Page 70 of Sangre
“Faith’s really nice. I think she’s desperate for adult conversation. Colt works a lot of hours, and I’d think being at home with the kids all the time would get a bit boring. I’ve volunteered to babysit, but they’ve only taken me up on it a couple of times.”
“That’s why I live at the club—No citizens around.NOnosy neighbors.NOfuckin’ perkiness and…NOidiots who keep folding and unfolding a damn stand each day. The thing is cheaply made so no wonder it’s starting to break.”
She laughed. “This really pisses you off, doesn’t it?”
“I don’t have any patience with stupid people, dumb questions, or a million other things.”
“Do you have patience with me?” Her breath was warm against his ear. The bike vibrated as they waited for the light to change green.
“You’re in a class all of your own. Rules I have about other people never apply to you. You’re different.”
“I like hearing that.” The light changed, and the bike jerked forward. “Oh! I didn’t expect that,” she said, squeezing her arms tighter around him.
I could get used to this. It felt good to have her soft body molding against his.
When they finally left civilization, he picked up speed, making wisps of her hair stroke his face. She planted her cheek on his upper back, and her scent swirled around him, driving him wild with desire.She needs my friendship not my cock.When he thought about it, it made sense, but his dick didn’t think so. It was growing harder each time her hands slipped dangerously close, or she pressed tighter against him. It was killing him.
Concentrate on the scenery.The desert held a special calming effect over him. He loved it as much as the mountains and took every chance he could to ride through it. It was humbling to be surrounded by such beauty on such a large scale; it grounded him, pulling him away from the violent world in which he lived a lot of the time.
The road shimmered in the haze as the sun blazed down. Above, strands of gossamer clouds streaked the blue sky like spider webs. Parched ground, sagebrush, and telephone poles whirled past them. Lizards skittered across the sand seeking refuge under the shade of red-colored rocks. Up ahead, crows swarmed a roadkill; their sharp beaks tore at the flesh while above, more of them cawed, their iridescent black wings beating the air as they swooped down on the carcass.
In the distance, the San Juan Mountains pierced the sky, and after a long while, Sangre turned left and made his way up a steep road, leaving the desert behind them. When they reached the hilltop, he shut off the engine.
“Chaco Canyon!” Isla scrambled off the Harley and threw her arms around him. “Thank you. Thank you for remembering,” she whispered in his ear, her warm breath tickling his neck.
He held her tight. “How could I forget all the times we spent here before you left me? This was our go-to place when life got to be too shitty. Youneedthis.”
“You’re the best,” she murmured against his shirt. She pulled away and put her hand over her eyes to shield them from the sun. “It’s just stunning here. You don’t know how I missed coming here and all our times together. I can’t believe I’m back.”
Sangre shrugged off his cut and laid it on the seat of the bike then opened one of the saddlebags and took out a blanket. Walking over to a cluster of pine trees, he felt happier than he had in a very long time. “Come over here in the shade,” he said, spreading the blanket down on the ground.
“In a sec. I just want to take it all in.” She went to the edge of the mountain and pointed. “Is that for real?”
He went over to her and looked down: A narrow bridge hung on seemingly translucent cables, curving over a frothing gorge below the steep rock walls. “You want to go down there and cross the bridge?”
“No way. It looks too scary. Have you ever been on it?”
“No. It was put up a few years ago.”
“So, you come here often?”
“Not really. I love it here, but there are some other places I love too that are closer, so I usually go there.”
“You’ll have to show me your secret places. I’m sure the women are impressed when you bring them up here.” She smiled.
“You’re the only woman who has been here with me.” She grasped his hand and squeezed it then let go and walked over to blanket. She patted the space next to her, and he went over and sat down. For several minutes they sat in silence, taking in the scenery and enjoying being there together.
“Do you want a beer or something?” he asked, breaking the stillness.
She laughed, and the softness of it mingled with the small breeze rustling the pine branches. “Do you always have beer with you?”
“Mostly. Water too. One of my saddlebags has a cooler liner. I had it custom made.”
“That’s awesome. Sitting here with you now seems like we’re back in high school, like all this time didn’t pass by. It’s nice.”
“Do you miss LA?”
“Yes and no. I miss the ocean for sure. I live right on the beach. I lucked out and found this amazing condo that didn’t cost me a fortune to rent. It’s tiny, but my front yard is the ocean, and I can never get enough of watching it. When I suck in the briny air, it’s like an elixir to me. I can stand for hours on my balcony just gazing at the white-tipped waves roll in and spread like fine lace over the beach after they crash in their soft way.” She pulled at a loose thread in the blanket. “But I don’t miss anything else about LA. If I could just stay on that balcony, I’d be good, but I can’t. The last few months have been wonderful in Alina. I like the slow-paced life, the congeniality of my neighbors, and the sense of community. All of that gets lost in the shuffle of a big city.”
