Page 88 of Retribution
“Feel sorry for me.”
“I can’t help it,” she whispered. “My parents were always there for us.”
“We can’t choose our parents, sweetheart. You were lucky, I wasn’t until now.” He winked at her and she melted. “It’s in the past. We’ve got our present and future, right?”
“Uh-huh.” Dakota took a small bite and slowly chewed.
“Speaking of our present, we gotta talk about what we’re gonna do.”
She smoothed out the wrinkles on the blanket then pulled at a loose thread.
“Dakota, don’t shut down on me. Tell me what’s on your mind. I’m a big fucker, I can take it.”
“I’m just trying to wrap my head around the whole nomad thing. So we just go wherever we feel like it?”
“Yeah—that’s the nomad lifestyle, sweetheart.” Cobra put his sandwich down and took another long pull of beer. “Can you live with that, being my old lady and heading out on the road all the time?”
“Your old lady?” What the hell was he talking about?
He laughed. “It means my special woman in biker lingo. It means we belong to each other. I’ll honor and respect you and never stray. Mutual loyalty, respect, and love are essential.”
“Oh, yeah, of course. I agree with all that. I just wasn’t sure what you meant.”
“The question is whether you can handle the lifestyle.”
Dakota put her hand over his. “The way I see it is that my life and roots are with you. If you go places, I go too. I want to be with you no matter what. I actually can’t wait for our adventure to begin with each other. The thought of seeing the country pressed against you on your bike is thrilling.”
A big grin spread across his face. She squeezed his hand and he leaned toward her and crushed his mouth on hers for a long while then pulled back.
“I’m ready to head out after Labor Day. Thinking of going west to California or maybe southern Oregon. I fuckin’ miss the Pacific. Are you down for that?”
Dakota knew this was the ultimate test between them. If she chose to go, her life would be forever changed in the best way. “I’ve never seen the ocean.” She fixed her gaze on his. “I’m meant to be with you, and I’m not a one town kind of girl. Whenever we head out, I’m there with you on the back of your bikealways.”
Cobra cleared his throat and looked down. “You sure about this? It can get tough out on the road.”
“Are you trying to talk me out of it?”
“Fuck no … I just want you to be sure.”
“I’m more than sure.” And in case he didn’t believe her, Dakota leaned over and grabbed either side of his face with both hands and stared into his eyes. “I love you. Don’t forget it.” She kissed him, slow and lingering as their tongues tangled. When she pulled away she had to catch her breath before they both started laughing at each other, stars in their eyes.
“We’re ditching the fuckin’ food. We’ll put it in the fridge for later.”
Dakota didn’t have a chance to respond because Cobra yanked her to her feet and trotted them off across the park to his motorcycle. He stuffed the food and beer into one of the saddle bags and crammed the basket into the other one. The familiar vibration of the engine made her smile as she looped her arms around his waist. Cobra sped away and she felt the rush of wind at her face and an indescribable exhilaration.
He pulled the bike into a space near the front entrance to the hotel, and speed walked her to the elevator then down the hallway toward their room. By the time Cobra opened the door, he was already maneuvering her against the wall, slamming his body against hers as his hands wound in the back of her hair.
“Fuckin’ hell, woman, I’ve gotta have you”
“Cobra,” she whispered against his lips. “I’m yours—all of me.”
He groaned and ground his hard dick against her while he pushed her legs apart and worked himself even closer.
“Say it again,” he ordered, nipping her neck.
“I’m yours.Always.”
“I fuckin’ love the sound of that, sweetheart.”
