UnScripted

by Jax Hart

  Grinning like a bastard, I lace up my sneakers and gently close the cabin door. It’s crisp out. Dew clings to the leaves just starting to turn. Fall comes early here. Despite partying till dawn, the camp’s been cleaned up. Smith was military and runs the club much in the same way. There’s not one empty beer can littering the ground. All the trash bins have been emptied, too. Good thing since the bears are out looking to gorge themselves before winter.

  I thought I was the only one up, but I catch Smith’s eye as he drinks coffee and smokes. His clothes are rumpled, his hair looks as if he’s run his hands through it all night.

  “Smith?” I ask jogging over.

  He takes a long drag muttering something about stubborn women and I try not to grin.

  “Luce?”

  He exhales. “She’s got me all twisted in knots and I just met the girl eighteen hours ago.”

  I clap his back, jogging backwards past him down the trail, “If she’s anything like Dev, you’re in for one hell of a ride,” I finish with a wink before turning back around.

  “Fuck,” he groans.

  My sneakers deftly move through the rugged terrain as the trail winds deeper into the woods. Cutting to the right away from the lake down an offshoot trail, my hands push back branches, my legs hurdle over fallen logs; I feel like a fuckin’ champion. I laugh at the fool I’m makin’ of myself proving to no one that I’m still fit enough, strong enough to be her man. I keep going until I reach the clearing off to the left that I remembered. It’s still here. It’s an island of wild grass and colorful wildflowers hidden by the woods surrounding it on all sides. I stop, breathing hard and full of sweat. I’ve never been a romantic man, shit I don’t even know how to do romance, but Dev makes me want to learn all about it.

  I reach down picking a perfect purple flower for her. This seems like a good place to start. I make a note to come back here with my chainsaw and a few men to clear the trail and slow to a jog as I turn around going back the way I came, going back to her probably still curled up in bed with my scent on her skin.

  I groan rolling over. He’s not here. But there’s a single flower placed where his head was with a note scratched out in his hand about meeting at the campsite for coffee.

  I still feel him, deep inside in a secret place so deep I can’t even touch. He’s the most well-endowed lover I’ve ever had and definitely the most skilled. I sigh, snuggling deeper under the coverlet remembering how he sounded, how he felt thrusting into me as he came. Light scratches and burns mark my neck and breasts left by his beard when he kissed me all over.

  I shiver, feeling like a virgin bride waking up the next day, no longer a virgin, deliciously sore, and giddy on the high of being taken by her lover.

  I pick up my phone to text Luce, but the service is poor, and my text won’t go through. It’s ten thirty. I haven’t slept this long in years. By the time I shower and dress, I’ll be lucky to make lunch.

  His broad back faces me. He’s talking to Smith and the guys. I duck my head, cheeks burning since everyone must know where I spent the night. A hand links through my arm, I look up expecting to see Luce but meet Shanna’s dark eyes instead.

  “Come with me for a minute.” It’s not a question, it’s a soft-spoken demand.

  She leads me into a small building that once must have been the camp’s cafeteria. She grabs a cup of steaming coffee generously adding creamer and I take the hint and fix my own. We walk back outside to a bench facing the water.

  “I’m so happy Meat met someone like you.”

  “Really? I was scared-shitless this was going to be an interrogation.”

  “Oh, it is,” she answers smiling and taking a sip from her mug.

  The pit’s back in my stomach and I feel queasy. She’s just not the girl Rog spent his life protecting, she’s my brother’s wife.

  My hands shake as I bring my mug to my lips.

  “I hear you’re working at my bar.”

  I nod, still sipping, needing the caffeine to sooth my nerves.

  “I practically grew up in those walls, until they all burned down, and Duke and Roger re-built them for me.”

  “I heard about the fire. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. It was the best thing that could’ve happened. Listen, Roger is like a father to me. Especially now that my dad’s gone,” she breaks off swiping a tear, “if he gets hurt…,” she breaks off in a warning.

  “Who’s to say he won’t be the one to hurt me?”

  She swallows, looking out at the water. “Duke and I hurt each other. There were so many times I thought we’d never happen, there were too many roadblocks in our way. But he proved me wrong, loved me when I thought he didn’t. I thank God every day for bringing him into my life. He’s been hurt. His family was shit to him and he left Springdale at eighteen and enlisted. He served a few tours in Iraq. It fucked him up more than his family did.”

  “Why are you telling me all this? When I barely know you?”

  “Because… Roger’s been in my life since before I was even born. He helped raise me when my mother left. I don’t remember a day in my life where he wasn’t in it. And in all those years, I’ve never seen him look or touch a woman the way he did with you last night.”

  “My mother left me too. I’m adopted,” I whisper holding back from spilling everything. I’m panicked feeling like a liar. Betraying the man who almost gave me his heart last night along with his body. “I never want to hurt, Rog. He’s the most unexpected surprise, meeting and falling for him was so unplanned.”

  “Is it his age?”

  “No. I’m almost thirty-one. What’s twenty years in the scope of time? It’s nothing but a particle of dust.”

  She grins, “I’m twenty-five and Duke’s forty-one. But I always felt old. Probably because I started working at the bar so young.”

  “I know what you mean. My best friend Luce, she should be around here somewhere, always said I had an ‘old soul’.”

  “I saw her coming out of Smith’s cabin,” she grins.

  We sit in silence drinking our coffee until it’s time to get a refill.

  “This was nice.”

  “It was,” she replies.

  “There you are,” Roger breathes into my hair, hugging me from behind, “is Shanna bothering ya’ with all the bad stories about me?”

  “Actually, no. She was telling me what an old softie you are.”

  “There’s nothing soft about me, sugar. You know that.” He winks lifting up his shirt and showing us his six-pack abs.

  “Ugh,” Shanna turns away, “didn’t need to see that.”

  “That’s ‘cause you know I’ve got the hardest body, right babe?” Duke kisses the top of her head.

  He looks over and nods his head at me, “Good morning.”

  “Morning,” I croak out, stunned every time he’s near. Knowing I’m the bomb he dodged in Iraq, ready to explode in his face.

  “I meant to mention it yesterday, but have we met before? You seem familiar?”

  “No. We’ve never met,” I answer softly looking anywhere but in his eyes.

  Seeing Luce appear is the excuse I need to run away.

  “I’ll be right back,” I whisper, turning in Rog’s arms and kissing him lightly. His hands tighten around my waist, not wanting to let go.

  “I promise,” I tell him kissing him again.

  “You better, sugar. Now that I know what it feels like to have you in my arms, you ain’t getting away.”

  I smile, letting our hands brush until we can no longer reach each other as I walk away. Luce makes a bee line for me and we meet in the middle.

  “You okay? I’m sorry for leaving you behind last night.”

  “Don’t be. It’s about time you rode that stallion.”

  “Luce,” I smack her arm, “you are so bad.”

  “Not as bad as you. I wanna hear everything.”

  “Fine. But first you are going to tell me what the hell is going on with you and Smith.�
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  SOMETHING HAPPENED BETWEEN Luce and Smith. She won’t look at him and he won’t stop looking at her. He’s staring at her like she’s his lost princess. His eyes burning so hot, I’m even getting weak knees. She’s ignoring him, helping the other women pack up the kitchen while he stands by the screen door watching over her like a guard dog.

  Roger’s loving has turned me soft in all the places I was hard. It’s almost time to pack up and go home to Springdale. I turn away before I’m caught looking at the two of them. Rog is with Mac checking and locking up the cabins.

  Tomorrow is my first in-service. A boring day to listen to all the school’s policies and meet all the teacher’s that I’ll be working with this year. Sighing, I walk back outside smiling shyly as I pass new friends and take in the view one more time as my feet lightly tread on the path back to Rog’s cabin to get my things.

  I finish stuffing my backpack and sigh, looking at the bed. I hope we come back here, soon. But Rog says the snow makes the roads impassable. And there won’t be many weekends left since none of the cabins are winterized.

  A sharp knock at the door has me looking up, as Shanna opens the door and breezes in.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey. I wanted to give you my number. Call me whenever Rog gets a thick head.”

  “Yeah, I might have to put you on speed dial,” I laugh. After unlocking my phone, I hand it over.

  “There. I hope you and Rog can come visit us in California.”

  “I’d like that,” I answer taking my phone back.

  I strip the sheets and place them in a bag to be washed.

  “I’ll take care of this baby.”

  “I want to help. I haven’t lifted a finger this weekend while all the other women have pitched in in the kitchen.”

  “You’re off the clock, sweetheart. Besides, I’ve put you to work in my bed.”

  And he did.

  We spend the afternoon wrapped up in each other’s arms. Last night we fucked. Today Roger made love to me, softly, tenderly. Don’t get me wrong, the man is so huge and powerful, a gentle fuck for him would be a moderate one for any other man. We laid side by side, gazing into each other’s eyes as he pumped slowly, but forcefully inside. It went on for at least an hour. Damn that man has stamina. I came at least three times.

  “Ride back with me.”

  “What about my car?”

  “I’ll have one of the boys drive it,” he shrugs.

  “We need to grab Luce.”

  He raises his eyebrows and looks away.

  “What?”

  “Don’t get upset, Dev.”

  “Whenever someone tells me that—I instantly get upset.”

  “Smith’s claimed her as his. She’ll ride in his truck.”

  “And what does Luce have to say about this.”

  “It doesn’t matter. It won’t matter. He’s the Prez. His word is law.”

  “No,” I shake my head, “this is not some script. She has a say.”

  “Some shit is just like TV. We don’t take threats lightly or say a woman is our old lady if she isn’t.”

  “I knew he was looking at her all crazy last night. I never should’ve left her with him by the fire.”

  “He’s a good man Dev. He’d never hurt her.”

  I snort, “They always say that.”

  Picking up my bag, I head toward the door.

  “Where you going sugar?”

  “To save my best friend.”

  “Who says she wants to be rescued?”

  I falter, bag slipping on my shoulder. “Maybe you’re right. But I at least need to check.”

  “Okay. But don’t put me in a bad spot between you and Smith.”

  “Who? Who, would you choose?”

  He closes his eyes, hands fisted by his sides, “You. I’d choose you, Dev.”

  I gulp. He’s known Smith for years and me weeks. He’s the most loyal man I’ve ever met. And now he’s giving that loyalty to me. I turn away before he can see the tear slipping down my cheek as I open the door on the hunt for Smith and Luce.

  “Thank God you’re here. I barged in every cabin looking for you and Smith. Caught an eyeful in more than a few, too.”

  Luce lounges on the couch, remote in hand watching One Tree Hill. “What the hell is going on?”

  “My cell’s dead. I forgot my charger.”

  “And no one at the lake had one you could borrow?”

  She shrugs, “As if he would let me.”

  “Smith?”

  She nods grinning wide. “Did you miss the two guards out back?”

  “They must have seen it was Rog’s truck pulling up.”

  “Where is your Silver Fox anyway?”

  “Sassy’s. He said he needs to check on things. Besides, I need to actually sleep tonight.”

  “So, he was good?”

  “Like you wouldn’t believe. I’m so screwed. He doesn’t know and holy shit, did you meet my brother, Duke?”

  “I did. He’s fine. If he wasn’t with Shanna—”

  “As if Smith would ever let that happen.”

  “He makes my toes curl.”

  “Who? Smith or Duke?”

  “Both.”

  “Shanna’s gonna kick your ass.”

  She shrugs, “Smith thinks I’m old lady material.”

  My mouth drops. “And this is a bad thing?”

  “No. It’s… so romantic how he looks at me. I melt.”

  “Did you sleep with him?”

  “No,” she sighs, “but it was hard to hold out.”

  “Then what’s up?”

  “I can’t make it too easy for him. Can I? Besides, once he gets what he wants he’ll probably be like every other guy. It won’t last. It never does.”

  I sit down beside her. “You can’t think like that.”

  “I can’t help it. I’m thirty. Do you know how many bridesmaid dresses I have hanging in my closet? Twelve. Twelve times a bridesmaid, never a bride.”

  “So? No one’s ever asked me to be in their wedding. You are so loved Luce. Look at how many people asked you.”

  Her shoulders sag, fingers picking the frayed ends of the blanket on her lap, “I’m afraid. I’m a big-talker but when it comes down to it, I’m afraid.”

  “Afraid of what?”

  “Being left like my mom.”

  “Oh, Luce.”

  “Do you really think he looked at me all crazy?”

  “Yes,” I snort, “the man had stars in his eyes.”

  “He makes me feel like it could be real.”

  “What?”

  “Love at first sight.”

  I pick up a pillow and bonk her in the head. “You’re just as daft as he is.”

  “Chinese food and wine?”

  “Sounds like the perfect ending to the weekend to me.”

  My phone pings with a text.

  Roger: Miss you already, sugar. Sleep tight.

  Me: Miss my big bear.

  Roger: Come to Poppa, sugar. You know where I am.

  I bite my lip.

  Me: Can’t. Hanging with Luce.

  Roger: I’ll see you at Sassy’s then. Wear something pretty for me. No panties.

  Me: I’ll try.

  Roger: That’s an order darlin’. I’ll know if you lie about it.

  My fingers hover over the phone. “Holy hell. Roger is a DOM, too?” Luce blurts looking over my shoulder at the messages.

  “Too?”

  “Smith was very upfront about it. Must be an MC thing. The type of men who join are all badasses.”

  “We need to Google this. I don’t know much about it at all.”

  “Didn’t you read Fifty Shades? I gave you my copy.”

  My face turns red. “I did. But that was a book. It was scripted.”

  “Hmmm… I’m on it.” She taps on her phone a minute later her eyes widen.

  “What?”

  “Road trip next weekend? There’s a BDSM club in San Francisco. We could
drive.”

  “No.”

  “Why not? It’s Labor Day. We have three days off and sightseeing is the perfect cover.”

  “Why are you always getting me into trouble Luce?”

  “I’m your best friend. It’s my job.”

  “They’ll tail us. You have two guards and a man saying you’re his property after knowing you for two days.”

  “Yeah, Rog seems like he’s cut from the same cloth. We’ll do a bait n’ switch.”

  “Stop. You’re serious about this?”

  “It’ll be fun, Dev. Think of it as our last hooray before we both get too deep in relationships that won’t be easy.”

  “Okay. But what are you going to do about your plane ticket back to Chicago?”

  “I already changed it. Besides, you aren’t the only one going to Springdale High tomorrow morning. I have an interview.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yup.” A grin lights up her face, “You were right about this town and the men in it.”

  “But Smith lives in California.”

  “So? It’s a hell of a lot closer than Chicago. Besides, I’m overdue for a change of scenery.”

  “You’ll get the job. Rog told me the downstairs apartment is fully furnished, too. All that’s there are clothes and boxes that still belong to the other tenant.”

  “I know. It’s going to be awesome. We can take turns cooking and driving to work.”

  “I can’t believe it. I’ve never been so happy. I have a home here in Springdale, my new family at Sassy’s, Rog and now you. Something bad is going to happen.”

  “Shut-up, Dev. Don’t jinx it.”

  “I don’t have to. What I need to do is stop being a chicken shit and tell Rog everything.”

  “Okay. Fine. But you’ve only been with him forty-eight hours. Give your relationship time to grow.”

  We’re interrupted by a knock at the door. I get out some bills and open it stunned to see the pledge from California standing there with two bags of takeout.”

  “Put your money away. You’re both women of Creed now. And our women don’t pay.”