Chapter 9 #2
Taylor takes one side and Gale takes the other. Bensen turns around from the passenger seat and shoots me a big grin. “Long time no see, Briar.”
I give him a tight smile. “Not long enough.”
John laughs and threads his arms around my waist. The weight of his hands around my stomach makes my cheeks warm.
Roman is sitting in the driver’s seat and doesn’t turn to look at me. My eyes shift to the rearview mirror, and it’s there that I meet his heavy gaze. Those eyes are as cold as they’ve been since we met. He doesn’t say anything as he looks away and focuses on driving.
My stomach flips as John sets his chin on my shoulder. “I hope you like swimming,” he mumbles.
I mean I can swim; I wouldn’t say I enjoy it. Not this late in the season. “You’re taking me swimming? I don’t have a swimsuit,” I say cautiously.
God, I know they are up to something awful. I just don’t know what that awful thing is yet. They wouldn’t just take me out somewhere fun for no reason. And regardless of how friendly the rest of them are, Roman’s doom-and-gloom expression is enough to set the forecast.
“We’re all adults, Briar. Just wear your bra and underwear. It’s the same shit.” Gale sounds like he’s not enthused about where his day is going either.
“Don’t worry. No one’s going to hurt you, okay? How’s your head?” John asks softly.
Jesus Christ, I didn’t think anyone was going to hurt me, but now I have doubts. I swallow thickly.
I want to tell him that I’ve had headaches every single day that have made working on cleaning up the farm impossible, but I just settle with “Fine.”
Roman reaches to the center console and turns the volume up until our voices are drowned out by music. He clearly doesn’t want to hear anyone talk. God, he’s such a douchebag.
After a few minutes of music playing and being on the highway heading toward the mountains, my muscles relax a bit more, and I allow myself to lean into John’s warm chest. He’s at least the kindest of the group and I trust him the most out of all of them.
His blond hair smells like the ocean, hints of bergamot and salted evening waves.
His chest is warm and his breaths are steady.
One arm is securely fastened around my waist while he gently brushes his fingertips through my hair.
It’s been such a long time since anyone has held me like this.
Since I’ve allowed it. I didn’t really have much of a choice in the matter, but it’s nice, and I find my eyes being lulled into closing as I let myself enjoy the fleeting moment.
I hate how easily I can feel his chiseled abs through his shirt. My lewd mind focuses on what his body would feel like pressed up against mine in bed. The thoughts make my thighs warm, and I can’t help but wriggle a bit in his hold.
John chuckles and slips his hand beneath my shirt, teasing my stomach with soft, languid motions. “You’re so beautiful, Briar,” he whispers against my shoulder and presses a kiss there. I let out a small whimper before turning to look at him.
I’m literally surrounded by four other guys who could catch on to what he’s doing any second. For some reason it only makes my core heat up more and my excitement grow.
John glances up at me, staring at me with gorgeous blue eyes that look right through me. My mind goes completely blank, and I barely register that his eyes dip down to my lips before he steals a kiss.
I breathe in, shocked and instantly melting into his arms. The kiss lasts maybe a tenth of a second, maybe longer, but when he pulls back, his brows knit a little, and he looks up at me and murmurs, “Wow.”
There are no words. No thoughts. Only a whimper when he kisses me again and moves his hand farther up my shirt and palms my breast over my bra. Holy shit, this is so hot.
I forget where we are and that there’s even other men in the car for a moment. It’s hard to remember anything when John’s erection is growing beneath my ass.
All of the sudden the music cuts out and Roman shouts, “Bishop, get your fucking tongue out of her mouth before I cut it off!”
We simultaneously jolt, and my eyes shoot straight to the rearview mirror. Roman’s glare is next to none. He could strike fear into a fucking bear with it.
“Damn it. Don’t stop. I caught on to what was happening too late.” Bensen laughs and gives us a sarcastic smile.
I cover my face with both of my hands, and a hot flush races across my cheeks. “Oh my God.”
John chuckles, and it’s such a smooth, calming sound. “Sorry, Briar, I couldn’t help it.”
Taylor and Gale are quiet. When I look at them, both of their faces are beet red and they’re sitting at weird angles.
How embarrassing. I want to hide, but I can’t go anywhere.
My gaze reluctantly finds Roman’s again, and he pointedly looks away. But upon closer inspection… No. Are his cheeks flushed? A small smile grows across my lips.
Not so tough, are you?
The drive only lasts another ten or fifteen minutes before Roman pulls over into a dirt parking lot.
So many of the parking lots are dirt or gravel in Bane Falls, it’s ridiculous.
I would’ve bought a pair of boots if I’d known how dusty and muddy everything got out here.
I make a mental note to stop at the boutique on Main Street that Grahm told me about.
The guys exit the vehicle, and John lets me slide off his lap before he moves.
I had a creek or river in mind, but I didn’t expect them to take me to a lake—a big one too; I didn’t even know there was one out in this area.
The mountains are tall on either side of it, with snow already at their peaks.
A hidden gem, one the rest of the world hasn’t quite discovered—and perhaps never should.
Roman nods at his guys and they make their way down to the beach side without us.
A trail is present, and it looks like it wraps around the entire lake.
I’ve given up being afraid that they’re going to kill me.
They’re clearly all talk and no bite. And I doubt John would fondle someone he’s about to murder.
Whatever game they’re playing, I’m tired of playing it.
Roman shoves his hands into his jeans pockets.
It’s much warmer today than it’s been; summer is truly leaving with a big send-off.
So instead of his jacket, Roman’s wearing a black biker vest with patches on it.
His arms are bare, and I can only assume he’s shirtless under the vest. All the scars above his collar line extend no mercy to his arms. They are covered in jagged marks, some designed, some not.
Masochist. Yet I can’t drag my eyes away. I want to memorize each one and know what they mean. I want to know why someone like him has such deep wounds that he refuses to let go of. What could be so twisted in that head of his that he has to do this to himself?
Nope. Let’s not think about Roman shirtless and humanize him when he clearly wants to be an asshole instead. I force the thoughts away.
“I caught a little snake outside your house last week,” Roman mutters as he places his hand behind my back and nudges me to walk with him. We make our way down toward the other guys.
“One, what the hell were you doing waiting outside my house after you said you left? And two, what snake?” My voice is threaded with concern. I’m not stupid. I know he’s not actually talking about a reptile. He’s talking about a person. A bad one.
He sucks in his lower lip and bites it. I hate how I bite my own in response.
“One, I’m trying to keep your ungrateful ass alive for some fucking reason.
Two, the snake I’m about to show you. You seem to think that your situation isn’t very real.
You live in a delusional place in your mind, don’t you?
Where bad things don’t happen to people like you. ”
I stop dead in my tracks, kicking up sand with the abruptness of it. Roman takes a few more steps before he stops and turns to look at me, lifting a brow.
I fist my hands at my sides and take a deep breath.
“You think bad things don’t happen to everyone?
You think you’re the only person that bad things happen to?
Wake the fuck up. Terrible things happen to people every day.
And you have no idea what I’ve been through.
There’s no way in fuck you can tell by the way I look. ”
Roman’s eyes widen, but I’m not done.
“I know dangerous shit is going down here in Bane Falls, okay? I’m not this clueless, stupid person you pin me for.
Have you ever stopped to think that maybe the reason I’m not crying and running off like a helpless little girl is because I’ve been through worse?
I’ve been left for dead by someone much crueler than you. Sorry, Roman. You’re nothing. Nothing.”
His lips part, and he looks like he’s trying to think of something to say, but I don’t wait to find out what it is.
I walk ahead without him, making quick work getting down to the beach where the others are waiting.
Around the corner of the bay is a dock and a simple fisherman’s boat tied off at the pier.
John runs his hand through his perfect blond strands before glancing back at Roman, who has reset his expression back to being completely unreadable as usual. Jesus, does that man even feel things?
He’s the one who doesn’t have a sense of reality. I cross my arms, pissed off and annoyed that they dragged me out here on one of the last nice days of summer. I was going to sunbathe in the backyard and enjoy some of the wine I splurged on.
“All right, let’s go.” Gale tilts his head toward the boat. I firm my trembling lips. They won’t hurt me. Even if they have guns.
Taylor hops into the boat first and helps me in before the rest of them get on as well. We look like a normal group of people going out for a fishing trip. Either that or eager young adults heading to the opposite shore for a fucking gang bang.
“Why couldn’t you bring any of your other girlfriends?” I pipe up, feeling a little unsettled.