by Jamie Begley
“It’s not too late, Tessa.”
“Yes, it is.” Vida watched as Tessa walked out the front door, not taking the opportunity to go back and apologize to Colton. Vida had hoped that Tessa would try to make amends, but she had been wrong.
Vida kept trying to get Seth on the phone, using the number he’d given her. His message box was full. She was beginning to get angry with him. The least he could do was keep her informed after what she had done.
Determined to get in touch with him, she called the FBI’s main office for the State of Texas. It took several phone calls and being redirected several times before she was connected to a nearby office. in which Seth had been assigned.
“Hello?” Vida had asked for Seth and had met silence on the other end. “Hello? Are you still there?”
“Yes, Ms.--. I’m afraid I have some bad news about your friend. Seth Redman was killed on duty. I’m afraid that’s all the information that can be released at this time.”
Vida disconnected the call, sitting stunned.
“Are you all right?” Carlito asked, picking up the appointment book.
“Yes.” Vida cleared her throat. “I need some coffee and some food. I’m going to go across the street. I’ll be back in a little while.”
“Cool, I don’t have another customer for an hour. Take your time.”
“Thanks.” Vida packed up her computer, placing it into her backpack.
Carlito waved to her as she left, already texting his girlfriend, which was his favorite pastime when he wasn’t working.
Vida crossed the street in front of the tattoo shop, went in front of the coffee shop and then kept walking. Around the corner, she called a taxi. Vida waited anxiously for five minutes for it to arrive. Finally, the cab pulled up and Vida climbed in, giving Colton’s address.
It took another agonizing ten minutes for the cab to get to Colton’s apartment. Carlito hadn’t even noticed when she had picked up Colton’s keys. He was going to be furious when he realized she had the bike and apartment keys. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out where she was headed, but she planned to call him as soon as possible and beg him not to follow.
Thankfully, all her clothes were clean. She shoved everything into the small case she had. Picking up her backpack, she was in the bedroom when she heard the front door open. Freezing in place by the bed, she watched the bedroom door.
Colton entered the bedroom, furious. Vida knew she was busted trying to leave town without him and he was mad as hell at her.
“What the hell were you thinking?” he yelled at her.
He walked towards her, stopping by the bed when he saw her clothes packed in the case. Angrily, he picked the suitcase up and threw it across the room. The backpack was next, and she could tell from his face it was going to meet the same fate as her suitcase.
“Don’t you dare throw that backpack. It has my computer that I had to save for three semester’s to buy used.”
Colton gently tossed the backpack onto the floor by the bed.
Vida couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her. Colton might have saved her computer, but he was still furious with her. Picking her up, he tossed her onto the mattress, coming down on top of her before she could scramble off.
“I can’t let you violate your parole, Colton. Let me handle it, please. It’s my problem, not yours. You got dragged into this whole mess because of King.”
“Baby, calm down. We’re going back to my original plan. After I see my parole officer, he won’t expect me for another week. We’ll be back by then.”
“What if you get pulled over by the police or there’s trouble and they run your license? Anything could go wrong. I won’t take that chance.”
“You don’t have a choice.” Colton ignored her arguing.
“You’ll hate me if you get caught,” Vida protested.
“I couldn’t hate you, Vida. You’re fierce in your loyalty to Sawyer, and you’ve worked hard for your degree to get what you want out of life. I understand that both are important to you. I’m not going to let you leave to find Sawyer on your own. When we find Sawyer then we’ll decide what’s next, but whatever it is, it doesn’t mean I’m going to let you leave without me.”
“I don’t want to leave you, either. I even applied for jobs in Queen City and I’ve wanted to leave all my life. But I want to stay because of you.”
“I can start a tattoo shop anywhere, Vida. I don’t even have to tattoo. I have plenty of money saved up; I’ve lived real tight the last few years,” he said with a twisted smile. “We can go anywhere you want, for as long as you want. The only thing I need is you, nothing else matters.”
“I don’t mind Queen City so much anymore, and all your friends are here. Sawyer is my only friend and the fun of leaving was to have that experience with her.” Vida couldn’t keep the sadness out of her voice.
“Were going to get her back, I promise.” Vida pulled him to her, kissing him for promising something he had no control over.
“Did you mean what you said in the shop this morning?” he asked, staring into her eyes.
“No,” Vida lied, lowering her eyes so he couldn’t see the answer she wasn’t able to hide.
“Baby…”
“Yes, I meant it.” Vida buried her face in his shoulder, embarrassed.
“I love you, too. I did from the moment I saw you on stage. I thought I had died and gone to Heaven.”
Vida hit at his shoulder. Well aware that the first time he had seen her, she was stripping.
“The first time you saw me I was naked.”
“Yes, you were. I saw…” Colton kissed her as his hands went under her t-shirt, pushing it up over her breasts. Unsnapping her bra, he sucked a nipple into his mouth, pressing it hard between his lips until Vida’s hand went to his long hair and she began twisting underneath him. Switching to the other breast he unexpectedly used his piercing to rub the tip. It hardened into a perfect pink bud. “…these pretty pink nipples.”
He got up from the bed and then, reaching down, he unsnapped her jeans, tugging them and her panties off in one movement. Cupping her behind the knees, he pulled her towards the end of the bed. “This pretty, wet pussy… was all I could think about for days after I saw your show.”
“I could tell,” Vida said wryly, remembering how many women had shared his bed when he first got out of prison.
“Their nipples weren’t as pink as yours.” Leaning over her, he took a nipple between his fingertips, pinching and twisting gently until Vida’s hips squirmed on the bed. Letting it go, he reached for the other nipple, playing with it until Vida started rubbing herself against the front of him. His cock lengthened behind his unbuttoned jeans.
Releasing her nipple, he straightened once again.
“Their pussies weren’t as tight as yours.” Colton thrust a finger into her already wet pussy. Vida’s hips thrust back needing to feel him thick and full inside of her. He was only giving her touches to drive her passion higher.
“Colton, I need you,” Vida whimpered.
“They damn sure didn’t taste like you.” Vida whimpered again, knowing what was next. Colton raised her up to his mouth. The only part of her left on the bed was the back of her head.
Colton wrapped her calves around his shoulder and went down on her already wet clit, his tongue laving, wringing moans from her as he drove her mindlessly into a climax which he let her ride out on his tongue. She hadn’t stopped shaking when he lowered her hips back to the mattress. Spreading her thighs wider, he notched his cock at her entrance.
“Fuck me. Please, just fuck me,” Vida begged him unashamedly.
Colton slid his cock in her wet heat before thrusting fully inside. Vida arched as he slid deeper, moving in an out in a slow rhythm that had her thrusting back, trying to get him to go faster.
“Harder. I need it harder,” Vida begged.
Colton used his palm to pull back her mound until her clit rested on his cock.
“Baby, I�
“That was beautiful,” Vida whispered, unable to stop clinging to him.
“That was how I felt when I first saw you...” Colton said, not wanting her to let him go.
Chapter Twenty
Vida stood nervously by Colton as he knocked on his parole officer’s door. Colton opened the door when the voice told him to come inside. She had wanted to wait outside, but Colton had refused to let her leave his side. Giving in, she now found herself under the scrutiny of a large man behind a desk. If his hair hadn’t been black and long, worn in a ponytail, he would have been a ringer for Santa. However, the man sitting behind the desk had anything other than a jolly look on his ruddy face.
“Dax, I wanted to check in today, I have several appointments scheduled for tomorrow. I had to fire one of my artists so I’m short staffed,” Colton explained to the man, who from the looks he was giving Colton, could care less about his explanations.
Dax leaned back in his chair. “Is that right?”
“Yes.” Colton gave the probation officer a sharp look. Vida was beginning to feel that he also was sensing that something wasn’t right.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us, Colton?”
“Dax Carter, this is Vida Bell. She’s my fiancée.” Vida looked at him in surprise. She must have been asleep when he’d proposed because she damn sure didn’t remember it.
“You don’t waste much time, do you, Colton? The ink’s barely dry on your divorce papers and you already have a new fiancée.”
“Maybe not, but they are signed and it’s legal,” Colton countered.
“Have a seat, Colton. You too, Ms. Bell,” Dax said, pulling open a folder on his desk.
“I’m glad you stopped by. I had to change your schedule, and now that you’re here, it saves me the trouble of emailing it to you.” Dax leaned forward, handing Colton a piece of paper that he picked up off his desk. Colton took it from him.
Vida began to get worried when Colton took several minutes, reading over it. She had promised she wouldn’t leave without him to find Sawyer. If his probation schedule didn’t give them enough time to get to Indiana and back, then he wouldn’t be able to go. She wouldn’t break her promise to him, which meant she could lose Sawyer forever.
“I don’t understand.” Colton’s hoarse voice drew Vida’s mind away from her worried thoughts.
“Let me explain it for you. This morning, your ex-wife went to the police with her lawyer and confessed to the crime you committed. She is now under arrest, since she is yet to be convicted, all charges against you cannot be dropped. Your lawyer, who was notified, is currently taking care of all the necessary paperwork. I should wait until this gets the judge’s approval, but I see no need for further visits pending the judge’s approval. In plain words, you’re a free man.”
“Tessa confessed?” Colton asked.
“Yes, she even included in the statement that you were under emotional duress because she was carrying your child,” Dax explained to a shaken Colton.
“I can’t believe after all this time, she confessed,” Colton said unbelievably.
“It’s her way of telling you she’s sorry,” Vida whispered, her throat tight.
“It’s a little late if you ask me. She could have saved him three years in prison,” Dax said, clearly unimpressed with Tessa’s gesture.
“It’s not too late.” Vida stood up, hugging Colton when he rose from his chair. Tessa had made it possible for them to leave town without having to worry about Colton getting in trouble for a parole violation.
Colton reached across the desk and shook his parole officer’s hand. They turned towards the door.
“Colton, if by some chance you decide to leave town and run into any difficulty, give them my card.” Colton and Vida both stopped, turning back to Dax. “I’ve been a parole officer a long time, no one shows up early for an appointment.”
“Thanks, Dax.” Vida waited for Colton to close the door behind them before throwing herself in his arms again.
“Let’s drop the keys off to Reverend then we can hit the road,” Colton said as they got on his bike.
The parole office was a twenty minute ride away from the tattoo shop.
They pulled in the lot just as the last client left.
Reverend was waiting for them inside.
“I sent Carlito home. The boy’s going to need his rest. I told him he’s working full-time until you get back.”
“He can handle it; he’s a good artist, almost as good as you at his age,” Colton complimented his friend.
Colton handed Reverend the shop keys. “Thanks, Reverend. Take care of it for me until I get back.”
“You know I will, brother. Be safe.”
“Always.” Vida laughed at the man hug they gave each other before hugging Reverend herself.
“You two better be going, not much daylight left,” Reverend warned.
Vida turned to go outside, coming to an abrupt stop.
“Uh… Colton?”
“Yeah?” Colton turned, grinning at the sight outside.
Vida followed Colton out the door. The Predators took over the whole parking lot. There were well over a hundred bikes, some even had to park on the street in front of the other businesses.
“What’s up, Ice?” Colton said, shaking Ice’s hand.
“Reverend gave me a call, telling me you’re headed out of town to find your old lady’s friend. We’ve been bored sitting on our asses lately, thought we’d tag along for the ride.”
Vida looked at the crew of rough men waiting to ride with them. “Digger couldn’t get Sawyer away from this musician because he had security. Want to bet we have better luck?” Vida joked with Colton.
“Sounds like Vida wants your help. Thanks, brother.”
Ice nodded his head.
The men all moved their bikes back into position as Vida put on her helmet and climbed onto the back of Colton’s bike. When he started his motor, backing the bike up in position, Ice moved forward to pull his bike next to Colton’s.
“You might want this to keep you warm.” Vida saw Ice hand Colton a leather jacket that looked like the one’s the other men wore.
Colton took it from him, pulling on the jacket he had taken off over three years ago.
Vida leaned forward to hear his words. “Baby, you ready for this long ride?” Vida knew he was talking about the ride to Indiana, but she was looking further down the road, to the years ahead.
“I’m ready.” Whether they got Sawyer back safely or not, Vida knew she was ready to take whatever road life had in store for Colton and her. They had each other now, and however exciting and dangerous it was, their love would survive the test of time.
Epilogue
Vida walked quickly through the strip club. Her trembling fingers tightened on the belt around her waist. Going up the staircase carefully, she didn’t want to trip in the high platform shoes she was wearing and break her neck.
The VIP room had just a few customers already being taken care of by the regular servers.
“You’re late. Your client’s been out here twice to see if you were here yet,” Henry said impassively.
“Sorry,” Vita mumbled, going for the private door. She slipped inside, closing and locking the door before taking a deep breath and turning to her client.
“I’m going to kill you for this.”
“Is that any way to talk to your client?” Colton laughed.
“If any parents from Axel and Roxi’s school recognizes me, you’re dead,” Vida threatened.
“Vida, baby, I hate to tell you this, but you’re kinda putting a damper on my fantasy, talking about the kids.” Colton leaned back against his plush chair. “It’s your own fault, promising me anything for our anniversary.”
“I didn’t think you would choose this,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Again, you’re killing my buzz. Henry even made sure there are clean sheets on the bed.”
Vida turned bright red, unable to prevent herself from looking at the huge bed against the wall.
“Come on, where’s the woman I met and fell in love with?”
Gracefully, giving in to her husband’s fantasy, Vida reached out, pressing the button by the door. The room filled with Colton and her favorite song. “Resuscitate Me.”
Loosening her belt, she unbuttoned her raincoat, showing the three piece stripper outfit she had ordered online.
“Damn woman, you look fine for a soccer mom.”
“Now you’re ruining my fantasy,” Vida reproved him.
“Come here and I’ll give you more than a fantasy,” Colton promised.
Vida started dancing to the music, edging closer to Colton at the same time that she teased him by removing the top cover of her outfit. Showing the tiny red bra and panties underneath, she leaned over him until her breasts lay against his bare chest.
“Actually, I had a different present in mind for our anniversary,” Vida said, straddling his lap.
Colton’s eyes were on her swaying breasts as she unsnapped the tiny bra, baring her breasts that had grown fuller with the birth of their children.
“I can’t imagine a better present than this,” he said, leaning forward to take a nipple between his lips, but Vida evaded him by sitting down on his lap.
“Colton.” Her shining eyes and mischievous smile brought a lump to his throat. Taking his hand in hers, she placed it against her bare stomach. “Have you heard the saying double trouble…?”
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