Released(Devil's Blaze MC 3)(46)

“Wanna go for a ride on my bike?” I ask the woman who has been haunting my thoughts for the last week. This dating thing is not made for a weak man. It’s been fucking hard not to just push her up against the wall and fuck her until she agrees to everything I want. I know Annie is watching Gabby today since Sabre was trying to distract her from Latch signing back up on duty and heading out. I’m glad he’s going. That’s one less man to suspect at this point. Shit, I’m even worrying about Sabre watching Gabby, but I know Beast, Torch, and Sabre should be the three men I can count on… but fuck, I thought they all were. Regardless, I know Annie would die before anything happens to Gabby. I have to go with that right now. It’s all I have.

Beth looks up from where she is talking with Katie. Her eyes go wide for a minute, and then I get that tentative smile she’s been giving me lately, one that says she’s happy… but cautious. I’m okay with it. Fuck, I’m feeling the exact same way.

“Aww, look! Skull’s asking a girl on a date. Where’s the candy and flowers?” Katie grins.

“Quit being a pain in my ass, pipsqueak,” I grumble. I’d never admit it, but I kind of like her. I don’t get that her and Beth are twins. I guess if Katie’s hair was blonde, they would look alike, but where it counts, they are as different as night and day.

“I need to change,” Beth says. She’s wearing jeans and a long sleeve sweater. Her hair is tied back in a ponytail. She’s beautiful, but I still mourn the dresses and the way she used to let her hair free so the wind could slide through it.

“Unless you’re going to put on one of those dresses you used to wear all the time, mi cielo, you look beautiful.”

Her eyes go soft with my term of endearment. I can’t stop myself from using them; I gave up trying.

“Well, you can’t wear a dress on a bike.”

“I seem to remember a time when you did.”

“You didn’t really give me much of a choice, if I remember correctly.”

“Come ride with me, mi cielo.”

I watch the muscles in her throat work as she swallows nervously, then she puts her hand in mine and I pull her up from her seat. Our hands clasped, her fingers wrapped around mine, feels like perfection. We’re walking towards my bike without talking when Katie hollers out, making me stop and turn to face her.

“Hey Skull, how many girls you had on the back of your bike?”

“Is there a reason you’re asking?” I know why; I just want to see if she will admit it. Beth’s grip tightens, but I don’t let her pull away.

“Call it mild curiosity,” Katie says.

“Curiosity killed the cat.”

“I think I’ll risk it, Señor Asshole.”

“Torch doesn’t spank you enough.”

“I’ll tell him that after you man up here.”

“Two,” I tell her, and her lips curl in dislike. I feel Beth’s hand trying to leave mine, but I don’t let it.

“Then I guess you are dumber than you look,” Katie says.

“Katie, let it go. Are you ready, Skull?”

“Yes.” I turn to walk with Beth to my bike again. I take three steps and the tension is still making Beth tense beside me. It’s coming off of her in waves.

“Hey, Pipsqueak,” I call out, still giving Katie my back and making sure to give her the nickname that she hates.

“Yeah?”

“My mom.”

“What?” she asks, and Beth comes to a complete stop beside me. I half turn so I’m looking at Beth when I tell her.

“My mom. She’s the only other woman who has been on my bike,” I tell Katie, but I’m looking at Beth the whole time. Beth stares at me and then she gives me her own surprise. She reaches up on her tip-toes, slides her tongue along the ring in my lip, tugging, and then she kisses me. It’s a brief kiss and she doesn’t deepen it, giving me her tongue like I want. But her lips on mine, in any way, is good. We break apart when I feel a slap on my back, startling me.

“I might grow to like you yet, Skull. I just might,” Katie says, limping around us on her crutches after slapping me hard on the back. The girl has some strength in her.

“I live for the moment,” I tell her sarcastically, winking at Beth.

Beth laughs. It’s soft, but it’s sincere and I gave it to her.

That’s all that matters.





“This is beautiful,” she says.

We’re not on my houseboat, but close. I took her out to a small piece of land that’s close to the lake. There’s no dock, but there’s water close to the bank, and it’s a place that I’ve visited a lot over the years and for only one reason…