Serafina

I never asked Eagle how he got my email address. Not that I really care. I check the directions to the cabin again, nervous and excited that it’s Thursday. Honestly, I’m a mess. There’s a pile of shirts on my bed. White, black, pink, and every shade of blue imaginable. All colors he liked on me. I stare in the full-length mirror hanging behind my bedroom door. “You’re not Angel,” I remind myself.

That’s not even my real face staring back at me. Sure, I see hints of my old self. Especially with my color contacts out. I have brown eyes, not green. That’s not my blond hair, it’s black. My cheek bones were hollowed out and my lips changed to look fuller. And my nose? The surgeon thinned it considerably, erasing my ethnicity.

Left with no choice, every time I look in the mirror, it reminds me of why I staged my own death. So Eagle could live. So I could start over. There was no way for us to be together. The Dead Dogs, especially my brother, Bear, would’ve come after us with all their firepower. Captured me, tortured and killed Eagle. Then, likely, raped me. I shiver at the thought. Bad things happen around the Dead Dogs. Women are chattel. Old ladies get some protection, but not much. As for the passarounds, women who trade sex for favors, well, they’re treated like slaves.

That’s why I fell for Eagle, despite his MC connection. I knew the Iron Norsemen were different. They say there’s no honor among thieves. Maybe not in storybooks, but in the MC world there is. Brothers stand by brothers. Old ladies protect each other. Family isn’t dictated by blood, its chosen because of core beliefs and respect. I miss that part the most. True family.

That’s why I’m really going to see him, not just for sex, but to remember for the briefest moment what it feels like to belong with someone. And I do belong with Eagle, whether I’m Angel or Serafina, it just can’t be long-term. A tiny taste of the past will do me some good, I hope.

Finally choosing a light blue halter top, I admire the tiny black lace panties I chose to entice Eagle with. He’s a sucker for lace anything. I slip into my jeans, then put on my black leather boots. It’s a scorcher outside today, probably ninety degrees. Next, I go to the bathroom and put on my contact lenses.

My phone chimes and I check it really quick. A text from Eagle.

Leaving soon?

Just walking out the door.

Text me as soon as you get in town.

You’re already there? I type.

I left early. Drive safe.

I tuck my cell in my purse, grab my backpack and jacket, and head for the front door. Hesitating, I consider one last time whether this is the right thing to do. Should I risk everything to be with him? Can I control my emotions? Leave when the time comes without revealing my identity? If not, I need to stay here.

I’d rather quit breathing. I open the door and step into the breezeway. Always cautious, I check up and down the corridor before locking my door. It’s taken me years to get used to my new life, to a routine. I never go out alone at night. Even at work I have an escort or work with other dancers. Never go on dates. Never chat with men unless I’m at work. Only two people visit my apartment, Asia and Tony. Most people would go crazy. Not me, I’m grateful to be alive.

I walk to the parking lot and disable the alarm on my late model VW Bug. I climb in, start the engine, and lower the canvas top with a touch of a button. I’m in the mood to feel the warm summer breeze in my hair. The drive between Texarkana and Shreveport is picturesque. Filled with trees, farmland, and old southern architecture. I don’t want to miss a thing.

Traffic is heavy on the final leg of the drive. I don’t mind. Once I hit Interstate 20, it thins out. I pull over in a rest area and dial Eagle.

“Hello again, beautiful,” he greets me.

“Hi.” I’m so nervous.

“Where are you?”

“About to exit off of Highway 71.”

“Good. I want you to drive past the main entrance to the Red River National Wildlife Refuge. I’m about eight miles south. The driveway to the cabin is hard to find, so look for my bike. Okay?”

Excitement spirals through me. Hearing his voice simply isn’t enough anymore. I need to see him. “Be right there.”

Twenty minutes later, I find him leaning against his Harley on the gravel shoulder. He’s dressed all in leather, including chaps. His muscular arms are crossed over his chest. I shift into park and then turn on my emergency lights. The right thing to do is get out of my car, but my legs won’t move. Like a deer in headlights, I just sit and smile. My love for him has never faded. Everything about Eagle drives me wild. From his arrogant smirk to the way he walks.

As he approaches my car, I lower my sunglasses just enough to peek over the lenses.

“Serafina.”

“Eagle.”

He leans down and sticks his head through the opening, planting the most enticing kiss on my lips. I press my thighs together, ready to explode from the intimate contact.

“Follow me,” he directs.

I nod. “Okay.”

I wait until he gets on his bike to close my window so the AC doesn’t escape. Last thing I want to be is a sweaty, nervous mess. I turn left down the hidden driveway lined by thick trees. It seems to go on and on. But after about two miles, the property opens up. This isn’t a camp, it’s a family retreat. He gestures for me to park next to his bike and I do.

Then he opens my car door and I climb out. “This place is incredible.” I look around in awe. The front lawn is level and has a volleyball court and rock fire pit surrounded by top-of-the-line lounge chairs and handmade wood tables.

The house is rustic but comfortable looking. The front includes a covered patio and complete outdoor kitchen. The entrance opens into a spacious multi-use room. There’s framed movie posters along the wall. Two rows of leather theater seats are arranged in front of a one-hundred-inch projection screen. I eye the man-sized gun safe situated next to a full-service bar with six stools. The kitchen and dining area are on the other side of the room.

I never knew about this place. “A camp?” I ask, sure to sound sarcastic.

“Yeah,” he smiles. “Like it?”

“I’d move in tomorrow.”

He chuckles. “There’s a full bath down the hallway across from the master suite. Three bunk rooms down there.” He points. “Maybe I should have called it a hunting lodge.”

I scan the rest of the room. I missed the deer racks on the other wall. “Definitely a better description.”

“Did you bring a bag?” he asks.

“In the car.”

He nods, his blue eyes pinned to mine. “Want some coffee?”

“Please.”

“I brewed a fresh pot right before you called.”

I follow him across the room and into the kitchen, complete with stainless steel appliances and luxury cabinets. I wonder why he never mentioned this place before. He pours me a cup of coffee and I reach around him to grab the mug. Big mistake. As soon as my breasts brush against his back, he goes rigid.

“Serafina.” He spins around and tugs me into his arms.

We’re instantly lip-locked, his tongue buried deep in my mouth. I love the way he tastes. I love the way his hands wander all over my body. I also know how dangerous this all is. Just our kisses alone are enough to confuse me. To rip my bloody heart out and remind me what I was robbed of.

I explore his back with my fingernails, feeling every ripple of muscle through his clothes, detecting the tension in his body. We’re both starving for each other, and it feels so good to be touched. I tip my head sideways, staring into his cool eyes while our kiss gets more intense, our hands bolder. A dark promise glitters in his eyes, and I know if I let him fulfill it, if I open myself up to whatever gets Eagle off, I’ll never be the same.

He breaks the kiss suddenly. “If we keep doing this, Serafina, we won’t make it out the door today.”

I brush my bangs back, feeling my face flush. “I-I know.”

He picks up the mug off the counter. “Here.” He shoves it in my hands.

“Thank you.” I move around him this time, pour some half-and-half in my coffee, then add a teaspoon of sugar. “How long have you had this place?”

“Four years,” he says. “Used to belong to my father.”

He stalks to the far side of the living area and raises the blinds on three floor-to-ceiling windows. “One of the main reasons I bought the place was because of the incredible view of the Red River. My father offered the property to me first; otherwise he was going to put it on the market for twice the price I paid.”

I join him and stare out the windows. Beautiful. The house is situated in a bend of the river; old growth trees hang low along the bank. There’s a patio. “Can we go outside?”

“Sure.” He opens the glass door and gestures for me to step outside first.

A light breeze cools my face. “How much waterfront do you get?”

“Seven hundred feet. There’s a small boathouse over there.” He points and I look. “A hundred acres of virgin land.”

I smile at his choice of words. The land isn’t the only virgin in his presence. And I’m not in the mood to tell him that piece of information—it might freak him out. When we were younger he had every right to press me for sex, but Eagle always told me to wait, to make sure the man I made love with for the first time mattered. So I missed my chance with him. Survival needs wrecked any chance of having a new relationship. Up until now, I’ve relied on myself for sexual relief.

“Do you hunt?” I ask, steering my mind and body away from thinking too much about sex.

He grins at me. “Sure do.”

“What? Deer? Gator?”

“Beaver.”

I smack his chest. “Is that all you think about?”

“When you’re around?” He’s on me again and I don’t stop him.

This kiss is different, hot and mind-bending, possessive and utterly selfish. I can barely breathe. I try not to drop my mug. “E-Eagle . . .” I cut it short this time.

We’re both breathing hard and obviously horny.

“There’s deer, duck, hogs, and pretty much any other wildlife you can think of around here.”

“Do you fish?”

“Every Cajun does.”

“Is that what you are?”’

“Born and bred, cher. Want a tour of the property?”

I take an enthusiastic drink of coffee, weighing my options. Should I seduce him now, or let the frustration build up so when we finally get naked it will be explosive? Time with Eagle is important to me, too. It will make the memory that much sweeter. “Please.”

We walk back into the house and I finish off my drink and set the cup in the sink. Then he leads me outside to a large shed. He opens the barn-like door. There’s three four-wheelers parked inside. “Want to ride alone or with me?”

“With you.”

I wait as he gets one ready. A couple of minutes later, I’m sitting behind him with my arms looped around his waist.

“Hold on tight, cher,” he teases, using the Cajun term of endearment again. “I’d hate to have to peel you off the ground.”