“Wasn’t you,” I said. “It was my choice.”
“Maybe,” she said, “but I came to you. I didn’t have to.”
I just grunted. “Don’t matter now,” I said. “But that’s not all that’s bothering you.”
She went quiet for a minute, looking out over the scenery. It felt good to be alone with her, finally fucking calm. Nobody knew where we were. Nobody was coming for us. Nobody was shooting. Just the two of us.
“I keep waiting for you to leave again,” she said finally.
I cocked my head at her. “Again?”
“You remember,” she said, sounding angry. “Years ago. You saved me on your bike, kissed me, and then disappeared.”
I stared at her, surprised. “That’s what’s been bugging you?”
“You left me,” she said, getting even angrier. “You disappeared.”
“Caralee,” I said, “I got arrested that next day.”
“What?”
I smiled softly. “Your dad found me at work, dragged me off. Said I broke into a house and robbed them, but I didn’t.”
“No.”
“I went to jail for a while. That’s where I joined the Demons, actually.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t I know?”
I shrugged, looking out at the forest again. “Didn’t think you needed me in your life. You were doing okay. You got away from your fucking piece of shit dad. I figured you didn’t need another asshole in your life.”
“Ford,” she whispered, “you went to jail for me.”
“Guess so.”
She stood there staring at me. “And you didn’t tell me, this whole time.”
“Didn’t think it mattered.”
“Ford.”
“Forget it,” I said. “I’ve been dragging you through some shit. Call it even.”
She pressed her self against me and kissed me hard. I felt my cock stir, excitement rushing through me. I kissed her back just as hard, ready to forget about what had happened.
She was the only thing that could make me forget. It was club above all else, but Caralee was part of my club now. She was my old lady, and I was going to protect her. I didn’t know how long our fake marriage was going to last, but as long as the words still meant something, I was going to honor them.
Slowly our kiss broke off. “You stupid man,” she said, smiling.
“Hey now,” I grunted. “No need for that.”
“Sorry. You’re just so stupid.”
“I’m known for my cock, not my brain.”
She kissed me lightly again. “Yeah, you are.”
“You know this ain’t over yet, right?”
“I know.”
“But as long as we’re married, I’ll keep you safe. You know that, right?”
“I know.” She pressed her head against my chest. “And you’re not going to leave me.”
I laughed. “I can’t believe that’s what you’ve been so worried about. Damn, girl, wish I had asked sooner.”
“Stupid man,” she whispered.
I held her like that, standing above a perfect view. The forest stretched out below us, moving out into infinity, and I just kept her pressed close, feeling her body, feeling her breathe.
It wasn’t over, not yet. We had the drugs, but the Snakes were still after her.
And who knew what the future held. Who knew where we’d be or what we’d be.
I didn’t fucking care though.
I was a warrior. I had my club and my cunt, and that was all I needed.
I held her there, looking out over the forest, for as long as she wanted me to.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Caralee
I was losing myself in Ford’s embrace. He was so gruff and talked dirty all the time, but he really did care about me, really did want me to be safe.
And he’d never really left me.
The revelation that my father had arrested him kept running through my mind. I knew Daddy was a drunk and a bastard, but I couldn’t believe he would put an innocent man in jail for months with no problem.
I felt like I was beginning to understand Ford. The world had shit on him, over and over again, and now he was out to get his own revenge. He’d joined the Demons and was a hard badass because he didn’t know any other way to live.
And that was what drew me to him. He lived however he wanted, took whatever he wanted, did whatever he wanted. Part of me wished I could live like that, but it was hard to exist in a world that wanted you to conform all the time.
Ford didn’t conform. Ford did whatever he wanted.
I reached up and touched his face and drew his lips down toward me. I felt his muscular chest, and a thrill ran through me.
He hadn’t left. He hadn’t run away. And he wasn’t going to again.
I kissed him hard, letting my tongue touch his, as he pressed his body roughly against mine.
“You make me so fucking hard, girl,” he said as he kissed my neck.
“Prove it.”
He grunted and took my hand, guiding it toward his hard dick. I grasped his shaft, shocked at how hard he was already. Though I shouldn’t be surprised. The man was insatiable for me, a machine of fucking and sweat and cum. I could feel my own pussy soaking through my panties, and I knew I wanted him. I didn’t care that we were out in public, didn’t care if someone would see us.