Page 41 of Retribution
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Dakota
As they rodearound the sparse dirt trail, Dakota wondered how she’d gotten to this place with a man who, on the outside, was everything she should’ve run away from—far and fast. But Cobra was different than the façade he put up. She adjusted her hands on his chest and shivered as the subtle touch worked its way through every inch of her body. The night before had been incredible and mind numbingly horrible at the same time. Her mouth went dry at the thought of it, and she took a few deep breaths. She needed to get a hold of the feelings before they drove her into the ground.
Despite her freak-out, Cobra had been sweet, patient, understanding, and so respectful. It was as if his tough exterior was a barrier to keep other people from seeing the goodness that was inside him. As Dakota’s hands clutched his black T-shirt tighter and she nuzzled her face into the back of his leather-scented cut, she could feel him chuckle by the vibrations in his chest. Things were surprisingly easy with him in a way she’d never expected or anticipated. It was the first time after a flashback that Dakota could stand to touch someone before her forty-eight-hour time limit was up.
For so many years she’d have to cordon herself off from men after a flashback because she couldn’t bear any physical contact. It made it impossible to have normal relationships, but with Cobra she hadn’t felt the need to detach from him after they had sex. There was something about him that made her feel cared for, secure, and cherished. The mixture of feelings swirling around inside her made it feel like her head was about to explode.
“We’re almost there,” Cobra shouted above the rumble of the engine. “Hold on, it’s gonna get bumpy.”
Dakota clutched on to him even tighter as they bounced over the rough terrain. During that moment, realization that shereallytrusted Cobra hit her, and it was a very scary and sobering thought.
Dakota took a deep breath of the thick, fragrant air and finally focused on their exquisite surroundings as they rode up a small, narrow dirt trail. The midday sun was high in the expansive blue sky, the fresh smell of pine, of woody plants, and of sweet wildflowers pervaded the air; and high above, hidden among the pinecones of the fir trees, finches sang their melodious strains rising above the other sounds of the forest.
The bike came to a stop, and Cobra lowered his feet and turned off the engine. Dakota’s arms dropped away from him as she leaned back. He grasped her hand and helped her off the motorcycle before he swung his leg over the leather seat. He pulled her close and brushed his lips across hers.
“You good?” he asked, breaking away.
“Yeah. The ride was rough but all this”—she waved her arm around in a gesture that encompassed the landscape—“made every bump totally worth it.”
Cobra snagged her hand and tucked it in his as they walked through a cluster of trees that soon revealed a shimmering expanse of water in front of them.
Dakota stopped in her tracks, frozen by the beautiful scenery before her. The lake lay blue in the bright light of the sun, the rippled water running right to the edge, washing over rocks that etched some of the shoreline. Tall pines and evergreens bordered the lake, chaotic in their spacing. The soft whispering of the trees caressed her, and she squeezed Cobra’s hand.
“This is magical,” she murmured.
“I know how much you like water, so I wanted to share this with you. How does this compare with the watering hole you told me about?”
A cozy, warm sensation spread through her, and she blinked rapidly to prevent any tears from rising.
“I can’t believe you actually remembered that.”
Cobra’s chuckle was low and deep. “I do listen when you talk, darlin’.”
Dakota pulled her hand out of his and flung her arms around him. She hugged him fiercely, relishing the closeness. “Thank you for remembering—for caring.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed her tighter against him. She loved the hardness of his body, the softness of his touch. Dakota had never known anyone like him; so kind, so passionate, so wonderful to be with. At times, her suspicious mind wondered if he was for real, but when he’d do something so selfless, her misgivings evaporated.
The desire between them sparked stronger than ever. She wanted to get closer to him, fuse them together, crawl inside his skin. Everything at that moment was perfect, and ever since that night when she was fourteen and her whole damn life as she’d known it stopped, nothing had ever been right until now … withhim … standing by the lake.
Smiling, Cobra rubbed his chin against her temple, the hint of scruff on his jawline lightly scratching her. He cupped her jaw, tilting her chin back. The naked heat in his eyes seared her. Her heart slammed into her throat.
“Dakota … fuck … darlin’.Fuck.” His lips crushed hers with a fierce demand that took her breath away. He kissed her again and again, his pants as rapid and labored as hers.
Excitement rippled through her. Cobra squeezed her tighter to him, and her breasts squashed against his firm chest. Dakota felt the bulge between them grow long and thick against her. A wash of goosebumps spread along her body as she dug her fingernails into the back of his neck.
Then the shrill ring of a phone shattered the moment. It sounded so damn out of place in the natural setting, but it kept ringing until Cobra pulled away.
“Fuck!” Shoving his hand into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and glanced at it. A frown burrowed between his brows. “I gotta take this. Sorry, darlin’.” He walked away and stood by a tree, his back to her.
Dakota inhaled and exhaled in rapid succession as she tried to calm her body down. The phone ringing was probably for the best. The fear of falling hard for him niggled at the back of her mind. Cobra was a nomad who’d be pulling up stakes anytime, leaving her far behind. She’d miss him for sure, but she’d deal with itifshe didn’t do something stupid like fall in love with him. If that happened, his departure would shatter her heart. She just couldn’t let her feelings tear her apart, especially since she’d managed—for the most part, to keep her life somewhat together.
Dakota walked over to the lake, bent down, and let the cool water run through her fingers, reveling in the beautiful surroundings and the peacefulness. Behind her, she heard the low murmur of Cobra’s voice, and she wondered if the call was about club business. Not wanting to mar the rapture of the moment, she stared at the hypnotic movement of the hydrilla fronds just below the water’s surface.
The heavy crunch of footsteps from behind made Dakota smile and she looked over her shoulder. “Finished with your call?”
“Yeah,” Cobra replied gruffly. He pointed to a large rock outcropping off to the side of the lake. “Let’s go over there.” He walked beside her without taking her hand in his, and she wondered if the phone call had upset him.
