by Ryan Michele
Two hours later, she’s laughing so hard tears roll down her face, and we’ve finished our hundredth glass of soda. The sun is getting low in the sky. With Bristyl having an hour drive, if she leaves now, then she won’t have to drive in the dark.
“We should head out.”
She says nothing, but the playful smile leaves her face as sadness rolls in. Damn, I didn’t realize how much it would suck ass to leave her and drive back home. It’s like leaving a piece of yourself behind when all you want to do is throw it on the back of your bike and ride away with it.
I toss down some bills, slide my wallet into my pocket, and reach out for her hand, holding it all the way out the door and to our vehicles. With our hands locked tight, a strange feeling comes over me. A connection so tight the pull to her nearly knocks me on my ass.
Women have always just come and gone. This feeling, though, I want it to stay. It’s more than fucking this woman. Everything is real—a bond, a friendship.
When her eyes lift to mine, a slight sheen covering them, I know she feels this, too. This upcoming loss.
I reach around the back of her head and pull her toward me, wrapping her in my warmth. I can’t tell her it will be alright, because I have no idea what lies ahead in the future. What I do know is this moment, saying goodbye, doesn’t sit right with me.
My lips touch the top of her head, and I feel her shiver.
“I want you to call me when you get home. I probably won’t be able to answer, but leave me a message, and I’ll call you when I get back to my place.”
She nods, her head brushing against my chest.
When I pull back and she looks up, there isn’t a single tear cascading down her face, which I’m thankful for. Though, they are in her eyes, ready to fall. She looks as if she’s controlling it, and I appreciate that. I don’t want my last vision of her to have tears running down her cheeks.
Pressing my lips to hers, they dance slow and steady, savoring each touch, lick, and nibble. The deeper the kiss goes, the stronger I’m pulled to her like a connection that’s palpable in so many ways. How this little woman can do this to me is beyond my comprehension.
An invisible string ties itself around me. The pull, the attraction, is too much. Therefore, I stop before it becomes more.
It’s not that I don’t want to be buried inside her—that’s always on my mind. It’s that Bristyl isn’t a fuck or someone I want to leave the moment we’re done. No, I want to hold her, fall asleep with her, and find out what it’s like to wake up with a woman I care about beside me. Each of those actions is so foreign, yet feels so right … with her.
“You’d better go,” I tell her reluctantly.
“I don’t think I want to.” She licks her lips, her hands coming to the front of my T-shirt and gripping me tightly. “Say this won’t be the last time I see you. Say that we’ll meet each other again. Maybe in a different life or something. Just don’t say this is the end when I feel like it’s just the beginning.”
Instead of saying anything, I lean down and take her mouth once more, giving her the words she does and doesn’t want to hear from me. When I pull away, I open her car door for her, and she gets in.
“Bye, Cooper,” she says on a huff of breath before I close the door, and she drives off like a bat out of hell. Little does she know, she took a piece of me with her.
Chapter Thirteen
There’s no use stopping the tears falling from my eyes. In my gut, I knew it was a bad idea to see him because of this simple reason. When his lips touched mine, I was lost in a way I never wanted to be found again. What was bliss for a few hours is now heartbreak for many more.
The drive is uneventful. The music doesn’t help with the feeling of loss inside of me. After getting into my house and locking the door, I text Cooper.
Made it.
I don’t hear anything back from him until the morning, when I get: Home.
I called him this morning, but it went to voicemail. The pit of loss hit me because he has never let it go to voicemail without telling me he wouldn’t be available. I shouldn’t have any fears, but maybe it’s over. Maybe seeing me that once is enough for him and he’s done. Or maybe I’m being an idiot.
“Hey! Where have you been? I’ve, like, called you a billion times,” Leah says from my doorway as I step to the side and let her in. She has called me several times, but I didn’t want to hear for the billionth time how sorry she is.
“I’ve been busy.”
“Busy doing what? Besides working.”
I wring my hands and wonder if I should tell her about seeing Cooper. Trusting her isn’t the problem. It’s just nice to have something that’s truly mine. Not my father’s or brothers or the club’s, but mine. It’s not that I want him to be a secret, but I guess I do in a way. It’s like, if my life is unknown, it won’t taint what Cooper and I have together. Damn, I’m confusing.
I wave my hand dismissively. “Just work.”
“Yeah. Sorry about …” she starts, but I hold my hand up to stop her.
“No more, Leah. Stop with this shit. As long as he’s not in your business, then don’t worry about it. Stop apologizing, because it’s bugging the ever-loving shit out of me.”
She sighs deeply and falls onto my couch. I sit next to her.
“I know. It just sucks that I was that stupid. But never again.”
“Good.”
She sighs, and I can tell she just wants things to be normal again.
“So … I was listening to this radio show this morning, and you’re never going to believe this.” She turns toward me excitedly, and I try to give it back to her, but I’m sure I fail miserably. It sucks, because my best friend is here, yet my head is hundreds of miles away, wondering why Cooper didn’t answer his phone.
“This radio show has people call in for these second chance date things. Like, they go on a date with someone and then the other person doesn’t call them back and they want to know why. Now, why someone would actually do this is totally beyond me because—hello—you already went there once and got burned. Now you want to know why and go on another date with them?”
I just smile and let her continue.
“Okay, so this guy Dave calls in. He went on a date with Stacy to a club where they danced and had a good time. While they were dancing, another guy came up and cut in on Stacy. Dave stepped back and let this happen, going to the bar and drinking. Stacy comes back, and they have an okay time, but Dave feels Stacy is off. Stacy tells Dave at the end of the date that she will be gone for two months and won’t be able to be reached. I mean, hello, man, red flag! Well, Dave thinks that Stacy doesn’t want to go out with him again because he didn’t defend her honor by telling the guy to fuck off when he cut in.”
“I can see that.” My brothers wouldn’t allow that to happen one bit. I can see them kicking some serious ass for anyone attempting to cut in when they have a woman, or hell, even cut them in line somewhere.
“Okay, so this radio show calls Stacy, and she literally groans when she hears Dave’s name and does the whole, I’m not going to talk about it on the radio show thing. Which, who can blame her, putting all her shit out there like that? Anyway, the radio guys tell her why Dave thinks she hasn’t called him. She bursts out laughing, saying that it’s the total opposite. The radio guys are like what? all questioning and stuff. So, Stacy then proceeds to say that, after she got done with her dance with random dude, Dave pulled her over into the corner of the bar and started whispering in her ear.”
“That’s never a good sign,” I say on a chuckle.
“No. Get this. He wanted her to lure the dancing guy outside so he could show him his karate moves. Like, legit. Dave even demonstrated in the bar with his hands how he would break the guy’s neck.”
“Oh, my God, just for dancing he’s going to kill him? Guy sounds like a nut.” My brothers would totally kick someone’s ass for this, but never kill them for it. At least, I don’t think so.
�
�I know, right? Well, the radio people are laughing hysterically, and Dave comes on the line. He then proceeds to tell Stacy that he had to defend her honor, and the only way to do that was to end this man for disrespecting him.”
“Wow.”
“I mean, I’m all for a guy sticking up for me and all, but this Dave guy went into it, talking about how he’s a master in karate and knows how to defend her. That he’ll protect her by any means necessary. On and on. Now, maybe if they’d been dating a while and they, like, love each other, I can see a man standing up like that, but this is their first date!”
I laugh hysterically, my stomach clenching and unclenching as I double over. “Holy shit, that’s funny as hell.”
“Yeah. Thank God that wasn’t us.”
“No shit. Wanna go shopping? I need a new bag.”
Leah rolls her eyes. “You don’t need a new bag; you just want one.”
“True.”
Women have all different obsessions when it comes to clothes and accessories. Mine are handbags. I love them. They don’t have to be the expensive, you-must-give-me-your-first-born-child ones. Nope. Some of the best ones I found are from discount retail stores. I don’t care about the name on the purse, or if it’s some great fashion designer that I’ve never heard of. Nope. I only care about how it feels when I carry it, and if I can put all my shit in it.
A day shopping with my best friend will keep me from checking my phone every few minutes, which I’m catching myself doing.
When it does ring, I’m looking at a blue bag that’s the color of Cooper’s eyes, and excitement courses through me. I hold up a finger to Leah and step away to the side.
“Hello?”
“Hey, beautiful.” His sexy as hell voice comes over the line, shaking me to my core.
No one can wipe the ear-to-ear grin from my face. How can two simple words make me feel so damn happy? Him calling me beautiful without even blinking is the best feeling in the world, besides being in his arms.
“Did you get some sleep?”
“Yeah, just rollin’ out of bed.”
I smirk. “Must be nice. Not all of us get to sleep the day away.”
“It’s a hard job, but somebody’s gotta do it.”
I look around, seeing Leah staring at me knowingly. I turn my back to her.
“I’m out shopping with Leah; can I call you back later?”
“Sure thing. Later.”
“Later.” I swipe the phone off and clutch it to my chest.
“You got a man,” Leah says from behind me, making me jump out of my skin.
“Don’t do that!”
“What? Come up behind you? Or tell you something you already know?”
“I’m not talking about it right now.” I move past her, grabbing the bag I was looking at and then setting it back down. I’m really over shopping right now, especially now that Leah has a bone and won’t let up.
“You have a guy, and you’re keeping him from me?” Her hands fly to her hips in bitch stance, and other people in the store start looking at us. Great.
“Later.” I skate around her and through the store toward the exit, Leah hot on my heels, blathering on.
Once we get in the car, I turn toward her. “Look, everything is new. It may not go anywhere, and you know how my brothers and father are. I just want to keep it to myself until I figure out if it’s something or nothing.”
Her eyes narrow as if she’s delving into the recesses of my brain and picking it apart. We’ve been friends for too long; she’ll get it. If not right now, she will in a couple of days.
“Please just let it go.”
Surprisingly, she drops it, but out of the corner of my eye, I see her festering and planning. Damn.
I can’t believe I’m doing this again. After the pain from last time, it still doesn’t stop me from driving the hour or so to meet Cooper the next Saturday in Cottondale.
I stop at the restaurant and see him sitting on his bike, waiting for me. His nice ass is resting on the seat while his legs are extended out, crossed at the ankles. Damn, he’s hot. He’s wearing those mirrored shades that look so gorgeous on him, like they were made specifically for him. His jeans fit him perfectly, along with his T-shirt and leather. His long hair glistens in the slight breeze. He is a concoction that dampens panties around the world.
And he’s here for me.
I stop the car, turn off the engine, and before my hand touches the door handle, he’s there to do it for me. I rise out of the car, feeling his body heat from a few feet away, craving that close connection.
Talking on the phone, learning about each other in a way that’s so new to me, having him this close is overwhelming as so many emotions filter through my body. Each one of those—the fear, the lust, the attraction—leads me to the conclusion that I want to see more of Cooper.
Wishing upon a star has never been my thing, but I may have to give it a shot.
“Hi.” Why is it that I feel stupid with that one little word? If something cooler would come to mind, that would be great.
He says nothing, just wraps his arms around me, pulling me flush to his body. Then his lips attack mine, and I’m lost. Lost in him. Lost in the moment. Just lost. Everything in my brain stops, and my only focus is the man in front of me.
This goes on for long moments, and I suck each one like a starving woman. When Cooper pulls away on a chuckle, I catch myself leaning into him, trying to follow his lips. How embarrassing, but I don’t care.
He reaches over and grabs a helmet. “Put this on.”
“You know that Florida doesn’t have a law on helmets,” I tell him.
He quirks his brow. “And you know this how?”
“Just the guys around here don’t wear one often.”
“In Georgia, it’s law. You on my bike is law. Precious cargo,” he says with that sexy smile while my heart warms.
I put it on without any retorts. After all, I’m precious cargo.
It’s not my first time on a bike, but it will be my first time on a bike with a hot guy that I’m not related to.
He moves to straddle the steel machine. “Get on.”
I swing my leg over, thankful I have my chucks on and not flip flops. Cooper pulls my arms around him, and I hold on tight as he takes off like a shot. Having him so close to my body and the rumble of the bike wakes my girly bits up from a way too long nap.
I want to ask him how he can ride again already after he rode such a long time here, but I can’t because of the wind in our faces. Instead, I hang on tight and enjoy the ride, letting the cool breeze wash away everything but him and me.
Riding with a man is so much different than with my father or brothers. With Cooper, it’s an erotic feeling. The way the bike glides and turns, our bodies following. The way the curve of his back fits perfectly against my front, pressing into my breasts. Everything is so much better being on the back of his bike.
Riding with Sinisters, I always craved to belong. Riding with Coop, I just do. There’s no trying involved.
Cooper pulls back into the restaurant we originally came to and comes to a stop. While I loved being on his bike, it’s been a while and my legs feel a little jellied when I get off. He reaches out and steadies me, though, and once I have my shit together, he lets go, but laces his fingers with mine.
“Let me feed you.”
I can think of a lot of things I want to eat right now, but food isn’t one of them. Everything I want revolves around this man in front of me as he leads me into the very brightly lit place. Windows line the walls and florescent lights glare everywhere. This place is definitely not as cozy as the place before, but it is what it is. All I care about is spending time with Cooper.
Cooper finds us a spot in the back, sitting with his back to the wall. He does the exact same thing my father and brothers do. I’ve been told they have to have eyes on the room at all times.
“Like to sit by the wall?” I tease.
“Nah, I just like to
know what’s goin’ on.” He reaches over and grabs my hands. “You’re welcome to come over here and sit with me.”
My body screams yes! but I stay where I am, knowing if I’m sitting that close to him, I won’t be able to not touch him. He’s too delicious not to, and after that kiss earlier, I want more. So much more. My body craves him with a need so deep it presses against my soul.
A flirty waitress comes and takes our order. Before I know it, the food is in front of us, and I’m sad this is almost over. A few hours isn’t enough time. Even eating slow and having a great conversation isn’t long enough. It’s just not. It royally sucks.
Cooper pays the check, and then we walk solemnly out to my car and his bike where he turns me and presses my body against the car, attacking me with his lips in the most delectable way.
I pull away abruptly. “Stay with me tonight. Don’t go back. We can find a place, just you and me, and leave first thing in the morning.”
He rocks back on his boots, hands still touching me. For a moment, I can’t believe those words just came from my lips, but I want it badly. From his expression, he doesn’t, which baffles me. He is a red-blooded male, and the way his lips attacked mine … He has to want this, too, right?
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that. I need to get going.” I try to move away, feeling so damn stupid for even suggesting it. The foot in mouth syndrome hits yet again. I really should stick to text messages or just avoid people altogether.
His grip gets tighter on my hips, stilling me. When I look into his eyes, they burn with an intensity that he’s kept from me in our brief encounters. Something devilish and intriguing that makes my knees weak.
“Bristyl, if we go someplace private, I can’t guarantee I’ll keep my hands off you. It’s fuckin’ killin’ me to leave you as it is.”
“What if I don’t want you to keep your hands off?” I rise up on my tiptoes and place a soft kiss against his mouth. “I want this, Cooper. Do you?”
