by Oliver, Tess
“Go on,” Dray said, “pinch him and see if he’s real. That glow you see around him goes away after you get to know him.”
Rett looked over at Cole. “Can we send him into the foam and just leave him there?”
“No, cuz then I’d have to feed him and shit.” Cole looked at me. “You going to ride or what? Daylight’s fading.”
“That depends—are you assholes going to tell Sayler embarrassing stories while I’m out on the bike?”
Sayler laughed. “Actually, I could probably tell them a few good tales myself.” She leaned over and kissed my cheek. “But, of course I won’t.” She turned the little invisible lock on her lips.
“Oh, come on,” Dray said. “Where’s the fun in that? Get on your horse, Rodeo. We’ve got tales to hear.” He ran his fingers in the air to tell me to run along.
I pulled on my helmet and goggles. Denver walked over. “Start the spin right off the jump or you might overshoot the pit.”
I gave him a thumbs up and kick-started the bike. I let the engine warm up and wondered if there was any fucking way I could concentrate on pulling off a trick with Sayler sitting there watching me.
Chapter 9
Sayler
I’d never had a hard time making conversation or meeting people, and Parker’s friends were extremely easy to feel comfortable with, even if I was the only woman sitting in the circle of chairs.
We all waited for Parker to practice his trick. He spread out his elbows, leaned forward and rode past the ramp toward the other end of the yard to warm up.
“I’ve only ever seen him ride a horse,” I said as I watched him ride across the stretch of dirt.
“Really?” Cole asked. He was extremely handsome with hazel eyes and light hair. In his smile, I could see a resemblance to his famous dad. “I thought he started riding bikes in Montana.”
Dray reached into the ice chest and pulled out a beer. He took off the cap and handed it to me. Dray reminded me of Parker, tough looking with a lot of tattoos and a great smile. Parker had mentioned that the two of them had hit it off right away.
I took a sip of beer. “By the time he started to ride, we’d already sort of gone in different directions.”
The bike vibrated loudly as Parker came back to the other side of the yard. His friend, Denver, a guy who seemed to be one of those quiet, mysterious types, stood up. “I’m going to get closer, so I can see where he blows it.”
Cole laughed. “Pessimist. Maybe he’ll nail the trick.”
“Doubt it.” Denver walked toward the jump.
Dray sat forward as Rodeo turned the bike around and faced the ramp. “Here he goes.”
“I’m feeling a little nervous,” I said. “Can he get hurt?”
“Only if he misses the foam pit,” Cole added helpfully. “Which has happened, and, trust me, it’s not too pretty.”
Parker leaned down and raced toward the narrow metal ramp. The tires hit the ramp and the bike flew up and off. The front tire spun around and the back tire followed along with Parker as he turned the bike completely around before landing into the chunks of foam. Cole, Dray and Rett hopped to their feet with cheers. I wasn’t completely sure what I’d been watching, but it’d looked pretty fancy, and it was obviously a big deal because even Denver looked impressed.
Parker’s yells followed his fists out of the foam as he punched excitedly at the air. Denver looked back at Cole. “Now if he can do that over dirt and stick the landing, he’ll have that trick down. I’ll go help him get his bike out.”
We watched as they tied a cable onto the handlebars to lift the motorcycle out. Parker looked amped up about his jump and it made me smile.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Dray said. “That pretty smile must be for something.”
I nodded. “I was just thinking that Parker hasn’t changed. He still gets really enthusiastic about things. It was always one of the many things I loved about him. Even if everything else was crappy, I could always count on Parker to cheer me up.”
“Sounds like you two were pretty serious,” Rett said.
I’d thought about our previous relationship a lot in the past few days. So much of the passion had been rekindled, but it was more than that. We had always understood each other. “It was one of those wild, extremely physical high school relationships. You know, two teens with raging hormones and little else to keep us from making impulsive decisions. We had a blast. That’s for darn sure.”
Dray blinked at me. “Define extremely physical.”
I tapped my shoe against his. “I’ll let you use your imagination.”
“Nah, you don’t want to do that. It’s pretty warped. Just like the rest of him.” Rett stretched his long legs out and crossed them at the ankles. “Hey, Cole, don’t forget about the fundraiser at the barn. Guess your dad’s feeling better. He’s agreed to sing a set. Tickets sold out twenty minutes after Fin posted it on the Facebook page.”
“What was wrong with my dad? I haven’t talked to him in a week.”
“He pulled a muscle in his back. Said he was picking up a book he dropped.”
Cole laughed. “Right, a book. More like he was handcuffed to the headboard and some chick was—” He sealed his mouth shut and looked my direction. “Sorry. Forgot we were in mixed company.”
“I could cover my ears.”
Dray dropped his empty beer bottle back into the ice chest. “Yeah, I’m going to be spending the rest of the night trying to fill in that blank.”
Rett rolled his eyes. “How’s that mustang doing over at Kensington’s place? Cole’s girlfriend took in a rescued mustang to foster while we wait for a stall to come available at the barn,” Rett added to include me in the conversation. Dray was right, I did almost want to pinch the man to see if he was real.
“It’s cool what you and Cole’s sister are doing for those animals,” I said. “Sounds like fun too. Especially to a girl who grew up around horses, cows and pigs.”
“You’ll have to get Rodeo to drive you out for a visit.”
Cole stretched his neck to see what was happening in the pit. They nearly had the bike back on the ground. He rested back again. “Kensie said that mustang is a handful on the ground. She’s learning what it’s like to deal with an unbroke horse. She now realizes how spoiled she’s been with well-trained horses.”
“Is the horse too much trouble?” Rett asked.
Cole leaned forward and dug into the ice chest for a drink. “Nah, I think she likes the challenge.”
Parker started up his bike.
“Looks like Rodeo’s going again,” Cole said.
We watched as he circled around and rode back toward the ramp. The heavy motorcycle flew up as if it was filled with helium. Parker’s white and blue helmet gleamed in the sunlight as he spun around in a complete circle and dropped straight down into the foam.
“That was good, right?” I asked.
“Real good. It’s not an easy trick.” Cole stood up and looked at Dray. “You ready to try a jump? I pulled out some of my old gear. You can suit up while Rodeo finishes his practice.”
Dray shot out of his chair. “King, I was fucking born ready.”
Chapter 10
Sayler
Parker led me toward the house, glancing back to see what the laughter was about. After a small chirping jump into the foam and a quick wrangling of the bike back out Dray had apparently tied the straps to himself. Cole was lifting him out of the pit with the bobcat, and Dray was dangling like a trapeze artist at the end of it.
“And I thought we were wild,” I said. “That guy makes us look tame in comparison. What’s his girlfriend like?”
“Cassie’s super mellow and brainy, more like Denver’s type. But opposites attract, I guess.” He winked back at me as he pulled me a
long across the yard. “Except us. We’re not exactly opposites, and I’m damn attracted to you.” He paused to kiss me and then we continued on across a cement patio to a sliding glass door. “Cassie’s good for Dray,” he continued. “I think she keeps him from getting too crazy. Cole was telling me this fucking badass story about Dray and Rett getting thrown in a jail down in Mexico. He and Cassie had split up when she went to New York for her photography career. Dray was out of control because she left him. Some shady policeman in some small town south of the border was using Dray as a fighter. Dray’s one tough motherfucker in an octagon. Without Cassie, that guy would probably be six feet under already. I love hanging out with him. Even if he is kind of nuts.”
The inside of the house looked just as I’d expected, as if three bachelors lived in it. The furniture was simple, mismatched and functional, including the massive easy chairs they had set up in front of the giant flat screen. There was a pile of game controllers on an upside down crate in between the chairs.
Rodeo led me down a hallway to the last bedroom on the right. He’d taken off his gear but was still wearing his jersey and motocross pants. He’d switched out the massive boots for slip on Vans.
We stepped into the room. A single bed, unmade and cluttered with a tangle of sheets and blanket, stood in the center of the otherwise stark room. A dresser in the corner had socks and t-shirts popping out of the half-opened drawers. “Looks like you took your bedroom in Montana and recreated it perfectly right here in California.”
“Old habits die hard.” He shut his bedroom door and pushed me up against it. “And speaking of hard—” He pressed against me and his hardened cock strained against his pants. “I think you’re my good luck charm. That was the best practice I’ve had in a long time, and I’m fucking amped up right now.” He took hold of my sweater and lifted it up and over my head. “And it’s all because of you.” He lowered his mouth to my neck.
“I’ve got to admit, I’m feeling pretty hot from watching you ride.” I slid my hands beneath his jersey. His skin was still damp from sweat, and it only made me hotter as I smoothed my palm over his moist skin.
“Yeah? I could go out there and zoom around some more, maybe take my shirt off and shit.”
I smiled and lifted the ends of his shirt up to expose the tight muscles of his stomach. “Or you could take your shirt off here and just jog around the room a few times pretending to ride a motorcycle.” I leaned down and ran my tongue along the salty skin on his stomach. I pushed his jersey up higher cueing him to take it off completely.
“In fact, you don’t even have to jog around the room.” I ran my fingers along the tattoos on his shoulders. All the ink and hard lines of his muscles coupled with the manly scent of sweat and dirt was all I needed. I stretched up and kissed him. “Cuz my pussy is already wet and aching for you,” I whispered against his mouth.
“Damn,” he growled as his hands greedily grabbed at the button on my pants. He fumbled with the zipper as he kissed me. “Baby,” he said through a hoarse whisper, “I don’t think I can stop to search out a condom. And I badly want to feel that wet pussy around my cock.”
“I’m on the pill and I’m clean.”
“Me too. Just had a physical before my last sponsor signed me.” He yanked my pants down roughly and worked in pure frustration to free me from my shoes and pants. I laughed as I held onto his shoulders to keep from being pitched sideways.
“I miss summer and short dresses that can just be pushed out of the way.” He stood up and stared at me, naked from the waist down. His lids grew heavy as he pushed my sweater up higher to get a better view. “Now, let’s see if you were telling the truth.” His hand pushed between my legs. I reached up and held his arms to steady myself as my head dropped back against the door and my eyes closed.
His fingers curled through the moisture in my pussy, and he went straight to massaging my throbbing clit. “Fuck, that’s nice,” he groaned. “And I’m going in raw, no latex, no shield.” He pressed his mouth against my ear and a shiver of delight coursed through me as he spoke. “I want to feel every fucking inch of you, baby.” With that, his fingers dove deep inside of me. My knees weakened, and I used his arms and the door behind me as support.
“Back in Montana, my pulse would race and my cock would harden just at the thought of you, Sayler. That hasn’t changed. I’m sportin’ a fucking hard on all day just thinking about you, the way you laugh, the way you sway those thin hips back and forth when you walk . . . ” He ran his tongue around my ear, and I mewled in pleasure at the feel of it. “The way you taste,” he whispered. “Hmm, especially the way you taste.”
I reached down, opened his pants and pushed them down to his thighs. His erection pressed urgently at my belly, and I curled my fingers around it, running my hand along the length of it from base to smooth, slick tip. “Take me right now, Parker. I don’t even give a damn where or how, just fill me with this cock.” My hands went around his neck. The door rattled as he pushed me up against it. I wrapped my legs around him. He kissed me hard as he jammed his cock inside of me.
“God, baby, I’m not going to last long,” he muttered. “You’re too fucking tight. Too fucking sweet.” He rocked hard against me, and the door shuddered behind my back as he slammed into me, finding the deepest pocket possible and teasing that spot that could take me straight to a mind-blowing orgasm. His hands grasped my ass almost roughly as he ground against me, turning his hips up to meet my downward motion.
“Holy shit,” he growled, “why the fuck did I ever leave you?”
My pussy milked his cock as he pumped it inside of me. I arched toward him, and the heat of his body warmed my clit as it rubbed against him. My legs tightened around him. He freed one hand and reached between our bodies to stroke my clit. The rough callused skin of his thumb made my pussy clench tightly around him. “Parker, yes!” I cried as my body quivered and dissolved into pulsating waves of pleasure.
“That’s it, baby. Tighten that sweetness around me.” His hips slammed against me. The door shook wildly as he came at me with all his strength. His fingers clutched at my ass, and he held me steady as he pushed deeper. “Fuck,” a low guttural growl rolled up from his chest to his throat as his hot seed spilled inside of me.
I clung to him as he carried me to his bed and lowered me onto the mattress. He took off his pants and stretched out next to me. I cuddled against his warm body just as a light knock sounded on the door, the door we’d just nearly shaken off its hinges.
I gasped. “I thought they were outside.”
“Me too.” Parker lifted his head. “Yeah? What do you want?”
“It’s just me,” Dray spoke through the door. “I came in to take a whiz and was wondering if you felt the earthquake. It was only on this end of the house, but it was a big one.”
Parker shook his head. “Well, this is California. Never know when the earth is going to move.”
I hid my blush warmed face against Parker’s chest, even though there was no one else in the room. “I’m so embarrassed. I thought we were alone.”
“Fucking Dray. He probably planned the whole damn piss break figuring we were sneaking in here to mess around.” We heard the glass door to the patio open and shut. In the distance, a motorcycle fired up. The house was quiet. “See. Now we’re alone.” He pushed me onto my back and climbed on top of me, settling between my legs. “Which of course means we need to start all over.”
Chapter 11
Sayler
I grabbed my silk robe off the hook near the stage exit and pulled it on. It had been a long night and the customers had been especially drunk and rowdy, which made for an awful shift but it also meant bigger tips. I could feel the folds of money pressing against my skin as I hurried to the dressing room to undress and count the cash.
The thick scent of aftershave and the foamy mist given off by h
undreds of heads of beer being poured inside one dank, windowless room made my skin feel sticky. Max poked his head around the corner and watched that I reached the dressing room without any customers following behind. It had been that kind of night, and it had been that kind of crowd.
The owner of the club had invested in some heavy duty advertising, and because of it, there had been a lot of unfamiliar faces staring up at the stage. Not that I made a point of focusing on faces while I was dancing. Sometimes it was easier just to pretend they were all paper cutouts and that the dance was just a rehearsal. Stripping was sometimes easier if I didn’t over think it. Each night I was a few hundred dollars closer to my goal, and that was what kept my feet moving forward whenever I was walking down the hall to the stage.
The dressing room was empty, and I was glad for the peace and quiet. My phone was blinking and I picked it up. It was an hour old text from Parker. “Sooo bored without you. What time are you off? I can pick you up, and we can do stuff.”
I dialed him up and started pulling the money out of my skimpy costume.
“Hey, baby.” He had a great phone voice, to go along with everything else about him.
“As much as I love stuff and especially stuff with you, don’t you have to get up really early tomorrow?” I pulled a twenty out of the sequined blue strap on my g-string and pressed it flat on my table.
“Yes, but if I come pick you up and bring you back here we can do stuff, and by stuff I mean fucking until we fall asleep. Then I can wake up completely energized for work.”
“Energized? Or worn out from all that stuff.” I reached to the back of my sequined waist band and my fingers touched a folded piece of paper that was definitely not cash. It happened occasionally that a customer would slip us girls a dirty note or even a phone number. I yanked the paper free, disappointed that it had taken up valuable space in my tiny costume. I tossed the paper onto my dressing table.