the middle. Her complexion was clear and free of makeup. Her smile lit up her face, “Nah, honey. She’s feisty, almost like me. Cal needs to learn how to deal with women who don’t bend over at his every word.”
My eyes rolled up to my eyebrows. “I’m sure you mean ‘bend over’ quite literally.”
“Property of Volt” giggled at me, and her nose scrunched up slightly, accenting the light scatter of freckles on her nose. Then she said, “Seems you catch on quick. I’m Volt’s old lady, Jacqueline, but everybody calls me Jackie.”
I smiled at her. “I’m Mallory, and it’s nice to meet you, Jackie. But I have a strong feeling this has been my first and last time here.”
Jackie giggled at that, which confused me, not only because I wasn’t trying to be funny, but also because her giggle sounded like she knew differently. “We’ll see about that, Mallory. And even if it is, I hope I get to see you again outside the compound. You’re my kind of girlfriend.”
Cal grabbed my hand and tugged me over to his Harley without a word to Volt or Jackie. He shoved a helmet in my hands, and then he swung a leg over his bike and started it up. Guess there would be no further conversation for us. Fine by me. I snapped the helmet on my head, and then I clambered onto the back of his bike. I was sitting with roughly an inch or two between us, and I delicately placed my hands on the sides of his waist. Then, just as he did for our first ride, he reached back grabbed my ass and pulled me to his back. Hard. This forced my breasts to push into his back, and my crotch was flush with his ass. He moved my hands from his sides to the front of his belly. Then we took off.
* * * * *
Cal pulled into my driveway on a slant, and then began walking his bike backwards so it would be facing the street. He put the kickstand down, and I dismounted. I unsnapped the helmet and placed it on top of the seat. I reached into the inside of my leather jacket, and removed my keys. Cal swung his leg over, grabbed the helmet off the seat and then placed the helmet in the saddlebag. I thought of simply going into the house without another word, but my Southern sensibilities wouldn’t allow it.
“You know, I had a nice time last night, until it all ‘went to shit’ as you put it earlier this morning. Stuff comes up, I get that, however being locked up in your room, I’ve realized that you really aren’t my type.”
Cal was giving me a hard look, and I thought the silent treatment still might be in effect. I expected a chin lift, but instead he said gently, “And why do you think that, Mallory?”
I gave him the bug eyes. How could he not see this? I guess someone needed to play the role of Captain Obvious, “Oh, let’s see, my presence incites some woman to come straight to your room and shout at you. I never did find out what that was all about from you. Then all I’m after is toast, and Trixie tells me I’m overdressed. As if! Even if I walked out in my bra, that would be too much since it’s not see-through, then her man, or some brother of yours, wants to involve me in a three-way with you! I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but here it is: Not. My. Scene. Are you really that promiscuous?”
I don’t know why he did it, but Cal replied with, “I’m safe, babe.”
I gasped, “You’re safe. What does that fuckin’ mean? You’ve kissed me. I guess if I get serious mouth sores, I’ll know what to tell my doc.”
I knew I had overstepped, but between hunger and restless sleep, I did not care.
He growled, “You aren’t fuckin’ funny, Mal.”
“I’m not trying to be. I take my STDs seriously, Cal. Just because you kept your dick clean doesn’t mean shit for your mouth. Or am I to assume you don’t give a single skank like Trixie oral pleasure of her own?”
“Maybe I don’t.”
“‘Maybe’? Maybes don’t cut it for me, Calvin.”
“It’s Cal,” he growled.
“What? What is Cal short for anyway?”
He put his hands on his hips. “You don’t need to worry about that. Vamp was right about you. You’re uptight, too much so. Clearly, we aren’t going to work out.”
“’Kay.”
He looked at me askance. “That’s all you got? Is ‘okay’?”
“Yeah. You’ve decided everything about this thing between us, and now you say it’s over, so fine. Okay. Let’s move on.”
Cal ran his hand through his beautiful sandy-blond hair, and glared at me. “Don’t you get it, Mallory?”
“I don’t think I do. You got a promiscuous past. I’m not cool with that. I don’t like someone telling you to put me in my place. I’m a pain in your ass and I don’t fit into your world. What else is there?”
“You’re out of my fuckin’ league, but last night before the compound, we were hittin’ it off. One bump in the road and you’re ready to bolt. You’re scared, but I know you got a backbone in there somewhere. You should give this a chance.”
I was not scared, so ignoring that I said, “I’m not out of your league.”
Cal closed his eyes and shook his head. Then he looked at me, “You got your World Market coffee, tea, cookies, and wine. I live a rough life and I always have. You’re uptight and scared. It’s a bad combination. I don’t fix people, so you’re right, Mallory. You don’t get it. That said, we probably don’t stand a chance of working out.”
“For once, we agree.”
He swung a leg over his bike, looked over his shoulder and said, “First time for everything.”
“Toodles.”
He snorted, “Whatever…sweet cheeks.”
Chapter 8
After a bowl of Blueberry Shredded Mini-wheats, I took a quick shower. I should have put my clothes into my hamper, but I didn't have it in me. I left them on the floor of the bathroom like a lazy bum. Then I put my phone, ID, keys and money back into my purse and wallet. My phone chirped at me shortly thereafter, and I pulled it out. I saw I had a voice mail, and remembered not answering Gwendolyn’s call yesterday afternoon.
Her voice mail informed me that the police had questioned her about my break-in. She sounded worried, and I regretted not answering her call yesterday.
I hit go to dial her number. She picked up on the second ring, “Oh, Mallory! Are you okay? The police officers said you had a break-in.”
I curled up in my overstuffed armchair, “Yeah, Gwen. There was a break in, but everything’s fine now. They think it’s a case of teen-age vandalism, or maybe gang initiation activity. I have a new door, and Monday I’m going to schedule a security company consult.”
Gwen sighed, “Well that’s good to hear, honey. T
hough, I don’t understand why the police thought I’d know anything about it.”
“I’m sorry Gwen. It’s just that my pantry was ransacked hard. I picked up the container Greg and I stashed cash in and the officer saw me do it. He asked who knew we kept money in the pantry, and you’re the only one. He said he had to follow up. They’re just doing their job.”
“Hmm. I wouldn’t think a hundred dollars would be worth trying to steal.”
I shrugged to myself, “I don’t think thieves think anything is off limits, Gwen. But then again, I’m not a criminal, so I really wouldn’t know. Anyway, the fact that the money went untouched just makes me think it was a bunch of random teens being jerks.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re quite all right. Listen, honey, I have to go get ready for church. I’m headed to the eleven o’clock service at Lakewood Methodist.”
We hung up, and I noticed the bags from World Market where I left them. I put the teas, cookies, and wine away and put the bags in my recycle bin. Gwen’s mention of church made me think of Natasha. I decided I would call her just to leave her a voice mail, because she always turned her phone off during church.
I grabbed my phone and hit Natasha’s contact. It rang once, “Girl! Sometimes I think you’ve got the sense. I was just thinking about you. You at home?”
“Yeah. I was just calling to thank you again for yesterday. Aren’t you in church?”
“I went to the nine o’clock. We just got out, and I’m walkin’ to your house.”
“Hunh?”
Natasha giggled, “You heard me. I just crossed Staples Mill and I’m walkin’ to your house. Leon’s takin’ the boys home in the car. You don’t have Cal over there do you? I mean, if I’m not imposing, I’m damn sure not opposed to seeing him again.”
I snorted, “Uh, no. Cal is not here. In fact, Cal and I are done. D-O-N-E, done.”
“Oh, no. There’s a story there. I’m gonna put some serious pep in my step. Be at your door soon.”
So much for a late-morning nap. I went to the kitchen and put a chai latte K cup in my Keurig. I put a mug under the spout, and waited for my tea to brew. When it was finished, I put two ice cubes in my cup and set it on the counter. I looked around to see if I should straighten anything further before Natasha arrived, but then, just yesterday she helped me fix the fiasco that was my home. Suddenly, I heard the thunder of a motorcycle. Surely, it wasn’t Cal? A curl of feeling went through my stomach. I tried to ignore it, but it flared some more when the grumble of the bike seemed to be stopping at my house. I was thinking the feeling was dread, curling and flaring through my belly, but then I realized it was hope. I did not need to be hoping Cal was in my drive. Gah!
Then the sound of the bike rumbled away. Maybe Cal had caught sight of Tasha and decided to leave. Then there was a knock at my door; thank God for this impromptu visit. When I approached the front door, though, I heard Natasha was talking to someone. Someone who was female. I opened the door to find Natasha and Jackie introducing themselves to one another.
“Hi, Tasha. Um, Jackie, hi again. Not to be rude, but what are you doing here? I thought you were stuck at the compound with Volt?” I asked, as I stepped out of the way for both ladies to come inside.
The two walked inside and down the hall to the living room. Jackie turned back to me and said, “Oh, they had church. I don’t know what they did in church, but when they came out, Volt told me I could go, but he had more business to handle. I said I wanted to come here. He didn’t know where your place was, but I talked him into letting one of the prospects bring me by. What happened to your fabulous biker outfit, Mal?”
I grimaced. “Well, those were the clothes I was wearing last night, before Cal had to handle the problems at the clubhouse last night. The sweater is probably too big for you, but you’re welcome to it. My days of needing a biker outfit are done. If Cal just would have brought me home instead of taking me to the compound last night, things might have gone differently.”
Natasha, never one to miss juicy gossip, piped up, “Hold the phone, you spent another night with Cal? Is that what I just gathered? What did I tell you about calling me, chica? I gotta live vicariously through somebody, and that somebody is you!”
I sighed, “I was a little miffed at the time, and I didn’t want to interrupt your Saturday night. You guys want coffee, tea, a chai latte?”
Jackie smiled, “Sure. I could take a cup of tea. Do you have Earl Grey?”
Natasha lightly smacked Jackie’s arm, “Does she have Earl Grey! She’s got tea stocked as if the Boston Tea Party is gonna happen again even though we have great international relations with merry old England.”
Jackie’s smile turned into a sly grin. “That’s what I heard.”
“Say do what?” Natasha asked.
My eyebrow arched at Jackie, “How would you have heard? What are you really doing here, Jackie?”
Jackie tilted her head slightly, “What am I doing here? You expect me to hang out with the skanks like Trixie? Thanks, but no thanks. I have other friends, but Cal’s never let a chick on his bike. Not even when Volt needs him to get me somewhere. He takes a cage. And you two may be new to the biker scene, but that is saying something. None of the other guys are touchy like that. But Cal, it’s a constant refrain, ‘No bitches on my bike’. Then I heard Cal nearly busted a vein in his head because Vamp’s checkin’ out your ass. I liked how you were givin’ him the what-for this morning. Just what he needs.”
I nodded slightly. “Well, he’ll have to find it elsewhere. Not my deal and not my scene. No offense.”
Natasha looked at us with her big coffee-colored eyes, “Vamp the one with the gages in his ears?”
I glanced at Tasha, “Yes.”
She gave a marginal chin lift and said, “He’s out-there. The way he looked at both of us when he was here. I can tell that man is out there.”
Jackie chuckled, “You have no idea.”
Natasha’s eyes rounded. “Mmmm, now there’s a story I want to hear. Since my vicarious living won’t happen through Mal here, maybe it can happen through you!”
Jackie smiled, “I’ll dish, but over lunch. First I want to see this extensive tea selection Cal was grousing about this morning.”
Cal grousing? And about my tea stash? Weird.
Jackie changed her mind about drinking Earl Grey when she spied my Republic of Tea Blood Orange and Cinnamon tea tin. She loved her choice, which was abundantly clear when she semi-shrieked, “Ooh! This is the shit. I love cinnamon, I love orange, and who the fuck doesn’t love hot tea? Well, I suppose Volt and his brothers, but you know what I mean. Mmmm, heaven in a cup. Oooh, do you have any Fireball?”
I nearly spluttered chai latte all over the kitchen table where we were sitting. “Uh, no, hon. I don’t have any Fireball. Though, I can see where you’re coming from. It would make a nice addition, like Bailey’s in coffee.”
Jackie pointed a long thin finger at me which had a well-filed fire engine red fingernail at the end, “See! I knew you were my kinda gal. What time is it? Is this World Market joint open? I wanna go there, stat.”
Natasha grinned. “You ain’t got to twist Mallory’s arm for a trip to World Market. They ought to give her an assigned parking space, she’s there so much.”
I pouted at her, “I’m not that bad.”
After tea, I carted Jackie and Natasha in my Camry over the bridge to Mandarin, and Jackie declared we had to go to Chili’s for lunch. Mama Fu’s, my go-to eatery when on the prowl to World Market, was right next door, but apparently Jackie had a hankering for a mango margarita. Needless to say, after a night consisting of a Mossfire margarita and three tequila shots with Cal, I did not have the same hankering. Once Jackie and Natasha had their mango 'ritas, and I had a mojito, Jackie gave us the dirt on Vamp. From a single story, it became clear that Vamp was a top notch, no holds barred, man-whore. I tuned out of the conversation when a request for a sex swing or two in the compound common room came up. Part of m
e wanted to like Vamp, but after this morning, it wasn’t likely I’d ever see him again. Plus, he was probably right about me. I like to think I’m a laid-back kind of chick, but at the same time I have a strong will. This means that even though I try to go with the flow, I can come across as a little high-strung or demanding. I was clearly too tightly-wound and prudish. It was just the way Vamp spoke to me and looked at me that made me reluctant to trust him.
Our food arrived and conversation died down as we dug in. I had just popped another piece of margarita chicken in my mouth when Natasha asked, “So, you told me on my way to your house you were and I quote ‘D-O-N-E with Cal’. You sure that’s the best move?”
Jackie had her fajita half way to her mouth and said, “Ooh! I hadn’t heard that exactly. What prompted that? Do tell.”
I swallowed and said, “Oh, let’s see, being quarantined in Cal’s room at the compound, then finding out that Cal had sorted out whatever cluster was going on there around 10:30, but he doesn’t come back until after one a.m. Then when he did return, Cal was all caveman-like and insisting I do not one, but three shots of tequila with him at one thirty-six in the morning. Then I get up starvin' like Marvin and make my way to the toaster and encounter Trixie. She gives me lip about how I won’t get any of the ‘good ones’ wearing so many clothes. Cal got in her face, like got in her face, and then some dude told Cal he was out of line and to put me in my place. I gave him a dirty look and he said, if Cal didn’t do it, he would. And that place would be in between him and Cal in a threesome.”
Natasha’s mouth was wide open. She threw back a healthy swig of her margarita and said, “I cannot even imagine your face when that guy said that!”
I nodded. “Neither can I, but then Cal covered my mouth when I was mid-rant at that guy, and then he like frog marched me out of the room and back to his room. I lost it at that point. I told him I was calling an Uber or walking to the bus stop on Blanding.”
