“Look at me, baby.” She opened her near-closed eyes at my command.
“I love you so much, Range, so much it hurts,” she whispered into the darkness.
“I love you more, tootsie baby. More today than yesterday, and tomorrow…”—I eased the rest of the way into her warm pussy—“Tomorrow, I’ll love you even more than tonight.” I rotated my hips to hit her sweet spot, the one that never failed to make her scratch my back till the skin peeled off, and she didn’t let me down. It felt so good I pounded into her harder, and with each thrust, I told her how much my love would grow for her until my dying days.
“Come for me my, wife. Let me hear you scream.”
“Range, I…It’s too much…I’m gonna…oh god, oh god, Raaaaange…”
“Hold on to me, baby. Hold on to me.” I held on to her tightly as her walls began to close in on my cock and push me over the edge right along with her. We didn’t move, didn’t talk, didn’t do anything but take deep breaths until our bodies began to relax and the rush of coming so hard just moments before began to subside. I rolled us over so I wouldn’t crush her to death with my weight and laid her securely on my chest, where she could sleep soundly without any fear of her nightmares returning. I would keep her safe even from her dreams if I had to. She was my life, my wife, and my reason for living.
“Sleep well, my husband. Wake me in an hour and tell me about this trip you boys are taking and what it has to do with Max.”
“I will, my love. Sleep for now, tootsie baby.”
But that chance never came.
Epilogue
“Get the fuck down!”
It was dark and so very cold. I could smell that metallic scent in the air again, and I was afraid. I couldn’t see in front of me, so I screamed out, “Range! Where are you? I’m afraid!”
“I’m here, baby, right beside you. Can you feel me, tootsie baby? Just reach out and take my hand.”
So I did, and together, we walked toward the light.
I closed my eyes for a second when the sound of a ringing phone woke me from the peaceful dream I was having. The safety and security I felt tucked under my husband’s arms was just what I needed after our amazing love-making. I should have ignored it, snuggled closer under the warmest armpit in the world, and dozed back off, and I would have if it hadn’t been for the absolute chaos that ensued from that late-night phone call. Range jumped from the bed so fast it slammed against the wall and nearly jostled me onto the floor. I was wide awake from that point on, listening to the panicked pleas coming from my husband, a scene so disturbing I jumped into action. I threw on my clothes quickly and grabbed the small duffle bag from the top of the closet and filled it with a few necessities: a change of clothes, two pairs of underwear, and Range’s toothbrush. Range was still yelling into the receiver, trying to get Max to give him the information he needed in order to help him.
“MAX…Tell me where you are. We’re coming to get you, you hear? We’re coming for you, Max, just hang on a little longer.” Range was yelling for me, so I turned to give him my full attention.
“Baby, get Sebastian on the phone and tell him to get his ass over here…NOW.” I grabbed my cell phone from the nightstand and dialed Ashley. She passed the phone to Sebastian, and I told him to hurry to the junkyard. Range needed him. I could tell he was up and moving before the last words left my mouth.
“Calm down. You’re not making any sense,” Range screamed again. “Max, where the fuck are you?” The phone call must have ended abruptly, because all I could hear was,
“Hello?”
“Hello?”
“Max, you still there? Answer me, goddammit.”
It was too late. Max had hung up. He quickly dialed Marcus next, filling him in as fast as possible. “Get the fuck over here, Mem, we got problems.” He hung up abruptly, and without saying a word to me, he grabbed his gun from under the bed and secured it on his shoulder with the holster it was in. Marcus and Sebastian arrived at the same time, barging through the door, each one carrying their own weapons, and with a simple head nod, they prepared to leave. It was the strangest thing I had ever seen in my life. Neither one of them said a word, no updates, no “this is what’s going on?” no…nothing, but they fell in line like this sort of shit happened every day. Luckily, Ashley was with Sebastian, and she immediately ran over to me and held me close, concerned for her lover’s safety.
“Range? Where are you going?” I asked as they were heading toward the door. He was reluctant to answer me, and I found that to be less than comforting.
“Max needs us, baby. Going to bring him home,” was all he said. I steeled my spine and looked my husband directly in the eyes and told him “I’ll be waiting for you to come back.” With those final words, the three of them left in the early hours of the morning to bring their brother home.
That was last night, or early this morning, I guess. Ashley stayed with me until she had to leave to get ready for work at Foster’s. I was so fucking sick with worry, but my faith was strong that they would all return safely and unharmed. There was a survivors meeting today, and since I had skipped the last two weeks while on honeymoon with Range, I decided to attend. I needed to assure them that I hadn’t dropped out of the group and my intention was to continue as usual each week. Everyone was there sitting in their usual seats, and they were genuinely happy to see me. Hank began the session right on time, looking pristine as usual with his stylish glasses on. I waited and listened as each member talked about their week and how life was treating them until it was my turn to share.
“Glad to see you made it back, Clover. Anything new you would like to share with the group?” He gave me a conservative smile and the opening I needed to share everything that had been happening in my life over the past two weeks. I excluded the part about Range and the boys leaving without a word or the potential danger they could be facing. Everyone congratulated me on my wedding, and the women in the group were fawning over my ring, of course. Hank wasn’t impressed and was all business when it all boiled down.
“So, Clover, you decided to get married after all. What finally changed your mind?” Hank inquired as he removed his glasses and cleaned them with the bottom of his plaid shirt. The question made him an asshole, but I understood his concern.
“I…I made a mistake. Our love was greater than the what ifs of life’s disasters. Range was the Bogie to my Bacall, the Burton to my Taylor. A brave man gave us a second chance, and because of him, we survived; because of him, we will live. I almost forgot that, Hank.” It was a simple response, but a powerful one. I didn’t waiver or stutter, and the conviction in my voice left no room for second-guessing my decision. My only regret was leaving in the first place without talking it over. My life with Range would be amazing, of that I was certain. I planned on loving my man hard, never allowing him to forget that we were made for each other. The dream that began with a broken ex-biker to fill the junkyard with babies making our house a real home would be realized, I would see to it. Range deserved to be happy, and as his wife, it was my calling to protect his heart with my life.
“Well, then…That’s great news, Clover. Congratulations. I’m glad it didn’t take you long to come to that life-altering decision,” Hank replied with a smile.
“Of course. Besides, anything worth having is worth waiting for, wouldn’t you agree, Henry?”
The End
Acknowledgments
Diamonds in the Rough editing and Julia Goda for taking a chance on a new author.
CP Smith who formats my work. Thank you CP!
AS Designs: Pre-made book Covers for creating this beautiful cover for Refuse: A Junkyard Wedding
Shanni Kenny for being the best Person Assistant in the world.
All the blogs that help support me and my work. Thanks guys for all you do!
And finally my awesome new street team The Junkyard Gang! You guys are the best and I appreciate you so very much.
Other books by SH Richardson
The Junkyard Boys
The Scrapyard Man
Refuse: A Junkyard Wedding Page 12