SOMETHING HAPPENED BETWEEN Luce and Smith. She won’t look at him and he won’t stop looking at her. He’s staring at her like she’s his lost princess. His eyes burning so hot, I’m even getting weak knees. She’s ignoring him, helping the other women pack up the kitchen while he stands by the screen door watching over her like a guard dog.
Roger’s loving has turned me soft in all the places I was hard. It’s almost time to pack up and go home to Springdale. I turn away before I’m caught looking at the two of them. Rog is with Mac checking and locking up the cabins.
Tomorrow is my first in-service. A boring day to listen to all the school’s policies and meet all the teacher’s that I’ll be working with this year. Sighing, I walk back outside smiling shyly as I pass new friends and take in the view one more time as my feet lightly tread on the path back to Rog’s cabin to get my things.
I finish stuffing my backpack and sigh, looking at the bed. I hope we come back here, soon. But Rog says the snow makes the roads impassable. And there won’t be many weekends left since none of the cabins are winterized.
A sharp knock at the door has me looking up, as Shanna opens the door and breezes in.
“Hey.”
“Hey. I wanted to give you my number. Call me whenever Rog gets a thick head.”
“Yeah, I might have to put you on speed dial,” I laugh. After unlocking my phone, I hand it over.
“There. I hope you and Rog can come visit us in California.”
“I’d like that,” I answer taking my phone back.
I strip the sheets and place them in a bag to be washed.
“I’ll take care of this baby.”
“I want to help. I haven’t lifted a finger this weekend while all the other women have pitched in in the kitchen.”
“You’re off the clock, sweetheart. Besides, I’ve put you to work in my bed.”
And he did.
We spend the afternoon wrapped up in each other’s arms. Last night we fucked. Today Roger made love to me, softly, tenderly. Don’t get me wrong, the man is so huge and powerful, a gentle fuck for him would be a moderate one for any other man. We laid side by side, gazing into each other’s eyes as he pumped slowly, but forcefully inside. It went on for at least an hour. Damn that man has stamina. I came at least three times.
“Ride back with me.”
“What about my car?”
“I’ll have one of the boys drive it,” he shrugs.
“We need to grab Luce.”
He raises his eyebrows and looks away.
“What?”
“Don’t get upset, Dev.”
“Whenever someone tells me that—I instantly get upset.”
“Smith’s claimed her as his. She’ll ride in his truck.”
“And what does Luce have to say about this.”
“It doesn’t matter. It won’t matter. He’s the Prez. His word is law.”
“No,” I shake my head, “this is not some script. She has a say.”
“Some shit is just like TV. We don’t take threats lightly or say a woman is our old lady if she isn’t.”
“I knew he was looking at her all crazy last night. I never should’ve left her with him by the fire.”
“He’s a good man Dev. He’d never hurt her.”
I snort, “They always say that.”
Picking up my bag, I head toward the door.
“Where you going sugar?”
“To save my best friend.”
“Who says she wants to be rescued?”
I falter, bag slipping on my shoulder. “Maybe you’re right. But I at least need to check.”
“Okay. But don’t put me in a bad spot between you and Smith.”
“Who? Who, would you choose?”
He closes his eyes, hands fisted by his sides, “You. I’d choose you, Dev.”
I gulp. He’s known Smith for years and me weeks. He’s the most loyal man I’ve ever met. And now he’s giving that loyalty to me. I turn away before he can see the tear slipping down my cheek as I open the door on the hunt for Smith and Luce.
“Thank God you’re here. I barged in every cabin looking for you and Smith. Caught an eyeful in more than a few, too.”
Luce lounges on the couch, remote in hand watching One Tree Hill. “What the hell is going on?”
“My cell’s dead. I forgot my charger.”
“And no one at the lake had one you could borrow?”
She shrugs, “As if he would let me.”
“Smith?”
She nods grinning wide. “Did you miss the two guards out back?”
“They must have seen it was Rog’s truck pulling up.”
“Where is your Silver Fox anyway?”
“Sassy’s. He said he needs to check on things. Besides, I need to actually sleep tonight.”
“So, he was good?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe. I’m so screwed. He doesn’t know and holy shit, did you meet my brother, Duke?”
“I did. He’s fine. If he wasn’t with Shanna—”
“As if Smith would ever let that happen.”
“He makes my toes curl.”
“Who? Smith or Duke?”
“Both.”
“Shanna’s gonna kick your ass.”
She shrugs, “Smith thinks I’m old lady material.”
My mouth drops. “And this is a bad thing?”
“No. It’s… so romantic how he looks at me. I melt.”
“Did you sleep with him?”
“No,” she sighs, “but it was hard to hold out.”
“Then what’s up?”
“I can’t make it too easy for him. Can I? Besides, once he gets what he wants he’ll probably be like every other guy. It won’t last. It never does.”
I sit down beside her. “You can’t think like that.”
“I can’t help it. I’m thirty. Do you know how many bridesmaid dresses I have hanging in my closet? Twelve. Twelve times a bridesmaid, never a bride.”
“So? No one’s ever asked me to be in their wedding. You are so loved Luce. Look at how many people asked you.”
Her shoulders sag, fingers picking the frayed ends of the blanket on her lap, “I’m afraid. I’m a big-talker but when it comes down to it, I’m afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Being left like my mom.”
“Oh, Luce.”
“Do you really think he looked at me all crazy?”
“Yes,” I snort, “the man had stars in his eyes.”
“He makes me feel like it could be real.”
“What?”
“Love at first sight.”
I pick up a pillow and bonk her in the head. “You’re just as daft as he is.”
“Chinese food and wine?”
“Sounds like the perfect ending to the weekend to me.”
My phone pings with a text.
Roger: Miss you already, sugar. Sleep tight.
Me: Miss my big bear.
Roger: Come to Poppa, sugar. You know where I am.
I bite my lip.
Me: Can’t. Hanging with Luce.
Roger: I’ll see you at Sassy’s then. Wear something pretty for me. No panties.
Me: I’ll try.
Roger: That’s an order darlin’. I’ll know if you lie about it.
My fingers hover over the phone. “Holy hell. Roger is a DOM, too?” Luce blurts looking over my shoulder at the messages.
“Too?”
“Smith was very upfront about it. Must be an MC thing. The type of men who join are all badasses.”
“We need to Google this. I don’t know much about it at all.”
“Didn’t you read Fifty Shades? I gave you my copy.”
My face turns red. “I did. But that was a book. It was scripted.”
“Hmmm… I’m on it.” She taps on her phone a minute later her eyes widen.
“What?”
“Road trip next weekend? There’s a BDSM club in San Francisco. We could drive.”
“No.”
“Why not? It’s Labor Day. We have three days off and sightseeing is the perfect cover.”
“Why are you always getting me into trouble Luce?”
“I’m your best friend. It’s my job.”
“They’ll tail us. You have two guards and a man saying you’re his property after knowing you for two days.”
“Yeah, Rog seems like he’s cut from the same cloth. We’ll do a bait n’ switch.”
“Stop. You’re serious about this?”
“It’ll be fun, Dev. Think of it as our last hooray before we both get too deep in relationships that won’t be easy.”
“Okay. But what are you going to do about your plane ticket back to Chicago?”
“I already changed it. Besides, you aren’t the only one going to Springdale High tomorrow morning. I have an interview.”
“Seriously?”
“Yup.” A grin lights up her face, “You were right about this town and the men in it.”
“But Smith lives in California.”
“So? It’s a hell of a lot closer than Chicago. Besides, I’m overdue for a change of scenery.”
“You’ll get the job. Rog told me the downstairs apartment is fully furnished, too. All that’s there are clothes and boxes that still belong to the other tenant.”
“I know. It’s going to be awesome. We can take turns cooking and driving to work.”
“I can’t believe it. I’ve never been so happy. I have a home here in Springdale, my new family at Sassy’s, Rog and now you. Something bad is going to happen.”
“Shut-up, Dev. Don’t jinx it.”
“I don’t have to. What I need to do is stop being a chicken shit and tell Rog everything.”
“Okay. Fine. But you’ve only been with him forty-eight hours. Give your relationship time to grow.”
We’re interrupted by a knock at the door. I get out some bills and open it stunned to see the pledge from California standing there with two bags of takeout.”
“Put your money away. You’re both women of Creed now. And our women don’t pay.”
I take the food just to get rid of him and shut the door. “I’m not sure if I like this. I like being independent,” my fingers lift a few of the blinds up, just enough to peek through. There’s three men now standing guard outside. Two of Smith’s and one of Roger’s.
“I told you. That’s why we need to go to San Fran. It’s our last shot.”
Placing the food down in the kitchen, I pour two glasses of wine handing her one. “To our last getaway...,” I toast drinking deeply.
Rog is gonna lose his shit when he finds out we’re gone. But that’s a week away and he doesn’t own me. It’ll be good to set my own boundaries with him; teach him I’ll be his but on my terms. I grin picturing the look on his face and the growl that will erupt from his chest. He’s gonna go crazy looking for me. I’m a bitch too, because the thought of driving him insane turns me on. I want him to come after me. Hell, I’ll even leave breadcrumbs for him to follow.
Smith’s a wildcard.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes her straight to Vegas. Maybe, I’ll have my chance to be a bridesmaid sooner than I thought.