Bad Boys of Romance - a Biker Anthology (18 page)

Taking a deep breath and trying to forget about Rodger, I open my eyes. I notice a tree that stands off to the right. To any other person it would be too hard to climb. Good thing for me, I started climbing trees as soon as I could walk.

I go over to it and adjust my purse over my opposite shoulder so it hangs across my chest. That’s all I need
—to climb this bitch and have it fall off once I get to the top.

I spit on my hands and then rub them together. I know, classy. I feel like a pitcher spitting on the ball. Nothing can be nastier than that. I dated a baseball player once. Why do we find them so sexy when they spit on the one thing they all touch? Oh yeah, the tight fucking pants that showcase those beautiful round asses.

It only takes a few seconds for me to figure how to get up it. I grab ahold of the lowest branch and lift myself up. At this moment I’m thankful Jackie made me take all of those stupid yoga classes with her back in the day, which has left me limber. Climbing far enough up, I swing my body around and come level with the fence.

 
              “This is going to hurt,” I whisper looking at how far the fence is from the ground. There’s not a tree for me to climb down on the other side. I’m just going to have to jump. And I’m guessing the distance to be over six feet.

“Let’s go to the party
,” Jackie had said. “It will be great,” she had said.

“Great my fucking ass
,” I mumble.

              Taking one last deep breath, I swing my legs over the fence and jump down. My feet instantly sting when they hit the ground. I don’t even try to catch myself, which could injure my body worse. I just let go and crumble to the grass.

I roll over onto my back as I let out a growl of frustration. The fact that I had to sneak out of a house
—from some guy whose name I don’t even remember—couldn’t have been the worse part of my morning. No, I also had to listen to someone take care of their morning wood. Yeah, today is not my day.

              I groan at my sore body as I get to my feet. I don’t even bother to brush myself off before I start to limp my way off down the street.

I am in the process of dreaming about a hot bath and curling
up in my bed for an early afternoon nap when Jackie passes me and then does a U-turn, coming to a stop beside me. I pull open the passenger door and fall inside thankful for the cool air-conditioning.

“Do you want to drive?”
she asks, car idling in the street.

“No
,” I growl. “Just get me home.”

“What the hell happened to you?”
she asks looking me up and down with a sour look on her face. “Did you sleep outside or something?”

“Just take me home.” I can explain the situation to her after I sleep off this hangover.

She looks from me to the clock on the dash. “Don’t you have a test you have to take today?”

             
Shit! “How do you know that?”

             
“You told me that like thirty times last night before I left.”

             
I look over at her. “Speaking of leaving…” I huff. “Why
did
you leave me?”

             
She frowns. “You said I could.” But then she gets a dreamy smile on her face.

“Thanks.” She sighs
, and I can’t help but scowl. Glad she remembers how good her night was.

“Just drive me to the
college. Please,” I say, pulling my sun visor down to look at myself in the mirror. I look like a horror movie gone wrong. My dark hair still looks freshly fucked, only with a few added leaves in it. What makeup is still on is smeared across my face. And my light brown eyes are bloodshot.

She frowns. “You’re going to go to school like that?” Her dark blue eyes look me over and her frowns deepens before she scrunches her nose.

                 “I don’t have a choice, Jackie.” I sigh. “If I miss this test, I’ll be in deep shit with my dad. Just take me there. I don’t think the test has a hygiene requirement.”

              She nods her head and starts to drive off. I run my fingers through my hair and try to take off what’s left of my makeup before I lean my head back against the headrest and close my eyes—trying to remember what the hell happened last night. I remember showing up at the party with Jackie. I remember making myself a drink in the kitchen. I remember Rodger calling me and pressing ignore before I ended up just turning my phone off. But this morning it was on. When did I turn it back on? I don’t remember.

Then we made our way to the back of the house to the game room where I proceeded to
smoke a guy who asked me to play a game of pool. The same guy who had helped me make my drink in the kitchen.

I smile as I start to remember the color of his eyes. They were the sexiest gray eyes I had ever seen. I had eye-fucked him with no shame. His smile had caused me to miss a few shots
, but I still beat him every time.

His strong jaw and light dark hair.

                   My eyes snap open at that. Well that answers that question.

I ended up sleeping with him?

I don’t remember going to his room, though. Hell I don’t even remember kissing him. So how did we end up there?

Jackie gets my attention as she rolls down the windows and cranks up the AC.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“You smell like booze, cigarettes, and sex,” she says matter-of-fact. “It’s making me nauseous,” she adds. “And what happened to you?”

I laugh. “Well it seems I got some action last night
, but I don’t remember it.”

“Oh, you got some action all right
,” she agrees. “I thought you two were going to do it on the pool table. Or in the hallway,” she adds with a laugh. “Did you end up doing it in the garden or something?”

              I scowl. “Why didn’t you stop me?”

              She looks quickly over at me with a smile. “He was hot and why
would
I stop you? You were pissed off at Rodger for calling you and started drinking like a fish. Plus, you were totally digging one another.” She wiggles her blond eyebrows.

              Digging?
Who says that?

              I shake my head. Even if she would have tried to stop me, I wouldn’t have listened. “Did you get some?” She better have left for me a good reason.

“Yep
,” she says with a smile on her face.

“Well then our life is complete
,” I say dryly.

          I stretch out my legs and smile. At least the sex I got was good. I can tell it by the feel in my muscles. Whoever he was
, he used every inch of my body, and I guarantee I loved every second of it.

“Do you want me to wait for you?”
she asks as she pulls up to the college.

 
              I shake my head. “Just come back and get me in an hour,” I say digging through my glove box.

              “What are you looking for?” she asks.

              “Advil.” I always keep some in my car.

              I look over to her when she sighs. “I already took it,” she admits with a small smile.

“What?” I snap. “You took the only two I had left?”

She holds up three fingers, and I let out a growl. She calls out
sorry
as I swing the door open and get out
.

CHAPTER SIX

TABATHA

After Jackie had picked me up from the school, I had dropped her off at her house and then stopped off at Starbucks for the biggest coffee they had, which I now know is called a Vente. And I hate coffee. But it just sounded so good. Well, it doesn’t taste as good as it sounded. Plus my tongue is numb from where I burnt the hell out of it.

              I make my way into our house. My parents have many houses all over the world, but this is the one I grew up in. The one I still call home even though I now have a place of my own.

I take off down the main hallway to head to the back of the house where my
old room is located, when I hear my dad talking in his office. I go to walk past it and see his door is open. He looks up and spots me.
Busted.

              “Hey sweet pea. How was your test this morning?”

“Fine
,” is all I say. I’m not a hundred percent sure that I passed. Guess I’ll find out soon enough.

He lifts his hand and motions for me to enter. “Come here. I have someone I want you to meet.”

I shake my head. “It will have to wait. I need a shower.”

“Nonsense
,” he argues. “You look great. It will be quick.”

I sigh but go ahead and walk into his office. I see his nose scrunch when I come up to his desk. I can’t help but smile at the thought of
smelling how Jackie had described. I can’t smell much of it, I think my nose is used to it now.

I hear the leather cre
ak from someone shifting on the couch behind me, but I don’t turn around. I wait for my father to excuse me since he finally sees how awful I look.

“What did you do last night?”
he asks with a frown on his face.

  
              “I…”

   
              He places his hand up to interrupt me. “I probably don’t want to know.”

I nod my head trying to hide my smile. He may end up reading it in the tabloids. See, my father is famous. He owns the biggest racing team in California. Formula
One cars has always been his dream. He used to race them. That’s where he started making his fortune. Then retired and started his own team. Come to find out, he loves being on that end just as much as he did being a driver.

I actually just bought my first home last year. Against my
parents’ advice. I didn’t want to live on campus or with my parents. I wanted my very own place but it’s on the other side of town. And my parents’ house just happens to be five miles from the college. After the morning I’ve had, it was an easy decision.

 
              “Anyways, as you know, your mother and I have been talking about branching out,” he says with a smile referring to their company.

I nod my head. I have overheard this conversation. They want to dip their toes into other forms of racing.

“Well, it’s official. We have started a new racing team that involves motorcycles. And you are already a fan.” He gestures to my shirt, and I look down at the words DASH and frown before tilting my head in confusion. Then I hear the leather crinkle once again behind me. “See,” my father says with a smile looking past me to whoever is sitting behind me. “I knew you would like her.” He claps his hands together as if he’s proud of himself, and I frown as the person moves behind me once again. What the hell’s wrong with them back there?

              “Motorcycles?” That’s not what I was expecting him to say.

He nods. His silver hair not even moving due to all the product my mother puts in it for him. I swear he is still a child and needs her to dress him. Feed him. And probably even bathe him. I shudder at that thought. Ugh.

“Yes. I want to introduce you to the new member of our team.” He gestures to person sitting behind me. “Darling, say hello to Erik Dashling.”

I quickly turn round wanting to get his over wi
th so I can get the hell out of

here
. My heart starts to pound as hard as my head. I come eye to eye with those light gray eyes, chiseled jaw, and light dark hair.

Memories of last night start to return. Like us making out on the pool table. Me stumbling into his room before he ripped my shirt off. Then me down on my knees before him. I couldn’t get his belt and jeans off fast enough.

I blink rapidly to try and clear the memories that are coming back full force.

“Hello
ma’am,” he says trying to sound formal. He stretches his hand out to me.

“Hello,” I say narrowing my eyes on him and cross my arms over my chest. It’s a little late for formalities.

He takes his hand that’s stretched out in front of him and lifts it up to my hair. He pulls back and has a leaf between his fingers.

He chuckles. “Looks like you’ve been rolling around in the grass.”

Motherfucker.

He knows. Shit! I didn’t think to look for any video cameras around his gate. I’m sure he has them.

He smirks as if he knows what I’m thinking.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Dashling.” I nod my head.