After Burn

by Autumn Jones Lake

  I burst into giggles and roll to the side. “Oops. I thought they were still out.”

  Rock lazily tucks one arm up behind his head and turns to look at me. “You think that would’ve stopped me?”

  “No.” I slide closer and run my fingers over his chest, stopping to look at the bruises blooming over his right shoulder. “Did I hurt you?”

  He blows out a breath. “You’re the cure for everything that ails me.”

  “That’s sweet, but I’m worried about you. We have a long ride home.”

  “I’ll be fine in a day or two.”

  “If we stay out of trouble.”

  “Yes,” he agrees. “If we stay out of trouble.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The last day of the rally finds us strolling down Main Street checking out a new crop of custom bikes on display. Yesterday, Rock and I spent most of the day in bed so he could “rest” and “heal” his shoulder. Today he seems to be moving more freely and I don’t catch him tightening his jaw in pain when he thinks I’m not looking.

  We’re a rather large, rowdy group walking down the street, which keeps people out of our way.

  “Oh wow, look at this one.” I point out a large Harley painted matte black and glowing green. On closer inspection, fire, devils, and ghosts shimmer in the painting. Pearl blue flames that can only be seen when the sunlight hits the paint just right dance along the fender.

  Rock’s mouth curls into a satisfied grin. “I recognize this one. Bricks,” he calls out.

  “Is this one of yours?” I ask.

  “The paint. The rest the owner did himself.”

  “It’s really beautiful.”

  Bricks nods. “Mixed that paint myself. Where’s he at?”

  “Vapor!” Dex shouts, striding over to meet a tall bearded guy and the slight woman at his side.

  The man with the beard jolts and steps in front of his girlfriend. Only when he recognizes Dex do his hard features seem to relax. The couple follows Dex to our little group.

  “Vapor,” Rock greets. “Was hoping we’d run into you down here. How’ve you been?”

  “Not bad.” He introduces us to his wife, Juliet, and we chat about the rally, the weather, and how long our rides home are. After a round of small talk, Rock gives me a subtle head tilt. I take it as he wants a second alone with this man for some reason.

  “The girls and I were going to grab milkshakes, do you want to join us, Juliet?”

  She glances at Vapor before answering. “Sure.”

  Trinity and Charlotte are actually up ahead, checking out some store windows. I wave to them and point to the ice cream shop.

  “Phew.” I fan the shop’s menu over my heated skin after we step inside. “I don’t know why I expected Florida to be cooler in the fall.”

  Juliet laughs. “It’s hot pretty much year-round. We’re actually thinking of moving back to New York.”

  “Then you have to deal with our winters.”

  She shrugs.

  When our shakes are ready, we take seats near the window.

  Alexa spills milkshake all over the front of Heidi’s shirt. Stunned, Heidi stares down at the mess for a few seconds before letting out a loud sigh. “I knew I should’ve grabbed more napkins.”

  “I’ll hold her, so you can clean up,” Juliet offers.

  Heidi glances at me as if to make sure I’m not going anywhere before handing Alexa over.

  Alexa’s fascinated by Juliet’s long hair and immediately wraps her sticky fist in it.

  “Sorry, I’ll take her,” I offer.

  She waves me off. “It’s fine. She’s so adorable. Love the little vest.”

  “Present from her daddy.”

  “Oh, I bet you’re a daddy’s girl,” she coos, and Alexa squees in response.

  “We’re not telling anyone yet,” Juliet says in a whispery voice, “But since we just met, why not?” She rests her hand over her stomach. “We’re having a baby. I found out just before we left, so we decided to make it a longer trip, since I probably won’t be able to ride in a few months.”

  “Aw, congratulations.”

  Alexa seems fascinated with Juliet’s bracelet—a wide, green leather cuff with what looks like daisies embossed in the middle—and keeps trying to unsnap it from Juliet’s wrist.

  “No, no, Alexa. Look, don’t touch,” I say.

  “It’s okay.” Juliet shows her the bracelet and Alexa runs her fingers over the design. “This is the first gift Roman ever gave me. I never take it off.”

  “That’s so sweet. How long have you been together?”

  “Since high school.”

  I can’t think of a tactful way to ask how long it’s been. She doesn’t look like her high school days are that far behind her, but her mannerisms are of someone much older.

  “Where do you guys live now?”

  “All over,” she answers vaguely before changing the subject. “So, I finally met Bricks. Roman’s mentioned him before, you know when he had the bike done, but I’ve never met him.”

  “Is your husband in an MC too?”

  She glances away. “Not really.”

  What kind of answer is that? MC life doesn’t seem to allow for vagueness. You’re either in or out. Dex had seemed awfully familiar with the couple, so I try again. This time I’m more direct. “How do you know Dex?”

  For the first time, her soft smile falters. “He was married to my cousin. He was kind of like an uncle to me when I was younger.”

  Holy shit. I had no idea Dex was married. Or had been married. Wow.

  “Oh,” I answer lamely. Before I have a chance to ask any follow-up questions, Heidi rejoins us.

  “I look like I’m ready to enter a wet T-shirt contest,” she grumbles as she plops into the chair next to Juliet.

  “I doubt Murphy will mind.”

  She snorts and holds her hands out for Alexa. “Come here you little monster.” She presses kisses to both of Alexa’s cheeks, making her giggle. “Was she good?”

  “Oh yes. She’s a sweetheart,” Juliet says, tugging on one of Alexa’s sandals.

  “She’s not so sweet at three in the morning when she decides it’s time to get up.” Heidi grins at her daughter. “Is it? No, it’s not.”

  Charlotte peeks inside the shop and waves at me.

  “I think that’s our signal that the guys are ready to move on,” I say, standing and grabbing my milkshake. “Heidi, you’re soaked. Let’s run next door and buy a T-shirt for you.”

  “I’ll be okay, Hope. It’s hot enough out.”

  The guys are still crowded around Vapor’s bike. Well, Rock, Wrath, Z, and Dex are. The others seem to be scattered up and down the street. Except Sparky. He’s having liquor poured down his throat by two scantily clad girls at a drink stand across the street.

  “When Sparky goes on vacation he goes hard,” Heidi jokes.

  “There’s my girls,” Murphy says, coming up behind us. He cocks his head. “What happened to you?” he asks Heidi.

  “Alexa.”

  “Ah, here, give her to me.” He kisses her cheek. “Did you spill stuff on Mommy?”

  “Yeth!”

  “Oh my God, she’s so cute.” Juliet rests her hands over her belly. “I hope ours is as good as she is.”

  Juliet seems so calm and sweet, I imagine her baby probably will be too and I say that to her.

  She glances down. “I hope so.”

  “Have you hit the weird cravings phase yet?” Heidi asks.

  “No, everything makes me want to hurl right now.”

  Uncomfortable because I have nothing to add to their conversation and probably never will, I move closer to Murphy and Alexa. As if she senses my sudden melancholy, Alexa leans down and makes fishy lips at me until I give her my cheek.

  “Aw, thanks, baby,” I say softly, kissing her back.

  The girls continue their animated conversation about weird pregnancy cravings and doctor visits. I don’t want to be a downer, so I turn
Murphy’s way.

  He gives me a pained smile. I know why their conversation depresses me, but it takes me a second to figure out why he looks so troubled. After Heidi and Axel married, Murphy took to the road for months and didn’t return until after Alexa was born. He missed all the experiences Juliet and Heidi are excitedly sharing.

  It’s mean to even think it, but at least if Heidi has any more children, it will be with a man who’ll be more than happy to go on midnight ice cream runs for her. Axel hadn’t been the most sympathetic father-to-be, something that really grated on my nerves as Heidi approached her due date.

  Shaking that off, I place my hand on Murphy’s arm and reach up on my tiptoes to get his attention.

  He bends down and gives me his ear.

  “I’d say you’ll get to do all that pregnancy stuff with her one day, but I don’t want to encourage you two until you’re in your own house,” I whisper.

  That does the trick. He rumbles with laughter and holds up his hand. “I can’t make any promises.”

  I smack him lightly and he laughs even harder.

  “What are you laughing at?” Heidi asks.

  Murphy shakes his head.

  “Ready, babe?” Vapor asks, slipping an arm around his wife.

  “Whenever you are.”

  Rock’s warm, solid body, presses against my back. He slides his arms around me and kisses my cheek. “Where’s my milkshake?”

  “Here.” I offer mine but he declines.

  “Teasing you,” he murmurs, nuzzling my neck.

  “I’ll take it, if you’re offering, Hope,” Sparky says, swiping it out of my hand before I have a chance to answer.

  “Well, I… okay.” Too late now.

  “I need to get the taste of that cheap tequila out of my mouth. Fucking nasty swill.” He claws at his throat and makes a number of disgusting sounds. “Gah! It’s still burning its way down my esophagus. How the hell is that legal and pot isn’t?” Sparky grumbles.

  “You looked like you were having fun,” I say.

  “The redhead wasn’t wearing any panties,” he explains.

  “Alrighty, then,” I mumble, making everyone laugh.

  He tips his head back and pours the shake down his throat, guzzling it down in one long shot.

  “Ow, brain freeze,” he mumbles a few seconds later.

  “Didn’t think you had any brains left to freeze,” Z jokes.

  Sparky chucks the sort of empty cup at him and it lands on the sidewalk.

  “That’s not environmentally friendly,” Z says.

  One of the many cops patrolling the big biker rally casts a glance our way.

  “For fuck’s sake,” Rock growls.

  “Sparky.” I glare at him until he picks up the cup. The last thing we need is to be hassled by the cops again.

  “So you already have a bunch of kids, I see,” Juliet whispers to me.

  I burst out laughing. “Rock used to say that all the time, and I never quite understood what he meant.”

  To my surprise, she gives me a big hug before leaving. As they turn to head back to their bike, I notice the Nomad rocker at the bottom of Vapor’s vest.

  “Even if a nomad doesn’t belong to a particular charter, doesn’t he belong to a club?” I quietly ask Rock once we’re somewhat alone.

  “Sometimes. Vapor’s a loner.” Rock hesitates as if he’s unsure of how much to share. “He picks up odd jobs for a lot of different MCs.”

  Odd jobs. Somehow I doubt Rock means raking leaves or painting fences.

  “Were you trying to entice him into going steady with the Lost Kings?”

  He rumbles with laughter. “Something like that. He’d be an asset for sure. Wouldn’t need to prospect as long.”

  “I like Juliet a lot. She’d fit in well.”

  “Figured. Thank you for giving us a minute.”

  I squeeze his arm. “I know how to read you.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  How do I ask this question? “She said she was related to Dex’s wife?”

  Rock sighs and looks away. “I didn’t know that.”

  Whether he means, he didn’t know Dex was married—which I kind of doubt—or that Juliet was related to her, isn’t clear, and he doesn’t elaborate.

  PART TWO

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “It feels so good to be home!” Hope sings and twirls around the garage as soon as she hops off the bike. “My ass is killing me.”

  Her words are mostly drowned out by the rumble of the other bikes pulling into the garage, but I catch her hand and yank her toward me. I bury my face against her neck. “Meet me in the hot tub and I’ll take care of your ass.”

  She bats her lashes and smiles. “Yes, Mr. President.”

  “You two didn’t get it on enough during the trip?” Ravage asks, walking over with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

  “Rav, unload the van, and help Murphy unload the truck when Heidi gets here,” I order.

  “What? Why?”

  “Because you’re obviously bored and in need of something to do?” Hope turns her head to the side and snickers.

  He grumbles, but gets to work.

  Swan runs out of the clubhouse and into the garage. The girls scream and hug each other and talk excitedly about the trip.

  “I hope you’re not all sick of each other. Stash and I put together a big welcome home dinner.”

  “What time do you want us at the table?” Z asks. “Dex and I need to run down to Crystal Ball and check on things real quick.”

  “Seven, does that work for everyone?”

  “Sounds good. Thank you for doing that, Swan,” Hope says.

  Between my bike shop and club business, I’m sure there’s a ton of things waiting my attention, but I’m not ready for this to be over with yet.

  “You have that look,” Hope teases, slinging her arms around my neck.

  “What look is that, baby doll?”

  “Like you already have club business on your mind.”

  She’s teasing me, but I detect a note of vulnerability in her words.

  “You’re not sick of me yet?”

  “Never,” she says in her soft, husky voice.

  Fuck if that simple word doesn’t twist me up inside. Never have I loved being with anyone is much as I love being with her. Always feels good to have confirmation the feeling is mutual.

  “No club business tonight, I promise. Still in vacation mode.”

  “I’m just teasing, if you really have stuff you need to—”

  I cut her off with a kiss.

  “Break it up, horndogs,” Ravage shouts.

  Behind Hope’s back, I flip him off and keep right on doing what we’re doing.

  Before she can get caught up helping Swan out, Wrath drags Trinity to their house. “We’ll be back later,” Trinity calls out over her shoulder.

  “Home sweet home!” Sparky yells. “You better not have killed my babies.” He throws a glare at Stash as he runs past him and into the clubhouse.

  “And that’s the last we’ll see if Sparky for the next two years,” Z says.

  “I don’t know about that,” Swan says. “Willow said she was coming over after the club closes.”

  Stash holds out his hands palms up and pretends to weigh Sparky’s options. “Hot chick on one hand or his plants on the other? I don’t know. That’s a close one for Sparky.”

  “Don’t pick on him.” Swan playfully slaps Stash’s arm and Dex cuts a glare her way from across the garage.

  “Oh boy,” Hope mutters.

  “Let’s go home and change.” I grasp her hand and lead us home.

  The next morning, Rock’s alarm goes off way earlier than human decency should allow.

  “Nooo,” I moan, reaching for him. “Stay.”

  He leans back, brushing the hair off my face. “You make it impossible to leave when you’re all beautiful and sleepy.”

  “Then stay.”

  “Don’t you have to go to the
office yourself?”

  Exhaustion still pulls at me. Or maybe it’s post-trip depression. I roll over and shove my head under my pillow. “I don’t wanna,” I mumble.

  The bed shifts. I yelp as the sheet’s ripped off me and cool air hits my skin. “Don’t you dare,” I warn, but my voice is muffled by the pillow.

  For Rock my warning is more of an invitation and his hand cracks against my ass a few seconds later. He keeps his hand there, rubbing and squeezing, then lightly swats the other cheek. “You stay there like that I’m gonna find other things for you today.”

  I peek out from under the pillow. “Promise?”

  “Thought you were supposed to meet the girls for morning yoga?”

  “I guess,” I grumble, rolling out of bed.

  “We can always practice right here.”

  “Hmph.”

  “My girl’s not a morning person is she?” he teases on my way to the bathroom.

  “No.”

  In the bathroom, I’m struck with wave of nausea that brings me to my knees. “Shit.”

  What little I had in my stomach comes up. My nose stings and tears stream down my cheeks. I hate being sick.

  “Rock?” I call out as I make my way over to the sink to brush my teeth.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t feel so good.”

  He’s filling the doorway two seconds later. “Shit, babe you don’t look good. Come here.” He rests his hand against my forehead and cheeks, his mouth flattening into a grim line. “Come on, why don’t you go back to bed.”

  He walks me to the bed and gently tucks me under the covers, then sits beside me. “What can I get you?”

  “Water? Maybe some tea?”

  “All right. I’ll be right back.”

  I close my eyes and sort of drift back to sleep for what seems like only a few seconds before Rock’s waking me up with a cup of tea and small plate of toast.

  “Think you caught a bug on the trip?” he asks.

  “Maybe.” I sip at the tea and nibble on the toast for a few minutes with Rock watching over me, hands on his hips, concern wrinkling his forehead.

  “I feel better now. Sorry.” I can’t ruin his whole day because I have a tummy ache.