Ride Hard, page 19
“You could say that. This girl is off limits.”
“I don’t see a property patch on her,” he grunts.
I jerk my wrist out of his hold and Roane shoves him back. “Not up for debate, Viking.”
“Easy, big guy. I’m here to see East.” I hurry past him and make my way to the bar. I look back over my shoulder and that guy Viking is staring after me. I admit he’s hot and I can see where he gets his name from with his lighter colored hair and beard that gives him the look of a warrior. Not to mention his tribal tattoos and large stature.
I’m almost to East when he turns around, gaze burning through me. He shifts and slides off the stool stumbling toward me. “You shouldn’t be here,” he snarls at me.
“You weren’t at home. I thought I’d find you here.”
“You can’t be here right now.”
“What? Why is that?”
“We should t-talk,” he slurs.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“I don’t want to talk about this here, Wylla Mae.” He shakes his head then pinches his nose.
“Discuss what, East? You’re freaking me out.” I can feel eyes on us and know we need to go somewhere private to talk.
“Upstairs, now.” His voice is so cold it slices straight through my heart. Grabbing hold of my arm he tugs me toward the stairs, and I go with him. A feeling of dread consumes me. A brick is sitting in my stomach.
In the stairwell the music fades away and Easts turns into me pushing me against the wall. “I fucked up,” he says.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’ve missed you, baby.” He leans into me, pressing his mouth to mine tasting of liquor. My stomach burns and I push against his chest.
“You’re drunk.”
“Had a rough day, but you can make it better.” His hot and cold is giving me whiplash. Those firm hands cups my ass, his torturous lips drag along my neck. It’s easy to get lost in him. To submit to his will. His kisses turn urgent almost desperate. “Need you, baby.” Sliding a hand up the back of my sweater he tries to unhook my bra.
“Stop. We need to talk. I had an interesting phone call today.”
“Fuck,” he mutters. His head drops and moisture gathers in the corners of my eyes.
“So, is it true, East?”
“What did Alexa say to you?”
“Oh. My God.” My tears break free. “It’s true,” I croak, and he doesn’t deny the accusation. I shake my head back and forth. This isn’t real. It can’t be.
“None of this was planned.” He strokes my cheek, wiping my tears as quickly as they fall, and I want to die right here on the spot. “I never wanted to tell you like this.”
“Lynn’s having your baby,” I say the words, each one cutting me deep.
“It’s not what you think.”
“Stop talking. I don’t want to hear anything else.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Okay, East. I can’t wait to hear this. Tell me what it’s like then because from where I’m standing it sounds like you got your ex-girlfriend knocked up.”
“Never loved her. Never wanted anything serious with her. She knew that. You know that. You know how I feel about you.”
“Do I? Lately, all you do is call me up to come fuck you when it’s convenient for you.”
His face sobers. “Now wait a goddamn minute. Never...not once have I treated you like an easy fuck. Don’t pull that shit with me. Not with me.”
“Because everyone knows about us, right? Everyone knows you’re my man.” I laugh humorlessly, wiping at my tears.
“Not once have I treated you like a whore.”
“East?” A female voice calls. We both turn our heads and there she is. Lynn, her belly sticking out, her hands rubbing the watermelon shaped bump. Blonde hair cut to frame her face. God I fucking hate her. “What’s she doing here? Wylla Mae, does your mother know you’re here?”
“It’s none of your business. I’m an adult.”
“I think anything involving the father of my child is my business. I’m not sure why he keeps taking care of you. It’s time for you to move on, little girl, so he can take care of his real family.” I blink and let out a huff. I don’t even know how to respond to her right now. She has no clue that he’s been with me for months. That it’s me he loves. That I’m more than likely carrying his child as well. I should tell her so I can see the look on her face but that’s not me. As much as I’d love to wipe that smug look off her face, I know I need to get out of here.
“That’s enough, Lynn. You have no business speaking for me,” East cuts in and I shake my head.
“Coward,” I mutter under my breath.
“What is it about her that has you always running, East?”
I look her and laugh. “You legitimately want to know?”
“Wylla Mae, not now,” he snaps at me.
“I’m out of here.” I go to leave and East grabs my arm, fingers biting into my skin. “Don’t touch me, East. You just lost every right. Enjoy your life with your real family.”
“Have you been fucking her?” Lynn shrieks and East lets me go. I run past her. Fuck this. Fuck Lynn and fuck Easton Reed. I hear them arguing behind me, but I can’t be here right now. I can’t listen to him try to placate her and lie about us. He said he’s my man but he’s still a coward.
Downstairs I run straight into a wall of muscle. Viking chuckles and smirks at me. “Where’s the fire?”
“I need to get out of here. Excuse me.” His arms lock around me, caging me in.
“I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
“Maybe some other time.” I gaze up into the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. They remind me of aqua sea glass.
“What’s your name?”
“Wylla Mae.”
“Wylla Mae, East is a dumbass if he had you and lost you.”
“I was the fool. I need to get going.”
“One drink.”
“Buddy, I’m barely legal and I don’t drink.”
“One dance then.”
“Not tonight.”
“One kiss then.” He grins at me and my belly clenches at the thought of kissing anyone but Easton Reed, but he’s not mine anymore. I can’t help but wonder if he ever was.
“You’re persistent, but that is a bad idea.”
“Phone number then? Come on, sweetheart, you’re killing me here. You’re beautiful.”
“No way. My momma told me all about motorcycle men. I gotta go, but it was nice to meet you.”
“At least let me walk you out. It isn’t safe for such a pretty lady to be on her own.”
“Fine. You can walk me to my jeep.”
Viking drops his arms from my sides but leaves one at my lower back, guiding me toward the exit. Some club bunny shoots me a dirty look.
“I’ve got her from here,” I hear East growling. For three whole minutes Viking had managed to get my mind off my fucked-up situation.
“You good to go with him?” Viking asks and I can sense he’s sincere.
“Yeah. Thanks anyway. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”
“Like hell you will.” East grabs my arm and shoves me out the door and into the parking lot. “The hell you think you’re doing?”
“Does it matter? You obviously have new plans for the holiday.”
“I can’t do this with you right now, Wylla Mae.”
“Can’t what? Tell me that you’re going to be a father and that you gotta do what’s right. I know you, Easton Reed. You’re a decent man. Probably the best I’ll ever have known, but we both know how this ends. You’ll go running back to Lynn like you always have and you’ll make her your Old Lady because that’s who you are.”
“Baby.” His arms come around me and I don’t push him away. I need him to tell me I’m wrong. That he chooses me like I always dreamed he would. “I need time to process this shit. Nothing has changed between us.”
“Everything has changed. She’s having your baby. Where are you sleeping tonight, East?”
“Next to you. I told Lynn the truth. Told her that I’m with you, Wylla Mae.”
I swallow. “You told her about us?” I stare at him, seeing the welts forming on his cheek. “She smacked you.” I stroke his jaw unable to keep from touching him.
“I’m your man. You’re my Lady. Don’t give a fuck what anyone else has to say about it.”
“What if I were pregnant too, East? What if that’s why I came here tonight?”
“You know how I feel about that. Timing would be bad, but I’d be happy.”
I nod. Now isn’t the time for me to hit him with the possibility that I could be pregnant. “So now what?”
“You’re gonna drive us home. And I’m going to spend the rest of the night reminding you how perfect we are together.”
“East...”
“Don’t use this as an excuse to give up on me.”
“I don’t know how to be okay with any of this. I can’t just push the thought of her having your baby aside. I can’t forget it. I saw her. She’s obviously heavily pregnant.”
“I wish she wasn’t. I’d take it back if I could. But I can’t.”
“No, you can’t, but you also can’t expect me to just roll over on this.”
“Shit won’t always be easy, Lady, but I promise you, I’ll never make you fuckin’ question where you stand with me. You’re everything to me. Don’t you ever forget that. But when are you gonna tell Alexa the truth? How long you gonna hide me? You call me a coward but you’re the one that’s scared. I love you, Wylla Mae. You have me. I’m all in with you. Are you with me? You ready to tell your mom the truth?”
“That’s different.”
“No, it’s not. Either I’m your man or I’m not. So, what’s it going to be?”
“You’re having a baby with another woman, East...”
“There’s a possibility of it, but it changes nothing. None of that changes the way I feel about you.”
“I can’t share you with her. I hate her and maybe I hate her baby too.”
“Don’t be a brat.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “A brat. You’re calling me a brat right now. How am I supposed to react? Am I supposed to be happy? Is it supposed to make me feel marvelous that another woman is giving you what you want?”
“Fuck no. I want you to be pissed. You feel whatever you need to, you just don’t leave me because of it. It’s you and me, baby. No one else. You. And. Me.”
“I don’t know if I can handle this. I’m not strong enough to accept another woman’s child, East.”
“C’mere,” he grits through his teeth.
“You’re drunk. How am I to know you mean what you’re saying?”
East grabs my hips and pulls me flush against his front. Lacing his fingers with mine he says, “Because you feel me in every fiber of your being. I’m in you, Wylla Mae. I possess every fucking cell...every goddamned inch of you. Baby, you’re in me too. You always have been.”
“I’m scared.”
“When you’re in my arms you never have to worry.”
“And when I’m not?”
“I’m always right here.” East’s splays his big hand over my heart. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter 17
I drive to East’s cabin. A road I’ve travelled so many times. My mind is racing. Lynn is pregnant with his child and he still chose me. She can give him things I’m not ready for. I love him but are we doing the right thing? I call him a coward, but the reality is I’m terrified to tell my mother the truth about us. I’m not ashamed, but I don’t want to hurt her.
And this—my being with East...it will devastate her. I know it and he knows it. But I love him. I love him so much sometimes I can scarcely breathe. I’m tired of the lies and the sneaking around. East is right. If we’re going to continue to be together then it’s time we tell the truth and step out as a couple. No more secrets. I put the jeep in park and use the door key on my keyring to unlock the house. I no more as get through the door and my man has his hands on me tearing at my clothes.
“Don’t you ever think of leaving me, baby. I need you. You’re my everything,” he grits in my ear, teeth sinking into the shell and nibbling me there. One hand is up my sweater and the other down the front of my pants. Rough and greedy his touch sends electric sparks through me.
“East...we still need to talk about everything.”
“We can talk tomorrow when we’re on the road for five hours.”
“We’re still going?”
“Told you that nothing has changed between you and me.” Thrusting a finger in me he growls, “Now hush and let me take care of you.” I let out a gasp. “Pussy so tight. So wet for your man.”
East continues working his finger inside me, testing my limits. I feel his erection pressing into my backside. My head lolls on his shoulder and I surrender to passion. I give in to my man. Despite my hurt, I can’t deny him. I don’t want to. Lynn and her pregnancy is a problem for future me. Right now, I want East to make love me like only he can.
“Fuck, you feel so good.” His voice is dark and raspy.
“East,” I pant. I’m so close to reaching my release. My insides tighten. My pussy is on the verge of detonation. Only my biker knows what button to press to set me off. Curling his finger inside me he hits the spot. I let go and shatter around him. His lips find mine hungry and desperate for all that he is. Desperate for his love. I turn into him and lift his shirt over his head. I can’t help but smile when I see the sunflower tatted on his chest for me. I press my lips there. I know he loves me. My name is inked on one of the petals.
My sweater and leggings are next to go along with my shoes. I unbutton his jeans and he kicks off his boots. East is a beautiful sight. Naked, muscled, and tattooed for my pleasure. His gaze moves over me, taking me in. “I’m so damn lucky. I don’t deserve you, baby, but fuck if I’m not selfish enough to keep you.” Gathering the sides of my string bikini bottoms, he pulls the strings up high on my hips. “Prettiest pussy too.” He smirks, tightening his hold. The fabric presses into my sensitive skin along with his thumb. “Think I’ll have Roane tattoo my name right here.” He sweeps his finger over the shaved skin of my pelvis.
“You’re crazy.”
“Crazy about you, Wylla Mae.” Hands on my hips he lifts me. I hook my legs around his waist and cradle his neck. East carries me to bed and spends the rest of the night delivering on his promise to remind me how great we are together.
How perfectly we fit.
How deep his love for me flows.
**
“East...this cabin is amazing.” I glance around the cozy one-bedroom rental that we’ll call home for the next three days. It’s perfect. The living room and kitchen are open and then there’s the bedroom and bathroom. The décor is rustic and homey. The back-deck houses a hot tub with a gorgeous view of the Smokey Mountains. I did most of the driving while East slept. He was still hung over from last night. We still haven’t resolved anything where Lynn is concerned, I haven’t taken my test yet. I’m not ready to face any of it yet. Maybe that’s foolish but I just want to enjoy this trip with no consequences or having to worry about the future. I want to live in the now.
“Glad you like it.” He shuffles past me carrying our luggage to the bedroom.
“It’s perfect.” Just East, me, and the mountains.
There’s a fresh bouquet of colorful wildflowers, champagne in a bucket of ice, and a card on the center of the kitchen table that reads: Congrats, Newlyweds.
I read the card twice. Newlyweds.
East approaches me. “Whatcha’ got there?”
I hold the card up, arching a brow. He takes the card and grins. “Looks like they delivered early.”
“Um...correct me here if I’m wrong but that card implies that we’re married.”
East says nothing. He just takes the champagne and places it in the fridge.
“So, yeah. What’s that all about?” I press.
“Nothing. I guess I ordered the honeymoon package.”
“You guess, huh?”
“Go change. I wanna soak in the hot tub with you.”
“Won’t it be cold?”
“They call it hot for a reason.” He chuckles and slaps my ass. “Go change.”
“Whatever.” I roll my eyes and go to grab my bathing suit from my bag. I packed a hot pink string bikini. Pulling off my clothes, I toss my dirty stuff on the chair that sits under the bedroom window. I’m bent over sliding my bottoms up my legs when East walks in and lets out an ear-piercing whistle.
“We could just go naked.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Fuck yeah. Nothing better than the sight of you buck naked.”
I shake my head and finish changing. East discards his clothes and puts on a pair of dark grey and black swim trunks.
I grab the champagne and the flutes while he maneuvers the cover off the hot tub and makes sure it’s working properly. We settle into the hot tub, the warm water feeling great and East’s hands on me are even better. I pour us both a glass of the champagne not caring much for the taste but I’m in the mood to catch a buzz.
“Slow down, or you’re gonna be wasted in no time.”
I snort. I’ve never been full blown drunk before but after three glasses I am experiencing the effects. Moving to East’s lap, I straddle him, pressing my breasts into his chest. His arms circle around me, fingers skipping up my back and undoing the strings on my top. I grind over his crotch, seeking the friction only he can provide me. Our mouths connect, tongues dancing, lips moving, deep and wet. Nothing compares to this. To being here with the man I love in our sanctuary. Holding me close, he makes sure I know I’m safe with him. I am so in love with him that I don’t know if I can ever give him up. I’m addicted to Easton Reed.
“Let’s take this to bed.” His words die on my lips because I’m kissing him again. East carries me to bed, neither of us caring that we’re wet. He unties my bottoms and spreads my thighs, parting my pussy lips. East kisses me there, soft and sweet. Taking his time, he fondles my clit and I’m not sure how long I can hold on. I need him inside me. Gazing up at me with adoration and pure love my man thrusts two fingers in my silken heat, stretching me and teasing me to the brink of no return. I’d give him anything right now. I’d do anything to be promised forever with him.
