by VR Baucke
TWENTY-SEVEN
GAGE
I STAYED THE entire night, uninterrupted, at Lil’s. The more I consumed her, the more I craved.
It was as she lay asleep in my arms, still holding me tight in her sleep, that the nagging voice in my head reminded me that I needed to make a major decision; one that would lead me back to The Bay for a short while. I had apologies and goodbyes to make.
After internally debating back and forth, my head finally caught up to where my heart was, recognising that the time had come to put my past respectfully to the side so I could wholeheartedly move forward with Lil. Never in a thousand years did I think for a second that I would ever consider a future with another woman. Not when Lotte would always own a large portion of my heart.
Lately I had discovered that love changes as time passes, but it would never be forgotten.
Lil’s scent brought me back to the present as she snuggled closer. I was still fuming inside over what she had me agreeing to do. I still couldn’t believe that my judgement had been so clouded that I had agreed in the first place. There was no way in hell I was caving. No fucking way.
On the flip side, Lil’s spontaneity and enthusiasm were parts that I loved about her. As infuriating as it was, it was refreshing in the most unexpected way.
The thing that miffed me the most was that I usually never let people talk me into things I was dead against. I don’t know how Lil did it. The profound affection and fondness I felt for Lil had me by the balls. Those feelings weren’t going to go away; they were real and growing stronger each day.
I slowly peeled myself up to peer at the clock on her nightstand. Just after six a.m. It was too goddamn early on a Sunday morning to be awake.
Lil turned in her sleep once I settled on my side and buried her face into my chest. Her legs intertwined with mine in an effortless move to have as much skin contact as possible.
God it felt good to have a woman in my arms again. One that I wanted. Craved. And, dare I say it, needed.
A tickling sensation on my nipple made me startle then smile. I linked our fingers together then slit one eye open. Lil’s big morning eyes looked back at me. I lazily set my fingers above her eyes then dragged them downwards, closing her lids with my touch.
“Not gonna lie, it’s fucking creepy you watching me while I sleep. And since when are you such a morning person?”
She turned her smile on me. “Since I got laid last night.”
I sniggered and rolled close, setting my chin on her stomach. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“So, have you reconsidered?”
I groaned loudly. I was kidding myself in hoping that overnight she would have developed amnesia of our bet.
“I knew I should have slipped you some roofies last night,” I joked then hummed when she pulled me on top of her. “Now this is more like it.”
Her fingers danced their way up and down my back.
“Answer’s still no, Lil.”
Her hand slipped lower, teasing me without touching my dick. “Still, shall we get up and go for an early ride together?”
“And how is this going to get me out of bed earlier?” I demanded.
Lil gave me a hefty shove off her body then moved to the edge of her bed. Lying on my back and watching her stand up, I bit back a frustrated growl at seeing her bare skin but no longer feeling it against mine.
A pair of underwear sailed over her shoulder and landed beside me.
“Get your ass dressed.”
I scoffed. “Jesus, you’re relentless.”
“Would you prefer me meek?”
“Fuck no. Where’s the fun in that.”
“Exactly,” Lil sassed over her shoulder.
Her eyes dropped to my dick where it let the world know just how much it appreciated her naked body. She walked across the room without taking her eyes off it.
“For once you’re lost for words,” I smirked.
Her eyes snapped to mine and a blush slammed onto her cheeks. She turned away, muttering about clothes, but came up woefully empty handed aside from a scrap of cloth hanging from her finger.
“You owe me new underwear since you hulked out and ripped these last night.”
The dark blue scrap of lace was tossed in my direction where I plucked it from mid-air.
“Babe, if I get to rip them off you every time, I will buy you a truck load of every kind of sexy underwear known to mankind.”
“Well that’s, reassuring, I guess...” Lil’s eye roll turned into a look of blatant shock as I picked up my jeans.
“Did you just pocket my worn underwear?”
I didn’t bother hiding my devilish grin. “Fuck yeah I did.”
“That’s just creepy.”
I stalked towards her and pulled her body flush with mine, letting my fingers roam over her back and ass.
“Still want to go for a ride?”
“Yes! Stop distracting me, Batman!”
Lil went to her wardrobe in a hurry to find her gear while I pulled on my jeans. Her wearing clothes didn’t help ease my throbbing erection that I strategically adjusted while doing up the zipper.
We ate breakfast at breakneck speed—purely at Lil’s insistence after I insisted that we actually eat in the first place. Before I could do a quick security check, she swung the back door open and headed outside. My lecture about complacency dissipated off the tip of my tongue when I glanced over her shoulder at my motorbike.
“Are you fucking serious!” I roared and shoved past her.
“Ouch, batman, what the hell?”
I crossed the lawn in a matter of split seconds and smoothed my hand over the huge gouge that ran the entire length of Moira’s gas tank.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. The more I examined the damage, the more my vision clouded with anger so fierce I wanted to punch the fuck out of something.
Lil came to my side and gasped. “Someone keyed your bike? What the fuck!”
I couldn’t answer, I was too busy tearing at my hair and eyeballing the deep scratch, as if glaring hard enough would magically make it disappear. To say I was livid didn’t even cut it. I was fucking ropable to the point if I ever laid hands on the asshole who did it, it would be to squeeze the ever-loving life out of them. There were two things you didn’t fuck with; one was a man’s missus, and the other was his ride.
Mickey’s footsteps stomped across the deck.
“Mate!” he yelled then clapped eyes on the damage. “Jesus fucking Christ.”
“When did you get home?” I demanded.
He held up his palms. “Early hours. No one was out here; I had a look around to make sure.”
Mickey and Lil shared a look that I didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what was said. The random shit that kept happening over the last few weeks was beginning to increase.
“Fuck, a custom paint job isn’t cheap, mate.”
“You think I don’t know that already?” I roared, my attention back on the damage.
“I’ll ask Trav to hook you up with a guy he knows; he owes me big time after the other weekend,” Mickey dead-panned.
I would have chuckled at the memory of them getting locked up if I wasn’t sickened to the pit of my stomach.
“Poor Moira,” Lil muttered.
“Who the hell is Moira?” Mickey exclaimed, eyes wild.
I scoffed a humourless laugh as Lil explained. As soon as my eyes hit the damage again, I wanted to fucking cry!
“So, what did you get up to last night?” I asked Mickey in an attempt to take my mind off what was killing me more with each passing second.
“None of your business. And, by the way, why is there a pair of Lil’s shorts on the stairs?” He shot me a dirty look.
“I need to call Kimmie,” Lil mumbled.
Mickey stiffened and his eyes flared briefly before he composed his face to appear carefully nonchalant. Lil didn’t notice the flash of alarm; her attention was still on the motherfucking scratch, but I sure as hel
l noticed.
“Er, why?” Mickey asked suspiciously.
I smirked at him, wondering whether his odd behaviour at the mention of Kimmie had something to do with where he was last night. And he knew what I was thinking too by the ‘shut your mouth’ glare he aimed my way.
“Because,” Lil emphasised her exasperation. “Kimmie and I are meant to be going shopping this afternoon.”
Mickey paled a shade. He was a big dude but right now he was shuffling like a nervous teenager. His demeanour changed instantly when he saw me grinning despite my inner turmoil. Mickey’s eyes narrowed on me and his jaw clenched. I knew that look and I understood it completely; the instinctual need to defend thy sister’s honour was strong for any brother. And I also knew the type of comment that would drive any brother batshit crazy.
“We fucked,” I mouthed and my smirk grew. Holding up three fingers where Lil couldn’t see, I continued our soundless conversation. “Three times.”
Mickey pressed his lips together as his nostrils flared again. I had hit right on the nerve. He threaded both hands through his hair, no doubt trying to erase the vision from his mind. There was no denying that I found it bloody hilarious being on the giving end instead of the receiving end.
“Goddammit, Lil!”
“What!” She jumped at the sudden shout from Mickey. “Jeez, you obviously didn’t get laid last night, you’re in a right ass of a mood.”
“Or maybe he did and that’s why he’s...”
Lil savagely interrupted me. “Whatever! Josh, go ring Trav. She stepped up and squeezed my forearm. “You ready to go?”
Mickey’s voice cut through the early morning air. “You’re not letting her ride, are you?”
“No!” I growled over a muttered complaint coming from Lil’s mouth.
“Break her and I’ll break you, you know that, aye?”
I turned and met his challenge. “Mickey, I have three sisters, I know exactly what you mean.”
He gave me a quick nod. As rocky as our ‘friendship’—or whatever our relationship could be called—that was one part of the guy code that we both understood loud and clear. Our man to man conversation ended with Lil rolling her eyes and stepping closer to Mickey.
“I think we need to let Dad know about this.” She didn’t sound happy, and he didn’t look happy.
“I know,” Mickey murmured. “Fuck, I seriously can’t deal with this today.”
“First things’ first; get Trav to ring me after you’ve called in your favour,” Lil called over her shoulder as she led me towards my ride.
I swung a leg over Moira then winked at Lil before she climbed on. The bone deep rumbling thrummed through my body as soon as I hit the start switch. It served to take the edge off my anger over the gouge across the tank.
Once Lil was settled, I did a circuit of the backyard while Mickey stood with his arms folded over his chest, glaring.
Life lit within my soul when we peeled out onto the street. The exhilarating speed combined with the woman I wanted sitting behind me made me one smug son of a bitch.
TWENTY-EIGHT
LIL
AFTER A FULL-ON day at work tending to injured and sick people, I desperately sought the relaxation that could only be achieved by lounging on the couch while watching a movie. My phone ringing caused me to jump a little. Saying that I’d been edgy over the last couple of days was an understatement. At work it was fine, but as soon as I was home alone, the paranoia crept in.
Pressing a hand to my chest, I answered breathlessly.
“Hey, Trav. Wassup.”
“Hey yol, Lil. Mickey said something about Gage’s bike getting keyed? What the fuck?”
I sighed and turned the TV volume down. “Tell me about it. Mickey’s on night’s this week and I’m jumping at every little sound.”
“Just say the word and I’ll come hang out. But only if you make cookies,” he added, munching on something while speaking.
I scoffed. “That’ll be the day. You go through a whole freaking batch at once! You’re a pig, Trav.”
He munched more in my ear before he deadpanned, “I’m frowning at you right now.”
A smile appeared on my mouth. “Well, if you bring me those M&M’s you still owe me, I might think about getting my bake on.”
“Deal. Hey, I actually rang because I’ve got a contact for you to pass onto your personal magic stick.” There was an obvious grin in his voice.
“Travis! That’s none of your business. And just message me the deets.”
More munching then the sound of drinking graced my ears. I rolled my eyes as I waited impatiently.
“Keep your panties on, if you’re wearing any,” Trav chuckled.
“Yes, because I sit around at home, by myself, and enjoy being naked from the waist down,” I sassed.
Trav shouted a laugh. “Whatever floats your boat. Just make sure you’ve got the curtains closed. Seriously though, this guy is the best in the biz for custom paint jobs. His name is Connor, and just a heads up, he’s a little rough around the edges but he knows his shit, okay.”
“Okay, as long as he’s not dodgy…”
Trav hummed as he swallowed. “He’s done time, right, but he’s all good now. He’s the only guy I trust not to stuff up my paint jobs.”
“Well, if he’s up to your standards then he must be good.”
“He is. It’s all about who you know, baby.”
I giggled as I listened to the fridge at Trav’s house whoosh open then a bottle clink.
“I’m surprised you aren’t at the garage still.”
“Hit a snag,” Trav replied simply. “I know it’s gonna take years to restore her, but I want it done now, you know what I mean?”
Trav bought a Chevrolet Impala a couple of years ago with grand plans to restore it to its former glory. Obviously, that task was no mean feat.
“Sure do.”
“Just messaged through Connor’s contact details. Get Gage to ring him asap—he’s a busy man but I’ve given him a heads up to expect a call from Gage.”
My phone beeped.
“Thanks, Trav, you’re awesome and you know it!”
I meant it too. If there was anything needing fixed or people needing contacted, Trav was our man.
He chuckled. “Damn right I know it. And anytime, Lil. I’ll catch ya later.”
I signed off then opened his message.
No matter how shit the situation was, Trav was always the one to add a joke to take the heat off. His looking on the bright side approach to life always made him a joy to be around. There hadn’t yet been a situation that he couldn’t handle.
I read through the information in Trav’s text then realised my hands had turned sweaty at the thought of calling Gage.
My finger hovered over his name for what seemed like minutes. Finally deciding I was being stupid, I stabbed the connect button and waited.
“Sunshine,” Gage answered my call as I pleaded with my heart to calm down and give me back my breath.
“H-” I had to stop and clear my throat. “Hey. I um...”
Completely thrown by his voice, all rational thought left my brain as I rallied to pull myself together.
His low chuckling came through the phone. “Are we doing phone sex, because I need to move if we are.”
I choked, literally choked, at his question then blushed furiously when I heard Mace crack out a laugh in the background.
“No, that’s not why I’m calling! I’ve got a contact from Trav to sort out Moira.”
“It’s not Moira.”
“It is.”
Before Gage could complain again, I relayed the information from Trav about Connor but assured him he was all above board, according to Trav. Gage didn’t say much afterwards and I knew he was spewing about what had happened. Hell, I was and it wasn’t even my bike!
“So…?”
“So, what?” Gage drawled.
“You gonna let me ride Moira?”
He cur
sed under his breath which ended in what sounded like a growl. I heard Mace ask what his problem was and I stayed quiet as they had a quick conversation.
“Lil,” he explained to Mace.
Mace laughed. “Told you, mate.”
“Fuck you.”
“Hey! I’m still here you realise!” I yelled into the phone then heard Mace laugh a second time.
Gage’s voice was low when he replied after a few beats of silence.
“Look, Lil, you’re not riding my bike. End of.”
“Why?” I challenged, irritated that he was still holding back from me.
He huffed then spoke quietly. “It’s complicated.”
“Try me.”
“You’re just gonna have to take my word for it.”
I scoffed, hating that he was fobbing me off without an explanation. “Will I?”
“Yeah, you will,” he countered, easily matching my stubbornness.
With a deep sigh, I pushed down the frustration. “It’s been a crazy long day, Gage. I need to go. Goodbye, Batman.”
I cut off his reply and tossed my phone onto the couch.
Sure, I could be headstrong when I wanted to be, and I know it annoyed the shit out of Mickey, but the thing was, up until now I was reasonably unchallenged. Gage was the only one who seriously tested my sanity.
Now completely uninterested in the movie, I clicked it off, messaged Gage Connor’s contact details, double checked all the doors and windows downstairs, then made my way upstairs to run a bath. I started nights tomorrow and had to make the most of the uninterrupted bathroom time while Mickey was on shift.
TWENTY-NINE
GAGE
I FINISHED SAYING goodbye to the dial tone after Lil disconnected. Agitated by her dismissal, I chucked my phone on the coffee table and glared at it.
Sniggering came from my left. Turning my glare his way, Mace’s wide grin instantly pissed me off.
“What?” I snapped.
Mace chortled through his explanation. “She won’t back down, mate. Prepare yourself, because once Lil’s mind is set to something, she’s bloody relentless. And I’m going to go ahead and assume that you’ve had at it already, so that means you’ve already made the decision to commit to her.”
