The cluster of lights ahead let him know they were close to Alina, so he slowed to make the sharp turn that would take him behind the downtown area and into Hailey's neighborhood. When he pulled up to the curb, Hailey kissed the back of his neck.
"That was such a beautiful ride. It felt like we were the only two people in the world. The stars were humungous. When we moved to Albuquerque, I missed the star-filled sky. In the city, the lights from office buildings and streets make the stars and the Milky Way invisible." She tipped her head back.
Goldie planted gentle kisses down her throat, feathering up and down until his mouth captured hers. "You're gorgeous in the moonlight," he murmured against her lips, then looped his arm around her waist and led her up the sidewalk to the porch.
Once inside, they climbed the stairs and went into the bedroom. She opened the window, and a light breeze blew in.
"Let's leave the curtains open. I want to see the stars and moonlight," she said softly as she ran her fingers over his broad shoulders.
"Whatever you say." He watched her slender hands tug and yank off his boots and clothing. His erection stood stiff and waiting as she skimmed her tongue over his legs, slowly inching her way up. When she got dangerously close, he pulled her up. "My turn," he rasped. With gentle, soft hands, he unwrapped her, kissing each part he revealed and relishing the silkiness of her skin.
He eased her onto the bed, the desire beating fiercely in his veins fueled by her nakedness encased in moonlight. Hovering over her, their noses only a whisper apart, he gazed deeply into her eyes. "You're everything to me," he said in a low voice. "You're my heart. You're the air."
He grazed his fingers over her breasts and a low moan slipped through her parted lips. They held each other's gaze, and every movement, every ounce of longing was reflected between their eyes. Goldie's hands caressed her skin and pulled her hips tightly to his. Hailey met his passion with her own as she kissed him deeply. He slid deep into her and she moaned, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
Goldie began to move within her, and she moved with him. Nuzzling her neck with his nose, he whispered, "I love you," then increased his pace.
"I love you too," she panted.
He reached down to catch her mouth as he thrust faster and faster, driving them both to a shattering climax.
Wrapped in each other's arms, sated and spent, his hand drifted slowly over her back. After a long while, Hailey asked softly, "Did you mean what you said, or was it just the heat of the moment?"
Goldie paused. He felt so many emotions for her: passion, love, adoration, joy, comfort. "I meant it. I love you." He never thought he'd utter those words to a woman.
"I love you too. I feel like I have for a long time, but now it's a grown-up love."
Kissing her temple, he pulled her closer until there was no space between them. Everything makes sense now. Fuck. It's so easy and simple. He'd tell his grandma about it the following day before he headed back to the rally. He knew she'd be happy. All she ever wanted for him was to find a wonderful woman to love and for her to love him.
Mission accomplished, Grandma.
* * *
Thunderous pounding woke Goldie and he immediately looked over at Hailey. She was sitting up in bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "I think I forgot that I made an appointment today," she said as she threw her robe on.
"On a Sunday?" Goldie pushed up.
"I'm doing that just for the summer, but not every Sunday. You stay here, I'll be right back." She gave him a peck on the mouth and rushed out of the room.
Goldie glanced at the clock: eight thirty. Too fuckin' early for a Sunday. He scrubbed his face with his fist and went to the window. Behind his Harley was a dark blue sedan. He yanked his jeans on and padded out of the room. As he descended the stairway, he heard voices in the living room.
When he entered the room, he saw Hailey sitting rigidly, her smile tight and her eyes pleading with him. He had no idea what they were pleading for until the man sitting with his back to Goldie turned around. Ryan. Fuck!
Ryan leapt up, his eyes darting from Hailey to Goldie. He scanned over Goldie's bare chest and feet, then Hailey's short robe, realization spreading across his face. "You bastard! You're screwing my sister?"
"Ryan, it's not what it seems," Goldie said as he took a couple of steps toward Ryan.
"There are a ton of women to fuck and you chose Hailey? You asshole!" Ryan swung and belted Goldie in the jaw.
"Ryan! Stop!" Hailey cried.
Goldie stepped back. When Ryan came for another punch, Goldie caught his fist. "I deserved the first one." Ryan slammed his other fist into Goldie's side. "Fuckin' stop, bro, or we're gonna do shit to each other we'll regret."
"I'm not going to regret anything. I'm going to beat your ass for touching Hailey." Ryan went for another punch, but that time Goldie blocked it.
Hailey ran over and tried to pull her brother away. "Ryan, stop it. Please. Stop. Goldie didn't do anything I didn't want."
Ryan stopped and turned to her. "You don't know what you want. He took advantage of you. I'm not blaming you. He should've known better."
"I'm not a child anymore. I hate when you treat me like one. How do you know what I want? You've been away for the last four years. Give me some credit for making my own decisions."
"I warned you to stay away from him. He fucks anyone with boobs. Do you really think you're special to him? There are women at the clubhouse who are only there to service the men. Is that the type of guy you want? Is that how Mom and Dad raised you? What do you think they'd say?"
"That they're happy for me. I told them when I went home for a visit last week. They were cool with it. You're overreacting."
Goldie came over to Hailey and grasped her hand. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I fought it for a while, and so did Hailey, but what we have is too strong. I'll treat Hailey right. I love her."
"Love?" Ryan laughed dryly. "You don't even know what that means. I know you. Don't forget that."
"I love him too," Hailey said.
A strained silence stretched between the three of them. Ryan went to the door. "You're still my sister, and I love you, but that doesn't mean I'm going to accept this. And you," he said, pointing at Goldie, "are dead to me." Then he marched out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
Goldie and Hailey stared at the closed door, and then he pulled her to him and kissed her. "Fuck, I'm sorry I messed up your relationship with Ryan."
"Don't take the blame for this, and don't run away from me." Tears rolled down her sun-kissed cheeks.
Wiping the wet streaks with his thumb, he shook his head. "I'd never run away from you. I'm sorry I didn't keep my ass upstairs, but it was a matter of time before something like this happened. I should've told him. This will be hard for you, but I'm staying for the long haul. I've never told a woman I loved her."
"It'll be okay between Ryan and me. He's just really pissed. I hope he comes around with you. I didn't want to break up your friendship."
"You didn't. We both knew what we were doing, and we wanted it. I don't have any regrets except that we didn't handle it right from the get-go. But that's in the past and we can't change it. I hope you're strong enough to see this through."
She squeezed him hard. "Of course I am. I'm not leaving you. I've wanted you my whole life, and I'm not walking away from that. Finding a person who fits with you, gets you, loves you, and a million other things is rare. We were meant to be together."
"Then let's do it. You should spend some time with Ryan. I'll hang at the clubhouse for a few days. You need to be good with him before he goes back to Afghanistan."
She nodded and glanced down at her phone. "I got a text. I didn't hear it." She read the message and grimaced.
"Who's it from?"
"My aunt Patty. She sent it twenty minutes before Ryan came, telling me Ryan's in town and wanted to surprise me."
"He fuckin' did that," Goldie said.
"No shit. She wanted to give me a heads-up in case you were with me."
"Would've helped if we hadn't slept through the text."
"Yeah. I guess it was just meant to be. I'm going to see my aunt. I want to find out where Ryan's staying. I'm sure he was expecting to stay here."
"Let him. We can meet somewhere else."
Hailey smiled. "You're the best. Are you going back to the rally?"
He nodded. "I'll text you later. If you need something, let me know."
"I love you, Goldie."
"And I fuckin' love you, Hailey." They kissed, then went upstairs to get ready for the day.
As Goldie rode to the rally, his gut was all twisted in knots. He and Ryan had been friends for almost twenty-five years. The man was like a brother to him, and when Ryan told him their friendship was over, it had stabbed him in the gut. He acted cool about it because of Hailey, but he hoped that once Ryan cooled off and saw that he was sincere with Hailey, his anger would dissipate. If it didn't, then it was over. But one thing he was certain of: he'd never leave Hailey.