Page 37 of Forgiveness
“The fucker got into my business. I had a problem with Hank—the asshole left me high and dry out in the ring with a madder-than-hell bull ready to impale me. I showed Hank what I thought about what he’d done, and Chet intervened.” Flux shrugged. “It’s really pretty simple. The asshole wanted a fight, so I gave him one.”
Maggie’s mouth hung slightly open and she shook her head. “Oh, Flux. Thank God you’re okay.”
Before he could say anything, she flung herself at him. Her well-muscled arms dropped around his neck and she squeezed him tight, as if the idea of actually losing him weighed heavy on her heart. Flux blinked a few times then wrapped his arms around her waist, locking her toned body to him from shoulders to toes. He squeezed her so tightly that they almost couldn’t breathe. Maggie let out a small, content sigh.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispered, featherlight against the tip of his ear. “And that the big, bad cowboys didn’t hurt you.”
Her laughter caught in her throat as he tipped back her body and claimed her mouth with a primal noise that echoed all the way down to his soul. He took her with all the pent-up violence that still rode through his system and funneled the energy into a passion he hadn’t thought would ever exist for him again after Alicia’s murder. When their lips pulled apart, he grinned at her glazed-over eyes.
“I better talk to Charlie and explain what happened. He doesn’t like any fighting on the grounds.” Maggie rested her head against his chest.
“Yeah … I guess I didn’t think too hard about getting my ass canned when the bastard came at me.”
“What’ll happen if Charlie doesn’t listen to reason. From the way Chet looked, I don’t know if he’ll be able to ride tomorrow night.”
Flux kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry your pretty head about me. I’m not attached at the hip with this job, it just gives me money for booze, weed, and chow. I’ve worked a shitload of jobs in so many cities and towns that I can’t even remember them all.” He brushed his lips across hers. “I’m a nomad, darlin’. I go where my bike takes me.”
“I’m not ready for you to go,” she said, burying her face in his shirt.
Warmth crawled up his spine and he held her closer. “Neither am I, Duchess. I can pick up some work while the rodeo is still in the city.” A small sniffle hit his ears. “You’re not crying on me, are you, Duchess?”
A small shake of her head.
Flux ran his hands up and down her back. “That’s good ’cause I don’t ever wanna make you cry.” A smaller sniffle. “I’m fuckin’ starving.”
“Me too,” she said in a small voice.
“Pete told me about a great barbecue place downtown.”
“I like barbecue.” Her words were muffled against his shirt.
“Darlin’, I can’t believe you got your face buried in my shirt ’cause I smell like ass. I gotta go to the motel and take a shower.”
Maggie tilted her head back and looked up at him. “I’ll find Charlie before he leaves.”
He bent his head down and kissed her gently. “You don’t have to do that for me.”
“I know, but I want to. I’ll come to your room in a half hour.”
“Sounds good.”
Maggie untangled her arms from around him and smoothed down her tight-fitting Western shirt. “I’ll see you soon.” She started to walk toward Charlie’s office.
“Duchess?”
She turned around. “Yeah?”
“What’re you doing tomorrow after practice?”
“Nothing much. I thought I might go shopping at the Tucson Mall with Larissa and Sarah. Why?”
“I wanna take you for a ride on my bike, but we can do it another time.”
A wide grin spread across her face and her eyes sparkled. “No way, big guy. I wouldn’t pass up a ride on your Harley for anything. I’m in.” She spun back around.
Flux’s jeans grew tight while he watched that familiar sway of her hips and the jiggle of her rounded ass as she walked away. Arousal crashed through him and he growled.
Once Maggie had disappeared from sight, Flux made his way to the parking lot, knowing a cold shower awaited him.
