Scenic Route

by D. D. Prince

  “Yikes.”

  “Wild Will’s said to be in hiding, Maybe in Canada. Jumped bond. He’s got a long list of warrants. Mantis? Haven’t been able to find him. Fork’s been layin’ low, but him turnin’ up tonight was risky. He rode in to give us some intel he got from one of the men he has on the inside. A few Jackals wanna be patched over. If it happens, Fork’s a Dom. Whoever we decide lives becomes a Dom, too.”

  “Wow.”

  “Or, the patch-over doesn’t happen, he becomes a Dom and that makes an even bigger statement. And then we end them. He’s got two members inside that he hasn’t named who are feedin’ him info. He has two more members he’s about to approach. They’re either on side, they aren’t and they take Fork out, or they aren’t and he takes them out.”

  “Yikes.”

  “Yeah. Meantime, we keep our loved ones close, watch our backs. When the time comes and moves have to be made, you and the other girls might have to go on lockdown in the clubhouse. Our club’ll be ready in a couple weeks. Hopefully things hold out that long.”

  “But, what about our business? Your business?”

  He gave me a look. “Jenna’ll be told the salon might have to close down for a week. Life’s more important than money, baby.”

  I winced.

  “You worried that’ll hurt your cash flow, I can help. Meant to ask, actually. That shit with the Jackals, that hurt you?”

  I stared blankly.

  “The cash they fleeced off you.”

  “Oh. It’s okay,” I waved my hand. “I’ll be fine. No real bills to pay at my brother’s, time to save up some more.” I shrugged. “But wow. Things with the Wyld Jackals sound serious.”

  “Yep. When Jackals are involved, people get hurt in a way they never forget, or else they get dead. That’s why they need to be taken out.”

  “That big one stopped the bearded one from taking more money from me. I wonder if he’s who Chris has on the inside.”

  “Nico? Could be. Don’t know him but know of him, and he could very well be one of Fork’s inside guys.”

  “Yeah. He was trying to intimidate me, too, but he made a comment about bein’ sorry Joe hit me.”

  Spencer’s jaw clenched.

  “Sorry. I shouldn’t talk about that to you,” I said. “I can see how mad it makes you.”

  “You got no fuckin’ idea how mad it makes me, baby, but you need to talk, you talk. Okay? I can’t promise I won’t get angry but don’t ever want you to feel like you can’t talk to me.”

  I nodded, feeling a lump swell in my throat.

  ***

  We were walking into the clubhouse, hand-in-hand. Bronto and Jesse were at the bar, laughing. Bronto’s smile died when we walked in.

  “Yo,” Jesse said.

  “Hey man,” Spencer greeted.

  “Got five?” Jesse asked. “Step outside with me?”

  “Yeah,” Spencer said and passed me the key to his room and kissed me. “See you in a minute.”

  “Okay,” I said and headed toward the hall.

  “Watch,” I heard Jesse say to Bronto.

  “Roger,” Bronto muttered.

  I glanced back over my shoulder and saw him slumped at the bar. Spencer and Jesse had gone, so I walked back over and climbed up onto the stool beside him.

  “Hey,” I greeted.

  He looked at me. His face looked sad.

  “Can we go back to being friends, please?”

  “Yeah. Sorry I’ve been an ass, Pippa.”

  I opened my arms. “Hug?”

  He put his arms around me and gave me a nice big Teddy bear hug.

  “He’s really good to me. I’m gonna give it a chance.”

  He let go of me and looked at me, with more sadness.

  “He’s a dawg, Pippa. And an asshole with an ego --- huge ego. He---”

  “Stop. Don’t.”

  He shook his head, looking at me with disappointment.

  “That’s my man you’re talking about. It’s new but that’s where my loyalty lies. Unless you have proof of something he’s done since being with me that would break trust between him and I, I don’t wanna hear a bad word about him.”

  “I hope he don’t lie to you or cheat on you, Pippa. You don’t deserve it. Never would and definitely not after what you just went through.”

  “Trust me, the first sign of either of those things and I am out. He’s been really good to me, Bronto. I’m falling for him. Please wish me well.”

  He stared a long moment and nodded. “Aight. I’ll try to be cool. Might take a bit of time.”

  “I only ask that you try.”

  He nodded. I squeezed his shoulder and hopped off the stool and headed to Spencer’s room.

  ***

  I woke up too hot. Spencer was holding me close and the room was sweltering hot. I kicked the blankets off. I hadn’t even heard him come in. I got ready for bed and guess I must’ve passed out right away. I looked to his clock on the nightstand. 5:55. I got up and stretched and reached into my bag for some clothes and some shower stuff. I put it in the bathroom and went into the kitchen and started the coffee. Everything was dark.

  I headed to the TV room and did my yoga for a half hour. When I got up to head to the shower, that girl Gia was in the doorway. She looked sleepy, just wearing a Dom t-shirt that came to her knees, barefoot, her blonde hair everywhere. She rubbed her eyes. “Sorry. You’re very graceful at that. Kinda mesmerized me. I didn’t mean to spy on you.”

  “That’s okay,” I said. “I’m Pippa.”

  “Gianna. Good to meet you. You’re here for….”

  “Spencer.”

  She smiled. “Nice. Saw you when I got here. You do Spence exclusively, or you bounce?”

  “You mean like… do him?”

  She looked startled. “Oh. Are you his old lady? My bad. Fuck, Gianna.” She gave her head a shake. “I did it again. Do me a favor, forget you even saw me. All these confirmed bachelors droppin’ like flies. So sorry, hon.”

  A shadow moved in behind her and I saw Jesse there, shirtless in just a pair of jersey shorts that sat low on his waistband. Whoa. He was inked all over his chest, arms, some of his neck, his legs even. I only got a second to gawk at him and his chiseled and inked perfect body with that defined Adonis belt before he barked out, “Yo.”

  She turned around. He gave her a dirty look with raised eyebrows.

  “I didn’t know she was an old lady. Sue me.” She threw her hands up. “Sorry, Pippa.”

  “That’s okay,” I said and headed toward the bathroom. Jesse blocked me.

  “She say stuff to piss you off?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. Don’t worry. But maybe someone should give her the lowdown on who is in a relationship, okay? She thinks you’re all single, ready to mingle, and doing all sorts of biker bunny-swapping.”

  He rolled his eyes and walked away.

  I headed into the bathroom, took a shower, then dropped my stuff on the dresser in Spencer’s still-dark bedroom quietly, heading out to the kitchen to make coffee. All was dark and quiet.

  I went back to Spencer’s room in my black satin kimono (nothing underneath) and carefully navigated getting inside with two coffees.

  I put the cups down on the dresser, turned the lamp on, shut the door and locked it, then climbed onto him, my knees on either side of his hips.

  He was sound asleep.

  I ran my index finger over his eyelashes. He flinched but didn’t rouse.

  I ran my fingers through the flop of hair that was falling over his forehead.

  He made an “Mm” sound.

  “You missed yoga,” I whispered against his ear and kissed his ear lobe. “We still have time for a morning quickie before you shower if you wake up right now,” I said and twirled my fingertip around one of his nipples.

  His teeth skimmed his bottom lip. His eyes remained closed.

  “Do more yoga,” he said sleepily. “Here. With me in you.”

  I shimmied ba
ckwards and grinded my chest on his crotch. He went from semi-awake down there, to quite awake.

  I moved down and pulled his cock from his track pants and ran my tongue along the length of it, reaching under to cup his balls.

  His eyes opened a little and he stared down at me, a heated look as he squinted a little and shielded his eyes with his arm.

  I lifted one leg out, stretching it behind me, pointing my toe. “Yoga.”

  He smiled.

  “Rise and shine,” I whispered, dropping kisses on him as I went up and down his warm and very hard shaft.

  He did a pelvic thrust and I slid my hands under and held his butt while I took him deep.

  I pulled my knee back in and extended the opposite foot.

  He laughed and then groaned. “Oh baby.”

  I sucked.

  His hand came down and into my hair and he let out a little moan. “Fuck, Sunshine. So fucking gorgeous in the mornings always. But seein’ you in the morning with my cock in your mouth? I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

  I smiled a little, as best as I could with a mouth full of Spencer, and increased the bobbing, the suction, and the enthusiasm.

  It took a few minutes, seemed like he was watching a movie at a very suspenseful part based on the look he was giving me, but then he threw his head back and came down my throat with a roar.

  He then flipped me to my back and turned over and buried his face between my legs.

  “Good morning, Sunshine!” I exclaimed.

  He laughed against my clit, and it felt fabulous.

  ***

  Mom had texted that she needed a bag of sugar and two more quarts of whipping cream.

  Spencer drove us in his pickup truck and we found ourselves in the parking lot of the supermarket where Joe’s mother worked.

  I hadn’t been paying enough attention. I should’ve told him to go somewhere else. I had no idea if Jan would be working today; she didn’t usually work Sundays, but still.

  I stared at the door, chewing my lip.

  He went to pull his keys out.

  “Wait. You stay here. I’ll be two shakes.”

  “Sure?” he asked, oblivious to my dilemma.

  “Yep.” I unbuckled my seatbelt and leaned over and kissed him. “Want anything?”

  He shook his head and then something lit his eyes. “Can always use more condoms.” He unclicked his belt and arched so he could dig into his pocket for his wallet.

  “I got them.”

  “You’re not paying for condoms,” he said, grouchily and shoved a fifty-dollar bill in my palm. “Buy the other stuff with that, too.”

  I looked at the bill in my hand. “Are you chauvinistic about money?”

  He stared blankly.

  “I’m not one of those girls that lets her guy pay for everything.”

  “Her guy?” He gave me a sweet smile.

  “Yeah.” I leaned forward and rubbed my nose along his. He grabbed my jaw and kissed me.

  “Your guy’ll let you pay for shit sometimes.”

  “Okay, so…” I tried to hand back the fifty.

  “Not today.”

  I laughed against his mouth. “Okay. I’ll go hurry up. Got potatoes to peel and mash and pies to bake for my guy.”

  “And cauliflower and broccoli with cheese sauce,” he muttered. “Your guy’s lookin’ forward to that.”

  “I make the best you’ll ever taste.”

  “Mm.” He slipped his tongue into my mouth. “You’re the best I’ve ever tasted.”

  I kissed him for a good long minute before I finally broke away and headed into the store, a smile on my face as I wandered the empty aisles with a basket, grabbing the things I needed. I glanced around the front of the store and there were only three cashiers open, none of them Jan Reardon. I was very relieved about that.

  My last stop was the aisle with the headache, allergy, menstruation, and prophylactic stuff. I didn’t know how to buy condoms, so I stared blankly at the selection.

  Magnum? For the bigger guys? Yeah, that was likely the right call. Bare Skin? Okay, that probably suggested feeling somewhat natural, I’d imagine. I reached for the box when I felt arms slip around my waist from behind.

  Spencer.

  “Hi. I don’t know how to buy these. Is this a good one?”

  “Sure.” He kissed my ear.

  “What’re you doin’ in here?” I asked.

  “Phoned, wanted you to grab wine and flowers for your ma from me, but heard your phone ring in the car. Left your bag.”

  “Oh,” I said. “That’s sweet. She’ll love that.”

  And that was when Jan appeared in my field of vision, stumbling as she saw us from the end of the aisle, wearing her work smock, carrying a can of tomatoes and a price gun, eyes on me. Me, standing there with Spencer holding me, in front of the condoms.

  Damn. Just my luck.

  Her face went pink and she tottered on her feet, realizing she couldn’t make a break for it before we noticed her. She waved awkwardly, then quickly vanished from sight.

  My shoulders slumped. “Shit,” I said.

  He jerked with surprise. “Fuckin’ didn’t even think about her.”

  I shook my head. “Ugh.”

  He grabbed the basket from me and we headed down the aisle and over to the wine section. I picked a bottle of red and he grabbed a pretty bouquet, then we went to the cash register. Thankfully, Jan was nowhere in sight.

  Spencer and Joe were hanging out a lot that first month, so she met him at least a couple times. I felt a little bit nauseous about this.

  The rest of the ride was silent, but he held my left hand with his right hand the whole way, his thumb sweetly skimming back and forth over the back of my hand.

  We arrived at my parents’ house, a semi-detached backsplit with a small front porch that was decorated with a big Easter wreath on the door. Mom had a little table between her two porch rocking chairs that had a big glass lantern filled with colorful plastic eggs. The big planter box close to the neighbor’s porch had stakes with colorful eggs on the ends poking out and the word Easter in pink, yellow, and baby blue.

  Spencer had taken his Dom jacket off in the car. He was wearing a cream-colored cable knit turtleneck that looked amazing on him. He wore Converse today with dark jeans, instead of motorcycle boots.

  He was freshly shaven and smelled delicious.

  I wore pink dress pants, heels, and a pale purple cashmere sweater. I left my straight hair down today and wore pastel make-up colors and purple amethyst stud earrings that I’d gotten from my parents as a gift when I graduated from beauty school.

  “Your ma obviously likes Easter,” he mumbled as we climbed the steps.

  “My Mom decorates this porch for everything. She even has a St. Patrick’s Day set of porch décor. When I was a kid, she decorated me for everything, too, and I guess the practice stuck.” I gestured to myself in my Easter colors. “You missed out on this year’s St. Patrick’s Day dinner the other week. Corned beef and cabbage and green beer. I wore a green sweater, of course.”

  His shoulders shook with laughter. “Of course.”

  He smiled. “You look pretty, dressed in jelly bean colors. Good enough to eat.” He kissed my cheekbone.

  “Thanks. Oh, and my mom expects me every single Sunday for dinner. I try not to miss it if I can help it, but if that’s too much for you, you can likely get away with only occasionally---”

  His eyes went very serious, making me halt mid-sentence. “It’s not too much. You embraced my family this weekend, you think I’m not gonna embrace yours?”

  I smiled and leaned into him. He kissed me and reached out toward the door knocker.

  “Don’t knock,” I said, and punched the keycode into the panel above the door handle and then opened the door.

  He followed me inside.

  We were at the small entryway and we could see my Mom in the kitchen straight ahead, all four burners going, steam and aromas rising.

 
; Mom spun around, dressed in yellow and pink, sporting a very colorful Easter apron and a pink bunny ear headband on her head.

  “Happy Easter!” I greeted.

  “Hoppy Easter!” She came over and hugged me and began divesting us of our bags.

  “Hoppy Easter, Spencer,” she got up on her tiptoes and kissed Spencer’s cheek.

  “Thanks for having me, Mrs. Griffin,” he greeted.

  They’d only met twice. Once when Joe had picked me up here and had Spencer with him, and another time Mom and I had been walking down the street and he’d been coming toward us from the other direction. After about five minutes of chit chat, we’d parted ways, but Mom had commented about him a few times after that. How handsome he was.

  “Oh, flowers. How lovely, Spencer,” Mom said. “And you can call me Joanne. Or Mom.” She winked.

  Mom was an older version of me, but with blue eyes. She was naturally dark-haired but wore it blonde and short (now dyed to cover the grey, but Jenna did it, so it looked fab) and was my height and slim, though she ate like it was going out of style and credited her busy teaching job and clean freak tendencies for keeping her svelte. She was always a bundle of positive energy.

  Spencer smiled at her.

  “Here, Pippa.” Mom reached for the table, which was exploding with food to be prepared, and lifted a purple crushed velvet headband with bunny ears and popped it on my head.

  “I had a feeling you’d wear purple. I had yellow as a back-up. I got one for all the girls. I got you an Easter apron, too. There.”

  I reached for the purple and yellow ruffled apron and tied it on.

  “Oh, Pippa. This is probably not for here,” She casually slipped me the grocery bag with a red face. I frowned and realized I’d forgotten to take the condoms out in the car.

  Fuck. I gasped and looked at Spencer with horror as I shoved the bag into my oversized purse.

  He pulled his lips tight and somehow managed to keep a straight face. Mom was bent over, reaching under the table.

  “Oh, and slippers.” She pulled out a pair of purple ballet-like slippers from a bag for me.

  “And slippers for Spencer,” she said, pulling out brown velvet men’s slippers. Her face was still quite pink, but she was doing a good job of pretending that the condom snafu didn’t happen.