by Karen Renee
“Lay down on your side, Mallory. I’m gonna take you from behind again, but we’re both gonna watch on our sides.”
His plan made me wet and sent a curl through my belly. I had never been taken on my side before, and watching Cal take me that way was almost better than him fucking me that way. Almost, but not quite.
With that much after-lunch sex, we both slept hard and deep during our nap. We woke up after three in the afternoon. Cal was just coming around, though I had been up for a few minutes before him. He slept without a shirt on, so I was again staring at the two red dice tattoo on his bicep. One die had six dots on the face, and the die below it had five dots. He turned his head to me and gave me a sluggish grin. I grinned back.
My finger was tracing the edges of the dice when I asked him, “What’s the story on this tattoo?”
He gave me a dim smile. “A long one.”
“Okay.”
He turned toward me on his side. “You wanna hear it?”
I lifted a shoulder and lowered it. “If you wanna tell it. I don’t want to push.”
Cal dragged his finger from the top of my hairline down by my ear around my jaw to my chin. Then he said, “You got that sweet Vegas T-shirt you were shooting pool in the other night. So, you’ve been there, right?”
I nodded.
“Ever play craps?” Cal asked.
“No, but Greg did. I just watched. You know, Plenty O’Toole-style from Diamonds are Forever.”
Cal shook his head at me. “Only you’d lay here talkin’ about James Bond.”
I gave his other shoulder a playful shove. “Hey! It’s a good movie. Always perks me up when I don’t feel great. Except…”
Cal understood my trailing off was about Greg and Landon’s deaths. He proved it when he said, “Yeah. Nothin’ was gonna get you past that but time and life.”
“Yeah,” I sighed.
Cal ran his hand over my head in a soothing gesture. “So, back to craps. Eleven is a roll that can make you money. It’s also the number of years I was in the foster system. Age six to seventeen. My tattoo reminds me that life’s a crapshoot. You can win or you can lose. All depends, and sometimes all it depends on is the tumble of the dice.”
I gave Cal a weak smile. “You can say that again.”
Cal chucked me under the chin. “Hey. I didn’t mean to take you there in your head. Just because the dice don’t go your way doesn’t mean you stop living. You gotta get back to living again, Mal.”
I felt my chest get tight, and I whispered, “It hurts too much to live. I lost the love of a good man and the sweet, unconditional, endless love of a child. A boy that I was shaping into a gentleman. I should have been in the car with them that night. That way I’d have died too.”
Cal’s arm shot out and dragged my chest to his chest forcibly. So forcibly, I almost had to fight to breathe. Then he whispered in my ear, “You’re not just scared of living. You’re scared to move on, Mallory. Shit. You’re goin’ through the motions, givin’ a good show. But you ain’t livin’ right.”
I reared back from his chest and gave Cal a shocked look. Greg used to always say “you ain’t livin’ right,’ to me, Natasha, or anyone else that was being too uptight or wound up. It was unreal how Cal seemed to have little similarities to Greg. It was beginning to scare me.
I looked into Cal’s hazel eyes and blurted, “You scare me. You say phrases Greg would say. You don’t always say them the same way, but how can you be like him and so different from him?”
Cal’s lips tipped up just a bit. “So Greg would say you ain’t livin’ right too, huh? Don’t answer that. I know he would. He wouldn’t want you to shy away from life. Nobody would. Now, you’ve had your nap. You like seafood?”
My eyebrows shot together. “Yes, but I’m not hungry right now.”
Cal rolled on top of me and said, “I know, but we’ll take a ride in my boat, and then before we come back, we’ll dock at Clark’s Fish Camp. Have dinner, and then come back on the boat.”
Clark’s Fish Camp was one of my favorites. I loved eating there, though I didn’t do it very often. It was literally on the water, and the food they served was the best‒ steaks as big as your face, a grilled rainbow trout that was to die for. Parking a car there was always a pain in the ass because the parking lot was unpaved, which made it prone to potholes, and it was also unmarked with parking space lines. Given the extreme popularity of the restaurant, you might find a “space” but feel like a parking asshat because you had to squeeze your vehicle in so closely to another vehicle. Going by boat was something I had never done, and the idea was really exciting.
Cal scanned my face and said, “I take it by that huge smile on your face and those bright eyes that you’re on board with this plan.”
“You betcha.”
Chapter 19
I couldn’t decide which I liked better, riding on Cal’s bike or riding on his boat. He did not lie when he said he liked to move fast. Once we were out of the creek that ran beside his house, Cal opened up the throttle on the boat and we were off on the St. John’s River. It was amazing. The sun was brilliant on the water and there were very few clouds in the sky. We zoomed under the Buckman Bridge and Cal slowed down as we approached oncoming boat traffic.
He had stopped the boat and was using some device to tell him if there were fish in the surrounding water, when he stood up suddenly and pulled his phone out of his pocket, though I hadn't heard it ring.
“Yeah,” he answered. I was going to have to teach him some phone etiquette.
“Yo, brother. I’m on my boat. We’re going to Clark’s for dinner if you want to join.”
I had no idea who Cal was talking to, but it might be nice to have some company during dinner. Our one-on-one time was good, but I kind of wanted to meet some of his other “brothers.” Then I heard Cal say, “Well, if Blood and Abby can make it then we’ll probably need a reservation. Okay. See you there. Later.”
Cal slid the phone back into his pocket and continued to fiddle with the electronic device. I wandered up to the front of the boat and asked, “So this thing really tells you if there are fish around?”
“Sure does, babe.”
I looked at him sideways. “Isn’t that, like, cheating?”
Cal chuckled. “Cheating?”
“Well, I thought the point of fishing was to sit around enjoying nature and waiting on the fish to bite. Instead, you’re up here fiddling with some electronics and basically setting up instant gratification.”
Cal slipped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him. “Baby, I’m a biker, not some retired old man who’s got all day for the fish to bite. When I got the time to get out on the water, it isn’t gonna be an all day affair. If I want to fish, I don’t waste my time staring off into space. I want to actually fish. So, I’m not cheating, as you put it.”
Cal pulled his phone out of his pocket again, and read a text. He smiled then said to me, “Well, looks like we’re having dinner with Volt, Jackie, Blood, and Abby. Not gonna be able to fish though. The only reservation they had available is in forty-five minutes, so I gotta head us over there now.”
The ride to Clark’s took us over half an hour, but it was still a lot of fun. I was wishing I had brought a hairbrush with me because the wind in my hair had left me with plenty of tangles. Oh, well. I was going to have to meet everyone with crazy hair. Cal was tying the boat up to the dock with a bunch of ropes and stuff, so I took out my phone and put it on the camera function just to get a decent look at myself. I didn’t have a compact with me, so my front-facing phone camera would have to do. Yep, my hair was a wild nest, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Suddenly I saw Cal in the screen and he smiled big at me. That smile was so damn beautiful on him, that I couldn’t help but smile back at him. Suddenly I saw his long index finger hit the red button to take our picture.
I turned and looked at him. “Did you seriously just take a selfie with me?”
“G
et used to it, Mallory. Gotta keep you on your toes. Besides, I love the wild crazy hair you have right now. Almost looks like sex hair, it’s sweet.”
Cal climbed out of the boat first, and turned and gave me a hand to get onto the dock. We walked up the dock. Halfway to the restaurant, I saw Volt and Jackie standing with another couple. Cal did the manly handshake, back-slap routine with Volt and Blood and he gave chin lifts to Jackie and Blood’s old lady, Abby. Jackie gave me a hug, and to my surprise Volt gave me a slight hug too. Then I shook hands with Blood. He was the same height as Cal, but he wasn’t quite as muscular. He had wavy brown hair that fell just slightly past his shoulders and it was naturally parted down the middle. He had blue eyes and a clean shaven face. His right arm appeared to be a full sleeve of tattoos right down to the tops of his fingers. Using his left hand, he brought Abby forward to introduce us.
“Mallory, this is my woman, Abby. Abby, this is Mallory. The chick Cal’s so –”
Cal grumbled, “Shut it, man.”
Abby, a petite redhead with hair in a short pixie cut, smiled at me, holding out her hand and said, “It sounds like there’s a story there.”
I shook her hand and said, “You’re telling me. Nice to meet you. I love your hairstyle.”
She grinned. “Thanks, your hair’s pretty hot too. You took a ride on Cal’s boat and your hair still looks sexy as hell.”
I felt a blush creep into my cheeks and I mumbled, “Thanks.”
Clark's owners had recently built a glass enclosure for a couple of gators and some snakes. People without reservations would mill around the bar area that was adjacent to the gator enclosure. We shouldered our way through the crowd there, made our way to the hostess stand, and were led to our table overlooking the water. We sat down and our server was at the ready for drink orders. What I did not expect was Jackie jumping in before any of the men and ordering drinks for herself, me, and Abby.
“Three Purple People Eaters for me and my girls.”
Volt shook his head, and he, Cal, and Blood ordered beers for themselves.
Our server took off, and Jackie piped up, “Mallory, I hear you’re coming to Bike Week with us. Sah-weet! I cannot wait.”
Jackie’s exuberance was contagious, so I reluctantly nodded my head and said, “Assuming I can get the time off, it certainly will be sweet.”
I was seated across from Cal, next to Blood. Abby was sitting on the other side of Blood and she leaned forward to ask me, “You ever been?”
I turned to her and shook my head. “Nope. Never have, so it should be fun.”
I heard Blood snicker and I thought I heard a chuckle from Volt, who was catty-corner to me on the other side of the table. I faced forward and gave Cal a look to silently ask what the laughs were about, but he just gave me a smirk.
Our drinks arrived, and the waitress asked if we were ready to order. Everyone else was ready, so it was a good thing that I was last up because I had to scramble to decide what I wanted to eat from the extensive menu. I went with the parmesan-crusted salmon with black-eyed peas and the Clark’s special macaroni salad. I didn’t know what exactly they did to their macaroni salad, but there was some kind of herb in it that made it to die for. Cal ordered an oyster platter, which got a bunch of snickers from his brothers and a girlie giggle from Abby. I took a sip of my Purple People Eater drink to keep myself from saying something that would make me sound uptight.
Jackie looked to Abby, “Long shift today, Abs?” then at me to say, “Abby works as a nurse at Baptist Hospital, downtown.”
Abby shrugged slightly. “Not any longer than usual. I’m off tomorrow, then I’m pulling four ten-hour days before we hit Daytona for a week.”Abby took a pull of her cocktail then asked, “So, Mallory, what have you and Cal been up to all day?”
“Not too much. We left the clubhouse shortly after Jackie and Volt came by with my stuff –”
Abby interrupted. “Your stuff?”
Blood tilted his head toward Abby. “Mallory’s got some security issues. I’ll be puttin’ in a system there tomorrow. By the way, if you could give me your front door key, that would speed things along…any time before the end of the evening, lady.”
I looked up at him and said, “Sure. So, we left the compound and went to Cal’s place. He gave me the tour—”
Jackie murmured under her breath, “I’ll just bet he did.”
My eyes bugged out. “Jackie! Anyway, that took until nearly lunch time.”
To which Abby mumbled, “I’m so sure.”
I looked past Blood to her. “Are you serious? You just met me!”
She giggled. “Yeah, but I’ve known Cal for almost seven years. Ain’t ever been a woman on his bike. Ain’t ever been a woman on his boat, unless it was one of his brother’s women. I can imagine him givin’ you a tour took some time.”
I rolled my eyes and said, “Have you seen his front entryway? That stained glass?” My hands did a sweeping up-and-down gesture toward Cal.. “I mean, Cal is not that type of guy. It took me a moment just to get beyond the damn foyer.”
Jackie nodded. “Nor is Volt the stained glass type of guy. I have to admit, when things were looking more and more serious with Volt, I sometimes hoped he’d buy Cal out of that house and we’d live there. But, then he talked me into my dream house.”
I tilted my head at her skeptically. “Puh-leeze! It’s the Jacuzzis that do it for you. I’m sure they’re at least half responsible for your vivacious and bubbly personality!”
Jackie and Abby both giggled at that. I looked to their cocktails and realized they had downed over half of theirs. I’d only had a third of mine, which must have loosened my lips sufficiently because I blurted, “Then, we were making lunch when my mother-in-law called.”
Volt and Blood seemed to perk up at this. Volt asked, “She did?”
Cal waded in. “Yeah. I took the phone from Mal and told her to get her shit together and that the gravy train has run out. If her problems cause Mallory problems, she’s gonna have hell to pay.”
I was learning that Jackie loved to hear about drama; with bright eyes she asked, “What did she say to that?”
Cal looked at Jackie, sitting next to him. “Don’t know. I hung up on her.”
Our server and a food runner showed up and started putting plates and platters in front of everyone. We all dug into our food.
Jackie, Abby and I had each had a second Purple People Eater by the end of our meal. When the check came there was a male verbal tussle about who would pay versus splitting checks. Volt won when he said, “I’m gettin’ it, 'cause we’re all comin’ to your place tonight. Since we’re drinkin’ your beer there, no need for you to pay for dinner.”
Blood sat back in the bench seat between me and Abby. He pulled Abby to him, but shot his gaze at Cal. “We rode with Volt and Jackie, but do you mind if we ride to your place on your boat?”
Cal shook his head once. “Not at all, Blood.”
I thanked Volt for dinner, and then the girls and I went to the restroom. There was a line and I was first at getting a stall. I washed my hands while Jackie was still waiting since Abby nabbed my now-empty stall. I told her I’d see her back at Cal’s, and left the restroom.
At the alligator enclosure, I passed Blood, who was waiting for Abby. He told me Cal was already at the boat getting ready to go. I was feeling pleasantly buzzed after two strong cocktails, and took my time getting into the boat. Once I was fully on board, Cal put his hands on my hips and he planted a forceful open-mouthed kiss on me. I started to tingle in all the right places, and my hands started roving and tugging at his shirt. He chuckled as he slanted his head to deepen the kiss, which up to then I had not thought possible. His hand slipped into my jeans and he found my sweet spot. Two of his long fingers started gliding back and forth, and then his middle finger pushed into me. I gasped and my hips started to rock. My back was to the dock, and I had forgotten that we were expecting company.
Blood got on board the boat and
declared, “Dude, we know you’re into your girl, but right now you’re so into your girl, you’re courtin’ a visit from Johnny Law. Give it a rest man.”
Cal tried to pull away from me, but I held firm to his neck and rocked my hips some more on his hand. I heard him grumble, and he pulled his head away from me, but I managed to nip at his neck before he could give me a look. “Woman, we got an audience.” I looked up at him through my lashes to whisper, “I don’t know that I care right now. God, I want you.”
He stroked me firmly one last time, then kissed me deep, but quick. “It won’t take that long to get back to my place.”
I let his hand go from in between my legs. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been so horny. Maybe it was because I had gone for so long without any sexual attention from a man, but deep down I knew it was Cal that made me feel this way. Something about him pulled me to him. I was feeling something that at first I had thought might be guilt, but that wasn’t it and I was struggling to figure out what that feeling was. Before I could think any further on it, Blood piped up, “Mallory, come sit with us.”
Cal was untying the boat from the dock and he gave me a chin lift to go sit with Blood. I moved to sit next to Abby, but Blood grabbed my wrist and pulled me to sit on his other side. Very close to his other side.
“Cal didn’t tell me you were an exhibitionist,” Blood said.
Say, what? Before I could ask or say anything, I heard Cal say, “She’s not.”
Abby shot Cal a sly smile. “You could have fooled me.”
I noticed Blood tipped his chin slightly at Abby’s remark. “See, not just me who senses it, brother. Don’t hide the fun you and Mallory have from everybody. This could be a shit-ton of fun, even if Abs and I only get to watch.”
Say what, again? Exhibitionists? Before I could give voice to my questions, Abby said, “Gets pretty old watching Vamp and his flavor of the week.”
