I don’t know how it happened, but Skylar and I settled into a comfortable rhythm once we caught up to my brothers. The first five hours of the ride, she alternated between sitting back against the bitch bar with her hands on my shoulder, and leaning forward, so her body was pressed against my back.
When I felt like I was getting too closed in, having her body so close to mine, I would tap her leg, and she would instantly give me the space I needed to get my head together again.
Even then, I found that the more I felt her there, the longer I was able to go without feeling like I was being suffocated. I even started to maybe enjoy having her body pressed against mine, warming me, relying on me to get us to where we were going.
It almost felt fucking good to have her there.
We were a little over halfway through our trip when Optimus pulled off the side of the road and into the parking lot of some middle of nowhere truck stop diner that looked like it hadn’t been renovated since the sixties. The loud chorus of bikes changing down gears as we pulled in, drew the attention of every person in the place and surrounding as they all peered out the window. Some looked at us with wide, nervous eyes, while others took a glance and dismissed our presence.
The place was surprisingly busy, so I figured they might at least have some good food, my stomach aching for a damn burger or something to get us through the next few hours.
As I backed my bike in, I saw some of the brothers climb off, rolling their shoulders and stretching their necks. The girls who had come along all looked like they’d gone five rounds with a cock the size of my thigh as they walked bow legged toward the diner doors.
My body felt fine, though. I was used to the long distance type of riding. Though I hadn’t done it in a long time since I settled over the last six months in Athens. Before that, I’d been classed as a Nomad—traveling where and when I was needed. Sometimes for days on end.
It was my happy place you could say, not that I’d ever say that shit out loud.
I needed the freedom that riding free brought. I was like a caged animal who’d been set free. I never wanted to go back to that place where I felt trapped again like I had the day we lost our team. If I kept moving I couldn’t be caught, I couldn’t be held down.
Skylar used my shoulder to boost herself off the bike as I switched the engine off. Once she was down, I flipped out the kickstand and propped the bike up so I could do the same.
I watched her out of the corner of my eye as she stretched her limbs, shaking them out one at a time and pulling off her backpack. I could tell her shoulders were aching by the way she rolled them backward and dug her fingers into the muscle, her face tightening uncomfortably as she massaged the knot that had developed.
Frowning, I took two large steps toward her, holding out my hand. She looked down at my hand for a second before glancing up at my face with a raised eyebrow.
“Give me the damn bag,” I gruffed, clicking my fingers at her.
She stared at me in confusion for a few seconds before a smirk grew slowly on her luscious lips and she folded her arms across her chest, the backpack hanging from her fingertips. “I know you did not just click your fingers at me,” she said in amusement.
I didn’t reply, instead, clicked my fingers one more time for good measure as I held her eyes, refusing to stand down until she gave me the fucking bag. To her credit, she held her own, tilting her head curiously as though examining how far she could push me before this playful game turned into something completely different.
A few seconds later, she held out her hand, slipping the bag into mine. “I’m quite capable—” she started, but in a flash, I was on her, my free hand grasping her jaw.
She froze, her mouth falling open as I stared down at her.
The girl had balls, and the sass she threw back at me had me rock fucking hard inside my jeans. “Keep running that mouth, and I promise you… I’ll bend you over my bike right here, and spank that little round ass until it’s bright red, not giving a shit if everyone in that diner sees,” I growled enjoying the way her eyes lit up, almost as though she was excited by the idea. “That would make the next four hours, pretty fucking uncomfortable for you.”
She visibly cringed as she thought of the next few hours, sitting on my fucking bike with my hand prints across her ass, and I had to fight the triumphant smirk that was fighting to grow on my lips.
“Skins!” I called, our eyes still locked. Hearing the crunch of gravel from behind us, I held out the bag. “Put this in the truck with you.”
“Sure,” he answered casually, slipping it out of my palm and walking away.
Skylar pursed her lips, swallowing hard.
My grip on her face grew weaker, and I brushed my thumb across her cheek, sending a jolt of something strange and tingly through my body before I forced myself to take a step back. “You don’t need to carry that thing, it will still get there just fine,” I told her, my voice stern with a warning not to push me again.
She licked her lips, nodding. “I know, I just like to be prepared and have my stuff with me.”
“We are traveling together. Ain’t nothing gonna happen that I’m not already prepared for. Don’t stress that pretty little head of yours.”
She didn’t say anything for a long few seconds, I could see the cogs turning over in her head as she tried to make some sense out of the situation. I knew I could be hot and cold sometimes, but I guess what it came down to was the brotherhood mentality that I not only lived in now, but I’d also had while I was in the military.
Having a bunch of guys in close proximity and together for long periods of time, there were going to be arguments, differences of opinions, and people who said or did stupid shit and pissed others off.
I learned early on, you can punch your brother in the face for being a fucking asshole one night, but when it came to getting up in the morning, you just had to let that shit go. There was no use in letting some cheap words or some drunken disagreement about trivial shit, get in the way of family and friendship. You work it out, sometimes with words, sometimes with fists, and then it’s done.
She finally cleared her throat. “I’ll take your word for it,” she replied, her body loosening up a little now she realized I wasn’t fucking furious at her. Digging around in her pocket, she pulled out a cell phone and held it up for me to see. “It’s been going off for the last thirty minutes, I should really see what’s going on.”
I dug my feet into the ground. “Who’s been calling?” I demanded.
She held up her hand and laughed. “It’s just Deacon. No doubt my sister has done something crazy, and he’s a bit out of his depth.”
My muscles relaxed, but just slightly. I ran my fingers through my hair and finally settled on letting her make the call on her own.
“Hey Eagle,” she called, just as I reached for the door to the diner. My hand stayed on the shiny chrome handle, but I turned to look over my shoulder. I noticed the mischievous glint in her eye before she even spoke. “You should never make promises you can’t keep.” Her laughter filled the hot still air, and she turned on her heel, making sure to wiggle that perfectly toned ass at me before she raised her phone to her ear and started talking.
It took a lot to pull that damn diner door open, and not walk back over to her and put her over my knee for being a cheeky fucking bitch.
I walked straight to the counter, the waitress manning the register shifting uncomfortably on her feet as I approached. “May I… uh… help you?” she asked nervously. She was young, probably in her late teens.
“Cheeseburger, fries and soda, times two,” I told her sharply, tossing some cash on the counter and not waiting for the change. Social interactions weren’t my thing. I guess you could say I was socially awkward.
I never used to be but since I’d gotten out of the army, I tried my best to avoid strangers. It started out of fear that I would have an episode while I was around them. My embarrassment got the best of me at times. I knew in my head I shouldn’t be ashamed of my disability, but I guess the stubborn part of my brain refused to look weak in front of anybody.
I made a beeline for Op’s table where he sat with Blizzard and Ham. He looked up, sensing my presence, and raised his eyebrow. “What do you make of mister goody-two-shoes offering to babysit Skylar’s sister?” I asked, straight to the point.
Blizzard didn’t give Optimus any time to answer, sitting forward in the booth. “You think there could be some ulterior motive?” he questioned, his head tilted to the side curiously.
I rolled my shoulders, still feeling the stiff ache from the ride. “Don’t know. Just strange I guess. He doesn’t know Skylar from shit. Would have thought he would have dumped us with the girl, instead of taking her off our hands and making life a little easier.”
I could see Optimus considering my words, and Blizzard nodding thoughtfully.
“He and Chelsea are still close-knit,” Optimus finally said. “And he’s helped us out a few times over the past year or so, and kept his mouth shut on things he could have blabbed about. I guess I thought maybe it was a peace offering.”
He didn’t sound so sure now, a concerning frown creasing his brow.
“Has Skylar noticed anything strange?” Ham questioned, inserting himself into the conversation as he tossed a French fry in his mouth.
I shrugged. “She hasn’t said, she’s just gone to call him since he’s been blowing up her phone for the last fucking half hour. Obviously, can’t handle a fucking seventeen-year-old girl,” I growled, not missing the smirk that appeared on Blizzard’s face. “Don’t fucking look at me like that, asshole.”
“Another one bites the dust.” He laughed as he turned back to his food.
My eyes flicked to Optimus who also had a quiet smirk on his face.
“Fucking Christ,” I murmured, turning away and heading to another table, not about to deal with the smart ass comments from my president and VP.
“Keep me up to date on the situation,” Optimus called after me. Just as I was about to agree, he added, “Oh, and the Deacon shit, too.”
“Fucking bastard,” I hissed under my breath, as their laughter filled the small diner.