Scenic Route

by D. D. Prince

  “Shunshine?” he slurred.

  “What?”

  “I love you an I’m sorry. I fucked up not tellin’ you about that. I fuckin’ felt so sick about it when you said it was cocaine he was usin’ and how the drugs made him snap and what was I supposed to say? He and I used to get high an my life was shit and I was angry and dess-ruc…destructive… and yeah, he partied wi’ me. I didn’t fuckin’ know he had a drinkin’ problem. Didn’t know he was on any sort of wagon. Just figured he didn’t wanna party around you. I didn’t know he hit you. Can’t believe he fuckin’ hit you. You! Fucking fuckhead.”

  I said nothing.

  “Baby?” he said after a minute.

  “What?”

  “I was just on a bad fuckin’ road and he wanted to come along. I didn’t push that. I asked him to help me score and he said he couldn’t that night. Day later, he calls me and invites me to party with him. So I did. Bunch a times. My brother almost died. Almost fucking died. Actually, he did … his heart stopped and they got it back. Three times! And I almost fuckin’ lost him just after having a big scrap where he told me he’d had enough of me bein’ a stupid little shit. He made it outta that and it woke my shit up. So I cooled it with the partyin’ and your fuckface ex wasn’t wantin’ to cool it so yeah, I backed off. I backed off him because I didn’t wanna keep partyin’ hard with him and stay on that bad road and because I didn’t wanna see him havin’ you when I wanted you for me. For me! Fuckin’ sue me. Tried to be a better brother. Better son. To find someone like you. But no one was like you, baby. Then you get hurt and I get a shot to have you, you. Not just someone who’s a little like you, and fuck… I know you think I shoulda said something.”

  “Yeah you should’ve.” I said coldly.

  He sighed. “But I fuckin’ didn’t. And please, baby, please forgive me.”

  I shook my head. “Look at you. You’re sloppy drunk. Do you really think I wanna trade one drunk for another?”

  “That’s not fuckin’ nice, Pippa.”

  “No, it’s n-not, Spencer.” My breath hitched. I fought against it.

  “You comparin’ me to him? He fuckin’ hurt you. I’d never hurt you.”

  “You are hurting me, Spencer, by lying. Omission is lying.”

  “It’s not my fault he did the drugs, Pippa. I didn’t fuckin’ make him take nothing.”

  “Yeah. He was obviously weak. One little bit of temptation with you and he was down to party every chance he got, hiding it from me. I blame him for that, not you. If he was that weak, it would’ve happened eventually, meeting you or not, but you knew what I went through and not once did you tell me that you were there at the start of his downward spiral.”

  “Would you have ever given me a shot if I had?” he yelled. “Would you have fucking given me a second glance?”

  “We’ll never know, will we?”

  “You wouldn’t have. And I’m sorry you’re mad, but I would go back and do the same thing if it meant that I got to have you. I’d lie by omission. I’d lie not by omission. I’d do whatever I had to do. Wish I’d fuckin’ set my sights on you and taken you from him. That’s what I fuckin’ wish. Would go back and steal you fuckin’ away so that fuck could never hurt you. You got any idea how fuckin’ bad I wish that after finding you bleeding in that alley that night?”

  He punched the side of my bed.

  “Aw, fuck,” he moaned. “Steel fuckin’ frame.” He threw himself onto his back on the floor holding his fist in his other hand.

  “You’re an idiot,” I groaned.

  “Yeah, I’m a fuckin’ idiot. You giving up on me? You told me two days ago you wouldn’t. Are you keeping the deal we made or are you fuckin’ done with this idiot?”

  He climbed onto the bed, climbed over me clumsily and then was on the other side of me, propped on an elbow, looking down at me. He reached over me, again clumsily, squishing me, and fumbled with the lamp.

  “Move. I got it,” I shoved him off and turned the lamp on.

  God, he looked wrecked. His eyes were bloodshot. His hair was a mess like he’d been running his fingers through it endlessly.

  He reeked of booze. And he looked so sad. So damn sad.

  “You done with me?”

  “What if I am done? What if I can’t take the risk?” I looked into his eyes.

  He blinked at me. “No.” His voice came out gruff. He face- planted onto my chest. “Fuckin’ no. If you leave me? I can’t…” He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed. “You can’t.”

  Tears pricked my eyes.

  “I’m an asshole and I’m a dick and I’m in fucking love with you like I’ve never loved anyone. You make me wanna be better. You’re my reason to be better. If there’s no you in my life, it’s fuckin’ dark. No sunshine. Fuckin’ gloom and rain every day of my life.”

  “That’s pretty dramatic,” I choked out, body shaking, tears rolling down my face.

  He took my wet face into his hands. “I can’t lose you.”

  “I can’t be with a liar.”

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry.” He looked deep into my eyes. “I’m sorry, baby. I haven’t touched any drug but weed since last year. It’s not a problem. Sunshine is now my drug of choice, too, Pippa.” His slur was gone. It was like he was sober. Or almost.

  “It’s not just that…”

  “Booze? I don’t drink every day. You know this. I’ve been with you for weeks and you don’t see me boozin’ constantly. I had fun with you when we partied. If it stops bein’ fun or if it hurts you, I don’t have to do it. I don’t have a drinkin’ problem. We can do lots of other stuff that doesn’t involve partying.”

  “It’s not just about partying.”

  “I’m not keepin’ more from you. The Joe shit? The partying at the beginning when he and I met? That’s it.”

  “Is it?”

  “Illegal shit I’ve done for the MC notwithstanding, you know more… more about me than anyone. The opening up I’ve done with you? You have any fuckin’ idea what it took to get that out? To give you that ugly shit that’s inside me? Never wanted to give that to anyone but fucked if it didn’t fuckin’ help.”

  A sob tore out of me. He was right. The truths he’d given me. The demons he’d been facing? My heart was aching.

  He squeezed me tighter.

  “Baby, please. It felt so good to get it out, you know? Like… so right, spewing poison out and finally getting it outta my gut. Like you’re healing me. You are.”

  “Were you ever gonna tell me?” I asked, “About Joe and all the partying?”

  “No. Never.”

  “But, Spencer---”

  “Baby, all I knew was that my windshield never looked better. Didn’t wanna look in that rearview mirror again. Didn’t wanna think about it. All I could think of if I looked back is how I should’ve trusted every instinct in me from that first morning when you were singing to the radio and offering to make me waffles. I wanted to fuckin’ grab you, put you on the back of my bike, and ride off toward the sunrise. I should’ve. If I could find a genie in a bottle, that’s what I’d wish for. To take all that pain of what he did away, to go back six months so you’d have been mine sooner.”

  I put my arms around him and sobbed. He kissed my forehead and squeezed me tight.

  “If you break my heart, Spencer…”

  “I won’t. I fuckin’ won’t. Don’t break mine, Pip. It’s in your hands. Your beautiful little hands.” He kissed my left palm and then my right one. “Love you so much, baby.”

  He kicked his boots off and shoved with his feet to get them off the bed and then got under the blankets with me and kissed my cheek, my forehead, my lips, and then each of my fingers. And then he curled in close and let out a big sigh.

  “I’ll never do anything on purpose to make you regret takin’ a chance on me. It’s taken a long time for me to find the path to healing from that shrapnel that’s been embedded, and it’s you. I see that path now. Fuckin twistin’ and turnin,
goin’ round in circles all my life, but with you, I see the way. I want no one but you. No one ever.”

  “We’ve been existing in a bubble since we’ve been together. What’s real life gonna look like now that things are settled? And what sorts of illegal stuff is the club doing? Heroin and cocaine?”

  “We don’t need illegal shit. Got profitable businesses. Only did stuff to help us fight the Jackals, work with allies. And not sure yet that they’re settled fully, but whatever you want. Camping trips. Weekends with our friends. I’m buyin’ us an ATV so we can play on Deacon’s property. Boat, too. Fishing trips. Dog walking, video games in bed, hopefully soon a real bed in our own place, not in a room in the club or on your brother’s pull-out couch. And waffles, and fucking. And watching you do yoga and hopefully fucking you while you do yoga. What else you want, Sunshine? Want me to eat that weird stringy vegetable instead of spaghetti? Throw fuckin’ kale in my Froot Loops, I don’t give a shit. Need to throw a birthday party for me every year? Spray me with silly string if you want. Wanna have kids? Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”

  “Will you wear the stupid party hat next year?” I asked, tears in my eyes but a smile now on my face.

  “Absolutely fucking not.”

  I threw my arms around him and bawled some more while also laughing. And then I kissed his lips and snuggled in and cried myself to sleep in his arms.

  ***

  I woke up first and I texted Scott for Brady’s number, since Brady had been here the night before.

  I got it and then texted Brady and asked him to get something from Spencer’s room to bring to my parents’ house.

  Some girls would’ve run the other way. Some would’ve refused to forgive him for the secret. A lot would probably tell me that based on Spencer’s track record of partying, I shouldn’t take a chance. Especially after all I’d been through. But, I still believed people deserved the benefit of the doubt. I believed that relationships came with both good and bad and you had to be there through a bit of bad. For better or for worse, as long as you didn’t lose yourself and as long as your loved one picked you first.

  I didn’t let what happened with Joe break me, jade me. I was stronger than that.

  And I believed, with all of me, that Spencer would pick me first.

  ***

  I snapped a photo of the perfection on a plate and then walked it over to the bed and put it on the nightstand. The waffles were buttered and lightly coated with maple syrup, topped with strawberry slices, a dollop of whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle. Mom’s fridge and pantry were always stocked so I’d found all I needed.

  “What’re you doin’?” he asked sleepily, looking at me.

  “You said last night whatever I want? Except the stupid hat?”

  “Yeah?” He looked cautiously at me.

  “I want you to eat the waffles I made you.”

  He smiled. “I can do that.” He sat up.

  I climbed onto his lap, putting a knee on either side of each hip, then reached over, forked some up and fed them to him.

  He moaned as he chewed, rubbing his hand up and down my leg.

  “Good?” I asked.

  “The best,” he said and then he lifted a piece and put it into my mouth with his fingers.

  They were pretty damn good. I grabbed his hand and held it with both of mine as I then sucked the syrup and chocolate sauce off his finger. I felt him get hard under me. His eyes were dark with carnal hunger. He licked his lips.

  “You wore the bunny ears. Pretty sure that if I pushed it, I’ve got the power to make you wear the birthday hat, too.”

  “Use your power over me for good, not evil, Sunshine.”

  The End

  (be sure to sign up for DD’s newsletter via ddprince.com to be kept up to date about future releases, including Book 4 of the Beautiful Biker series, Crossroads,

  Christian Forker & Jojo Valentine’s story.

  Prologue included after Scenic Route’s epilogue.

  Epilogue

  About a Year After We Met

  “There’s two orders of fries in here.”

  “Yeah,” Spencer said.

  “I said salad with my burger, not fries.” I said this from the kitchen table where I sat in a chair, my leg propped on another with an ice pack across my ankle.”

  “Got you a salad, too.”

  “If I have a salad, I don’t need fries,” I told him.

  “If you’ve got your own fries, you won’t eat my fries.” He put a salad and a burger in front of me.

  “But yours taste better,” I informed him with a smirk.

  “So, we’ll pretend both these orders are mine. But you eat outta that one.” He put one order half way between us.

  I laughed. “So much for your promise of ‘all my fries for you, baby’.”

  He gave me a grin and then he fed me a French fry.

  “How’s the ankle?” He looked down at my foot, lifted the ice pack and inspected it.

  “Not terrible. I might need you to piggy back me everywhere for the next few days.”

  “That, I can do.” He took a sip of his chocolate shake.

  “Or weeks.”

  He snickered.

  We were in our kitchen. Our mostly empty kitchen. In our new apartment. Well, Rider and Jenna’s apartment. But it was now ours, because they had gotten back from Jenna’s dad’s Vegas wedding and announced they were engaged and moving into Jenna’s parents’ house next door to Ella’s family.

  After the charity car wash, we stayed in the apartment above the florist until July, when my brother moved back. For the month of August, we lived at the new clubhouse, planning to look for a place of our own. Jenna and Rider caught wind that we were apartment shopping and invited us to move in here when they moved into her parents’. We took them up on the offer. It was a great apartment and above the salon so an awesome commute for me.

  Spencer and Rider had a garage out back, too, that they’d turned into their secondary workshop for building their custom bikes. It was perfect.

  And I had ice on my ankle, because I tried to show off on a skateboard during a session with the six pre-teen Biker Little Bros he was giving lessons to. And while my beautiful biker boyfriend was pretty pro on a skateboard, I was not. And I wiped out.

  “So, this ankle injury?” Spencer asked. “It mean no to sexy yoga tomorrow morning?”

  I smiled. “How ‘bout this time you do the yoga and I’ll do the sexy?”

  He wiggled his eyebrows.

  ***

  A few weeks later:

  A tickling sensation on my side woke me up. I opened my eyes to the golden brown and amber eyes of Spencer, the man I loved.

  “Hi,” I said.

  “It’s eight fourteen,” he told me, running his finger down my side and then catching my hand with his. I was wearing my big Rise then Shine t-shirt.

  “Eight fourteen?”

  “Sleepy head.” He leaned forward and kissed me on the tip of my nose.

  “It’s Sunday. And we partied hard last night. Why aren’t we sleeping in?” I asked.

  “I’m up. Been waitin’ for you to wake up on your own for an hour.”

  “An hour? What made you wake up so early?”

  “Early bird catches the sunshine.”

  I smiled big.

  “But, we were up so late last night. Are you still drunk?”

  Last night was Deacon and Ella’s wedding.

  It was QUITE a party.

  “Nope. Figure we can maybe do sexy yoga before we go to your class and then come back and start prepping for dinner with your folks.”

  “Sexy yoga before yoga class on a Sunday?” I asked, yawning. “Maybe we should skip yoga altogether and get more sleep.”

  I’d done a few classes at Ella’s mom’s house, and that gave me the confidence to go back to the studio. Most of Bertie’s students wound up joining my class and eventually, the gossip buzz died down. I was happy to be teaching and most Sund
ays, Spencer came with me and was getting pretty damn good at yoga.

  “You owe me,” he told me.

  “I owe you?”

  “You didn’t deliver on the anticipation from yesterday.”

  “Oh,” I chuckled. I’d passed out before nookie. “You’re living up to your Energizer bunny reputation this morning, aren’t you?”

  “Yep. And you’re gonna be like a Timex. Takin’ a lickin’ and then keep on tickin’.”

  I giggled.

  He yanked my panties down and spread my legs wide.

  My laugh flipped to a gasp as his mouth moved purposefully from my calf, to my knee, to my inner thigh, and then… nirvana.

  I looked up and startled. “Holy crap. When did you do that?”

  He laughed and the vibration against my core felt amazing. I watched the ceiling, transfixed by the vision as I watched the mirror and saw his shoulders moving, the muscles in his back rippling, and him, making love to my pussy with his mouth. Crazy hot. Hotter than I even imagined. After I came undone, crying out his name, he moved up my body and then his mouth was on my throat. He drove into me, hard. Bare.

  “Oh my,” I breathed. He slammed home again and kissed the ridge of my ear. We’d ditched the condoms within two weeks of that STD test I took, because he got one too. Our first time ungloved together was absolutely beautiful. We had sex four times that night.

  After my energizer made me come again, he came inside me. He was lying beside me, stroking my hair and looking at the ceiling. “You look really good on this ceiling mirror too, Sunshine. This was a great fuckin’ idea.”

  “You sneak in here to put this up last night?”

  “Yesterday morning when you girls were all downstairs getting dolled up for the wedding.”

  “Shit. What’s my mother gonna think?” I gasped. “They’re coming here for Sunday dinner. You should’ve done our room in the clubhouse instead.”

  Spencer shrugged. “Better not let her in our bedroom. And don’t worry,” he stared at the mirror and smiled with that dimple. “I’m putting one up in our room in the clubhouse, too.”

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