Chapter 36 #3
“No. This is me giving you what you want without losing my fuckin’ mind in the process.”
“You don’t make any sense.”
“I make plenty of sense. Do you think this is easy for me?” He jams a thumb at his chest. “To drive you to a fucking resort in the middle of nowhere, with no backup for miles, to feed you to the sickest fucks, who are gonna put their hands on you, or worse, ya know, try to rape you.”
“That’s not what this is.”
“The hell it ain’t!” Dark slams his hand against the steering wheel.
Refusing to yell at him, given how high emotions are running, I keep my tone low, and do my best to calm him down.
“Gunz said there will be cameras on us. You’ll always see us.
It’s only for a day, maybe two. Less than forty-eight hours.
You need someone on the inside to let you in. That’s what we’re doing.”
“A lot can happen in that time, Iris. Just because we can see you doesn’t mean shit if I can’t get there in time.”
“I can handle this.”
“I know you can. But I can’t.”
“Don’t do this.”
“Do what? Give a fuck?!” He throws a glare my way.
“You worked jobs with Kali and other women before. This isn’t new for you.”
“You’re not Kali,” he snarls.
“No, I…”
“You’re different. It’s not the same.” Dark taps his heart with two fingers. “In here. It’s not the same.”
“You were married.”
“Still not the same.”
Whatever.
“We barely know each other,” I snap at this hot, pigheaded man.
“So? I know I love you. That I’m in love with you. I know that this drive is killin’ me, bein’ quiet, worried about what’s gonna happen and what will happen if I can’t get there in time. You’re a virgin. What if they…”
I hold a hand up. “Stop.” We can’t do this.
“You’ve seen what men like this do. It happens all the time.”
“Then take it,” I throw out without thinking.
“Take what?”
“My virginity.”
Dark’s broken gaze swings to me and lingers for a heart-stopping moment. “Iris. Stop it.”
“Stop what? If you’re worried my first time having sex is gonna be rape, when I’ve been doin’ this for years, and that’s not happened yet, then pull over and have sex with me.
” I’m a capable fucking woman. I can work a job for his club.
If my vagina is the biggest issue here, then he can just have it.
Take those cards right off the damn table.
“No,” he growls like a demon.
“Why not?” I taunt. “I’m offering.”
“Not for the right reasons.”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes. Of course, it fuckin’ matters. You matter. This.” He gestures between us. “Fuckin’ matters. Don’t act like it doesn’t. Even if you weren’t a goddamn virgin, rape is rape. I’m worried about you.”
Scrubbing a hand down my face, I blow out a harsh breath and reel in my anger because if I don’t, I’m gonna say stuff I don’t mean. “I’m sorry. You’re right… I’m just...” Not able to find the right word, I fling my arm around.
“Me too.” Dark reaches across the car and rests his hand on my thigh. Giving it a squeeze, he sighs. “Let’s get through the next couple of days. Even if I’m a dick, I’ve still got your back.”
“I know. I’ve got yours, too.” To change the subject to something that isn’t about us, I aim for levity. “Soooo… That Monster guy is kinda scary.”
Dropping his head back against the seat, Dark barks a laugh. “Yeah. He is. I haven’t seen him in over a decade. Didn’t even know he was still around ‘til he showed up with Angel yesterday.”
“That must’ve been strange.”
“Naw. Not really.” He shrugs. “When you’re attached to the Sacred Sinners like we are, it’s normal to meet new brothers, or reconnect with old ones after a long-ass time.”
“Do you like being a nomad?”
“It suits me just fine. It gives me more freedom. Less oversight.”
For hours, we chat about anything and everything.
The tension fades to nothing, and it’s almost peaceful, listening to Dark talk about his sons—both of them are bikers—and his daughter Lily and her issues with some girl at the pool.
He even shares about his ex, Abby, and her new beau.
Not having a lot to share on my end, since I don’t have anyone but Dee, I listen and ask questions.
Dark doesn’t hold anything back and touches my thigh the entire time.
Even as the sun rises and we’re both one blink away from passing out from exhaustion, I grab the energy drinks from the backseat and crack one open for us to share.
“Damn. This is good.” Dark sighs with a tired smile as he sips the can once more before passing it my way.
My face screws up as the awful taste jolts my system, and he chuckles.
“Not your thing?”
I wrinkle my nose. “This is an affront to mankind.”
“Fuck, you’re adorable.”
I roll my eyes.
He squeezes my thigh and blows me a kiss.
And that’s how we make the horrible road trip a little less horrible.
Together.
Talking.
Touching.
And staying far away from the subject at hand—where we’re headed and what we’re gonna deal with when we arrive. That’s for future us to deal with. Right now, it’s Dark and Iris in my truck.
Tired.
Drinking icky energy drinks.
Learning about one another.