Thirty-Three
W hen Micro ran into the bar, just as we were grabbing more coffee, and told us there had been an accident, we just knew it was Torch. It was too much of a coincidence, knowing someone had been at his bike. Micro was pissed because he and Torch were tight, and he ran back out just as fast to get to the hospital, because Torch was already on his way there by ambulance.
We hadn’t heard yet by any other means, but thank fuck we knew, so we could get there to see if he was okay. We didn’t have to wait for the police or the hospital to call his next of kin, which would be Reacher.
“You two get up there and see what’s going on, and how he’s doing. We’ll follow as soon as we know this place is locked down safe.” Stitch marched off with Reacher, and Ry nodded at me as we both headed out to our bikes.
“You think this is because someone tampered with his bike?” We watched the gates open as Micro tore out of the place like his ass was on fire. I hoped to fuck that nobody else’s bike had been messed with, because we couldn’t even warn Micro, what with him not being in the loop yet.
“I don’t know why else he’d suddenly have an accident. This is Torch, man. He’s a twisted bastard, but he doesn’t take risks on his bike.”
We got on the road, and headed for the hospital, and the whole time we were riding there, I had two mantras in my head. One praying that Torch would be okay, because he was like a real brother to me, and secondly praying that nothing would happen to Elise while I was gone.
When we reached the hospital, and were directed through to the ward, and not intensive care, I felt relief lifting that crushing weight from my chest, because that meant it wasn’t so bad, right?
We could hear him as we approached the ward, and that wasn’t a good sign.
“I said I’m fucking fine. Can you get me out of here now? I need to check on my bike.”
We exchanged a grin as we approached the curtained off area, and without touching it, Ry cleared his throat.
“Torch, you wanna settle your ass down and let them do their job?”
“Oh thank fuck. Ry! Have you seen my bike yet? Is she okay?”
A nurse pulled the curtain open and nodded to us to enter. He was having a bad cut stitched up on his forehead, and grumbling about it like a real bitch.
“What the hell happened, man?” I was so fucking relieved to see him being the ornery bastard we all knew he could be, because that meant he wasn’t that badly injured at all.
“Fucking brakes failed, is what happened. Seriously, babe, are you done with that yet? It’s just a flesh wound.”
The female doctor tutted at Torch, and lowered her hands briefly, before she went back with a dressing to cover it up.
“Call me ‘babe’ again, and I’ll stitch up another part of you, got it?”
Ry grinned at me, and walked around the bed, so he could catch the doctor’s eye.
“He been giving you trouble, darlin’?”
The doctor huffed a sigh and stood up, removing her surgical gloves with a snapping sound, as she fixed us all with a fierce glare.
“I’m a doctor, I’m not ‘babe’ or ‘love’ or ‘darling’, okay? Now since I’m guessing you’re going to relieve this pain in my ass, I’ll tell you what I told him. He’s taken a knock to the head, and I suspect he’s concussed, but he’s not going to rest, so the best I can hope for is that he stays off a motorbike for the next twenty-four hours at least.” She turned to Torch then, who winked at her as he straightened his cut, after checking it for blood or damage.
“You, my most frustrating patient of the day, I don’t want to see you in here again tomorrow, because you disregarded my advice and hurt yourself again. Are we clear?” Wow, feisty mama, that one.
Torch smirked as he stood up, towering over the diminutive woman.
“Loud and clear, Mistress. I won’t be a bad boy again,” he leaned closer to her, “not unless you ask real nicely.”
She backed up, shaking her head, and gathered up the few things the nurse had left behind when she cleaned up after her.
“Get him out of my hair, please, gents, and you’ll notice I called you ‘gents’, and not ‘boys’, or ‘lads’, or any other insulting moniker.”
We were all watching her as she left.
“The fuck did you do to piss her off like that, man?”
Torch shoved the curtain further back and watched her disappear through a door.
“I think she likes me.”
Yeah, he definitely took one hell of a knock to his head.
Elise
L issa stopped by to see me, and I was beyond grateful for the visit, because I was bored, lonely and frustrated as hell. Of course, I had my suspicions for why she was even here with me, but I’d take any company I could get right now.
“How are you holding up, babe?” She took the coffee I offered her, murmuring her thanks as she sat on the sofa.
I joined her, my hands wrapped around a mug of my own, breathing in the aroma for a moment.
“I mean, I feel like what happened out there is already a distant memory, so I really don’t think I’m suffering any lasting effects from it.”
Lissa turned in her seat, pushing her lush red hair over her shoulders. I wished my hair was as luscious and thick as hers. What if Has preferred women like her? Had the girls in the video been more like her than me?
“Elise? You’re lost in thought, but you know, I’m the one person you can share anything with, right? I won’t breathe a word. It’s literally my job to keep your secrets.”
I let out a slow breath. “Last night I lost my virginity to Has-Been, and it was… it was amazing. Is it supposed to be that wonderful?”
Lissa’s mouth dropped open, and then a wide smile spread across her face.
“I have so many questions, but I need to remember this isn’t just a girl chat. Oh my god. Has-Been. It couldn’t have been a nicer guy; he really is one of the good ones. I bet he treated you like a princess.”
It was nice to have someone speak so highly of him, after the way my brother had been behaving lately, even though he’d previously always talked about him like he adored him.
I took a sip of my coffee, trying to find the right words… but were there really any wrong ones anyway?
“I always thought it’d be unpleasant, or painful. I mean, I’ve read books where the first time is really horrible, and even though I wanted to get rid of it, I was scared too. He was… he was sweet, and gentle, and kept telling me it was okay to stop, and… it was perfect. I’m so glad he finally gave in, you know?”
Lissa giggled, curling her legs under her. Definitely settling in for girl talk time.
“It sounds like you had a dream first time. I think for many of us it’s something we don’t really care to remember because it was a disappointment. Of course, those of us who were dumb enough to do it with the wrong person probably have all the wrong emotions tied to the experience.”
That made sense, and I felt bad for every woman who didn’t have a first time as epic as mine.
“I’ve never come so hard in my life.”
Lissa sighed, a blissful smile on her face.
“Isn’t it perfect when it’s the right man? I feel like there was nobody before Ice. He’s just… he’s so hot and forceful and… my god… that sounds so bad, but it’s not like that. We enjoy that stuff.” Lissa’s cheeks were bright red, and she chewed her lip as she watched me for my reaction.
“Hey, former virgin here, not going to judge, but I want to try everything. I’ve seen what Has can be like, in those online videos, and I’m not ashamed to admit I want to feel how rough he can be. It looks so sexy.”
Lissa grabbed my arm, her mouth dropping open.
“You know about the videos? My god, I bet he’s been freaking out about you seeing them. He’s been so mortified, ever since they started getting uploaded.”
I wondered then if Lissa had seen them too, and I was surprised to realise how territorial I felt about that prospect. She already had her biker man, so she shouldn’t be looking at mine, right?
“You’ve seen them?”