Page 53 of Retribution
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Dakota
“Isn’t today yourday off, sweetheart?” Cobra kissed her temple and slid out of bed as the afternoon sunlight slipped through the worn curtains.
“Yeah, and I’m going to spend it doing laundry. Real fun, huh?” Dakota replied.
“I wish I could call off, but Ryan and Sergio weren’t at work yesterday, and the boss was fuckin’ pissed. We need the dough, so I’m dragging my ass there today.”
“That’s okay—we have a lot of laundry. I’m going to wash the sheets too. We can do something fun tonight.”
Cobra shook his head, the fine lines deepening on his forehead. “Sorry—no can do. I’ve got some shit I gotta do tonight, but I’m a call away if you need anything.”
Dakota watched as the sweet man slung himself into his tight-fitting jeans, a flush of desire spread through her as she enjoyed the view. The past few weeks had fallen away into a blur of bliss. When she wasn’t at the tattoo shop and Cobra wasn’t working, they were either having fun in bed or on his bike, exploring the backroads around the area. Each day, each moment, they seemed to grow closer, sharing stories from their pasts, and trusting one another implicitly. Dakota found it almost impossible to believe that she had found such trust and intimacy in a man. Cobra made her feel safe and protected, cherished and respected, and she never thought that would ever be possible.
“Whaddaya got going tonight?”
Cobra shrugged then sat on the chair and pulled on his boots. “Club business.”
Dakota knew that meantthatconversation thread was over. Whenever he’d tell her something was club business, a slice of fear crept down her spine, and worry set in until he was back home safe and in her arms. She’d never felt the depth of emotion for any man the way she did for Cobra.
The only guy Dakota thought she’d loved was Justin, her old high school boyfriend. They’d dated for a year and a half, and when she’d been ready to finally make love, it was disastrous. The flashbacks had gotten in the way, and she couldn’t tell Justin about the rape. After time, she’d learned how to block them out while they were together, but the sex with Justin had seemed more like a chore than a pleasure.
Dakota had given up her dreams of going to college because Justin had told her he wanted her to stay in Pocatello with him and professed his undying love for her. He’d decided to forgo college in lieu of a job at his uncle’s mechanic shop. Dakota needed Justin in her life to feel worthy and important, and to keep Taylor away, so against her mother’s advice, she agreed to stay in Pocatello and work.
A week before her senior prom, Justin dropped her and took another girl, Larissa, instead. Dakota was devastated, embarrassed, and mortified. Right after graduation, Justin had married Larissa, who was four months pregnant. Dakota’s heart had grown colder, and she swore off guys and concentrated on learning a skill. She’d always been artistic and loved tattoos, so she studied hard and did an apprenticeship at Inkworks. She’d avoided Justin and when he’d called her in an attempt to rekindle their relationship, she hung up on him.So many men are such fucking idiots.
“Are you okay? You look like you’re thinking too much.”
Cobra’s deep voice pulled her back to the present.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You sure?”
She nodded.
“Okay then,” he said as he walked into the bathroom.
Dakota pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. Cobra was so attentive, kind, and caring, and he gave her space when she needed it. The relationship she had with him was healthier than anything she’d experienced in her past, but that didn’t mean the demons had flown out the window. Dakota still had moments when she needed to stop them. Times when flashbacks seized her hard enough that she needed to be away from everything and everyone. Cobra understood that and never criticized her or got insecure about it. She considered herself lucky to have found such an amazing guy.
When Cobra came back into the room, she looked up at him. “How long are you working today?”
“Landscaping until five and then I gotta go to the clubhouse.” Cobra turned around as he threw on a sleeveless white muscles shirt. He packed a black T-shirt in a small bag.
“So it’ll be a late night for you,” she said, throwing her hair up into a tie she kept around her wrist.
“Probably. I’ll text you when I’m on the way back from Missoula.”
“Sounds good.” Dakota smiled as he came over to her side of the bed and kissed her with a series of slow, lingering moves that left her breathless and weak.
“Try to enjoy your day off after you get done with the washing.” Cobra cocked his head, studying her for a beat before he opened the door and walked out.
Dakota missed him the minute he was gone. She leaned her head back against the headboard and closed her eyes, swallowing the lump in her throat. The vibration of her cell phone startled her. She shook her head at the way she jumped at the familiar sound. Dakota watched the yellow device rattle along the top of the nightstand, and when it reached the edge, she grabbed it and looked down at the screen.Luke.
“Hey,” she said.
“Where the hell are you?” her brother replied.
