by Brook Wilder
“Uh, Honey? Honey!” Elle shouted, as if he couldn’t see them. Fear lodged in her throat making it impossible for her to say anything else, to do anything else except what he’d told her. Hold on. And trust him.
It came surprisingly easy, the trust. Like it had always been there, and it had just taken this ridiculous situation to realize it. But she really did. She trusted him. With her life, and more importantly, with her heart. The thought shot through her, ringing like a cannon blast and it distracted her so much she didn’t realize that the biker’s in front of them were closing in until she looked up.
“Honey, what the heck do you think you’re doing!” Elle shouted, or she tried to shout anyways. The wind kept beating at her words, at her face, making it hard to speak let alone yell at the idiot for letting them get trapped. But there was a manic joy in his voice as he shouted one word back to her.
“Chicken!”
Chicken? Chicken! It echoed over and over and she could see it now. Three bikers behind them, three bikers in front of them. Honey wasn’t planning on getting caught, he wasn’t even planning on slowing down. He was going to try and ride straight through the ones in front of them and hope that the bad guys got out of the way before they reached them.
“Honey, you are…you are…a complete idiot! Honey, what the f–!” But her startled words were cut off as they neared. So close now that she could see the glares aimed straight at Honey and her. Elle closed her eyes, just hoping to make it through alive and as they all came together the noise of the combined motorcycles sounded like a plane engine passing them by.
Wait a minute! Passing them by? They were still alive? Oh my god, they were still alive. They had survived it. Honey’s mad plan had actually worked. Elle threw a quick evaluating glance behind her at the mass confusion as the bikers had to veer out of each other’s way, shouting curses at each other, and at them.
As Honey made a series of quick turns and the sound of the other motorcycles faded to silence behind them, a strange feeling surged through Elle. She was buzzing with adrenaline and a sort of wild happiness that had her laughing out loud as they escaped their would be captors and she couldn’t seem to stop it. She had never felt so…free before.
After another twenty minutes of incomprehensible twists and turns on the side roads and truck access roads that crisscrossed this side of the mountain, Honey began to slow down. Eventually, he pulled over behind an outcropping that blocked their view from the road and parked the bike with a long exhale.
He slid off, closing his eyes as he leaned against it and just breathed deep of the fresh, mountain air.
An unexpected sound broke the peaceful silence. A giggle. Her giggle. Elle slapped a hand over her mouth in shock and Honey looked over at her, confusion lighting his dark gaze first but as another small giggle escaped his mouth tilted up in that lop-sided way of his and laughter shone from the depths of his own eyes.
“You think that was funny?” He asked, tilting his head to one side as he stared at her, still grinning. She shook her head.
“No!” Elle said aghast but she couldn’t hold back her laughter, breaking up her words and making it hard to speak. “It was terrifying.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” Honey moved so his hip was leaning against the side of the bike. She was still astride the back and now they were so close her thigh was nearly brushing his.
“Yeah,” She said, breathless now, “It really was. It was so close!”
“It was. Too close.” Honey leaned forward, closing the small amount of distance between them, “Don’t ever do anything like that again, okay?”
“I promise I won’t,” Elle replied heartily, but then added, “Only if I have to.”
Honey looked at her for a long moment. “I guess that’s as good as I’m going to get, huh?”
Elle nodded her head, her gaze trapped in his and suddenly her heart beat started racing again. Not from fear, or from adrenaline, but just from him. Honey reached forward, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear in a move so full of tenderness that it had her chest going tight and tears stinging the corners of her eyes. And she knew. Like a bolt of lightning striking her. She knew.
“I love you.” Elle said, the words falling out in a jumbled rush. Honey froze, his dark eyes suddenly intense on hers.
“What did you say?”
“I–I love you.” Elle repeated the words, with more confidence now and her whole body filled with warmth like sunshine breaking through the clouds. “I didn’t…I didn’t understand before. I just didn’t realize it but I think…I think I’ve known for a while now too. You just scared me. I’m not–.”
“Not used to sharing your feelings with people?” Honey finished her sentence, interrupting her. But she slowly nodded.
“Yeah. I’ve just…” She looked away, forcing herself to break eye contact. It was too hard to say what she needed to say staring into his dark, melting gaze. “I’ve been alone for so long, Honey. I don’t know– I didn’t know how to let anyone it.”
The hand that was still tangled in her hair by her ear slid down until it was cupping her cheek, caressing her skin with his thumb, back and forth, as he drew her eyes back to face his.
“I know, Elle.” He huffed out a small sigh, a soft laugh, “I know…Thank you.”
“For what?” She asked softly, staring wonderingly up into his face. It was almost too handsome to look at and she let her eyes flutter shut as he leaned his forehead against hers.
“For being honest with me.” Honey finally said. His warm breath swept across her cheek, teasing her lips and for a long moment all she could do was sit there, listening to the birds and steady sound of his heartbeat. Hers was still racing, partly from the rush of the mad dash getaway, and partly because of the wild happiness that flowed through her.
“I’m sorry, Honey,” Elle breathed out the words, barely more than a whisper.
“Hush,” As he spoke his lips brushed against hers, a feather light touch that had chills racing down her body, “There’s nothing to apologize for.”
“No, there is.” She said, leaning back enough so that she could meet his gaze, so that he could see the sincerity shining in her own. “I tried to push you away for so long. Because I was too afraid of my own feelings. Of…my very self. And I was scared of letting myself get hurt.”
“Elle, it’s okay–.”
“No, let me finish.” She interrupted him, waiting for him to nod before speaking once more, “I…I was a coward. And because I was so afraid, I hurt you instead. And I’m so sorry. I know I’m not the easiest person but I promise that I’ll do my best to be honest with you.”
“Well, I know how seriously you take your promises.” Honey whispered, a small happy grin hanging on his lips as he caressed her cheek.
“Very seriously.” Elle breathed softly, suddenly breathless. Honey leaned close again and Elle had to fight the urge to let her heavy eyelids drift close. She wanted to see him. She didn’t want to miss any more than she already had. She thought he was going to kiss her but at the last minute, he stopped. Honey flicked his dark gaze once more up to hers, and she almost gasped at the raging fire burning in their depths.
“Say it again.” He whispered hoarsely, his voice rough and gravelly in a way that had moisture pooling low and sweet at her core.
“What?”
“Say it again. I want to hear you say it again.” He repeated his question and it finally broke through her lust induced confusion. Elle moved so that her lips were just hovering about her because when she spoke she wanted him to be able to feel the words as well as hear them.
“Honey, I love you.” She whispered, kissing him softly like a dream. Suddenly his hands were running up her thighs, picking her up and shifting her around until she was still sitting on the bike, but sideways now and he was pressing tight into the vee of her open thighs.
He kissed her then, and it was like something out of a movie, or a book. So soft, so gentle, with just the right amount
of pressure to have her leaning forward and begging for more.
“Tell me again.” Honey whispered the words against her lips and she nearly giggled again.
“I love you.” She said, and he swallowed the words with his next kiss, harder this time, drawing her deeper and deeper until her whole world was him.
“Say it one more time.” He begged her, and this time she did giggle. She was so full of joy that she couldn’t hold it in.
“I love you, Honey. I love you. I love you. I love you.” He kissed her then, a kiss so devastating that she didn’t think she could have said anything at all and all too soon he was pulling back, his eyes dark and luminous on her.
“I love you too, Elle Watson.”
Chapter 30
The ride back towards the farm was almost magical for Honey. He felt like he was driving through a dream. A dream that he never, ever wanted to wake up from. He could feel Elle real and solid at his back. She was holding him so tight that he could feel her heart beating out its steady rhythm against him even through the thick leather of his jacket.
Something had happened back there, after he had managed to get past the Nomad bikers that had been chasing after them. When they’d been parked there, in the middle of the nowhere, surrounded by the towering mountains and crystal clear blue Colorado sky. He had looked down at her as she’d said those words, and everything had changed. He had changed.
Those three magic words had fallen from her sweet lips like a spell, and they had…done something to him. He felt different, like he was riding out of that small deserted stretch of a road a different man than he’d been when he had first arrived there, and it was because of her. Because of Elle. Because of her love for him.
She loved him. Over and over he repeated her words in his head, like a record on repeat because he didn’t want to forget the way her voice had softened as she’d said it. Or the way her eyes had met his, strong, sincere, letting him know that she meant every word to the depths of her soul because he’d been able to see it in the dark depths of her fathomless gaze.
I love you. I love you. I love you. Like a mantra, like a totem, he repeated them. The words echoing back on themselves until it was just a cacophony of sound that filled him with lightness, with a sheer, wild happiness that he’d never felt before. That he never thought he deserved to feel.
It’s a forty five minute drive back to Honey Bud Farms from where they’re at but he stretches it to an hour and half because he hates the idea of this ending. Just riding with a motorcycle between his legs, the woman he loved holding on behind him and the sun shining down. Nothing could ever be better than this. He thought he would die of happiness if anything ever was.
But finally, he didn’t have a choice and turned onto the highway that would lead them back to the farm, and Joel and Carla and the rest of the guys waiting to hear how things had gone down. About as he expected it would, honestly.
It had seemed to be going fine at first. She’d been gone for a long time and fear had started to plague him, shouting at him to go after her but then she’d come stumbling out on her own. He still didn’t know what had happened to tip them off that she wasn’t in Viper’s camp, and he also didn’t know what sort of repercussions would come of it. But he knew there would be. And he knew that he wouldn’t like them. Damaris, the leader of the Nomads had a reputation for being merciless on those he thinks have betrayed him.
Damaris had a tenuous control over the Nomads, any loyalty there was inspired by fear and nothing more but like Sparkplug had told him, fear went a long way, and so did cash. Which, he knew from experience, was a big motivator for most of the members. And not just in the Nomads. But in the Cruisers, too. At least the new ones.
The thought had a pang of sadness surging through his chest. The family he knew was long gone, twisted by Viper’s greed and jealousy. He would fall, just like all punks would, but there was a rift now, between Joel and the rest of the crew, and Honey couldn’t help but wonder how they would be able to bridge it.
His mind kept going back to the Nomads, though. He knew that everything within the Dirty Cruisers would get worked out in time, especially once the farm started bringing in revenue. Then Viper wouldn’t have an argument to stand on. But the Nomad’s worried him.
Honey thought of everything he knew about the crew, most of which he’d learned from Sparkplug, and he knew that there would be some sort of retaliation from the rival members. He didn’t know how, he didn’t know what or when, he just hoped that they would have enough time to come up with that plan b that Joel had been talking about.
He still hadn’t come up any answers as he pulled onto the gravel driveway that lead to the farm and he felt Elle sigh behind him.
“I wish we could just keep riding forever.” She whispered at his back and he felt warmth shoot through him as she echoed his own thoughts back to him.
“Me too, baby.” Honey said, meaning every word, “But we got to let Joel and everyone else know what happened so we can figure out what to do next. My guess is that the Nomads haven’t exactly been standing still while we’ve been driving around.”
He felt a moment of guilt, knowing that he’d intentionally stretched out the distance to get back, stalling just so he could savor the moment a little longer.
“I know,” She sighed, “We have a duty to do. I just wish–.” Elle’s words cut off abruptly on a sharply indrawn breath as they pulled in the farm’s parking lot and Honey saw immediately what had caught her attention.
Parked haphazardly around the gravel lot was at least half a dozen, maybe more, unfamiliar motorcycles. They were left as if they’d been parked in a hurry, some even dropped to their side in a sign that whatever went down must have been important because no biker would ever just leave their motorcycle like that to get scratched up from the crushed rocks underneath.
“Honey, who are they?” Elle asked shakily as he hastily threw the kickstand on the bike Tucker had loaned him and took a closer look. He had to bite back an angry curse as he saw an insignia on one of the bike’s bodies.
“The Nomads.”
“What? Are you sure? How would they– It’s so soon! It’s too soon! We didn’t even get a chance to warn them, they probably didn’t even know what was coming and it’s all my fault! I never should have agreed to the plan, it was too risky and now they could be hurt, they could be–.”
“Elle, calm down,” Honey said softly, even though it took an immense effort to moderate his tone, “Calm down, baby, this is not your fault.”
“No, it is. It is though, Honey. I was the one who went there. I was the one who lied to them and they figured it out. If Scorpion hadn’t walked in–.”
“Wait, is that what happened? Why you came tearing out of there like your ass was on fire? That asshole saw you?”
“Yeah. I had almost made it outside when suddenly he was there. Just…there in front of me. I thought Sparkplug was going to draw him out.”
“Me too,” Honey said, thinking. He hoped that Sparkplug was okay. Obviously, something had gone south and tipped Damaris’s right hand man that something was happening, he just prayed that Sparkplug hadn’t paid the price.
“Something must have happened then. Do you think he’s okay?” Elle asked, once more echoing his own thoughts out loud but all he could do was shake his head. He had just opened his mouth to speak when a cry split the air.
Elle head whipped to the right, staring as if she could someone see through the tall fields to the source of the sound.
“It’s Carla.” She whispered, an expression of pure horror drawing over her face as all the blood drained from her cheeks, leaving her a ghostly pale white.
“Elle, we’ll figure this out, okay? We’ll figure it out. I have to call the cops. This is bigger than us now. You need to stay here, and stay safe, okay? Promise me, Elle.” Honey cupped her chin in his hand, drawing her face back until she was looking at him, “Promise me.”
“I pro–.” But before she could f
inish another cry rang out and this time she flinched as if it was her own shout of pain.
“Carla.” Elle whispered, “I know it’s her. She’s in trouble.”
“Elle, please I need you to stay here. Promise me you’ll stay here while I figure this out.” Honey pleaded once more but her horrified gaze firmed into determination and he only had a moment’s notice before she was tearing off in the direction of the cries, in the direction of her friends.
“Wait! Elle, stop!” Honey called after her, but he was afraid to shout too loud, afraid to draw any unwanted attention in their direction. He reached out, trying to stop her but it was too late. She was already disappearing into the first row of crops.
“Fuck!” Without any other options left, he ran after her.
Chapter 31
The tall plants whipped her cheeks as Elle ran past them but she didn’t even notice. The only thing she could focus on was the shouts and yelling that drew closer and closer. She had to find them, she had to try and help her friends. It was all her fault that this had even happened.