Chapter Thirteen
Grinder
Iam not a jealous man. Never have been. My philosophy in life is that love and lust are like mountain water and fresh air, they belong to those who need it.
Until now.
The way Parker’s attention just shifted and froze on Shade the minute he walked into the clubhouse has my entire body tensing and readying for a fight to the death.
Not that I ever would. As calm and calculated as I am in a brawl, Shade is lethal, and losing to him in front of my girl would cause long-lasting wounds to my ego.
“Hey, you’re here.” As always, Vanessa bends over backward to take care of Shade. I mean, she’s a natural born caregiver but ever since her husband—Shade’s best friend and our old prez—died, she’s been keeping an extra eye out on him.
“Yeah, had a migraine this morning but it’s all good now.” Shade smiles at Vanesa but when his gaze sweeps over the room, it lands on Parker for longer than feels natural. There’s like a freeze frame moment between them but it’s gone so quickly, I’m convinced I imagined the whole thing.
Dude has been through some shit; the last being a beat down from a group of soon-to-be dead assholes who thought it was a good idea to keep our brother hostage for a few days.
Long enough to torture him. Out of all of us, Shade used to be the reasonable one, but lately, he’s been in trouble more often than the other brothers combined.
It’s fine. We’re keeping an eye on him when he’s in the mood for a dancing girl or loud music.
Boner and I would never turn down the opportunity for willing pussy and AC/DC cover bands.
To be fair, he’s doing a lot better than two years ago.
I guess grief is non-linear and, as Vanessa calls them, “the waves” come at unexpected times.
The front door swings open, Mac and Psycho walking in like two tornadoes, and everyone’s attention goes straight to them.
“‘Sup mothertruckers!” Psycho trails in behind Mac, who’s on the phone, waving at us all as she makes a beeline for what I’m guessing is his suite upstairs.
She giggles when he slaps her on the ass just before she’s out of reach.
“I heard there’s a swell coming in from a storm.
Who’s up for freezin’ their balls off and having a good time? ”
Fuck that. I like my balls exactly as they are. Plus, I lost my neon speedo and I refuse to go to the beach wearing anything but that. It’s my trademark.
“Shriveled balls are not attractive. I’ll wait for speedo season, fuck you very much.”
Boner then struts in with perfect comedic timing. “I’m pretty sure I burned that shit at the bonfire last summer.”
“Asshole!”
“Wanker!” Parker and I gasp and cry out at the same time and I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face.
“I’ll buy a new one just for you, Stabby.”
“No thank you. The saggy vajayjay look isn’t for me.” Well, isn’t she a mouth full of sass. “But please, you do you and I’ll have my camera ready to shoot!” I knew I liked her.
“I’ll go, yeah. Just give me a minute to grab my wetsuit.” The room goes quiet and everyone stares at Shade. “What? Am I not supposed to go surfing with my brothers?” He shakes his head, a small smile at the corner of his lips.
“Oh, sweetie, no. We’re just happy to see you participate.” Vanessa needs to take the kid gloves off.
“Hey! Beats drinking stale beers and watching the poles getting wetter than our dicks, amiright?” I’m lying, my dick always—fucking always—gets action. Shade, however…mostly drinks stale beers and watches.
“That’s not what she said.” At Shade’s quip, the room explodes into an oooh and ahhh like we’re a frat house but cooler and not rapey.
“This is all very confusing.” Parker shakes her head like this whole scene is giving her a migraine. “I’m pretty sure I’m missing something.”
“Come on, I’ll fill you in.” I take her hand and lead her to the bar, where Violet is cleaning up after coffees, teas, and lots of whiskey.
“Hey, Vi, can y’all get a picnic set up?
Just whatever’s on hand for food and drinks, I’ll grab blankets and shit.
” I flash her my signature good boy grin and turn back around so I’m looking at Parker’s soul-deep and a little unhinged blue-green eyes.
“The sun’s shinin’, the waves are wavin’, and the good times are about to be gotten. ”
“You’re fucking insane, you know that?” Oh, if she only knew.
I lean in, my lips whispering over the shell of her ear. “It’s why we live in a renovated psych hospital. Like finds like.”
Most normal people would back away slowly, actively trying to avoid the crazy train. Parker, though? She does the exact opposite and it’s the most refreshing thing ever.
“Well, then. What are we waiting for?” Her eyes drift over to Sledge, just to our side and without even asking the question aloud, he nods that he, too, will be drinking beer and watching our unfortunate brothers freeze their dicks off.
Sorry for your loss, Mac.
“Fuckin’ A, the more the merrier. Let’s do this!” Psycho takes a shot, then shakes his head before running up the stairs and to his room. I know for a fact that he keeps his wetsuits here because surfing is a group activity and we rarely go alone.
By the time everyone is ready to head out—I managed to swipe the keys of Vanessa’s old junker before anyone else—it’s way past lunchtime and I’m jonesin’ for some food.
“I snuck out a couple of pillows for the beach. Figured you might be tired from the late night.” I frown when I realize I have no idea what she ended up doing last night.
“Actually, you probably went to bed earlier than we did…?” I let my statement trail as a question, hoping she’ll fill in the blanks.
“Nah, my place had a great view so I ended up watching the sun rise.”
I may not know her well—at all, really—but I know this: she’s hiding something. No worries, though. I’ll figure it out somehow…and soon.
My dick is like a truth serum. One thrust and they just start spilling.
“You ever been to the beach?” I ask her, not knowing much of her past or where exactly she’s lived.
“My country is literally an island” Oh, Little Miss Smartass better be careful. I’m about to bite that smirk off her mouth. “But our beaches are shit and the sea is about as blue as a watermelon.”
“Hmmm, anyone ever tell you that mouth will get you into trouble?” With the bed of the truck full of necessities for an afternoon of fun in the sun, we start down the long drive from the property with a trail of brothers right behind us.
Just around the bend, I pass a small Honda that’s seen better days, but I don’t give a fuck about that.
What I do care about is the man behind the wheel.
The same man who got me fired up this morning.
Which reminds me…I need to kill Boner. Well, maybe not kill all the way, just a little. His mom is scary and I refuse to get on her bad side.
“Only every day of my life. See? You just did it so my streak is alive and well.”
“I have a theory,” I start, but my thoughts trail off when I see the Honda stop as Mac passes him. I’m rounding the bend way too fucking soon to know what’s going on. Or more importantly, what his plans are.
He’d left after our hot-as-fuck encounter in the hallway. The one that almost left me with blue balls. I say almost because I did what any sane man would in my situation. I jacked off a couple of times to the taste of him. By the time I made it to breakfast, Spencer was gone.
“You gonna share your theory or you just gonna stare and drool at the hot doc?”
I laugh at her lack of filter. It’s like we’re two sides of the same coin. Gold, of course.
“Both. I’ll tell you my theory and also stare at the hot doc.” I look over at Parker, and where I expect some kind of jealousy or competitive streak, I see none. “I reckon if your mouth is busy sucking my cock, your chances of getting into trouble are slim to none.”
It’s her turn to laugh, and fuck, I want to swallow those sounds and let them run through my veins.
“I suppose it depends where I’m doing it. Word on the old continent is that Americans are prudes. Wouldn’t sucking you off get me in even more trouble?”
With one hand on the wheel, I let a smirk loose as my free hand flips the button to my jeans before unzipping the rest. With just a practiced wiggle and careful shifting, my cock is out and proud, ready to prove a point.
I don’t actually expect her to give me a blowjob on Highway 17 in the—literal—middle of the day, but if she’s going to hang around, she needs to know that words have consequences.
There’s worse than having a mouthful of dick so it’s more of a reward than a punishment.
“Interesting. Is this what you do when you’re losing an argument? Whip out your cock and hope for the best?” She’s cute.
“Darlin’, when I whip out my cock, I don’t need to hope for the best. The best just…comes.” I throw a glance in her direction, a crooked grin in place, as my hand works my cock slowly from root to tip.
People think this is dirty. I disagree. Pleasure is the cornerstone of our civilization and there’s nothing healthier than loving oneself in order to better love another.
At least that’s what the motivational poster hanging in the common room in my sister’s dorm said.
“Love yourself and the world will love you back,” were the exact words.
So, that’s what I’m doing, one stroke at a time.
Parker leans in, her seatbelt straining against the pull, and cocks her head to the side like she’s a med student making the greatest discovery.
“You know what’s cool?” I ask, my gaze fixed on the road ahead.
“What’s that?”
“If you touch it, it grows.” Yes, that was too easy. A softball, even.