“She got to me before that. Just like that Mexican flower had you wrapped around her finger the second she clung to you in that fuckin’ dungeon. I saw it on your face. Didn’t surprise me at all you claimed her.”
“Well, it surprised me.”
We both face the window. After a while, I confess, “You’re younger than me. I’ve been around. Had my fill. I know myself.”
“You’ve never fucked a girl longer than a week, Jett. Not that I’ve seen.”
“Have any of us?”
“It’s my bike, man. My fuckin’ baby.”
“That’s your baby, too.” I knock his shoulder with mine. “Tonk, she’s gonna leave me again. I can feel it.” He meets my eyes. “This one’s it, man. She’s it for me. I can’t let her go.”
I watch his profile as he mulls it over. “I never thought I’d say this, but okay. Take the bike.”
Now how am I gonna talk Luna into it…
Just gotta keep her with me a little longer.
She’s gonna fall for me.
I have to believe that.
Luna
Itchy. That’s how I feel. I don’t know what’s happening next. I feel like I should take off right after I tell Carmen her baby is beautiful, and of course make sure she sees my face and knows I care.
But then I should go.
Because I don’t want to. And that’s a good enough reason right there.
These people are getting too close to me. I can’t even think about Jett without imagining touching him. When he put his arm around me as we stared at that adorable newborn, I was way too comfortable.
What’s really scaring me is the growing belief I can trust him. That he deserves trust.
The second he appears through the double doors, my heart stops just at the sight of him. His face is serious. “Let’s get some food.”
I’m here with my arms tightly crossed like a shield. He acts like he can’t see I’m itching, but that’s an act. He’s at the electric exit leaving the wake of their whoosh behind him as he heads out.
Didn’t give me a chance to object.
Smart man.
Too smart.
“I should be moving on,” I call after him as I follow.
I told my feet to stay in the waiting room, so I could see Carmen quickly, then hitch a ride somewhere far away. Did they listen? No. My body wants to be with him. My heart says no fucking way am I leaving. You want to kill me?
Jett mounts his bike with sensual ease and glances over as he hits the cushion behind his perfect ass. “Get on.”
“Jett…”
Grey eyes lock on me and narrow with purpose. “I need one more favor from you, Sunshine, then you can go. I’m not gonna stop you. I promise.”
“What’s the favor?”
“Get on.”
Huffing, I grab his shoulders and step onto the footrest to swing my leg over and mount the rumbling beast. As I strap on the helmet, I tell myself I’m just going to lightly hold onto his waist for this ride – and keep my distance – but again my body has other ideas. Before I know it, I’m pressed against his back as tightly as I can be, with my arms wrapped around his mammoth torso, fingers tucked into his unzipped leather jacket, stroking his gorgeous chest and abs. He makes a guttural noise that says he loves this.
I am a glutton for punishment.
Tucking into him I watch eight-foot-tall cactus trees whiz by. At Penny’s Diner on the US 90, he gruffly tells me to wait with the bike. Biting my lips, I watch him stroll inside the silver building they designed with an Airstream trailer in mind.
How am I going to say goodbye to him? What’s the best way?
Just disappear and get it over with.
I can’t do that.
You did it before.
Yeah, but I was focused on saving those women.
It’ll be easier for him if you just leave. Then he can call you a cunt for the rest of his life.
True.
Running my fingers over the gas tank, I glance behind me to the diner and watch the waitress smiling up a storm as Jett hands her some cash. Jesus, does she have to stick her tits out that much?
When you leave, he’ll be fucking anybody he wants…for the rest of his life.
“Shut up!” I mutter aloud, leaning on his beast and crossing my arms. As he strolls into the sunlight, I call over, “Why didn’t we just eat inside?”
“We will.” He throws me a devilishly handsome smile and hands me the bag. “You’re gonna have to feel this up during the ride.”
Chuckling, I shoot back, “Fuck you.”
“You like these abs, don’t you, Sunshine?” He pulls up his shirt and shows them off.
Yes, I do. Damn he is fucking hot.
“Nope, was just trying to figure out if you’d gained some weight, Jett.”