Back on Echo’s bike, we ride down the highway and out of the city. Sleek high-rise buildings are replaced with tall green trees framed by a cloudless blue sky. Riding past a sign for Zilker Park, we cruise along, eventually pulling into a parking lot. Echo kills the engine and motions for me to climb off. He follows suit and pulls a bag from a saddlebag I’d never noticed before. Slinging his arm across my shoulder, he leads me across the lot.
“Where are we?” I ask.
Echo pulls me closer with a smirk and says, “This is Zilker Park, sugar, home to one of Austin’s crown jewels… Barton Springs.”
I start to question him, but then I see the water. Still, clear water, shimmering as far as I can see. Excited, I turn to him and smile brightly. “It’s so beautiful. I’ve never even heard of this place.”
Winking, he lifts his arm from my shoulder and grabs my hand. “Come on, let’s go for a swim.”
I drag my eyes from the water and look at Echo. “I haven’t got a bikini or anything with me.”
He lifts the bag he’s carrying into the air and shakes it. “All sorted, come on.”
Pulling me across the lot, Echo pays our entrance, and we separate at the changing area. I open the bag Echo handed me and find a red bikini and a folded microfibre towel. Quickly stripping, I pull on the skimpy red fabric, placing my clothes and towel in a locker.
I step out of the changing room and self-consciously tug at the strings of the bikini. I finally force my hands to my sides, lift my head, and gasp at the sight in front of me. Echo’s in loose board shorts, his tattooed torso broad and delicious. He’s leaning against a barrier with his legs crossed at the ankle. He’s the picture of relaxed, sexy man. When he notices me, he smiles widely and strides towards me.
His fingers reach for me, and he lifts me into the air, kissing me passionately. “Fuck, sugar, letting you out in public in that bikini might be a fucking mistake. You look edible and so fucking gorgeous.” He kisses me again before placing me back on the floor. Gripping my chin, he tips my face up to look at his. “I’m a fucking lucky son of a bitch that you’re mine.”
The heavy weight of his arm rests over my shoulder, and he leads me across the grass towards the water. He winks mischievously then dips down, sweeping his arm under my knees and scooping me into the air. I wrap my arms around his neck, giggling as he spins in a circle.
“You ready to get wet?” he asks.
Before I get a chance to speak, he rushes to the edge of the pool and steps off. We plunge into the cool water. I surge to the surface, coughing and spluttering. “Echo, you arsehole!” I shout as I spin from side to side, searching for him. He’s nowhere to be seen. “Echo,” I shout for him, spotting him beneath the water just as his large hand wraps around my ankle and pulls me under again.
As I break the surface, I open my eyes and look straight into Echo’s. He’s treading water in front of me. His mischievous eyes twinkle, and I laugh at his carefree expression. I launch myself at him, throwing all of my weight on his shoulders and forcing him under the water.
He pops straight back to the surface, and biting my lip, I dive under the water and swim away from him as fast as I can. I hear his deep, gravelly laugh seconds before he grabs my leg and hauls me backwards. “Ah, ah, ah, sugar. I caught you, no escaping now,” he says playfully.
Holding me against his chest, he dips his head to kiss me, his lips briefly touching mine. Then he releases me, splashing me with water. I laugh and chase after him as he swims away. We play in the water for an hour, chasing, splashing, and swimming like kids.
When we finally clamber out of the water, I collapse on the grassy bank, the balmy air quickly starting to dry my skin. Echo lays down next to me, sliding his arm beneath my head and urging me to rest against his chest.
“This place is amazing, Echo. Thank you for bringing me here.”
His fingers run through my wet hair. “You’re welcome, sugar. I haven’t been here in years, but I figured you should see some of Austin’s highlights.”
I roll into him and stroke his chest. “Where did you grow up…, Foster?”
Echo stills beneath me, and I feel his chest rise as he pulls in a deep breath. “Please don’t call me that. I fucking hate it. The only person to call me Foster was my mama, and she always said it with so much fucking disappointment in her voice.”
“Why would she be disappointed?”
Echo pulls me tighter into him, like he needs to feel me as close as possible. “We’re an army family, that’s what we do. I left. She never forgave me. The last time I saw her, she told me I was a disgrace to the family name.”
Outraged, I sit up. “That’s ridiculous! You were in the army, you served your country. She should be proud of your service, not petty about you leaving.”
Echo reaches for my face, his fingertip stroking my cheek. “It’s okay, sugar, her opinion stopped meaning anything to me a long time ago. I’m happy with my life and my choices. I love being a Sinner. The club and my brothers are my life, and now I have you.”
I drop my eyes and try to back away from Echo, but he stops me and lifts my chin to look at him. “I’m never gonna want to give you up. We’ll figure out a way for you to stay. I promise.”
I don’t get a chance to respond before he kisses me. His lips dominate mine, and I melt into him. Echo ends the kiss, and breathless and panting, I open my eyes and stare into his. He touches my kiss-swollen lips with his thumb and smiles. “Come on, I still have some business to take care of before we go home.”
By the time we’re back on the bike, the sun’s started to set, the sky a multicoloured painting, and I suddenly start to appreciate the freedom of this way of life. Wind rushes past us, and life’s happening all around us, yet it feels like we’re floating along in a bubble.
We pull off the main road and head into a small town, stopping outside a dodgy-looking tattoo shop. Echo kills the engine, lifting me off his bike and removing my helmet. “Come on, sugar, I want to introduce you to someone.”
When he pushes open the door, a bell dings and a muffled voice shouts from the back, “I’ll be with you in one minute.”
A red velvet sofa sits under the window, with a large reception desk commanding most of the space. The walls are decorated with framed tattoo designs. Dime-a-dozen butterflies and flowers sit next to incredible works of art so intricate I want to walk across the room to study them. Echo sits, pulling me into his lap and nuzzling his warm lips into my neck.
A tall, skinny guy wanders from the back of the shop, removing a pair of latex gloves. His eyes scan my face indifferently. When he spots Echo, he breaks into a huge grin. “Echo, brother, how the fuck are you?” I’m shocked by his lilting Irish accent.
Echo nudges my leg, and I stand, moving out of his embrace. He strokes my shoulder affectionately as he moves past me and strides over to the guy, embracing him in a tight hug and thumping his back loudly. “Park, long time no see. When did you get back?” Echo says happily.
Park’s tall with bright pink hair styled into a messy mohawk. He’s wearing Converse with tight jeans and a vintage Nirvana T-shirt, and all the skin I can see is covered in tattoos from his ears to the tips of his fingers. His Sinners cut matches Echo’s, but instead of pristine black leather his is distressed and embellished with studs and graffiti-style letters spelling out Park on the front.
“Not long, brother, just a couple of days ago. It’s fucking good to be back,” Park says.
“Livvy, come here, baby, I want you to meet Park. This fucker’s done all of my tats. The bastard is a fucking genius,” Echo says.
I smile and walk forward, offering my hand in greeting. “Hi Park, it’s nice to meet you.”
I have to tip my head back to look at his face, and he seems surprised by my obvious accent. “Well hello, sweetheart, is that an English accent I hear?” Park says.
I giggle. “It is. You don’t sound so Texan yourself.”
Park takes my hand and kisses the back of it with a flourish. “And what’s your name, sweetheart?” he says flirtatiously.
I smile at him. “I’m Olivia, but you can call me Liv. I bet the American girls lap up all that Irish charm, don’t they?”
A cocky smile covers his face. “They love it. But it usually works just as well on English girlies too.”
A loud laugh bursts from me. “I think I’m immune.”
Park smiles indulgently, then leans in and raises his eyebrows in question. “And why’s that?”
“Because she’s mine.” Echo looms behind me ominously, his body inches away from mine. My eyes roll at his caveman behaviour, seconds before his strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me close. Park’s eyes widen in shock, flitting back and forth between me and Echo.
“Park, I want you to meet Livvy, my old lady,” Echo says, his voice a possessive growl.
Park’s jaw drops, his mouth gaping in shock. “Fuck off. You’re joking. You with an old lady?”
Echo nods, smiling broadly. Park’s eyes fall to me again, and his eyes narrow suspiciously. “Well, sweetheart, you must be a special kind of special to have pinned this one down.” His tone’s intentionally insulting, and I open my mouth to respond, but Echo cuts me off.
“Party tonight, brother?”
Park’s attention turns from me to Echo, his concerned expression morphing into an easy smile. “Hell yes. It’s been too long since I’ve had me any club pussy.”
The men chat easily about the club and the other brothers, and I zone out. Warm lips touch my temple, pulling me from my daydream. “Sugar, stay here with Park. I’ve got some business to take care of in the back,” Echo murmurs.
I nod and Echo disappears into the private rooms behind the reception desk. I awkwardly fidget with the hem of my dress, and Park glares at me menacingly as the clock ticks loudly in the uncomfortable silence. My eyes scan the room, and then I turn and walk to the sofa, sinking down into it while Park perches on the desk.
Finally breaking the silence, Park clears his throat. “So, er, what brought you to the US?”
Relieved, I blurt, “Okay, small talk, I can totally do this. I’m travelling, spending six months seeing as much of my American bucket list as I can.”
Nodding thoughtfully, he smiles knowingly. “And when do you go home?”
I blow out a sigh and force a small smile onto my lips. “Ahhhh, so that’s what this is about. I’ve got eleven weeks left.”
Park jumps up to sit fully on the shop counter, his long legs dangling over the edge. “In the club, him calling you his old lady is like him calling you his wife, you know that right?”
The air leaves my lungs on a shocked exhale. “Wow wife. I knew it meant I was his, but he never mentioned wife,” I say, panicked.
Park glares at me expectantly and says, “Does he know you’re leaving?”
I smile sadly. “Yeah, he knows, but he’s not exactly taking any notice.”
His accusing stare melts into a sympathetic one. “He’s not gonna let you go. You know that, don’t you, girlie?”
Sighing, I scrub my hands over my face. “I’m not sure what you want me to say. He’s not going to have a choice. My flight’s booked.”
Park’s eyes widen and a mocking chuckle rumbles from him. “Oh fuck,” he says. I raise my eyebrows, and nod in agreement.