by Erin Trejo
Lynx leans in, whispering in my ear, “Just breathe.” I suck in a breath not realizing I was holding it. His warm exhale hits my skin and I gasp.
“I love you,” I whisper looking into his eyes. The room is blanketed in white noise, nothing but the sound of us. Only us. Lynx reaches up and cups a hand around the side of my neck, pulling my lips closer to his. He can still read my body, knowing just the right moment of when I need his touch and his words.
“I love you too, Harper. We’re okay, baby. We’re okay.” Pressing his lips to mine, he kisses me gently.
We’re lost in each other. The touch of him makes everything else fall away. I want him. I’ve never wanted anything in my life the way I want Lynx. It’s always been this way. Someone clearing their throat has us breaking apart. Lynx smirks at me and then looks to Chip.
“You should tell them the story about the cards,” Chip says. Lynx’s shoulders shake as he laughs.
“That’s not gonna happen ever again in this lifetime.”
“Why not? That was some funny shit, man.” Chip smiles at him.
I watch their interaction and a realization dawns on me. I knew they were friends, but I didn’t realize just how close they were until now. I can see the love and respect in his eyes. It’s a mutual feeling. And for everything he’s been through, I’m glad he’s had someone by his side. I wish it had been me, but that’s a different reality. In this one, Lynx has a friend, a true friend who cares. And that makes me heart a little lighter.
“That was old news. Did you tell Josie how you broke the pipes next door?” Lynx says, bringing his beer to his lips.
“You did what?” Josie squeals looking over with her mouth open.
“Fucking traitor. Thought we were boys?” Chip snaps at Lynx. Stan chuckles and shakes his head.
“I am! I just wasn’t payin’ for that shit,” Lynx adds. The music changes and Josie’s eyes slip to mine. I shake my head. No way, I’m not dancing here. This isn’t even Josie’s bar. We opted on another local joint tonight.
“You have to!” she says, standing from her seat.
“Like hell I will!” I snap back. The guys look between us confused.
“You want to keep your job?” Josie teases. I laugh, throwing my head back. I give up, but really, I don’t mind. I actually am anticipating Lynx’s reaction. This is going to be fun.
“Fine!” I say with a laugh.
“What the hell is happenin’?” Lynx asks when I pull out of his arms.
I turn to him, wiggling my eyebrows. He shakes his head and smirks. I feel like I’m on the high of my life right now. Josie grabs my hand and pulls me out onto the dance floor. As soon as the beat drops, so do we. We sway our hips, swing each other around and dance. Laughter filters out of us as the crowd screams. Some people join in. Some watch, but it’s his eyes I can feel on me. And when I spin around, I see Lynx has moved closer. His arms are crossed over his chest, his heated gaze locked on my body. A chill races down my spine as I watch him. The beat pounds through the speakers and I can feel it all through my body. Josie grabs my hand and spins me, and as soon as my back’s turned, he moves in. His strong hands land on my hips as I keep dancing. Josie laughs, moving back a few steps. Lynx surprises me when his body starts moving with mine. My back is pressed against his front and heat filters between the two of us. This is what I’ve missed the most. Just the feeling of him being here. His hips press into me and I moan. I want more, pushing my ass back for more friction. I’m lost in the feeling of him, of us.
Our moment is broken the second shots are fired somewhere near the bar. It scares the hell out of me. Screams pierce the whole bar, the laughter turning to cries. Lynx spins me around quickly, shoving me to the ground. My knees sting and my palms burn from catching myself.
“Where’d it come from?” he roars, looking to Chip.
“Back!” some other man’s voice screams.
Lynx looks down at me, his eyes wild before scanning the room. He’s debating leaving me to chase them. This is him. This is who he is. So when his eyes come back to meet mine, I nod. I know that it’s a visceral reaction he can’t deny. He winks and rushes toward the back of the bar. People are scattering everywhere, a few lingering and watching. Josie grabs me and shoves me toward Chip. He wraps his arms around me and leads me toward the door.
“No! I can’t leave him!” I scream, trying to pull free, but Chip just holds tighter.
“He’ll meet us out front!” he roars in my ear.
I finally give up and walk with him when we hear sirens. My insides tumble. That sound. God I remember that sound. The day he was taken to jail. Bile races up my throat and I lean over letting it out.
“Shit,” Stan mumbles. Josie moves next to me, pulling my hair out of my face as I heave.
“What the hell happened?” Lynx’s voice comes from around the building. I stand up and run toward him, slamming into his chest. My arms wrap around his neck, holding him as tightly as I can. His arms circle me, his lips moving to my ear.
“I’m not goin’ anywhere, Harper. I’m right here,” he whispers. I hiccup through the sobs.
“You see anything?” Chip asks moving to stand next to us.
I can feel the tension in Lynx. He saw something and it’s not something he wants to share.
“We’ll talk later,” he says.
“No, talk now.” Josie’s voice sounds pissed off, and when I pull my head from Lynx’s shoulder I look over at her. Yep, she’s pissed.
“They were wearin’ cuts.”
“What does that mean?” Stan asks as the sirens come closer.
“Fuck!” Lynx roars. His agitation is clear as day.
“You don’t know that for sure,” Chip tells him. We all look at each other confused.
“Like fuck we don’t! How many others were wearin’ cuts, Chip?” His anger is palpable. That familiar tone. Those words. He thinks this is club related.
“Who, though? You said you aren’t in with anyone?” I ask curiously.
Lynx almost looks shocked when he looks at me. He slowly shakes his head and smirks.
“You little shit. I forget how much you know,” he says.
“What does any of this shit mean?” Stan snaps.
“It means he thinks it was someone after him. Another MC,” I add.
“What?” Stan asks. Chip laughs and shakes his head.
“I’ll fill you in later. The question for now is, what the hell do we do?” Chip asks.
“We get the hell out of here before the cops get here,” I say, grabbing Lynx’s hand and leading him to the bike.
“Smartest idea I’ve heard today,” Lynx agrees.
89
Lynx
I crack my neck from side to side. I’m tense and with good reason. They were wearing cuts. I couldn’t make out the name but I saw the goddamn leather. Those shots were meant for me. I can feel it deep within me. I was the only there wearing a cut. I’m the obvious target.
“What’s the plan?” Chip asks after I’ve checked the outside of their house a million times. No one’s out there to be seen but they are. I can feel them. Their eyes, the way my heart kicks up a little. It’s that familiar buzz that I used to get when the club was about to handle shit.
“I’m not sure, Chip. I don’t have beef with anyone. I don’t know what the hell they want,” I admit. That thought alone is bothering me the most. I tip the beer to my lips and take a long pull. I don’t have enemies. I wasn’t out long enough to make new enemies and there weren’t any issues when I left back then. At least as much as I could tell.
“I got a bad feeling, man.”
I nod my head because I feel it, too.
“I think I’m gonna have to head back to Texas, Chip. I’m a Nomad, man. I can’t just reach out and hope for the best anymore. I need people I can trust to look into this. I need the MC.”
“No!”
I close my eyes when I hear Harper’s voice. I open them slowly and look over my shoulder
at her. She stands there with the clippers in her hands. She was going to fix up my hair for me.
“Might not have a choice, darlin’. I don’t trust many but Vic can handle this.”
“I’m not worried about Vic, Lynx!”
I sigh and take another drink looking at Chip. I can see the look in his eyes and I know he doesn’t want me around my dad either, but what else can I do? Chip knows everything about my life. When we were locked up together, we became close. As close as brothers. He told me about his life and I told him about mine. Especially what a fucker my dad is and why I went Nomad. Although we’re very different, we connected and I trust him with my life.
“You know my stand on this, but if you go, I go.”
Shaking my head, I chuckle. “You’re not goin’, man.”
“Like fuck I’m not,” Chip argues back.
“You’re not, Chip. You don’t need caught up in this shit,” I tell him setting my beer on the table in front of me.
“Fuck off, Lynx. You go, I’m going. You can’t stop me.”
“He’s right. I’m going too.”
I laugh this time. I don’t fucking think so.
“Like hell you will.” I stand up and turn to look at Harper. She smirks and it’s the fucking cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I shake my head slowly, a smile tugging at my lips. I want to give her everything I can in this life, but not this. I refuse to put her at risk again. That would make me lose my head when what I need most right now is to keep my wits about me. But if I’ve learned anything since we reunited it’s that I’m pretty much putty in her hands. I was at her mercy before, and now I don’t stand a chance.
“You drive me crazy, Harper.”
“Good. You do the same to me. Now shut up so I can cut your hair and figure out when we’re leaving,” she snaps and moves toward me. I lean down and kiss her gently.
“This is a bad fuckin’ idea, I can feel it,” I murmur against her lips. She doesn’t say anything else, just pushes me back with a giggle. I sit back in the chair, pulling my cut off and my shirt over my head setting them on the table. She turns the cutters on and begins shaving down the sides of my hair.
“You really think they’re after you?” Chip asks, and I can only shrug.
“Hard to say but who else would they be after? None of you have shit to do with MC’s, Chip. Doesn’t make sense for anyone else.”
The feel of her hands on me is driving me crazy. A shiver rolls down my spine and she notices. She purposely lets her fingers graze my skin. My eyes nearly roll into the back of my head. I know what she’s doing. She’s trying to distract me from the fact that she thinks she’s going. My heart and mind are at a war with that idea. She knows I can’t think straight when she’s near me but she also knows I would lose my mind not having her with me. It’s a sweet torture and for just a minute I let it all crumble under her touch. All the worry, all the doubts, they all just fade into her willing hands.
“I don’t like this, Lynx. Going back there. You and your dad aren’t the best terms. Not that you really were on good terms with him in the first place,” Chip adds, knowing our history.
“No, but I am with the others.”
“I’m not good with him either,” Harper huffs.
I reach up and grab her, dragging her into my lap so quickly she squeals.
“The plan is to go get some insight on this shit and that’s it. I’m not stayin’ there, Harper. I don’t want to be around him either but I need to figure this shit out.” Kissing her neck, she sighs and leans into me. I know what my dad said to her and I have no idea why he’d lie to her, but I will find out.
“Well, I guess we are staying in Texas for a little while. I’m going to pack. We’ll take the truck,” Chip says when I laugh.
“Like fuck we will. You can take the truck, we’re on my bike,” I remind him. He laughs and heads inside when Harper moves to finish my hair. The feeling of her near me is perfect. This is what I missed all those years and now that I have it again I don’t plan on letting her go. She was everything then, but she’s even more now. Once she’s done, she brushes the hair from my shoulders when I reach for her shorts. Jerking them down her legs, she squeals.
“Josie’s inside,” she says trying to pull them back up.
“She’s in bed.”
“Lynx, they could come out here at any moment,” she says, her cheeks turning pink.
I can see the look in her eyes, she wants this, wants me. I shake my head, lift up, and pull my jeans down. My cock springs free and Harper licks her lips. I smirk and lean back in the chair casually watching her, waiting to see what she will do. She steps out of her shorts and slowly moves toward me, a slight sway in those sexy hips. My heart races and when she climbs up and lowers herself down my length, I groan. Her lips come to my neck as she rolls her hips. I close my eyes and let her ride me. Swallowing hard, her hands come to my face, cupping my cheeks. Everything else seems to fade away. No one or thing can come between us anymore. Not even that dipshit, Luke. No one has heard from him, her so-called boyfriend. In fact, Harper and I haven’t even talked it over because in my mind, she is mine now. And when she whispers the words to me, I know she feels the same.
“Look at me.”
I open my eyes and see the love and lust I’d always known from her shining back at me. All other thoughts are void.
“You’re beautiful,” I groan when she clenches.
“I love you, Lynx. I love you so much it nearly killed me,” she whispers moving faster.
I reach up now, grabbing her hips and pushing her down. The feelings that are exploding inside of me are unreal. I’ve fucked after I got out, I’ve tried to get her out of my head for five fucking years, but I can’t. I never could. And I don’t want to.
“I love you, baby. I’ll never let anything happen to you. Do you trust me?” Her pussy clenches and my chest tightens. I don’t need her words; I can feel it in the way she’s fucking me. In the way she’s touching me, in the beat of her heart. God, I need to hold onto this woman this time.
“Always. I will always run to you, Lynx.”
She comes hard, pulling me with her. Sex with Harper doesn’t have to be rough. Everything with her feels explosive. Harper rests her head on my shoulder, her warm breath dancing over my skin. It sends jolts through my body. I hold her tightly not giving two shits if Josie or Chip, if anyone for that matter, comes out and finds us. This is a moment that I can never get back and I want to savor it as long as I can.
“Everything’s gonna be okay, you know that right?”
“I’m scared, Lynx. What if it isn’t about you? They tore up my house, remember?”
Like I could forget that or anything that’s been done.
“Someone could have seen me there. I don’t know, Harper. What I do know is that I’m not lettin’ anyone fuckin’ near you. You’re mine,” I hiss into her ear. She tightens her hold on me and sighs.
“I trust you with my life.”
We sit in silence, her fingers grazing over my skin. I can’t get enough of her touching me. After fighting for my life for so many years and then to have her here, touching me. Fuck, life is good.
“Let’s get inside. I wanna head out early.” I finally break the moment. Harper climbs off my lap and pulls her clothes back on when the thought hits me.
“You on birth control?”
Her cheeks turn bright red and there’s my answer. Not that I give a damn. Seeing Harper carrying my child isn’t ideal right now, but one day I’d want it. Only with her.
“I’ll go to the clinic and get the morning after pill.”
I nod my head before moving to pull my clothes back on. I nearly smirk at the thought of her pregnant. Harper would make an amazing mom. I shake the thoughts from my head. I don’t know what the hell has gotten into me. I haven’t thought about this shit since we were together when we were younger. Harper holds her hand out to me, I reach for it, and stand, pulling her into my chest.
“Ne
ver lettin’ you go, baby.”
90
Harper
Nervous doesn’t begin to describe what I’m feeling. We’re going home. We’re going back to the place that ripped us both apart. My heart nearly beats out of my chest. I’m scared to be back here. I’m afraid of the memories that threaten to choke me but for Lynx’s sake, I keep it all bottled up and shove it deep down inside of me. I can’t let Lynx see how hard this is hitting me or he will regret his decision to let me come along but I’m still afraid. More so, I’m afraid of Lynx’s dad. He wasn’t the nicest to me when I went there looking for Lynx. In fact, I didn’t tell Lynx the extent of what happened that night and I don’t plan on it, either. It killed another part of me, sent me running.
“Never thought I’d be back here,” Lynx whispers when he pulls into the parking lot and kills the engine. I can feel the tension in his body and the slight disgust and disbelief in his words.
I gaze up at the clubhouse. My stomach churns as memories shake me to the core. I don’t want to be here. My gaze travels toward the tree line knowing what lies behind it. There are still so many ghosts of the past that linger over there, I can nearly feel them calling out to me.
“He’s not there anymore, Harper,” Lynx whispers, pulling me back to the present. I turn to face him and nod my head.
“I know. I just hate being back here,” I admit, knowing deep down that it’s far more than that but I need to remain strong for Lynx right now. That finger, that ring was a club members and we both knew it. His face softens, reaching up he grabs my cheeks in his hands.
“We’re not stayin’. I promise that much.”
I nod once more as he holds my hand tightly in his. Chip parked behind us and is walking toward us now. My heart beats loudly in my ears.
