Halley
Cowboy drew back the curtain. Sunshine busted in, whether it was invited or not. All at once, too, not in a block or a ray from the upstairs door being open. Light cast warm tones over everything. I shielded my eyes from the blinding yellow.
Light, one of many things I’d have to get used to again.
I don’t know where he’d learned it, but the man who rescued me, delivered this baby.
It’d been a terrible ordeal, having the baby with no painkillers.
I’d wanted him to just get the baby out of me, but no, Cowboy had me up walking through the pain.
He told me when to push. He put me in the shower for the last of it.
Boy, did the spray beating on my skin feel good.
When I pushed the baby out, Cowboy cheered me on. I felt like a badass.
I recovered quickly, mainly because I craved another shower.
I hadn’t had one in five years. But actually, the pain subsided faster than I expected.
I hadn’t torn, and the baby was healthy as all get out.
Cowboy saw no reason for us to head to the hospital.
It was safer here anyhow. He hadn’t left our side for days.
Magically, a big basket of the most wonderful provisions ended up on our doorstep every morning. Cowboy proved to be a great cook, especially when it came to breakfast food.
Mmm… Strawberries. I’d missed them, too.
“You’re my brother’s friend?” He’d already told me this, but I was only just understanding.
Edmond had paid Serpentine’s ransom. He’d come again to rescue me, but Snakebite had grown a pair, finally, and beat him to it.
Cowboy, what a name, came along to help my brother.
He’d take me to Edmond as soon as it was safe to travel.
Fortunately, Snakebite had packed a bag for me full of baby supplies and clothes.
He’d packed himself clothes, too, so even Cowboy had fresh drawers while he waited on his to dry.
This cabin had a washer and dryer. Being a prisoner for so long, I’d forgotten about the conveniences of life.
I remembered in the basement, washing my clothes out in the sink and hanging them to dry.
But I wouldn’t think of any of that now.
This cabin had everything any home would, if a home was basically a bedroom with an attached kitchen and bathroom that doubled as a laundry room.
It even had a T.V., although it was like no T.V.
I’d ever seen. Really flat, it hung on the wall.
It’d only been five years, but it was like I was living in the future.
Cowboy had the internet right on his cell phone and anything he couldn’t remember about taking care of babies, we asked a woman named Siri.
“What will you name him?”
“I don’t know.” I hadn’t thought about it.
Half the time, I’d ignored the fact I was pregnant, like doing so would make it go away.
I knew my condition was the only reason Serpentine planned to release me and take me as his wife.
And the other alternative, I’d never know if he really planned to hand me over to my brother or not.
Or if he’d just been fucking with me. If he had turned me over, it could’ve been just to fuck with Scar since his sister was carrying the spawn of the Sons of Satan MC.
That’s all the men seemed to want to do—fuck me.
Don’t know which one of the bastards who raped me was the daddy.
But most likely, Serpentine had threatened to marry me to fuck with Snakebite, never thinking his boy would defy him and break me out.
Snakebite, I thought of him, likely dead.
I wouldn’t worry for him as he didn’t man up and save me for so many years.
Yeah, I was bitter. I searched and found no more love for him, pretend or otherwise.
I barely remembered him half the time. I’d about gone crazy down there in the rabbit hole, but I felt like a fog was lifting.
Cowboy’s voice floated through that haze. “I was named after my father. What’s Snakebite’s real name.”
“It’s just Snakebite. And I don’t know who’s the father. I’ve never had relations with any man, willingly.”
“I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to assume.” He stumbled on his words like a true gentleman.
“I was a virgin when they locked me away. I’d only just had my first kiss,” I said, defensive.
“You were locked away?”
“In a basement. Haven’t I told you?
“No.”
“And Snakebite wasn’t rescuing me as much as he’d be taking me to another prison. You rescued me,” I assured him. “Thank you. I don’t know if I’ve said it.”
“You have.”
It was funny what I couldn’t remember. But it was good I didn’t remember all the bad things.
Days passed as we played house. He’d cook, and I’d make milk for the baby.
We’d both marvel at the little fella that could already hold up his head and smile.
I watched videos about swaddling and diaper rash on Cowboy’s phone.
We watched too much T.V., and I found out I had made it to the future, because a black man was finally President of the United States.
Cowboy couldn’t reach Scar on his fancy phone but said we had another week paid for at this cabin.
That we’d stay put. He said we deserved a staycation, whatever that was.
Cowboy, being a true prince charming slept on the floor at night.
When it was time to sleep, of course. Right now, he sat on the right side of the big bed watching a show about outlaw bikers, while I nursed the baby on the left.
Only wearing jeans and his cowboy hat, his bulging muscles and mess of tats were on display.
Unlike the men of the SOS, the Sons of Satan, Cowboy didn’t have a single piercing.
His ink wasn’t nearly as menacing, either.
A bunch of naked women and lassos, even flowers donned one arm and half his chest. I saw a fancy cow skull and a fire breathing dragon with a saddle on the other side.
He had a bunch of others, too, all over him.
All real nice, professional, unlike some of the bad ones I’ve seen.
The Asphalt Gods’ MC, they got their whole three-piece patch tatted on their back, too.
Hella sexy. I’d never seen a hotter man, even on the T.V.
“Did I thank you for rescuing me? I’ve always wanted a cowboy to come and take me away.”
“You have, much obliged, little lady.” He smiled and winked. Cute dents formed in his face.
I blushed. “It’s funny what I can’t remember.”
Cowboy’s rough hand gently warmed my cheek, letting me know it was okay.
He looked at me with a smolder that would knock an angel over.
With hair almost as dark as mine, his pale grey eyes shined like gems. The sexy beard that lined his jaw had gotten shaggier.
I knew what he wanted from me, although I’d just had a baby a week ago.
All men wanted it.
He’d been so kind, I wanted to give it to him.
I fluttered my eyes, half-pretending, like I’d gotten used to doing down in the basement, but half—realer than ever.
I drew the baby from suckling my breast, patted his back a few times and laid him in the recliner that we’d hauled over to the bed to be a makeshift bassinet.
Good, little darling was sound asleep. Cowboy, still smoldered when my gaze returned to him, but his eyes were lower.
I hadn’t put my breast away. I went to but paused.
Instead, I let him get a real good look at my nipple, now an eraser head, a bead of milk hanging off the ledge.
“Would you like a taste,” I teased him.
He stammered, “That wouldn’t be right.”
“I can always make more.”
To my delight, Cowboy leaned over and closed in.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I waited with bated breath.
Never in my life had I wanted a man to touch me, period, let alone the way I craved the feel of Cowboy’s strong hands on my body.
His jagged skin landed on my breast, and I squirmed, needing the sensation below, the sensation I knew so well but had never truly enjoyed.
My innards flipped, promising, I could love it with Cowboy.
To my dismay, he picked up my breast and tucked it away, buttoning my gown. I sighed as quietly as I could. His lips grazed my forehead, as he explained, “You don’t climb on the saddle if you’re not ready to ride.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t want to start anything I can’t finish.”
Face to face with him, I studied his eyes, finding nothing but sincerity. Who was this gentleman? Was he for real?
I gripped the back of his neck, wanting to pull him to me, inside of me.
His forehead touched mine and he let out a ragged breath that torched my lips, but he didn’t move to kiss me.
I couldn’t understand it. I could almost taste his kiss, but one never came.
The baby made a noise, and we both stilled, waiting for the silence that eventually came.
I exhaled in relief.
Cowboy whispered, “Besides your brother would have my hide.”
My voice came as quiet, but frantic all the same, “Would he not approve of you? Are you not a good man?”
He shook his head a smidgen, his forehead rocking against mine. “I’m not sure any man would be good enough for Scar’s little sister.”
“You scared of him?”
“No.” He laughed a little, still quiet like. “I’m not scared of anything, never have been. But he’s been pretty tore up over you, has been for forever.”
I bit my lip, licking a little. “Well, I don’t want to talk about him.
I’m not a little girl anymore. You know.
You’ve seen all of me,” I whispered. I remembered him delivering the baby.
It’d been such an ordeal. I was in so much pain.
And him cleaning me up. That must have been a horrible sight. I filed this thought away for later.
“And I’ve been rescued.” I ran my finger down his bare chest and rested it on his hard abs. “I’ve always wanted a Cowboy to come, take me away. A man who’s not scared of anything or anyone. A man not afraid to take what he wants. A man who wants me. Don’t you want me?”
“Oh, Darlin’, I do, but what I plan to do to you can’t be done to you right now. You’re on the mend. I’m not going no where’s darling. I’m going to get you back to your brother.”
Some part of me knew it was too soon for sex, but his words angered me. I no longer whispered, “What if I don’t want to go around another motorcycle gang?”
Cowboy rose away from me, sitting back up on his side of the bed, his absence making me cold. “We ain’t nothing like those devils, Darlin’.”
That was for damned sure. They wouldn’t have left me alone, healing or not.
Being left alone made me feel unwanted, unloved even though the men who’d used me, fathered this child had never loved me.
Could Cowboy love me? I suddenly wanted nothing but for this man to love me, me and my little darling.
The next morning when I got out of the shower, I forgot my robe on purpose.
Cowboy had breakfast waiting for me, two sunny side up eggs and toast. “I’ll never lose this baby weight eating three square meals a day,” I said, fully aware I was underweight with the baby out of me.
Still, I didn’t look too bad besides the deflated stomach.
My boobs were bigger than ever. I sat in the seat naked.
His back was still turned, pouring us some coffee. “I don’t think you have much to worry about… Didn’t they feed you?”
“Not regularly,” I said, matter of factly. “Even when we found out I was pregnant.” I took a bite of toast.
Cowboy turned around and got an eye full.
His face twitched. He started to open his mouth but said nothing.
Did he think I didn’t know I was naked? Fully aware I wasn’t playing with a full deck, I wasn’t offended.
I decided to play along. I put my hands in my hair and really showed off the girls, letting them jiggle.
Then I returned to eating. “Can you pass some butter.” I spread some on and when I took my next bite, I moaned seductively.
“It’s been ages since I’ve had real butter. LuAnn had high cholesterol.”
“Who’s LuAnn?”
“I don’t want to talk about her.”
“Okay.” Cowboy tried his best to keep his eyes off me while he was eating. When we finish, he helped me up. “Let’s go get you dressed.”
“Okay,” I replied, faking being confused. He led me to the bed.