“Nice show up there,” I say as she lifts the counter to get behind the bar. She spins around quickly.
“Thanks. Glad you liked it. You want another shot of Coke?” She’s such a smartass.
“Nah, I think I’ve had too much already,” I shoot back at her. “No need to drink when I can just watch your sexy ass all night.”
“Walker, that’s creepy,” she says and then goes to relieve Chelly.
It doesn’t take long for pretty boy to make his way to the bar, and you’d think Chauna just hit the damn lottery. I’ll let her play this game, but she’s going home with me tonight. That’s for damn sure.
Chapter 4
Chauna
“What can I get ya?” I ask the cute little hottie I saw earlier while I was onstage.
“How ’bout your number?” Damn. Fast, aren’t we?
“Um, I don’t think so, but I can get ya a beer,” I say sweetly.
“Sounds good, but if I can’t have your number, what about a dance?” he asks as he leans into the bar a little more.
“Ask me again when the bar calms down.” I wink, hand him his beer, and tell him it’s on the house. When he leaves, I look over at Paige, and she giggles. I start to do the same, but then my eyes meet Walker’s, and I suddenly wish I were invisible. Glancing down at the cooler, I notice we need another case of High Life. “Hey, Paige, I’ll be right back,” I call out as I make my way downstairs.
After grabbing the box, I turn around and meet Walker in a pair of dark jeans, a fitted tee, and his sleeve tattoo racing down his arm. I try not to stare, but it’s no use.
“Let me help you with that, Pumpkin,” he says as he walks to me.
“I got it,” I say as I head toward the stairs.
“No, I said ‘let me help you,’” he commands firmly as he approaches me and takes the box. He then sets it down and pulls me into his rock hard chest. “Just so you know, I’m not letting you go this time.”
“I can’t, Walker. I just can’t.” I try to pry myself out of his arms. “Please, just let it go. We can never be together,” I say as I remember.
As a hard knock attacks my front door, I hurry downstairs. I open it to see two police officers. “Is Chauna Jackson here?”
“That’s me,” I say while pulling the spoon out of my mouth from the last bite and suddenly feeling sick to my stomach.
“Your father was in an accident tonight. I’m sorry, but you need to get to the hospital as fast as possible.” In that moment, my world stops. “Would you like us to take you?”
“Please,” I say as tears begin to pour down my face. I take my cell phone from my pocket and call Walker, but he doesn’t answer. Where is he? He just left here an hour ago. As my world crumbles, Walker is nowhere to be found.
He loosens his grip, and as I look into his eyes, I see pain. “Why, Pumpkin? What did I do other than leave with my parents?” he asks softly. Right now, I see my Walker. The one I grew up loving.
“Because you’re one of them,” I say. When the light bulb goes off in Walker’s head, he realizes what I mean, and he lets me go. “I knew it’d be an easy choice for you. I’m sure it’s bikes before babes anyway.” I grab the box and hurry upstairs, leaving him standing there.
“Chauna, are you a’ight?” Paige asks.
“Yup. Hey, since things are slow, I’m gonna go dance a minute if you don’t care.”
“Nah. Have fun,” she says.
After I place the beer into the cooler, I make my way to the dance floor and find the blonde from earlier. He’s easy to spot as I move across the floor. He’s sitting at a table with his friends. I walk over to him and stand in front of him.
“So, you still wanna dance?” I ask.
“Most definitely,” he replies as he places his beer onto the table and escorts me to the dance floor. Schaffer’s Story is on a break, and there is just great dance music blaring through the speakers. As the beat increases, I sway my hips a little harder and press my ass against his body. It’s evident he’s enjoying our time on the dance floor. I drop my ass to the floor and make it back up when I feel someone’s eyes staring at me. Gazing up, I see Walker standing in the corner with his arms crossed and giving a pissed-off look. This does one thing for me; it makes me want to shake my ass harder. If he doesn’t want to give it up, then he doesn’t deserve me.
After a few songs, I excuse myself from blondie, whom I now know as Hunter, and make my way back to the bar.
“Thanks, Paige,” I say as I walk to the other side of the bar and start to work.
“Damn, girl. You about made Walker lose his shit out there,” she says, totally clueless to the conversation Walker and I had downstairs.
“Oh, well,” I say, taking the next customer’s order.
For the remainder of the night, I try not to focus on Walker staring at me like a crazy person, but somewhere around midnight, he disappears. I finally relax and let my guard back down. Hunter approaches me before they leave and asks for my number. I give it to him, and he tells me he will call me.
As I watch Hunter leave, I hear a girl squeal, and I just roll my eyes. Some girls are so stupid. I mean, we’re in a bar, and you’re gonna squeal like a five-year-old? That’s when I realize what’s going on. I see a group of girls dancing around Walker. I try my best not to watch, but I can’t help it, and when one of the girls trails her hand up his shirt, I lose my mind. I look at Paige as she stifles a giggle.
“This shit ain’t funny, Paige. He’s doing it on purpose,” I say as I throw down my bar towel.
“Ummm, didn’t you just do the same thing?”
“Damn,” I mumble under my breath. Grabbing my bar towel, I go back to work when all I really want to do is claim Walker as my own.
Walker
When the Fab Five, I’m going to call them, pull me onto the dance floor, I can’t resist. If Chauna wants to play dirty, I can, too. I know what she wants, and I know what she’s asking. Right now, I just can’t give up what she’s asking. It’s all I have, and until I know she will put our past behind us, I’m not willing to give up my family.
As one of the girls pushes her hand up my stomach, my body is very aware of all the hot females around me. I look at the bar, and they all disappear when I see the look on Chauna’s face. When the song ends, I sweet talk the girls off the dance floor and make my way outside, alone.
Chapter 5
Chauna
Damn, Paige is right. As Schaffer’s Story takes the stage for their final song, I notice the bimbos and Walker have left. Great, so he’s a man whore now. Fan-freakin-tastic! I take out my aggression on cleaning the bar and trying not to be a bitch to the customers.
“Hey, Chauna! You keep cleaning that spot, and there’s gonna be a tunnel to China when you finish!” Paige says with a laugh.
When last call is announced, I’m relieved. I can’t wait for tonight to end. Paige and I clean up and talk to Pam and Kristina after they load up. When Chelly finishes, we lock up and head outside. We are laughing, and it’s great to end the night with such good friends without a thought of Walker.
“So, we all have to go out, and I mean not at Boondocks,” Kristina says. “’Cause we know too many people here. We just want to cut loose and not be that kick ass girl band.”
“I never thought about that, but I guess it’s good y’all are gettin’ noticed,” I say.
“True,” Pam chimes in as we all separate and make our way to our cars.
“Paige, call me tomorrow if you decide to come in, and I’ll help ya,” I say as I turn toward my car. While they all disappear down the two-lane road, I’m not prepared for who is propped against my driver’s side door. Walker.
“So, where are the bimbos?” I ask as I stop a few feet from him.
“Hell, I don’t know. They left a long time ago,” he answers as if he couldn’t care less.
“Oh, so, you’re like that now?” I cross my arms and wait for his reply.
He throws back his head a
nd laughs. “Damn, you really don’t think I’m like that, do you?”
“I have no clue what you’re like anymore. Now, can you move so I can go home?”
“No, I’m not fuckin’ moving,” he says as he stands confidently in place, and it is beyond hot seeing him standing his ground with me.
“Come on, Walker. You made your choice. Get out of my way,” I stress, trying to get to my door handle. He takes me in his arms and spins me around so I can’t move. Damn, here I am again. “What’s your deal? I mean, shit, I tell you what you need to do, and you don’t choose it. Then, you act like an ass out there, and then—” he cuts me off with his lips. Oh. My. God.
As my body is sandwiched between Walker and my car, I refuse to give in, but when his lips meet mine, I know it is hopeless. I want nothing more than for this man to take me right here in this parking lot, and I don’t care who’s watching.
Walker
When she won’t shut up, I have to do something. I can’t wait to devour her lips with mine. I know she wants us as much as I do. Hell, if I gotta give up my bike, I will, but I don’t want to look like a complete puss.
When I capture her lips, things change. She doesn’t fight me; she falls into me, and I have no idea the effect it will leave on my heart, body, and soul. Not wanting to give her the chance to change her mind, I lift her off the ground. She wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist as I guide my hands underneath her shirt and up her back. When she gasps, I know she wants what I do, but deep down, I know this isn’t right. She deserves more. I pull back from her. What the hell am I doing? Looking into her eyes, I can see the questions forming, and I know if I want to be a part of her world, she has to trust me.
“Pumpkin, I’ll give up my bike for you. If it means that much, I’ll sell it tomorrow,” I say, and as tears well in her eyes, I can’t take it anymore. I capture her mouth with mine and begin to take things to the next level. She shakes her head. Shit!
“Not here,” she says. “Take me home.”
I take the keys from her hand and drive her home.
Chapter 6
Chauna
During the entire ride to my house, I’m second-guessing everything that is going on between Walker and me because of our past, but when we arrive at the house, and he looks at me, I know this is right. I’ll worry about the consequences and what ifs later.
As I open the door, he tells me to hold on. He hurries around and opens it for me, and I smile at him. I stand and kiss his lips again. Walker wastes no time picking up where we left off in Boondocks’ parking lot. He lifts me off the ground, and I wrap my legs around his waist. I can feel him harden with every step he takes toward the house, and the butterflies I once felt at our spot are alive again.
By the time we get to the door, we are both breathless and smiling like we are teenagers again. “I’ve missed you, Chauna,” he says. Once the door is unlocked, he kicks it open with his boot and then slams it shut as he pushes me against the wall. With his hands placed firmly on my bottom, he breaks away from my lips and trails down my neck.
“Walker,” escapes my lips as a pool of wetness fills my panties.
“Are you sure?” he asks as his hands cradle my neck, and he looks directly into my eyes.
"Yes, I’ve always been sure." I see passion in his eyes as he lowers his lips to mine. Carefully, we walk into my bedroom. He gently lays me onto the bed and stares as he removes one article of clothing at a time.
When I’m completely exposed, his eyes scan over my body. “Pumpkin, you’re more beautiful than I remember,” he says as he moves his calloused hand across my cheek. Staring into his eyes, I know this could be the end of life as I know it. If he doesn’t give up his way of life, I’ll never be the same, but if I don’t follow what my heart is saying is right, I’ll be alone forever.
I take my hands and grab the hem of his shirt and push it over his head. After sliding my hands up his washboard stomach, I roll him over. “What?” I ask.
“Nothing.” He smirks. After removing the remainder of his clothes, the memory from all those years in our spot are brought to the present. He’s still the same Walker, but now he’s a picture of pure perfection. Our eyes meet, and I know this is exactly where I should be.
Walker takes charge and rolls me underneath him. He slowly lowers himself on top of me, settling between my thighs. Oh my gosh. I think I might combust. "Walker, please,” I say softly.
As I squeeze my legs tighter, he flashes that perfect grin. His hands start to move lower on my body as his heavenly mouth caresses my breast. His finger skims over my body, and goose bumps rise on my skin. Walker begins to kiss my body from head to toe, and when he knows I’m at my breaking point, he enters me slowly as my back inches off the bed from the absence of his touch. As our bodies do the talking, thirteen years of pent-up emotions are completely out on the table. When I’m no longer able to hold in my emotions, I say his name as I climax. Walker follows behind me, and when we both are spent from letting all our bottled- up emotions explode together, I lie in his arms.
As Walker’s hand grazes up my side, I fall asleep, feeling like I’ve found a piece of heaven tonight. I pray to myself this will work. He’s all I’ve ever wanted, and regardless, if tonight is it, I don’t regret it one bit.
Waking up with his arms around me, I smile. Last night was different than when we were sixteen. We were still hungry for each other, but each of our movements told a story, one that was the start of forgiving the last thirteen years of our lives.
Gazing at his beautiful face, I never want to leave this room. I glance at his arms and wonder about the meaning of each tattoo. They are so intricate, and each tattoo bleeds into another. When my eyes land on the outline of a shoe, I stop. If I weren’t looking closely, I wouldn’t have noticed it, but since I’m trying to memorize each of them, I can’t help but stare. A glass slipper, just like Cinderella’s. What guy gets a tattoo of a glass slipper? As I trace it, I smile as I remember my childhood prince.
“Hey, Prince Charming, are you gonna save me from my mean stepmother or what?” I ask in my Cinderella dress with my hands on my hips.
“Hold on. I’m killing a dragon over here!” Walker says with his pretend sword. “Got ’em!”
“Pumpkin, whatcha doin’?” he mumbles.
“Just admiring your tattoos,” I say as I lay a quick kiss on the glass slipper and fall back into his arms.
Walker
Waking up to Pumpkin in my arms is pure bliss, but when I realize what she is doing, I begin to panic. I’m not ready to explain that tattoo. I know she’s wondering why I have a glass slipper, but she’s a smart girl, and I’m sure she’s figured it out already.
When she falls back into my arms, I recall that day.
“Dude, you want a glass slipper?” Justin asks.
“Just shut up. You don’t get it. It’s for Pumpkin,” I say.
“Damn, dude, you haven’t seen her in years, and you’re still hung up on her? I swear, I hope she’s as perfect as you make her out to be.” He laughs.
“Just shut up, Justin.”
The glass slipper is hidden inside my right arm sleeve, and only if someone is investigating my arm carefully will they see it. I know it’s not manly, but I needed her with me. When we were kids, we’d play like she was Cinderella, and I was her Prince Charming. Funny how life isn’t a fairytale, but then I look at her sleeping in my arms and think my life might be changing for the better.
Looking at the clock, I know I have to get moving. I’ve got to get my bike and talk to the gang. I try to sneak out of her arms, but she snuggles harder to my side, and I want nothing more than to bury myself back inside her and hear her scream my name again. Instead, I try to slide out of the bed and throw on my jeans and shirt without being noticed.
Chapter 7
Chauna
I wake up when the bed moves, and I see Walker’s perfectly sculpted ass sliding on his jeans.
“Where are y
ou goin’?” I ask as I perch my arm on my head and admire the view.
“I gotta get my bike and talk to the guys.” What the hell? Does he not remember what he said last night?
“But, I thought you said…” He walks toward me, placing a finger over my mouth.
“Shhhhh. Stop thinking. I promise I’ll give it up, but just not today.”
“Walker, I can’t do this. I can’t let you ride away on that bike. They destroyed my life,” I say as I begin to slide on my clothes as well.
“I can’t just leave it at Boondocks, but I don’t see how a bike destroyed your life.” Those words infuriate me.
“You don’t know, because you weren’t here. They killed my daddy!” I yell at him and then begin to cry in a puddle on the floor.
“What do you mean? They killed your daddy?” he asks with uneasiness in his tone.
“The Barber Bikers. They killed my daddy.” There, I said it, and saying it out loud makes an elephant lift off my shoulders.
Walker
When Chauna says those words aloud, they are the words I had feared my entire life. Growing up, I was the kid whose parents were always out riding, and one day we just had to up and move. Barber was the longest place we had ever stayed, but I knew there was a reason for us leaving. Someone had done something stupid.
Dropping my shirt into my hand, I move to her quickly and hold her in my arms. “Pumpkin, it’s okay. I’ll sell it tomorrow. I’ve just got to handle a few things first. Just know because someone has a bike or a group of friends that ride together, that doesn’t make them like my parents.”
She pulls back and looks me in the eyes. “You knew?” she whispers.
“I didn’t know exactly, but I knew something bad happened. We always moved when bad shit happened. It was just normal for us.”
Bad Boys of Romance - A Biker Anthology Page 37