Page 39 of Retribution
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Cobra
Cobra woke upwith his arms around Dakota, and pins and needles tingled through the numbed left one. He blinked through blurry eyes and looked at the slim girl spooned into him, her ass pushed into his crotch. Trying to get the feeling back in his hands, he wiggled his fingers, careful not to wake her.
The night before, Cobra had been hell bent on making sure thathewould be a lasting memory in Dakota’s mind, one that she’d whip out when her next boyfriend wasn’t satisfying her right. But now, in the weak sunlight filtering in through the curtained window, the thought of her with any other man was a burn in Cobra’s gut and a sour taste in his mouth. Dakota wasn’t just another chick, another fuck, and the previous night wasn’t just another night of fun.
Cobra’s gaze roamed over her again. She had the sheets pulled just above her breasts, and her golden hair spilled over the pillow, catching the sunlight that trickled in through the small gap in the curtains.She looks so fuckin’ beautiful.Gently, he bent and kissed the top of her head. She stirred, nuzzling tighter against him.
Dakota was different than anyone he’d ever been with before. This had never happened to him. One pretty woman had never been any more important than the next. He couldn’t explain it, but she’d touched him in a way that he wasn’t used to, and he didn’t know what the hell to do about it.
Dakota moaned in her sleep and slightly rolled away from him, so he tugged his arm out from under her and massaged it back to life. During the night, Cobra had awoken a couple of times to Dakota tossing about in a troubled sleep, and he’d debated about whether he should wake her up or not, but then she’d calmed down and settled back next to him. As he looked at her sleeping now, peacefulness was spread across her face, and whatever nightmare had haunted her hours earlier had crawled back to the shuttered recesses of her mind.
Cobra wasn’t sure what shadows lurked in the corners of her subconscious, but he aimed to find out in time. He hated that something dark and disturbing was buried inside her, digging its way out to torment her. Cobra wanted to take care of her. The thought that he was planning on her being around long enough for him to figure her out startled the hell out of him. He rubbed a hand down his face, closing his eyes. Shit wasn’t supposed to go down like this between them. But something had shifted in him—inthemthe night before that sure as fuck shouldn’t have, and what the hell was he supposed to do now?
Dakota was amazing: fiery, sweet, and sexy. She was a breath of fresh air in his stale life. She didn’t deserve whatever shit from her past was tormenting her present, and there was no fucking way she should deal with it alone.
Cobra blew out a silent breath into his hand and blinked, staring at the shitty, rundown motel room where they’d been spending the majority of their time. He should be doing better than this for her; Dakota didn’t deserve leaky taps and rug stains. Cobra looked back at her, gently tracing his thumb across her cheek and sweeping several strands of hair from her face. When she made a small noise, he almost jerked backward, worried he woke her up, but she didn’t move at all. Her breathing deepened and he pulled his hand away while shifting off the bed.
After showering, Cobra walked into the main room and glanced over at Dakota. She was still asleep. He bent down and picked up his boots then pulled them on before riffling through his bag until he nabbed a piece of scrap paper and a pen. Scrawling a quick note about grabbing breakfast and that he would be back soon, he placed it on top of his pillow and scooped up his keys.
When Cobra hovered by the door, he waited, for what he had no fucking clue. There was something magnetic about her … something haunting and right. His gut pinched tight when he thought of anything happening to her. A sigh hissed through his lips as he put his hand on the doorknob. It was stupid as hell to think he’d have anything to do with her life in the future.Only dumbasses plan their lives. I’m a fuckin’ nomad. I go where I want, when I want. I’m a damn moron thinking ’bout all this feely shit. Dammit.
The truth was Dakota and he were on two very different paths in their lives. Cobra had enough on his plate with the MC and just making his own way through life. He couldn’t fix the whole goddamn world, so he should stop trying and just take care of himself.
How did this shit become so complicated? Cobra groaned and leaned against the door while he watched her roll over and face his pillow. He sucked in a breath and held it, but Dakota didn’t stir. A burst of warm light poured into the room as he opened the door then quickly closed it behind him. The sticky heat bored down on him as he ambled to his bike then hopped on it.
A little mind declutter was what Cobra needed right at that moment. A long ride could put a stop to all the conflicting feelings that kept bubbling up inside him. None of the back and forth thoughts about Dakota and what he should do would stand a chance once he hit the open road. Between the wind whipping through him and the roar of the engine, there’d be too much damn noise for him to listen to any of it. Turning left out of the parking lot, the scream of the engine shattered the silence, and Cobra sped away.
After a two hours of hard riding, Cobra felt more grounded than he had earlier in the morning. He’d swung by the Pirate Donut House and picked up donuts, bagels, cream cheese packets, and hot coffee.
Opening the motel room door a bit, Cobra peeked into the room and glanced at the empty, messed up bed. He stepped inside and put the bag of goodies, the thermos of coffee, and his keys on the table, smiling when he heard the rush of water coming from the bathroom.
“Hey,” he knocked on the door. “I’m back with breakfast and coffee. Do you need anything else or can I dig in without you?”
“Help yourself,” she said above the water. “I won’t be much longer.”
“Sure.” Cobra hesitated and scrubbed his hands over his face, barely feeling the prickle of his unshaven cheeks. “You up for going on a little trip with me today?”
No sound behind the door.
Shit. She’s probably feeling as confused as I am about last night. Or maybe she has regrets about it. I shoulda held back. Way to go, asshole.He punched his thigh and gritted his teeth. Before he could ask her if she was doing all right, his phone went off with a loud ping and he took a step away from the door.
Iron:Got a lead on Big Pat. We need u to stand with us on this one, bro.
Cobra flicked the text away with his finger.Fuck!He rubbed the back of his neck, already feeling the tension slip back into him. Grinder needed him, and Cobra knew he wouldn’t turn away. No matter if he was an active member or a nomad, the MC was in his blood. His brothers were his family, and when they needed help, he was there. Cobra knew if he ever called on any one of them, they’d help him out in a second. That was what the brotherhood meant, and no citizen could ever in a million fucking years understand that.
Cobra:I’m in. Lemme know what u need me to do.
He stared down at his phone for a couple of minutes. With an exasperated sigh, he raked his fingers through his hair, his gaze drifting back toward the closed bathroom door. Another ping.
Iron:Sure thing, bro. We’ll be in touch.
Cobra wiped his palms on his denim-clad thighs. Damn … he just wanted to spend the fucking day with Dakota.
Cobra:Later, dude.
He slipped the phone into his jeans pocket. Cobra would wait until his club called him then he’d be there all the way with them in solidarity.
