Trust Me: A Bad Boy MC Romance

by Cristal Pierre

“What?” I spat. “You have a family?” I asked. Jones had been so flirtatious and carefree that I couldn’t see him as a family man. If there was one thing the Black Birds had taught me it was never to judge a book by its cover.

  “Of course. I have a little girl. She just went to preschool. I don’t want to pull her away from all of her friends. So I’ll stick around for a little while, make sure all the other members are well taken care of.”

  Kyle patted him on the shoulder. “I know you will do well. Maybe in the future, you can join me.”

  “We will see. Don’t forget to give me a call sometime. We will miss you. And if I ever see Danny, I’ll be sure to give him a good punch in the face from you.”

  The two men hugged once more before Kyle grabbed the helmet off his new bike and plopped it on my head. “Are you sure that you want to do this?”

  “I already told you… I’m not letting you leave me a second time. Wherever you go – I go.”

  He didn’t say anything else as he carefully adjusted the strap under my chin. He leaned in close and gave me a quick peck on the lips. “You don’t know how much that means to me. Riding alone in this world is something no one should ever experience.” He squeezed my hands and was about to kiss me again when someone’s footsteps destroyed the moment.

  I looked up to see Olivia standing there, a smirk on her face. “My, my, what do we have here?” She teased. “I always knew you two would get together in the end. The way you two looked at each other…”

  Kyle chuckled. “I think Linda took a little convincing.” He playfully poked my side. “Kept pushing me away for a while there.”

  “Hey… it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t think you were the right guy for me.”

  “And I’m probably not. Your life won’t be easy living with me…”

  “I don’t care about that. I love you and I want to be with you.” I said firmly. “I don’t care what life throws at me, as long as we are together, I know I will be okay.”

  “Damn. Looks like she really likes you.” Olivia winked before she got on her own bike. She had been working on it for quite some time and now it was a beauty. It was painted in a deep purple with the Black Birds insignia on the side. The detailing really brought everything together. She revved her engine which caused some of the other members to do the same, creating a cacophony that almost sounded pleasant to my ears. “C’mon, everyone is waiting for you, lover boy.”

  Kyle smirked before he picked me up and set me on his bike. I felt more comfortable on a motorcycle now like my body had adjusted to it somehow. I no longer felt so awkward. I smiled as I wrapped my arms around Kyle’s body, feeling safe beside him.

  He turned on his bike and it rumbled to life underneath me. The now familiar sensation of adrenaline running through my veins made me push against him a little closer. “This is your last chance to back out.”

  “I already told you. Wherever you go, I go.”

  “But won’t you miss the life you’re about to leave behind?”

  I kissed his neck gently. “As long as we are together, I won’t feel any pain.”

  He seemed satisfied with my answer because he pulled up the kickstand and we were off. He was the first one in the group, followed by Olivia who was close on his tail. The rest of the members followed in a close pack, the sound of their motorcycles echoing through the area.

  Ahead of us, the sun was starting to set, coloring everything in brilliant hues from deep purples to fiery reds. I watched in wonder as the road seemed to turn to gold. We followed that golden road toward the sun, leaving behind all our fears, regrets, and enemies.

  Bliss

  A Step Brother Romance

  EVA

  My mother knew how to buy the best coffee. I took a sip and closed my eyes, enjoying the bitter sweet aroma inebriating my senses.

  “You’re up early,” Mum interrupted my moment.

  “Morning.”

  “Good morning, dear.”

  She leaned and kissed my forehead, her delicate perfume enveloping me like fine silk on my skin. I suddenly felt like crying.

  “Why didn’t you sleep in? You’re home, dear, you can spoil yourself,” she said, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

  “I know. I just couldn’t sleep.”

  She watched me for a while, sipping her coffee in silence.

  “Is everything alright, honey?”

  I smiled. “Yes, Mum.”

  “You’ve been home every weekend this past month. Having trouble at school?”

  “No, school is fine.”

  “I can understand how difficult freshman year can be.”

  “College is fine, Mum. Really.”

  She squinted at me, incredulous. “Then, what is it?”

  I couldn’t suppress a sigh.

  “Speak,” she demanded.

  “Mum, it’s nothing…” I started to defend myself, when my phone buzzed. I glanced at it and saw Alex’s name. He was calling me but I didn’t feel ready to talk.

  Mum picked up on my hesitation.

  “Trouble in Paradise, then?”

  “I… I don't know.”

  “Look, honey, if you need to talk, I’m here to listen. Just keep in mind that, if you like this guy, you can get through a lot of crap.”

  I nodded, uncomfortable to be reminded of Alex’s favorite argument. “If you like me, like you say, you’ll do this for me,” he liked to say whenever he needed me to do something.

  “You know, your father and I went through a pretty rough patch too. We were in college, just a little older than you are now.”

  “You did?”

  “Yeah. We almost broke up.”

  “But you didn’t.”

  “No, honey. We made it, got married and had you.”

  She came to my side and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. I smiled, trying not to think too much of my relationship with Alex. I was home, I didn’t have to deal with anything.

  “So, what is it?” Mother asked again.

  “It’s nothing really. Probably just in my head.” I couldn't just tell her something I didn’t even know how to describe. Maybe it was just in my head after all. “Enough about me. How was last night?” I changed the subject.

  Judging by her smile, Mum had a good time. The idea cheered me up.

  “It was nice. George is a good man.”

  “A good man? That’s it?”

  She laughed. “Oh, honey. It’s not easy to see anything more than that for me. But it’s a good start for now.”

  Her smile faded as she rested her eyes upon the old framed picture of my father and her adorning the fireplace mantel.

  Pulling her silk robe around her waist, she approached the picture slowly, as if not to scare the memories it held, and lifted it off the mantel. She gingerly caressed the picture, a sad smile curling her lips as she looked at the man she had loved all her life.

  I watched her sit on the living room couch, hugging her knees protectively as her eyes welled up with tears.

  “Mum,” I murmured and stood up.

  “Yes, dear?”

  The sun lit her auburn hair in a thousand shades of red. My mother was the most beautiful woman in the world.

  “Dad would be alright with you dating again, you know?” I said, walking towards her.

  “I know,” she answered, sniffling. “I know, honey. I just miss him so much.”

  “I miss him too.”

  We remained quiet, as I curled next to her, thinking about past times we had shared together.

  I had the best childhood anyone can hope for, and parents that loved me like the most precious thing. Then, Father got sick.

  If it weren’t for my mother’s strength, I would’ve been lost from the pain. She had not only taken care of him until his last moments, but had supported me through the hardest time of my life.

  It had taken me a long time to realize she needed the same support I did. She had been strong for me, but I didn’t know she was crying by herself every
night, after she put me to bed like you’d tuck in a small child.

  I remember hearing her sob one night, and feeling ashamed for my selfishness. I had gotten in bed with her then, and had promised I will be there for her the same way she had been for me. From then on, we had gotten closer every day, helping each other through mourning and back to a normal life.

  It had been four years now. Lately, I had encouraged her to go out more, maybe even start dating, since I was away for college and I didn’t want her to feel lonely.

  I wrapped my arms around her, and rested my head on her shoulder.

  “It’ll be OK, Mum,” I said, settling better in my seat.

  She leaned against me, and we sat in silence for a while, until I heard my phone buzzing on the kitchen counter again.

  I sighed, frustrated. I knew it was Alex calling.

  “It’s alright, honey. Don’t let the boy wait, he might worry.”

  “He’s not the type to worry, Mum,” I said bitterly, and rose.

  He had hung up by the time I got to my phone, so I dialed him back. I knew he would be upset so I pulled myself out of earshot for this conversation. I didn’t want Mother to hear this.

  “What the hell are you doing?” he said without preamble.

  “I was talking to my mum.”

  “You know I don't like you not picking up. You’re my girlfriend, you pick up when I call.”

  “I know, Alex. But I was talking to my…”

  “You’ve been visiting you mum a lot lately. What can you possibly have to talk to her that’s so important you can't answer my call?”

  I sighed. “Look, I’m sorry, OK?”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Did something happen?”

  “I need you here tonight. I got a last minute invitation to a fund raiser that the fraternity is sponsoring and I need to be present.”

  “But, I only got here last night.”

  “So, what? I need my plus one this evening. Make sure you wear something pretty, this is a black tie event,” he said and hang up.

  I pursed my lips, forcing myself not to cry. I doubted this was the sort of rough patch my parents had been through.

  Drawing a deep breath, I emerged from my temporary hiding place and braced myself to tell Mum I had to leave.

  “Would she feel better if she knew that I had to go because Alex was keeping me at his beck and call?” I doubted it.

  ***

  I had never been a fan of big gatherings of people, especially if I didn’t know anyone around. On top of that, the dress that Alex had finally approved made me feel naked, as it was strapless and really low cut. It felt as if my breasts would spill out any minute and it inhibited movement.

  As per Alex’s request at the beginning of the evening, I kept following him around, forcing a smile for everyone to see. Unless he told me to stay.

  Leaning against the ornate pillar where Alex had left me, I watched the other guests who seemed to be enjoying themselves. I couldn’t. Not only had I been forced to leave my mother in a state of emotional distress, but I had to put up with Alex’s ignoring me all evening. Even when I was at his side, apart from presenting me as his girlfriend when he needed to show off, he didn’t pay much attention to me.

  I checked my wristwatch, I had been alone for more than ten minutes. “What is he doing?” I asked myself, looking around for him.

  I decided that the open bar was a much better vantage point so I went there. I needed a drink anyway.

  Before I could order anything, I saw him. My heart sank.

  He was entertaining a small group of people, probably students from other Greek houses, and seemed particularly friendly to a girl I had never met before.

  I couldn’t take my eyes off them, the anger rising inside me was hard to settle.

  “Hey, pretty. You seem lonely over here, all by yourself,” some random guy said, standing a bit too close for my liking.

  I frowned and stepped back, unsure of how to respond. I didn’t want to be rude, Alex had warned me that anything I did had repercussions on his image. He didn’t want anything staining his stellar fraternity house president reputation.

  “Want a drink?” the intruder insisted.

  I glanced in Alex’s direction at the same time as he leaned onto the other girl and whispered something with a flirtatious smile. I couldn’t take that.

  “I’m fine, thank you,” I said to the guy, my eyes still Alex. He looked my way and squinted. It was his thing whenever he was unhappy about something.

  “That’s rude,” the guy said, visibly offended by my lack of attention towards him.

  “No, it’s not. If you’ll excuse me.”

  Breaking eye contact with Alex, I started for the door. I wasn’t going to take any more crap, that was enough. Having to deal with Alex’s demands and general fussiness was one thing, but watching him hit on other girls while being left alone in a crowd of strangers was unacceptable.

  The cold night air hit me as soon as I stepped on the patio. Before I could reach the worn stone steps I was shivering so bad, I knew I needed to go back and take my coat. Deep down, though, I didn’t want to, like suffering the cold would’ve helped with the confusion in my heart.

  “Hey! Where do you think you’re going?” Alex shouted behind me. It made me stop in my tracks. Maybe the thought of him coming after me gave me some unexplainable hope.

  “Back to my dorm.”

  “No, you're not. We came together, we’re leaving together.”

  “But we’re not staying together, right?”

  “What?” He had caught up with me now. “I am busy, you know that.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “Busy flirting with Miss Longlegs back there?”

  He shook his head and tsked at me with disapproval. “She’s the president of a big sorority. I need her on my side. And you know what you did with your little tantrum? You screwed with my plan.”

  “Right, make me the bad guy. You could’ve warned me about this.”

  “I didn’t know I would meet her.”

  “Yes, you did. You had the complete list of guests. I’m leaving,” I said and turned my back on him.

  “What…? No, you’re not!”

  He sounded angry. I didn’t realize how angry until he grabbed my wrist and jerked me back.

  “Ouch! Alex!” I cried.

  “You’re staying with me. And don’t act so virtuous. I saw you with that guy at the bar,” he said, speaking low, his face scary close to mine.

  He was squeezing my wrist so hard, I thought my fingers twitched.

  “I wasn’t doing anything! He was hitting on me and I left,” I defended myself. “Let go, you’re hurting me!”

  His hot breath touched my face, the faint smell of alcohol making me queasy. I was afraid of him in those moments. I wanted to scream.

  “Heya there, you two! Isn't it a bit cold for outdoor cuddles?” someone said, jovially.

  “It’s alright, we’re going back inside soon,” Alex assured the man. I wanted to protest, but the unknown voice spoke again.

  “Alexander Brandt? Is that you?”

  “Professor Dorneget!”

  “You rascal! How have you been? Haven’t seen you since your freshman year!”

  Alex eased his grasp, but didn’t let go. He only released my wrist when he had to shake the professor’s hand.

  “I’ve been well, thank you. What’s new? I heard you were on sabbatical.”

  Alex talked like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t just attacked me. A cold shiver went down my spine, watching his perfect act. Maybe something wasn’t right after all.

  “Good, yeah. I’ve traveled a lot. Listen, kid, could I talk to you for a minute?”

  “Sure. What is it?”

  The professor gestured he wanted privacy for this conversation. Alex glanced at me, the look in his eyes harsh. My eyes widened by themselves, as I was torn between screaming for help and wanting to cry.

  “This way, profess
or,” he said, then turned to me and whispered, “Stay here.”

  I nodded. I watched him put some distance between us, but taking care to have me in his sight at all times. I suddenly felt terribly lonely and hugged myself in an attempt to warm my freezing body and comfort my confused mind.