by M. N. Forgy
“Let’s go find an empty room to sleep in. The sun will be rising soon.” Lip holds his hand out, motioning for me to take it. I grab his palm and follow him. He takes us inside the club where everyone is asleep. The music is still playing, but softly. There is someone passed out on the couch, a woman hanging off the bar with no shirt on, and a man passed out in a pile of vomit on the floor.
“Jesus,” I whisper. Lip tugs me down the hall to the last room on the left. His room. He pulls out a key and unlocks it. I haven’t been in here in forever. There is a double bed in the middle of the room with a giant shelved headboard. A chair sits in the corner, and the walls are lined with naked chicks standing next to motorcycles.
“I’m going to jump in the shower,” Lip tells me, walking into the adjoined bathroom.
I cross my arms and sit on the bed. Sex tonight with Lip was different on so many levels. It was raw. I felt connected to him in a way I never realized I had been missing. It makes all the other times we had sex before seem fake, like he wasn’t really there. He never looked at me when we had sex before, now that I think about it. There are too many things running through my head, and things are not adding up. Has Lip always been this devious? Who was that chick in his arms when I showed up? Has he cheated on me?
I leave the room and stalk down the hallway toward the bar. I need a drink; I can’t cope with all of these thoughts. I kick red cups and step over a pair of panties. I slowly look up and find Boonie standing inches from me. If I hadn’t looked up, I would have run right into him. I jump, startled, and clutch my chest.
“Fuck,” I whisper. He cocks his head to the side, his long gray hair falling over his face as he does. He’s large, bulky even. He has on a stained gray shirt and leather cut. The biggest buckle I’ve ever seen shines around his waist. He frightens me. I’ve had guys come on strong before, but this guy is on a whole other level.
“Excuse me,” I mutter, trying to step around him. He steps in front of me and chuckles.
“Going somewhere, ginger?” I frown; I fucking hate that term. My brows furrow, and anger rushes through me.
“Ginger? Fuck you,” I sneer, pushing him. He closes his eyes, throws his head back and laughs, the sound chilling my bones. He lowers his head, his dark eyes targeting mine.
“Oh, I’m about to fuck you. Right in the ass, sweetheart.” He grabs my arm and yanks me against him.
“You better let me go, or I swear to God the only thing you’ll be fucking is your own asshole when I tear your dick off,” I threaten, trying to pull from his grip.
“Ooh, a feisty one. I love ‘em feisty.” He smiles and inhales loudly, smelling my hair. My body revolts. “You smell awfully sweet. I wonder if you taste just as sweet.” Before I can even react to the words leaving his rancid mouth, he bites down on my shoulder hard, tearing the skin. I cry out and knee him in the dick. He releases me, and I fall back against the wall. I grab my shoulder, pain searing through my limb causing me to whimper. The bedroom door slams open and Lip steps out, looking the other way before turning his head and looking toward Boonie and me. His hair is wet, and he has on nothing but jeans.
“What happened?” Lip questions, walking toward me.
He places his hands on each side of my arm and I wince when he touches my bite.
“He fucking bit me,” I grit out, looking at my shoulder that shows the perfect bloody indention of teeth marks.
Boonie starts laughing. “Man, I just wanted a taste.”
“You’re going to fucking die!” Lip points at Boonie.
Lip grabs my chin and lifts it so my eyes find his. “I got this. Go to the room and don’t come out.”
“Lip, No –”
“Go, Cherry. Now.” Lip lowers his head, his eyes serious and gleaming with an unfamiliar flare. I flick my eyes to Boonie, scared for the prick.
“Okay,” I whisper.
Stepping inside of the room, the music suddenly gets louder. I clench my eyes shut, nerves bubbling in my stomach. My shoulder blazes with pain, catching my attention from thoughts of what Lip is doing to Boonie.
“Shit,” I whisper, eyeing the torn flesh.
I go to the small bathroom, the smell of Lip’s shampoo strong. I turn the shower on and undress, taking extra caution around my shoulder. Leaving the water on scalding hot, I rinse off the bite. It fucking hurts to the point I bite down on my inner cheek as the water pelts against it. After it goes numb, I grab Lip’s shampoo that smells of fresh mint and wash my hair, the scent of him in my hair and all around me causing me to inhale deeply. I can’t get enough. I sit under the showerhead ‘til it runs cold. Glancing at my bite, it looks much better, but swollen as hell.
Stepping out of the shower, I grab the towel hanging up and wrap it around me. It’s still damp from Lip.
Walking out of the bathroom, hoping Lip has a new shirt I can wear because mine is covered in blood, he walks in the door. His body is puffed out, and his hands are balled into fists. He looks like a crazed man.
“Lip?” I mutter. His darkened eyes whip to mine, and I wince in reaction. He steps forward and grabs the towel from my body, yanking it off. He envelops me in his strong arms and plows us to the bed.
He slides his knee between my thighs and bites my bottom lip gently. My body comes alive with such a power I lose my breath. He’s hungry, and for me.
I arch my body into his and tangle my hands into his hair. Looking between Lip’s body and mine, I find small spots of blood.
“Lip, you’re bleeding,” I state, concerned.
Lip pulls his mouth from my neck and shakes his head.
“It ain’t my blood.”
My eyes widen, a little shocked. Did he kill Boonie? I look at the blood again, panic rising in my chest as Lip’s fingers tease my clit. My eyes roll in the back of my head and a small whimper expels from my lips.
I want to stop and demand we shower, but the intense throbbing between my legs says it can wait. The blood on his chest stains my own. The unholy blood of another corrupting what sense of morals I might have buried within me. The sins of the man I am in love with soak deep into my skin, making me the devil’s advocate.
Lip grabs my earlobe with his teeth, and my stomach flutters with a thirst I’m afraid will never be quenched.
“You’re my woman, and no man gets to touch you, let alone taste you,” he snarls, his words sounding possessive. A mewl vibrates in my chest in response. “Only I get to taste you, Cherry,” he whispers, his lips moving against the dip in my throat as he speaks.
“Yes,” I respond.
My fingers grab at the button on his jeans, undoing it quickly. I lift my feet and pull them down his legs. The craving in his eyes, the adrenaline rushing through us, I need to feel him inside of me. Just as his dick springs free, he pushes it through my wetness and plows into me.
“Damn,” he growls, closing his eyes, his jaw clenching. I moan loudly from finally having the contact, arching my neck to where my head is pressing into the mattress. His dick is buried to the hilt, as far it will go. The fit is tight, the feeling of fullness so damn good. He pulls his hips back and pushes forward with haste, and I sigh with pleasure.
The barbell in the head of his cock hits me just right every time he thrusts into me, the bed rocking against the wall loudly with every push of his hips.
“You’re not scared?” Lip pants. I open my eyes and find him staring at me intently—he looks high. His pupils are dilated from the excitement of maiming another human being.
“Losing you scares me more,” I whisper. “I knew the day I climbed on the back of your bike you were my ride to the dark side.”
***
Screams wake me to an upright position. I grab the sheet and pull it over my bare chest. After Lip and I finished our round two, we dropped onto the mattress exhausted. I fell asleep right away.
“Lip!” I yell, shaking him awake.
“What?” he mumbles. He’s lying face-first in a pillow, his bare ass sticking up in th
e air.
“Someone just screamed really loud,” I whisper.
“Fuck!” Lip jumps out of bed, nearly falling on his face. He grabs a fresh pair of jeans out of the dresser and looks for a shirt. He looks frazzled, which causes me to tense.
“What’s wrong? What’s happening, Lip?”
“I got caught up with you and forgot,” Lip mutters before opening the door and rushing out.
“Forgot?” I climb out of bed, and my thighs ache. I slowly sit myself back down on the bed and smirk. Lip did warn me that I wouldn’t be able to walk today. Glancing down at myself, I notice I need to shower again. Lip transferred blood onto me, and now that I’m not high on lust, I need to clean it off. Now!
I turn the water on and quickly clean up. I want to see what’s going on, but a part of me doesn’t. I rinse any trace of blood off, and wash my hair in record time. I towel dry and head to Lip’s closet for something clean. I find a gray Devil’s Dust shirt and put it on, with my shorts from yesterday. Throwing my hair up into a messy bun, I slowly open the door.
The music is turned off, but I don’t see anybody. I tiptoe out of the room, scared of what I may see. I step over the panties and cups and find a large puddle of blood sitting under a chair in the middle of the common area. I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth.
“Look, you say he hurt Cherry, then I agree Boonie had it coming. We have your back, Lip,” I hear Bull state. I tear my eyes from the gore to Bull’s voice, finding him in the kitchen with the doors shut. “Did Cherry see you do this? You can’t upset her. You need to keep her happy, Lip.” I frown.
“She saw some blood on me last night, but it didn’t affect her. How much longer do I have to fucking do this for, man?” Lip questions and I suck in a sudden breath, my fingers digging into the palm of my hands. What is he talking about?
“Why?” Bull questions, flat.
“I just… I don’t know if I can do this much longer. Things are getting serious, and I can’t keep myself from…” Lip pauses, and I hold my breath.
A cup is kicked behind me, making me jump and turn toward the noise. It’s that bitch I saw all over Lip last night. I place my hands on my hips and glare.
“So, I hear you’re Lip’s ol’ lady.”
Her mascara is smeared and her lipstick is smudged halfway across her cheek.
“I think you forgot some of your lipstick on some strange dick,” I sneer. She purses her lips and raises a brow.
She tilts her head to the side and crosses her arms. “I thought if Lip was taken it would be by someone much prettier,” she insults.
“Ha! Run along back home before Daddy finds you missing,” I sneer.
“I hope you’re as pretty as you think you are. Lip is done with you. He’s ridden that tired-ass vagina of yours out and is looking for something new.” She smirks and my stomach falls. “He even gave me my nickname around here, Dolly. He must think I’m pretty sweet to call me something as cute as Doll, don’t you?”
“You don’t expect me to believe that, do you?” I question, my voice coming out more confident than I feel.
She shrugs. “Believe what you want, sweetie. But when I’m wearing that cut and you aren’t anymore, the reality won’t lick those wounds so well.” She sashays by me, and I reach forward and grab her hair.
“If you go near my man, I will rip the hair from your fucking head, do you hear me?” I yank on her hair hard. It snaps and pulls from her scalp, making her scream loudly. Lip and Bull rush out of the kitchen, so I let go.
“Fucking psycho!” Dolly cries, holding her head.
“Jesus, Cherry. Why do you have to be a pain in my ass?” Bull exclaims, catching Dolly. “Come on, darling. Let’s get you to your bike, and get you out of here before the Ghost Riders wake.” Bull helps Dolly stand and walks her out. The bitch rides her own motorcycle?
I want to know if Lip called her Dolly, and I want to know what the hell he was talking about with Bull, but the blood on the floor has me more concerned. What did Lip do? I step forward and survey the chair.
“Did you do this?” I ask. I don’t need to ask, though, because I know he did. Looking at the blood, I see little chunks that catch my attention.
“What the….?” I bend down to get a better look and find the chunks are teeth. A lot of them. I cover my mouth and turn away quickly, vomit threatening to race up my throat. Lip couldn’t have done this. Not the Lip I know. I clench my eyes shut and swallow hard. I’m starting to second-guess how well I know the man I love.
“Cherry, babe.” Lip grabs my elbow, his voice soft.
“I’m fine,” I choke. I’m not fine.
“Why don’t you go home? We need to get this cleaned before The Ghost Riders get up.” I nod in agreement, needing out of here.
“Yeah, I need to go see-” I stop, nearly exposing my lies. I swallow hard and shake my arms out, trying to get a hold myself. “I need to go get a few things.”
Lip’s eyes, which were pulled into a tight scowl, ease slightly. He leans forward and kisses me, but it’s not a peck, not a simple ‘I’ll see you later’ kiss. It’s deep and hard, his hands grabbing my face.
“Bye, babe,” Lip whispers against my lips.
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHERRY
I head to Golds Trailer Park and find Piper outside playing on the poor excuse for a playground. I pull over and park the car. She is so beautiful, and every time I see her I want to tell her I’m her mother and I love her, but I can’t. It hurts, words I can’t speak eating me from the inside out. I hope one day Eric feels this uncontrollable ache that dwells in my chest. That the judge feels the wrath of karma, and when he steps in the sight of the Devil it shows him no mercy. That’s all I have at this point, hope that karma and the scales of justice will punish Eric and Judge Calhoun.
I step out and head toward her. It’s Saturday, so her father won’t be home till late.
“Hey, Cherry, wanna see me climb to the top?” Piper asks. Her hair is pulled into two messy piggy tails, and she’s wearing an outfit I bought her a few weeks ago. It’s neon orange and green. It’s summery, and perfect with her vibrant hair.
“Yeah, let’s see it,” I reply. I can’t help but smile when I see her. She climbs all the way to the top of the dome and stands up.
“Did you see how fast I went?” She laughs. Just as I’m about to answer, one of the rusted bars breaks and her foot slips. I run to her and catch her before she hits the dirt.
“Are you okay?” I ask, looking her over anxiously.
“Yeah, I’m o-okay,” she stammers, still scared.
I set her on her feet and look up at the broken bar. I’ve tried to coax one of the MC brothers over here to fix it, but they know this side of town is dangerous, and I shouldn’t be over here anyway. Lip would freak if he knew I was here. This is a really bad part of town. Half this trailer park is ex-convicts and drug dealers. They won’t bother Piper, though, because she’s one of their own. It’s outsiders who bring the problems to the trailer park.
“Stay off this piece of shit,” I demand, grabbing the bar and wiggling it.
“But it’s the only outside toy I have,” Piper whines before crossing her arms.
I look down at her and sigh.
“Just stay near the bottom of it until I can get it fixed. I’ll bring some more tape with me next time I come by.”
“Okay, I can do that.” She smiles, climbing on the bottom bars. “You know, my daddy doesn’t care if I climb on it, and he knows it’s broken,” she continues.
I furrow my brows. “Your daddy is a dumbass, Piper.” I close my eyes and chastise myself, trying to backtrack. “Just, maybe your daddy isn’t thinking when he says it’s okay.”
Piper’s eyes are wide, and she’s covering her mouth.
“What?”
“You said a bad word,” Piper whispers.
“I did?” I tilt my head to the side, trying to think.
Piper shakes her head, smiling.
“What was it?” I can’t remember cussing at all.
“You said,” Piper looks around and cups her mouth with her hands, “dumbass.” I throw my head back and laugh.
“Oh, yeah, I did say that,” I remember. I forget that ass is a bad word since I use so many other ugly ones.
“Mommies are allowed to say bad words,” I point at her, “but not you.”
“You have kids?”
“Do what?” I question, still giggling about her cussing.
“You said mommies are allowed to say bad words,” she explains. My body tenses and my mouth parts.
“Shit,” I whisper.
“You said another bad word.” Piper laughs and points at me, nearly jumping with excitement where she stands. My state of alarm dissipates.
“You must be a bad influence.” I smile. A raindrop splashes my arm. I glance up and notice a big, dark cloud starting to mask the hot sun. Fuck, Eric will be pulled off the construction site if he hasn’t been already.
“I gotta go, baby,” I mutter. Her face saddens, and she glances back at the jungle gym.
“Remember to stay near the bottom,” I remind her. She nods and starts climbing it. I step behind her and pull the back of her head toward me, kissing it.
“I’ll see you around.”
“Will you come by tomorrow?” she asks.
Tomorrow is Sunday, and Eric usually works till noon on Sundays.
“I’ll try, but no promises.”
LIP
Kane strides out of one of the rooms with a blonde chick wrapped around his side. He’s Native American and is always with a different girl every night. He’s a prospect, but not for long. Last week, twins got in a cat fight over him. It was pretty awesome to watch.
“Fuck, man, what happened?” he questions, looking at the blood around the chair.
“You didn’t hear?” The blonde looks up and questions Kane. “Dolly said some Ghost Rider member was duct-taped to the chair and had teeth hammered into his skull.”
I pull my brows together and pin Kane with a glare. Dolly must have been the bitch who screamed this morning.