Ride Free (13 page)

***

Most of the members decided to camp out; others found a motel. The weather was more extreme than Sarah imagined, and she sank back on the bike in relief at the news that they’d be staying at a cottage owned by Reefer’s employer. At the moment, air conditioning sounded way more appealing than hard ground.

She jumped in the shower after Reefer got done and washed the road dust off. She closed her eyes and stood under the water, letting it beat down on her shoulders. The ride today had ended up being more stressful than previous days because of the back-to-back traffic through the inner cities.

Reefer came inside the bathroom, and she opened her eyes.

“Hey, Kitten? You want to stay in, and I’ll order pizza?” Reefer tossed a towel over the glass enclosure.

“Sure.” She wiped her eyes on the towel. “No anchovies, though.”

“Gross. No way.”

After the bathroom door closed, she spent a little longer in the shower scrubbing the road dust off. The weather and wind had dried out her hair, and she added extra conditioner. Her scalp tender, she realized that the top of her head had probably gotten sunburned.

She walked out to the main room in a pair of panties and T-shirt. The aroma of pizza sauce and pepperoni wafted through the air, and she sniffed. Reefer lay across the bed on his side, the pizza box beside him. She sat down and rubbed her belly.

“I’m starved.” She opened the box and picked a pepperoni off the top.

They both sat on the bed and finished the whole pizza. Sarah fell back on the pillow holding her stomach. Contentment washed over her, and she smiled over at Reefer.

“I ate too much.” She groaned.

He picked up the box and set it on the floor. “Four pieces doesn’t exactly qualify as ‘too much.’” He laughed and lay down beside her. “Your face is looking better.” He ran the backside of his finger down her cheek.

She smiled. “It was nice of you to shake Crank’s hand. Maybe now he’ll give up on the little gifts he thinks he owes me.”

Each time the group made a pit stop, she found a token from Crank. Everything from flowers, a bandana, a promise written on a ripped piece of paper stating he’d never drink again, and even another pin to attach to her jacket. This one stated: “I Heart California.”

“What are you thinking?” Reefer gazed at her.

She laid her head down on her arm. “Everything has changed so fast, and for the better. I never realized how alone I had become before you came riding into my life.”

“I know what you mean. Life has a purpose now.” He ran his hand along her hip. “Sometimes I wake up and reach out for you, just to make sure you’re still here.”

“I’ll always remain with you.” She linked her fingers with his.

The way he reached out to touch her reinforced the fact that he loved her. Deep down, she found she craved the simplest attention she’d lacked in her childhood.

“Where do we go from here?” She wiggled closer.

“We have a week, and—”

“No, not the next destination, but with us… Do we ride together for the rest of our lives?” She raised her eyebrows. “I’m all for living in the moment and changing towns with the season, but what do you want?”

He kissed her forehead and tucked her head against his chest. “I don’t know. I do know I never want to give up my family and I want you beside me every minute of the day.”

“Do you ever think about a family of your own? Babies?” she whispered. His heart beat against her ear, and she wondered if the topic scared him, or if he ever thought about what their lovemaking might produce.

“Before I met you, I’d say I didn’t plan on having a family. My job as the end man fulfilled me.” He paused.

She waited, afraid to breathe or move. She wanted to hear how much he loved her and was glad to have her in his life, but she knew his devotion to the gang came before anything else. Only recently, observing him with Margarine’s baby, did she realize how much she craved a child of her own. What if he never wanted the responsibilities of a family?

“It scares me to death. That bundle of responsibility. I do odd jobs when they’re available, but I can’t count on what comes next week. Having a kid means changing my whole life. Finding a place to hole up to allow a child to get an education.” He rubbed her back. “It didn’t really work out for my parents, but I watched Knuckles and Sunflower do it right. Now Margarine lives her own life while still staying connected to the family.” He stopped the massage and brushed his hair back from his face. “Along with finding you and loving you more each day, I think about it. I can’t say I’m positive I want to pull out of the family at this point in my life, but in a few months, a couple years, I can see myself holding my own child and coming home to you after work.”

Sarah’s eyes grew round, and she dared not lift her head. His whole speech sunk in, and she sniffed.
He wants to have a family.

“Are you crying?” He leaned back and lifted her chin. “Why are you crying?”

“That is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard you say. And the longest string of sentences you’ve spoken at once.” She hiccupped and sniffed again. “I want the same things with you. I’ll wait, and even go from one side of the country to the other with you. We have lots of time for both of us to be ready.”

She kissed him. Her lips trembled, and she laughed. “I bet you’re exhausted after all that talking, Tough Guy.”

He groaned, and then his upper body shook with laughter. “What is with you and these names you keep trying out? Isn’t Reefer cool enough?”

“It just feels like I should call you something significant. Calling you babe, sweetie, or dear just doesn’t cut it. You’re more than those.” She pinched her mouth over to the side. “I got it. I can call you Chatterbox.”

He gifted her with an open-mouth smile and chuckle. “You’re crazy! I’d have a hard time looking mean and tough with a name like that.”

“Okay, I’ll keep thinking, but I’m not giving up. I’ll come up with something spectacular that will impress you.” She grinned.

***

By the time Sarah woke up, Reefer had already left for the painting job, and beside the coffeepot lay a note, along with his cell phone. She read the piece of paper and smiled. He must have known she wanted to call and check up on her da.

She carried the phone over to the rocking chair by the front window and proceeded to dial the number for Bill’s house. She gazed out at the cactus in the yard and marveled at the way she went from a coast range last week to the desert this week. The scenery seemed to changed in the blink of an eye.

Bill was headed out the door, but let her know her da still relied on the bottle to escape the life he’d built for himself. Sarah asked him to write down Reefer’s number in case an emergency cropped up and she was needed at the reservation. Despite her lack of involvement in his everyday care, she knew she’d find a way to get back if her da needed her. She’d accepted that way of life a long time ago.

She wandered aimlessly around the cottage, bored out of her mind with nothing to do. She second-guessed her decision to stay there for the week. At least if she were at the campsite with the other members she’d have someone to talk with.

She scanned the books in the bookcase and found a romance novel that piqued her curiosity. She carried it outside and sat in one of the lounge chairs. The morning sun proved bearable, and she soon lost herself between the pages, reading about a duke who fell in love with a woman from the other side of the tracks.

The sound of Reefer’s motorcycle drew her away from the story, and she realized that she’d read most of the book. Her stomach growled. Hopefully, Reefer brought lunch with him.

She walked around the cottage and found Reefer. Covered with splotches of paint, he held up a white Styrofoam container.

“Mm, what do you have there?”

“Fish and chips.”

“Did you come home just to give me lunch?” She rose up on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss.

He placed his arm over her shoulders and walked back to the cottage with her. “Nope, it’s too hot to paint in the afternoons, so we work early in the morning until noon. It dawned on me that I left you with no money and no food inside. I’m used to eating on the go and only worrying about myself. Sorry.”

“That’s okay. I have a little money of my own and could have walked a few blocks to the store.” She took the food from him and followed him into the cottage.

She stepped over to the cupboards to search for two plates. After separating the food, she handed a plate to Reefer.

“What kind of house are you painting?” She took a seat at the table.

“Not a house. A row of single-story business offices downtown.” He chuckled. “I hate heights, so it’s not bad at all. There are eight of us working, and shouldn’t take too long to finish the job.”

“This is really good.” She held up a piece of deep fried cod.

“Mmhmm.” He chewed and nodded. “You want to stay here for the rest of the day or ride back to the campground with me to check on the others?”

“I’ll ride.” She wiped her hands on a paper napkin. “Are they staying very far from here?”

He shook his head.

“I wouldn’t mind if we stayed with them. It gets a little boring here, holed up by myself during the day.” She picked up Reefer’s plate, carried it to the sink, and searched for the dish soap.

“You sure?” He stepped up beside her and brushed her hair back over her shoulder.

She smiled. “Positive.”

“I’m going to jump in the shower and change clothes, then we’ll take our stuff over there. I’ll feel better knowing you’re around other people while I’m working.” He headed toward the bathroom.

She cleaned up the dishes, straightened the room, and set their bags by the door. Reefer came out of the shower, his hair wet and slicked back. Her desire for him expanded, sending moisture to her girly parts.

“What’s that expression for?” He scratched his bare chest.

Her lips curled, and she swore they softened and plumped in her attraction to him. She approached him and trailed her fingers across his chest, fascinated with the way the hair thickened over the center and spread out to the sides.

“Do you know how incredibly sexy you are?” She ran her hands from his chest down and around to cup the back of his jeans.

“Sexy as hell.” He nuzzled her neck, and she giggled.

“Maybe we should take advantage of having the cottage to ourselves for a little bit and check with the family later?” She lifted the bottom of her shirt and pulled it over her head.

“I think that’s a great idea.” He slipped his hand in between her belly and the waistband of her jeans and tugged her towards the bed.

She fell on top of him and straddled his hips. She purred and raked her fingernails lightly down his stomach. He reached up and cupped her breasts, and she leaned into his hands, her hair falling forward and curtaining them.

“My wild little Kitten, come here.” He hooked his hand behind her neck and brought her mouth down to meet his. Her tongue came out to lick and tease. His hips reacted to the kiss, showing her how much he enjoyed what she did.

“We need to lose the clothes.” His skilled hands undid her jeans, and she lifted herself up and let him pull the pants off her in one swift move.

He unzipped and lowered his pants just enough to give Junior his freedom. She positioned herself over him, and with a huge intake of breath, she sank down on him. A content smile of satisfaction spread over her face, and she rode him.

His face was all harsh angles and planes. A muscle twitched by his mouth, and she saw the tremors in his fingers. Her throat tightened. This was a side of Reefer he only let her see. The vulnerable loving man. The one who let her love him, and loved her back.

She put her arms behind her and braced her hands on his thighs, her hair teasing her bare breast with each thrust of his hips. She moaned, and Reefer added his own grunts of pleasure. She moved faster, her cries louder, and she swore the intensity of their lovemaking might light the bed on fire.

“O–o–oh, Reefer!” She convulsed with him seated deep inside her heat.

He held her hips and kept her planted on him as he released his pleasure. She collapsed on his chest. The blood rushed through her head, and her heartbeat pounded in her ears.

Reefer’s arms lay loose around her, and he struggled to catch his breath. “Have I told you how much I love to hear you scream my name, Kitten?”

Chapter Sixteen

Sarah spent the next morning with Sunflower, Thelma, and Louise, browsing the outlet stores along the downtown strip. None of them bought a thing, but the diversion from sitting around all day proved fun and relaxing. Best of all, she found herself fitting in with the other three and realized that somehow they’d all formed a bond with each other over the short time she’d known them.

“The guys are playing poker tonight. How about we treat ourselves to dinner?” Sunflower looped her arm through Sarah’s. “I feel like Mexican food and margaritas.”

“Sounds like a plan, although let’s not stay too late.” Sarah skipped along with the others.

“I remember what it was like to be young and in love.” Thelma laughed.

Louise winked at Sarah. “An hour away from Shadow used to feel like a week. Oh, Lord, I craved that man every second of every day.”

“What are you talking about? You still act crazy in love!” Thelma kissed the air in her twin’s direction.

Louise held the restaurant door open for everyone, and Sarah filed in behind Sunflower. The waitress seated them in a booth along the wall and left to make the margaritas.

“You don’t ever drink?” Louise raised her brows.

Sarah shook her head. “I grew up with parents who abused alcohol. I never wanted to test the waters in case I was unable to control myself.”

“That’s smart. I applaud you.” Sunflower nodded.

The women shared similar stories of the other members who battled their own demons with the bottle, and they all took their time enjoying the delicious cuisine. Sarah laughed so hard at times she swore she’d pee her pants. She held her stomach with one hand and wiped her eyes with the other. The love for each of the members was evident in their smiles and the tales they told.