by Lucian Bane
“Uh,” she rubbed her forehead. “He says he’s got something in California that’ll set you both free.” She eyed him, her stupid tears returning. “I don’t trust him, not one bit,” she said, shakily. “He knows you forgot something bad, you forgot it and I think you need to just… leave it.” She cut the air with her hand.
She finally chanced a look at him and met the face of a man who was worn. “I can’t keep running,” he said, seeming sorrier for her than him.
“I’m not saying, run, I’m just saying why go digging up shit? You forgot it for a good reason I’m thinking, you know?” She swiped her tears, moving away when he got closer. “I vote we just go back home. Right now, just load up and go back.”
He stared at her for a long while then finally lowered his head. “I need to finish this. He’s not leaving until I do and I… I can’t live like this.” He met her gaze, his brows full of crimped lines. “I won’t let you live with me like this.”
“Well, I’m not going,” she said. She could be stubborn too.
“Why don’t you want me to go, Winter?”
“Because it’s stupid!”
He came closer and she forced herself to hold her ground, eyeing him. “Why don’t you want me to go?” He took her face in his hands, his gaze roaming before he lowered and kissed her, stealing her anger. “Tell me what you’re scared of,” he whispered.
She shoved him off and hardened her jaw when he turned his sad gaze to her. “Don’t you do this to me, don’t you fucking do this, Bones. We made a deal!”
“I’m not running!” he said softly again, shaking his head. “I’m so done with running. You don’t have to come, I’ll go. This isn’t yours this is mine.”
“Oh BULLSHIT,” she cried to him. “You’ve been hiding for years, who says you need to stop now! Is it because you’re finally happy? And you just have to go do the one thing that will RUIN IT? What about me? What about my happiness?” she slapped her chest. “What’s going to happen to me when you go find out your shit and it’s more than you can handle? What’s going to happen when you’re so broken…” she covered her mouth but the sob escaped.
Bones caught her before she could move, wrapping her tight in his arms. “I won’t break if I have you,” he whispered hotly in her ear. “Who do you think has been holding me together?” he strained, pressing his mouth. “Who do you think has been giving me breath? Hope?” he whispered desperately. “It’s you. You’re the life that moves my dead bones. You’re the fucking life that makes me need to live.”
She gave in to her sobs and he held her tighter. “I’m scared,” she gushed. “You’re all I have,” She clutched him tight, fighting the need to fly apart. “You’re all I have in this whole fucking world and all I ever wanted! I’m scared!” she screamed at him.
“I got you,” he hissed in her ear. “I’m not letting you go, I got you.”
****
Bones couldn’t hide his grin when he pulled into the parking lot.
“What is this?” she asked then sucked in her breath. “Oh my God, you didn’t!”
“I did.”
“Where did you find it?”
“I asked at the front desk before we left.” He parked in front of the building.
She turned and looked at him, launching kisses on him. He caught her, laughing. “You’ve made my fucking day, Bonesy! I haven’t skated in years.”
“And I haven’t skated in forever.”
“I’ll so teach you!” she said, like a declaration of war.
“You’ll so have to.” He pulled her back on him, glad to see her smiling again. “Let’s go. Happy hour is from 9-12 noon.”
“Happy hour?”
“Meaning nobody should be here to see me bust my ass.”
She laughed and ran toward the building, dragging him behind her. Just as he prayed, there wasn’t a soul in sight. They were admitted and fitted then both sitting on a bench, putting on skates.
Winter finished before him and helped him tie the mile-long strings so they didn’t drag the floor. “We don’t want you tripping,” she said.
“Smooth sailing now,” Bones joked, knowing nothing was going to keep him from quite a few ass plants on the floor.
“Okay, hold my hand, I’ll guide you to that wall there. Use your stoppers to help you walk.”
He watched her and tried to imitate.
“Yes, you’re doing it.”
Sure he was. Until she let him go right next to the wall. He suddenly looked like he was skating a hundred miles an hour in place as he fought not to fall. His arms flapped while his hips shot in and out with Winter squealing her way back to him, sacrificing herself into the disaster of limbs.
Like a drowning victim, he latched onto her hair and boob while she howled in laughter.
“You fucking let go!” he cried.
She was squealing and fighting to catch her breath while he clutched her. “You were at the wall!”
“And then I wasn’t!”
She led him to the wall, making sure he got all the way this time. “Wait here, I’ll go put some music requests in.”
“I’ll do a few laps and warm up,” he joked, holding on to the wall with both hands while he watched her fine ass skate off like she was born wearing them.
Bones realized there were a couple people there, maybe workers. He looked and spied a concession area and wondered if they had alcoholic beverages. Might help him kill himself faster.
“Let’s go!” Winter came skating back as a song came on.
“You go, I’ll watch,” he said.
“Nooooooo!” she cried, coming around the wall and taking his hand. “I promise I won’t let go.”
“I promise I won’t let go,” he warned, letting her pull him to the edge where the wall ended and death began.
She got on the floor and helped pull him out, holding his right hand. “Just keep your feet straight for now. I’ll pull you.”
He held her hand in a death grip with his right arm out and leaning over a little as she pulled him along.
“You’re doing it!” she cried happily, starting to bounce to the music next to him and making him nervous.
“There’s a curve,” he yelled, even though it was way off still. He needed to know what to do before he got there.
“Just aim your feet into the turn,” she instructed with a yell. “I’ll help you.”
“It’s coming,” he informed her when she seemed to be all about the skating. It was that Car Wash song, he just realized.
“You’re doing so good! I’m going to pull you around the curve.”
She pulled, causing him to go faster. His feet decided to go their separate ways after the turn. “Help,” he called, pulling his right foot back in only to have it immediately head right. “I think my skates are broken!” he called.
He straightened up too much and jerked back forward. “I got you,” Winter laughed, rescuing him. She suddenly lost her balance and jerked him, starting what had to be the longest fall ever. He landed on top of her, both of them laughing so hard they couldn’t breathe.
Bones rolled off and stared down at her, never seeing anything so beautiful than her laughing. He leaned in and kissed her then the next song came on. “That’s your song,” he laughed.
They fought their way to standing and she spanked her ass, the cute little move causing an eruption of flailing limbs and them piled in a heap on the floor again.
“I’m done!” Bones laughed. “And you just spanked your fucking ass,” he warned. She gave him a mischievous look that lit him on fire. He turned and sat on the floor, undoing his skates.
“What are you doing!”
“Let’s go. Happy hour is moving to the nearest hotel.” He slid his eyes slowly over her body before winking at her.
“Ohhhhh,” she said with a huge smile, sitting next to him and unlacing her skates. “Now?”
“Right fucking now.”
“Why?” she asked, with a little giggle.
****
Winter sat on the bed, breathless as Bones shut the door of the hotel room and locked it.
She couldn’t help but be nervous about the idea of him making her. He moved toward her with enough sexual energy to power up a rocket. She sat breathless, wondering what she’d been thinking to imply she wanted to be forced. It was one of those macho things you say in joking.
He stood before her and she looked up, feeling like a little mouse before a hungry lion. He removed his t-shirt and her heart hammered faster at coming face to face with his endless cut muscles adorned in ink. A surge of jealousy washed through her as she imagined the person who’d tattooed him. The bastard or bitch likely spent hours with their face right in his perfection. Smelling, touching, feeling.
Her eyes locked on his hands now opening his pants. She clutched the covers tighter next to her as he opened them to black, tight material. He pushed his pants down and her breath turned shallow at seeing the underwear he wore. They had a slight shine to them and the material around his cock seemed specially designed to accommodate a man in full arousal. And he was in very full arousal.
He slid one tattooed hand slowly over his bulge and gripped his erection through the material, while his other hand caressed his balls with eager fingers.
Jesus Christ Almighty.
He suddenly reached a hand out and tilted her face up. A furrow crimped his brow, the debating kind it seemed while his hot gaze studied her. The intensity stole her breath and had her worried. What was going through his pretty mind?
He reached down and took hold of the hem of her shirt and lifted it slowly over her head. She smoothed her hair, wanting to keep it pretty for him while he lowered to his knees. His hot gaze burned over her breasts like he debated what he’d do with them. She opened her legs when he leaned in, kissing her breasts where the bra pushed them together. His hands slid up her sides, gliding carefully like she was delicate and breakable.
She forgot all about the game he’d brought her there to play, no longer wanting that but wanting this. Him, touching her this way. His hot breaths heating her skin as he kissed her in that reverent way. She sucked in a breath when he lifted his head, giving those kisses on her mouth now. He kissed her deeper, his hot breaths filling her mouth as he placed his hand softly on her neck and pushed her back onto the bed.
She’d never had anybody make love to her mouth like that. His lips were soft and full, his tongue a slow stroking fire. The fire he built had their breaths labored, hers straining with light moans, his deeper, thicker with what brewed.
He pressed his cock into her thigh and she fought to undo her pants. His kisses roamed from her mouth across her cheek, then down her neck. A sucking heat, pulling at her skin as she shoved her pants down her legs, kicking them off. His hand slid inside her panties as he yanked the bra aside to devour her nipple.
“Bones,” she croaked between gasps, crying out when he bit her nipple. He climbed off and removed his underwear in a flash, his eyes burning into hers as he hurried back onto her.
He covered her body with his, kissing her with renewed vigor. “I need to try,” he shuddered on her mouth.
Try? “Try what?”
“To make love to you.”
Oh God. Emotion gripped her chest and her lips trembled under his soft kisses. That’s why he was being so soft and sweet. He was trying to make love. Winter quickly reached between them and guided his cock inside her, pulling him in deep and wrapping her legs around his waist. “Hold me,” she whispered.
He worked his arms around her, gasping and kissing on her neck while keeping his thrusts long, slow, and deep. He pulled her closer to him, his breaths catching with the hungry yearning to have what promised. His pace remained slow, hard and exact even when his passion burned hard, turning those hot breaths into strained groans, the sound of a man being slowly tormented.
Winter milked his passion, squeezing his beautiful body with her thighs and dragging her nails in a slow hunger, everywhere she could reach. She raked all over his scalp, pulling his hair. His mouth devoured hers now and she held his face. The power in that kiss is what did it, fanned his desire until he ground his hips to its hunger. His cock began to pound, harder, harder, and he never stopped kissing her, not even when he came undone, not when he thrust impossibly deep and hard. He opened his mouth wider, right on hers as his orgasm burned its way out of him, pouring into her, filling her up until she was more fulfilled than she ever thought possible.
“Oh God,” he croaked, finally collapsing onto her, his breaths blasting in her neck. She kissed his shoulder, slick with the labor of his lovemaking. “I think I just went to heaven.”
She gasped at the beautiful words and he lifted his face. “You went to heaven?” She’d never imagined such a compliment could exist and here, he was giving it to her.
“I did,” he said, sliding his face along hers. “The most beautiful woman took me there.”
“She did?” she squeaked around a sob of joy.
“She did.”
She felt him smile on her neck as he kissed. “No. But I think you know her.” He moved his lips to hers for a soft mesh, his thumbs stroking her face. He finally lifted his head and stared down at her. The light in his mocha eyes made her heart tremble. “She’s my soul mate,” he whispered, his breaths turning shallow. “She’s my everything,” he gushed, gripping her face in both hands. “And I love her so fucking much.”
THE NEXT CHAPTER
“This is it, Bonesy,” Winter announced, putting her foot on the dashboard as they drove. “The final countdown. Fifty more miles to go. You ready for this?” She angled her look at him and he wore that cute, boyish grin, the one she imagined him having before the world wiped it off his beautiful face. She smiled, allowing herself to feel proud. She’d given him that. She was his soul mate, that’s what he’d said. His everything. I love you so fucking much. Those words replayed in her head and heart every ten seconds. And now she couldn’t get the happy grin off her face. It didn’t matter what happened now, tomorrow, next week or year. They could go drive off a cliff right now and she’d wear that smile the whole way down. She’d have it in her casket, she’d have it on her way to Hell—or Heaven, God willing—.
He reached his hand out and she laced her fingers in his. “You know what I think we should do?” he said tossing her a smile.
“What?”
“We should get married.”
“Oh God,” she couldn’t keep from gasping as she jerked her hand out of his and turned in her seat.
“What?” he cried, suddenly laughing.
She ripped off her sunglasses. “Don’t shit with me about that kind of thing, Bones!”
“I’m not shitting!” He reached and snatched her hand again, pulling her to him. “I’m serious,” he said when she sat next to him.
She could only stare in shock with her mouth hanging open with him laughing and tossing those sparkly eyes at her.
“Noooo, no, don’t cry,” he ordered, laughing more.
“You want to marry me?” she barely squeaked out. “A real marriage, like in a church?”
He shot up his brows. “A church, a graveyard, a skyscraper, or a psycho’s shack in the woods.” He glanced at her, more serious. “Wherever you want, I’ll make it happen.”
“Oh God,” she continued to fan her face before gasping again and facing him. “Wait! Did you just propose to me?”
His laughter rang out and he said, “I think technically, yes. I did.”
They pulled up at a red light and Winter flew to her window and rolled it down. “He just asked me to marry him!” she screamed at the car next to them before flying back to Bones and hugging him. “Yes! My answer is yes! Oh my God, I need a ring. We don’t have to get one now,” she hurried. “I’m just saying,” she squealed, dancing in her seat. “I get an engagement ring!” She gasped, thinking. “We should get bands. What do you think?
Gold or silver. I love silver, what about you? Nothing flashy, just simple? And same for a wedding.”
“On the beach,” he voted. “The wind and surf for our orchestra. The fish our guests, and God our only minister.”
She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. “God our only witness? How beautiful. We could put that on our wedding pictures.” She shot back with wide eyes. “I get to wear a wedding dress!” she squealed, slapping his shoulder happily.
The sound of vibration made Winter turn.
“Glove box,” Bones said, “My phone.”
Winter stared at the glove box, a bad feeling coming over her. “Maybe we should leave it.”
“It might be Thomas,” Bones said. “Or Clyde, wondering if I skipped town on him.”
She opened the glovebox and grabbed the phone, torn between looking and making him look.
“We can check it when we stop,” he said. “Hey,” he muttered, leaning for a kiss.
Winter leaned and pressed her lips on his then laid her head on his shoulder. She nestled her hand between his legs as he drove, wishing they were done with whatever they were doing. All this unknown shit needed to get known, then they could at least know what they had to do.
“Gonna fill up here,” he said, pulling into a store.
“My God, the prices are outrageous,” she said, seeing him slip the phone in his back pocket.
“That’s California,” he said.
“Yeah,” she said, looking around. Would he check it when she wasn’t around? Part of her didn’t want to know but then did. What if it was something bad and he didn’t tell her? “You should check the phone,” she blurted after he opened his door.
He climbed out and pulled his phone out, like he wasn’t even worried. She watched his face as he pressed buttons. His brows came together as he read. “Shit,” he muttered.
“What,” she said, her heart hammering.
He showed her the screen and she read. I want to meet with you Bones. You don’t know me but I know a lot about you. I can help. To demonstrate my reach and ability to do so, I’m going to give you a piece of information. After you receive this piece of information, I will ask you a question. Your answer will determine whether you get the next piece of information you will want.