by Jamie Begley
Since it was so close, she didn’t drive. Seeing no cars, she walked across the street where she saw Knox dressed in his sheriff uniform coming out of the diner, carrying his coffee cup.
“Hey, Knox,” Killyama greeted.
“Didn’t you see the crosswalk?”
“What crosswalk?” she joked.
“The one you just walked by.” Knox’s stern face didn’t even crack a smile.
“Yeah, well, I must have missed it. Gotta go.”
Knox moved his large body to block her from entering the diner. “You can come back later for what you were in such a hurry to get that you couldn’t take the crosswalk. Follow me to the office. I’m going to write you a ticket.”
“Dude, I just crossed the street. I didn’t rob the fucking bank,” she snapped, trying to step around him.
“Go, Killyama. I’m not joking.” Knox tried to take her arm, but Killyama jerked back from his reach.
“I seriously don’t like to be manhandled.” Her temper rose when he tried to reach for her again. “Diamond will k—” Her mouth dropped open when she found herself pinned against the diner’s door. Her reflex was to fight him, but seeing the faces of the diners inside staring stopped her. “Asshole, you’re going to be working at the factory when I get done suing you.”
She felt the handcuffs clipped around her wrists before Knox turned her around to face him.
“You ready to walk to my office now, or am I going to have to carry you?”
Killyama kicked the coffee cup where Knox must have dropped it when he had handcuffed her.
“I guess you’ll be carrying me, you—”
“You just added littering with malice to your charges,” Knox stated grimly.
“What charges!” she screeched. Killyama forgot she hadn’t planned on going with him as she tried to keep up with his angry strides.
“Jay walking, littering with malice—”
“Is that even a charge? I’ve never heard of that before?”
“… disorderly conduct, resisting arrest,” Knox continued at he opened the door to the sheriff’s office.
“How can you get me for littering? It was your coffee cup.”
Knox skirted the counter where a tramp who had to be seventy years old was wearing a bright pink blouse that made her orange complexation stand out so much that Killyama wished she had borrowed Sex Piston’s sunglasses.
Killyama expected Knox to sit her down on one of the chairs by a desk, but he kept going toward the back.
She looked back at the tramp. “Call Diamond and tell her that her husband has flipped his lid.”
It was when she was locked in a cell that she truly believed he was serious.
“Knox, this isn’t funny. At least unlock my handcuffs.”
“Turn around.”
She turned around, looking over her shoulder as she watched him unlock the handcuffs. “I get a phone call,” she snarled.
“I’ll get to it when I’m done booking you. Take a seat. It’s going to be a while.”
“Son of a bitch, when I get out of here, I’ll own this fucking town,” she yelled as Knox left.
Ranting until she ran out of steam, she then paced back and forth, waiting for Knox to come back and release her.
Surely Lily would become worried when she didn’t come back to the church store. Sex Piston would also get worried when she didn’t make it back to Jamestown.
Sitting down on the bunk, she stared morosely at the wall facing the cell, seeing wanted posters. Bored, she started reading them.
When the door opened, it took her a second to look. Then, when she saw Train, she started yelling at him before he could take a step into the room.
“Fucking hell! Are you—”
Train went back out the door, closing it.
Not letting up from screaming at him, she called him every cuss word she could think of and even made some up when she couldn’t think of anymore.
Frustrated at his lack of response, she finally shut up and sat back down on the bunk. Ten minutes later, when Train came back inside the cell room, she ignored him, continuing to read the wanted posters.
“Look at me.”
She pointedly laid down on the bunk, staring up at the ceiling.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Train lean against the cell, crossing his arms against his chest.
“I can stand here all night. I’m not leaving until we get everything straightened out between us.”
“There’s nothing to straighten out.” Still refusing to look at him, she started counting ceiling tiles.
“You know there is, and you running away to Knoxville won’t solve it.”
“I’m not running from you. Why should I run when I can just kick your ass?”
“Because you love me, and you would rather move to Knoxville and uproot your mama than admit it.”
“She needs to be uprooted. That tin can she calls a home will blow away with the next big storm coming our way.”
“It’s her choice to make, not yours. And that’s not why you’re doing it. You love—”
Jumping off the bunk bed, she screamed at him, “I do not love you!”
“You love me so much that it terrifies you.” Train turned toward her. “I got the present you sent me yesterday. I put it on my bike. That kick back whip you sent me is black and red—”
“I didn’t send you anything,” she denied.
“When Stud gives me the go-ahead, I’ll have to take it off. You’ll have to buy me another one with blue and black colors.” Train’s sincere eyes stared into hers.
She gasped. “You’re leaving The Last Riders?”
He nodded. “I’ve already told Viper. I can deal with the Destructors. They aren’t The Last Riders, and I’ll miss them, but I’ll miss you more.”
“I’m not asking you to give up the club. Why’d you tell Viper you’re leaving? Dude, I’m not getting back with you. I told you that when you tried to talk to me after Gavin left for the hospital.”
“Maybe not, but at least I’ll be able to see you at the Destructors’ club. I miss you, Killy.”
She started pacing. “I’m not doing this with you. We are not getting back together. I don’t even know if I like you.”
“You love me.”
“No, I do not. This is crazy! You had Knox lock me up just to convince me I feel something I don’t.” She sat down on the bunk. “Leave, and tell Knox to bring the key. I want out.”
“I haven’t had sex since the last time we were together. I can’t eat. I don’t drink anymore. I don’t even watch the brothers have sex. I even found some more grey hairs. I owe Rider a hundred dollars because he knew I was thinking about you, and I didn’t pay attention to my cards.”
“I don’t love you.” She bit her trembling lip, turning her head so he couldn’t see the telltale sign.
“I’m even willing to forget my rule about you lying to me. I’ll even let you drive my bike.”
“You going to ride bitch?” She turned back to stare at him.
“Yes.”
“You had Rider hold me down!” She jumped toward the cells bars.
Train didn’t even try to move away, letting her strike at him, seeing the hurt she had felt when he had told Rider to hold her as he searched her pockets and bra reflected in her eyes.
Stopping, she gripped the bars between them until her hands turned white.
“I know, and I’m not sorry. All you had to do was ask me for the key, Killy. That was all you had to do, but you didn’t, because you couldn’t bring yourself to trust me.”
“I was afraid Crash would get suspicious and get the Road Demons to kill Gavin. It had nothing to do with trust. It had to do—”
“You couldn’t bring yourself to put your happiness over someone’s life. Do you know how rare you are? It’s why I love you so much … You fought like a wildcat to protect Winter, Lily … You’re a protector; you can’t help yourself.” Train pried her fingers from the bars
, holding them in his hand. “If you had gone in the military, you would have had a uniform filled with medals.”
“Timothy didn’t want me to,” she admitted, watching his reaction. “My mother told you, didn’t she?”
“Yes.” He squeezed her hand. “She told me everything.”
Killyama sighed. “She doesn’t want to move.”
“I don’t want you to, either. Stay, Killy … please.”
“If I did like you …” She then added the end of her sentence hurriedly, “And I’m not saying I do. I don’t want you leaving The Last Riders. They might not like me, but they love you.”
“Babe …” He broke off at her dark look. “Killyama, they love you. We could compromise. Stay one week at The Last Riders’ compound, and then we can stay at your apartment the next week. We can take turns.”
“I’m not leaving my cat alone for a week.”
“There’s a large bedroom with its own bathroom where Lucky and Willa lived in until their house was built. It’s empty. Viper would let me have that room if I wanted it.”
“I could meet up with Sex Piston the week I live with you and drive in to Jamestown to meet up with Hammer and Jonas when I need to?” Killyama asked, hope brimming in her chest.
“Yes.”
His fake acceptance had her grinning. “You’re not going to bitch about me bounty hunting?”
“No, but when we get married, and you get pregnant, it stops.”
“Deal.” She turned his hand, shaking it hard.
“Don’t think I don’t know you accepted that deal because you never plan to marry me and have kids.”
“Doesn’t matter. A deal’s a deal. Now let me out of this hell hole.”
Train laughed. “Knox would be offended if he heard you call his cell a hell hole.”
“He’ll be lucky if I don’t sue his ass. I still might when he gives me my purse back, and I get my cell phone. I’m calling Diamond. Fucker said I littered with malice. Number one: it was his cup. Number two: he was the one who dropped it, so he was the one who was littering.”
“Killyama, you should have gone into politics.”
“I know, right? I might need to go to law school so I can put bastards like him away for good.” She pointed at the poster on the wall.
Train stared at the wanted posters, a frown furrowing his forehead. “What’s he wanted for?”
“For being ugly.”
He laughed. “You ever fuck in a jail cell?”
“No, and I’m not going to tonight. I’ve got to go—”
“I thought you would want to be with me tonight?” Train tried to kiss her.
“Not tonight. I gave Sex Piston forty-five dollars to buy dinner for me.”
Train placed his hand on the door so she couldn’t open it.
“Lover, I know you missed me, but I’m hungry, and I’ve already paid for it.”
“Don’t be mad. Remember, we just got back together.”
Damn, the fucker was cute when he was afraid of her anger.
“It was Sex Piston’s idea … how to get you to talk to me,” he confessed, searching her eyes to see if she was mad.
“Is King’s still open?”
“Yes.” His eyes started twinkling.
“I guess you’re taking me to dinner. You can buy me that big-ass T-bone steak on his menu. And you’re getting back my forty-five dollars from Sex Piston.”
“It’d be easier for me to give you the money back myself.”
“Lover, if that works for you, that’s fine, as long as it ends up in my purse.”
Train left the bathroom with a towel wrapped about his hips. He would ask Viper in the morning if he could take Shade’s old bedroom, looking forward to the large shower that was down there, already anticipating many memorable showers.
He had wanted them to take that shower when they came back from King’s, but she hadn’t wanted to. Train thought she had wanted time to herself to call her mother who was still staying with Gavin.
Worried about her changing her mind if he left her alone too long, he opened the door to see her sitting on his bed. She was wearing one of his few white T-shirts. It was large on her, but he could still see the long length of her legs. She was brushing her shoulder-length hair.
He loved her curly hair. The dark mahogany gleamed in the glow of the lamp.
When he closed the door, she stopped brushing her hair, holding the brush loosely in her hand. She wrapped her arms around her knees, a swathe of hair covering the curve of her cheek.
“I have a confession to make.”
Train moved closer to the bottom of the bed. “What is it?”
“I had already made up my mind to drive to the clubhouse and see you after I left the church store.”
“Were you?” Train stared tenderly at the woman he loved more than life.
“Yes. I was going to be all romantic and shit, too.”
“Really? I’m sorry I missed that.”
Train threw his towel into the hamper in the corner of his bedroom, sitting down on the side of the bed behind her where he brushed her hair away from her face. She rubbed her cheek against the palm of his hand, but still wouldn’t turn around to face him.
“Next time we get in a fight, I promise I will let you be the one to make up.”
“I have something for you.” She shifted slightly, reaching for her purse. “Close your eyes.”
Train immediately obeyed, hearing the snap of her purse as she opened it.
“I kept it in my purse, not knowing when I would be able to give it to you.”
Train felt her take his hand that had been pressed to her cheek, placing something in his palm. Then, leaning back against his chest, she relaxed.
“You can open your eyes.”
Train stared at the black braided wristband. He smoothed his fingers over it, feeling the stiff leather that was also supple and soft. Braided into the wristband was a silver disc. His eyes narrowed, reading the Apache words she had engraved.
He huskily repeated the words his grandfather had taught him. “I love you.”
Killyama raised the hand holding the wristband, pretending to squint down at it. “Is that what it says? Damn, I thought it said something else.”
Train played along with her. “What was it supposed to say?”
“Mine.”
“Put it on for me?” Train held out his wrist so she could tie it on his left wrist.
“You don’t want to put it on you right hand?” she asked as she secured it.
“The left one is closer to my heart.”
When she finished, he used the same hand to turn her in his arms. Leaning back against the headboard, he lifted her up until she was sitting on his lap, her knees on each side of his hips.
He knew how hard it had been for her to give him the wristband and the words she still wasn’t able to say out loud. Subtly, he wanted to give her the control she still felt she needed. Killyama’s father had all the control in his relationship with Peyton and his daughter. She had to learn Train’s love wasn’t based on control, but love and trust. Until she believed that, he would never see his ring on her finger, or a child they made in her arms.
He slipped a hand to the back of her neck to lower her mouth to his, whispering the words written on his wrist. “I love you.”
She licked his bottom lip, her hands pressed down on his chest until he scooted down to lie flat on the bed.
“What are you doing tomorrow night?”
She lifted her mouth from his. “I’m hoping I’ll be too tired to move from this bed. Why?”
“The club is having a birthday party for Rider.”
“Then I guess I’ll be here. He promised me the presents he didn’t want.”
“You’re still going to hold him to that?”
“I may have stolen his keys, but I filled the orders before I did, so I did the job. I should get paid for my services.” She ran a hand over his tattoo.
“I don’t think he�
��s going to look at it the same way.”
“That’s what I have my big, strong lover for.” She pressed kisses along his breastbone, sensually rubbing her breasts against his chest.
Train cupped her ass cheeks as she bent over him. “You want me to convince Rider to honor the agreement you two made?” He smiled smugly when he reached for a condom, but she pulled his hand back.
“I have it covered.” She twisted her T-shirt up to her belly as she sank down on his thickening cock.
He watched the euphoric expression on her face. He didn’t need words from her when her expression spoke more than words ever could. Her hazel eyes even turned green with the emotions she was feeling.
He wanted to roll her over and pound his dick inside of her. Instead, he parted the lips of her pussy so every stroke of his dick rubbed against her clit.
“Lover, you get better every time I fuck you.”
“I aim to please.” He grinned suggestively up at her.
Her knees dug into his sides. “Yes, you do,” she groaned.
“I have something I bought for you. Reach into my nightstand. There’s a small box.” Train gritted his teeth, trying not to come.
When Killyama pulled out the box, she set it down on his chest before removing the lid. After staring at it for a moment, she pulled out the fine silver chain, letting it run through her fingers.
“Let me take the shirt off,” Train said, and she set the chain down so she could raise her arms up into the air.
Pulling off the shirt, he then picked up the chain, circling it around her waist before fastening it so it rested against her skin. Part of the chain dangled down with an emerald at the end.
“The emerald reminds me of your eyes.”
“Dude, you sure you bought this for me? My eyes aren’t green.”
“They always turn green when I fuck you. It’s how I can tell you want me.”
“I’ll have to remember that.” She wiggled on his cock as she set the box on the nightstand.
Train arched under her to get her to do it again.
“Lover, I’m getting the message you want me to get moving.”
He brought his hands to her hips, slamming her down on him and seeing the emerald flashing at him. “I was waiting to buy the letters that I will click on to the chain to spell out my name.”