Unfiltered & Unhinged

by Payge Galvin

  She sat in the shelter, rubbing her neck. It had been a long lunch shift, and a busy one. She had a good chunk of cash in her pocket and her evening free. She’d been pulling a lot of doubles lately to make rent. Cass didn’t want to dip into her stash of cash for anything that wasn’t an emergency. It didn’t feel right to use it for anything else. But tonight she had the rare night free. She had no idea what to do with it.

  Her phone rang. She fished it out of her bag and checked her caller ID. Dev.

  “What are you doing right now?” he asked as soon as she said hello.

  “Waiting for the bus.”

  “Where?”

  Cass checked the schedule. The bus was five minutes late. “Corner of Fifth and Elm.”

  “I’ll be there in ten.” He hung up.

  She got up from the shelter’s bench and looked at the display of her phone, amused. He hadn’t even told her what they’d be doing. Hell, he hadn’t even asked her if she had other plans or if she wanted to do something with him. Ordinarily, she’d have bristled at his presumptions, but she liked Dev. Cass shook her head. It didn’t make sense to her, but there it was.

  True to his word, Dev rounded the corner and stopped in front of her. His motorcycle was a beauty, a black Indian Chief. She was glad to get a look at it in daylight. “Hop on,” he said.

  Cass shoved her bag into one of his saddlebags and climbed on behind him. She wouldn’t usually ride behind someone, but with him, it felt strangely right.

  “Where are we going?” she asked as she settled against his body.

  “Hold tight,” he said, by way of answer.

  She did, wrapping her arms loosely around his waist. “Ready when you are.”

  They took off, Dev navigating them through the streets of downtown and then out onto the highway. Cass rested her head against his back, reveling in the feel of the rumbling machine beneath her. The Indian was a beauty, sleek and powerful. And being pressed against Dev was certainly a perk that was doing some very pleasant things to her ladybits.

  They rolled up into the parking lot of a state park. Dev stopped the bike. Cass got off and stretched, still feeling the residual throb from the bike’s engine deep inside of her.

  “Nice ride,” she said as he grabbed some things out of his saddlebags.

  “I know.” Dev grinned at her. At her expression, he added, “And you have quite the impressive eye roll. Come on.”

  “Want to tell me where we’re going?” Cass fell into step beside him as he led them into the park.

  “Not really.”

  He took her hand, but didn’t take his eyes from the trail in front of him.

  Cass fought back a smile of pleasure. His hand was rough with calluses from working with tools. She forced herself not to rub his palm with her thumb. “If this is your idea of romance, I despair of you ever getting any in your lifetime.”

  He stopped and pulled her into his arms. Before she could say a word, he slanted his lips across hers, licking his way inside her mouth. Cass grabbed at his shoulders in surprise, feeling heat twine its way along her ribs and into her belly.

  Just as abruptly, he let her go. She stumbled a little and he made no move to catch her. When she righted herself, Dev was smirking at her. Ass.

  “What was that about me not getting any?” He turned and continued his way along the path.

  Cass stood there for a brief moment, unable to form words. That kiss had short circuited her brain somehow. She wished for a snappy comeback, but it wasn’t going to happen when all she wanted to do was drag him down to the ground and have her way with him.

  Dev was almost out of sight up a small rise, so Cass ran to catch up. “So why are you taking me out here again?”

  He looked down at her, his dark eyes amused. “You needed to get away from everything.”

  “And this,” she waved her hand at a cactus, “is supposed to get me away from everything?” Her doubt was evident in her tone.

  He loped along at an easy pace so Cass had no trouble keeping up even over the uneven ground. “A little trust, please. You are letting me work on your bike.” He took her hand again and squeezed it gently. “And I know you don’t let just anyone touch your Superhawk.”

  Cass nodded, slanting a look at his profile. His mouth was set in a half-smile, his eyes squinting against the late afternoon glare. His jaw was covered in a light stubble that she longed to run her palms against, and his skin was a golden tan in the sunlight. Now that they didn’t have the wind rushing over them, a faint sheen of sweat gilded his skin.

  She wanted to press him down and lick it off of him.

  They walked in silence for half a mile or so. Dev didn’t let her hand go, even when they left the trail. He took them to a flat area with a collection of large boulders. He began to climb, pulling her up after him. When they stood atop the highest of them, Dev spread out a picnic blanket and sat, guiding Cass down to sit beside him.

  “Okay,” she said, folding her legs beneath her and sinking to the blanket. “So what do we do now?”

  “Relax. Enjoy the view,” Dev answered, but he was looking at her when he said it.

  Cass ducked her head, feeling suddenly shy. He slid his finger beneath her chin, urging her to lift her head so he could see her eyes. “It’s a very nice view.”

  He needed to stop saying things like that. She didn’t deserve them. She’d helped to cover up a shooting for Chrissake. Normal good people didn’t do that! His compliments twisted her up inside, so that she didn’t know whether to run away or let her panties spontaneously combust. His voice was a low, rich sound, almost like caramel for the ears. It caused her stomach muscles to contract and her lungs to constrict. Her breathing was suddenly shallow, like she couldn’t get enough air.

  She said the first thing that popped into her head. “Do you bring all your girls here?”

  Dev raised one eyebrow, his mouth drawing up on one side. “You make it sound like I’ve got a harem.”

  If he had, it wouldn’t have surprised her. The man was walking sin. Add in his motorcycle and his arms and that bedroom voice and he probably had girls throwing themselves at him. “Your kisses aren’t exactly virginal.”

  “Is that a problem?” He leaned back against the rock, staring at her quizzically.

  “No. I just…never mind.” Cass felt stupid. She’d just wanted him to stop looking at her like that. Like she was something special. She didn’t deserve to be looked at like that. He didn’t know her or what she’d done; if he did, he’d probably run screaming in the opposite direction.

  “Hey, what is it?” Dev asked, pulling her closer. “Talk to me, Cass.”

  She shrugged, not knowing how to voice what was wrong inside of her. “It’s nothing.” She let out a strangled laugh.

  His hands rubbed up and down her arms slowly, gently. He didn’t push, seemed content to wait her out. She didn’t realize he was moving her closer to him until he wrapped his arms around her. “You’re the first one I’ve brought up here. I like watching the sunsets up here. Away from all the noise and problems down there.” She felt him tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “I thought you would too.”

  Dev pulled her against his chest, his palms flat against the small of her back. Cass shivered when his lips brushed against hers, a feather-light touch and nothing more. He pressed another one against the corner of her mouth, then another on her cheek. His lips followed the path of her jaw, the kisses closed-mouthed and chaste. Dev took his time with his soft kisses, as his hands began to rub slow circles against her shirt.

  “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, lowering his mouth to her neck. “Sexy.” His mouth moved against the sensitive flesh in the hollow of her throat. “Perfectly amazing.”

  Cass’s body trembled. She didn’t want to hear these words. She wasn’t amazing and she sure wasn’t perfect. Hearing him say these things—and sound like he meant them—hurt her in a way she wasn’t prepared to deal with. He needed to stop talking.

&nb
sp; She dropped her head down, her mouth questing for his. When she found his lips, she licked them open, sliding her tongue inside his mouth. Cass traced her tongue over his teeth, lapped at the roof of his mouth, mapping every part of him. She slicked her tongue along his, wrapping around it and sucking it into her mouth.

  Dev’s hands slid around and down, grabbing her around the waist. He broke the kiss, only to bury his head into the spot between her neck and shoulder. “You,” he said, mouthing at her collarbone. “Are.” He nibbled at her ear. “Incredible.”

  Cass flinched away, hiding it by reaching for his belt buckle. She unhooked it, then went to work on his fly. She knew one way to get him to stop talking.

  She freed him from his pants, palming his length in her hand. “Stand up,” she ordered, urging him with her hand. “Lean against the rock.”

  “Cass,” he began, breath catching as she tightened her hand around him.

  “Hush.” She bunched the blanket under her knees with her free hand, then looked up at him.

  “I can’t come from a blow job.” His breath stuttered out of him as she ran her thumb over the head of him.

  She didn’t take him in her mouth right away. First she ran her tongue along the underside of him once and then again. She put her hands on his thighs, using the quiver of his muscles as a gauge for what he liked. Cass laved the head of him, taking him into her mouth and sucking lightly. She raised one hand up to run a hand over his balls, rolling them between her fingers.

  Dev began to move, hips thrusting. Cass dug her fingernails into his upper thighs as a warning. He stilled immediately, groaning softly. She increased her suction, pressing her tongue against his cock to increase the pressure. She began to move her head back and forth, sucking harder on the upstroke. His hand clenched into a fist and he pounded the side of it into the boulder he was leaning against. She kept up a steady pace, feeling his hips begin to thrust against her.

  But she wasn’t finished. Dev’s muscles shivered beneath her hand, but he wasn’t undone, not by a long shot. And Cass wouldn’t be satisfied until she proved what one talented and enthusiastic woman could accomplish.

  She wrapped one hand around the base of his cock, using it to guide him. Taking him deeper, she breathed around his girth, swallowing against it. She moved forward, opening the back of her throat, her mouth stretched around him.

  Dev’s breathing was all over the place, his chest heaving. She swallowed again—or tried to, it was nearly impossible—and he cried out. Cass kept a hand on his thigh for a touchstone; she needed the contact. Dev’s rhythm became uncoordinated as his eyes slipped shut. “Cass,” he managed, his voice strangled by his need.

  She hummed against him and he shouted. Cass felt the muscles in his thighs tighten and she knew he was close. She stroked his balls with one hand, unable to see the expression on his face from her angle. Cass couldn’t do much with her tongue anymore, but she pressed against his cock, increasing the heat and friction on him.

  Shouting, Dev plunged forward, spilling his release down her throat. She slid back, giving herself room to swallow everything. When she was finished, she placed a soft kiss against the tip, then sat back on her heels.

  “Wow,” Dev gasped, sinking down beside her. He tucked himself back into his pants, hands shaking.

  She crawled over to him, resting her chin against his chest. She smiled sweetly at him.

  “Sorry I didn’t give you any warning.” Dev’s hand curled around the back of her head, urging her to climb up his body. “It kind of took me by surprise.”

  Cass mouthed at his chin, smiling. “I didn’t mind.”

  Dev’s arms came around her, holding her tightly. She felt him chuckle, a rumble in his chest. “Damn, woman.” He lifted his head to look at her. His dark eyes were wide, his expression wondering. Dropping his head back, he said, a laugh in his voice, “You aren’t like other girls.”

  “Oh shut up and watch the stupid sunset.” Cass pressed a chaste kiss against his lips.

  His booming laugh echoed off the rocks, sending a flock of birds reeling into the orange-pink sky. Dev’s chest shook beneath her head and she grinned, feeling lighter and more at ease.

  When the sun set, they were both too busy kissing to notice.

  Chapter 9

  It was late, but Cass was having a hard time sleeping. She didn’t know what the problem was—or rather, she didn’t know which of her problems was the one keeping her awake. After more than an hour of tossing and turning, she gave up sleep as a no-go and picked up her battered copy of The Return of the King.

  She’d just hit the part where Pippin is a dumbass when her phone rang. It took her a few moments to fumble it from her nightstand. “Hello?”

  The voice on the other end surprised her. “Hey Cass, it’s Sugar.”

  Cass sat up in bed, her mind filling with questions. “Are you okay?” she asked. She couldn’t believe how good it was to hear Sugar’s voice. Cass hadn’t heard from her since she left Rio Verde.

  “I’m safe. You?” Sugar sounded stressed. Cass knew she had every reason to be. First the shooting at The Coffee Cave, then the decision to get rid of the body—my idea, she thought—and then the death of her on-again, off-again boyfriend. Sugar’d had a bad run of luck lately.

  “I’m okay,” she answered, not wanting to burden her friend with all of the stupid crap going on with Wrex and Liam. Sugar respected her boundaries. She wouldn’t press.

  “I’ll listen if—” Sugar began.

  “I’m good.” Cass appreciated the offer, but Sugar sounded like she could use an ear more than Cass did. “Where are—”

  “Don’t ask,” Sugar answered, her voice quiet and tense. “I can’t say, but I’m safe.”

  Cass waited for her to say more, but Sugar seemed content with the silence. Then she remembered what she’d seen on the television. She wondered if Sugar had seen or heard about Dillon. “Did you see it?”

  “See what?”

  Cass laughed. “Dillon. Freaking Dillon who sang for us while we wiped tables at the Cave,” she answered, unable to keep the glee from her voice. “He’s all over the television!”

  “He told?” Sugar sounded betrayed.

  Cass gave herself a mental kick. She was so stupid sometimes. Of course, Sugar would assume it was about what happened at the Cave that night. “No!” She shook her head. “He’s on that show, American Voice. He’s one of the ones everyone’s talking about, along with Savannah. Do you know her? She used to wait tables over at that diner Dillon loved. She’s there too. Everyone’s all ‘they’re a couple.’” She laughed again. “He’s been mooning over her forever, but he’s never touched her…not unless he did it in the last couple of weeks. I’m not perfect, but I sure as heck wouldn’t have been spending nights with him if he was with her. He loves her. She’s too blind to see it though. Sort of like you and Adam. How is he?”

  When Sugar answered, she sounded like she was on the verge of tears. “I don’t know. Mad? Gone?”

  She hadn’t heard Sugar like this before. “Talk to me.”

  “I’m fucked. I’m living with Adam—and I think I might be going crazy. I think about him all the time, but I know I can’t be with him. Not after Tommy—and I won’t be just another one of Adam’s girls. I mean, I know he’s just trying to take care of me, trying to do the right thing, you know? But he just walked out because I screwed up. I can’t fuck up our friendship, but it’s getting harder to say no. Last week, I made him pull over so I could give him a blow job! What the hell is wrong with me?”

  Cass burst out laughing, so happy for her friend. It sounded like Sugar and Adam were doing just fine. They’d be doing better if they just stopped giving each other the run around and talked about what they were both feeling. “I told you bike sex was awesome!”

  Sugar sighed. “Anything with Adam would be awesome.”

  Rolling her eyes, Cass sassed, “So tell him, dumbass. I swear, Sugar, you’re worse than a guy sometimes.” S
he thought for a moment, and then continued. “Dillon wants Savannah, but he tries to keep her as a friend. You and Adam watch each other like you’re about to combust if you get too close.” She chuckled. “You can be friends and lovers. Dillon and I were both.”

  “You didn’t love him,” she said softly.

  Cass had to bite back a squeal. “I knew it!” She wished Sugar was here so she could give her a hug. “Tell. Him. Now.”

  She made a sound of frustration. “He’s gone! I told you that. Weren’t you listening?”

  “He’ll be back, Sugar,” Cass soothed. “You know he will. He’s been waiting for you to see him for as long as I’ve seen him coming around, worse since you ditched the….” She trailed off, but it was too late. “Ah, crud! I didn’t mean…I know he’s dead and all. But Tommy was an asshole, Sugar.”

  Her friend grew quiet and Cass wondered if she’d gone too far. Then Sugar spoke. “Yeah, he was sometimes.”

  “Give Adam a chance. That’s all I’m saying.” Cass wanted Sugar to be happy, and she was pretty sure Adam would make her very happy.

  Sugar took a deep breath. “Okay, enough about my completely messed up love life. What’s going on with you? Are you racing?”

  “In another couple of weeks.” Cass didn’t want to talk about it or even really think about it. She still didn’t know what she was going to do if Dev hadn’t finished the work on her Superhawk.

  As if just thinking about him was enough to alert him, she got a beep on her call waiting. It was Dev.

  “Look, Sugar, I’ve got to go. That’s a call about my bike—it got totaled and I’m having work done. It’s a long story that I’ll tell you about later.” She paused, not sure how to end the call. Would she ever hear from Sugar again? They weren’t supposed to talk to each other—it was part of the pact they’d all made that night at the coffee shop. She felt a heaviness in her chest, but she tried to keep things light. Her voice came out tighter and higher than she wanted it to. “Talk to you soon?”

  “Sure thing.” Sugar cleared her throat, like she was maybe forcing herself to do the same thing. “Talk to you soon.”