Page 22 of Rough Choice

“Can you two not? I don’t want to have to clean up vomit off the steering wheel.”

“Poor baby,” Eliana teased and reached through the window to pinch his cheek.

“Fuck, can we go already?” Grier cried as he slapped her hand away. She laughed before rounding to the other side of the vehicle where Kye was. He opened the passenger door for her, and she crossed her arms.

“Uh-uh,” Eliana said and pushed the door closed.

“We really need to get on the road,” Kye said. “Three days in one place is too long. If there are any of the Demons looking for retribution…”

“Oh I know,” she interrupted, “I’m riding with you,” she declared and turned to look at Kye’s Harley parked in the space next to them.

“You are?” he asked and matched her crossed arms. “It’s a long drive to the next stop.”

“I know.”

“I think you’d be more comfortable in the Hummer.”

“I’ve been cooped up in that damn vehicle way too long,” she stated, stepping closer to him, chin tilted upward at a sharp angle to meet his eyes. “I’m riding with you. It’s almost ten hours to El Paso, and I am not going to go that long without my arms wrapped around you.” Kye smiled as she did just that, arms encircling his waist. Pulling her up onto her tiptoes, he kissed her, both hands tangling in her hair.

“Kill me now,” Grier complained and made an exaggerated gagging noise. Kye flipped him off, lips still planted firmly on Eliana’s, but they parted when she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Poor Grier,” she taunted, head leaned against Kye’s shoulder.

“I’ll live, now can we go? Please?”

“Grab a helmet,” he instructed, and Eliana kissed his cheek before moving over to the Harley. Kye made his way around to Grier’s open window and leaned against the frame where his friend’s feet had just been. “I know we haven’t had much time to talk these last couple of days,” Kye said in a slightly apologetic tone.

“You were busy,” Grier said flatly. “Besides, I think I can piece a few things together. Scars speak for themselves,” he stated, indicating the now permanent scar above Kye’s eye just under his eyebrow.

“I appreciate you not asking, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve an explanation,” Kye replied.

“I never needed one, Kye. Max was going to impose his agenda regardless. If you had gone down, I still would have left. Still would have skipped town and gone ahead with our exit strategy.”

“With Eli?”

“If you hadn’t have been around to protect her… yeah. I still would have taken her. For all I knew, the moment you drove away at her fake grave you were riding off and into your own. We thought… both of us thought you might be dead. I had to see it through. Get her to safety. It was the least I could do after how many times you’ve saved my ass.”

“I’ll never be able to repay you for this,” Kye said, glancing at Eliana as she strapped on the helmet and mounted the back of his bike. “I’m here now, though. I can finish this last leg of the trip. When we hit the border, I don’t want you to feel obligated to me anymore. Any debt between us is clear. You don’t owe me anything.”

“Shit, Kye,” Grier said, removing his sunglasses entirely. “You think I’m doing all of this because I have some sense of obligation?” The two men stared hard at one another, and Kye nodded, feeling a lump in his throat.

“You’ve got your freedom now too; you can go wherever you like. Anyone looking for retribution or revenge will be on my ass, not yours. I’m not your president or your horseman anymore.”

“No, but you’re my friend, my brother; I’ll see this through.” They clasped hands, and Kye smiled.

“Love you too, brother,” he said and gave Grier’s cheek a light slap.

“Bastard,” Grier chided, and they both laughed. “Get on your bike and take the lead. Your ol’ lady is waiting for you.”

“She sure is,” Kye said more to himself than anyone as he moved back to his motorcycle. Eliana was sitting back on the seat, smiling from ear to ear. Holding a hand out to him, he took it and kissed her palm before placing her hand over his heart.

“Hi, baby,” she greeted, her sparkling eyes sending a fresh wave of love and arousal through him. Taking her face in his hands, he gave her a firm kiss that spoke volumes of what he had intended for her in the near future. She shivered and took a sharp inhalation, her senses perking with desire.

“Let’s go,” he whispered against her lips. Taking his seat in front of her, the bike roared to life. The vibrations sent tremors through Eliana’s legs and spine, and she tucked herself against Kye’s back, his white cotton shirt soft against her chin as she rested it on his shoulder. He clicked on his helmet and pushed the kickstand up with his heel before launching them forward.

The roar of the bike echoed on the streets as Kye led the small convoy south. The wind whipped around them, and when they hit the open road, Eliana felt the rush of adrenaline mixed with the fresh and hot air that kissed her skin. She closed her eyes and smelled Kye’s cologne, clean cotton shirt, sweat and the heat from the pavement. Her body came alive and with her arms stretched in the air, she felt bliss overtake her.

So, this is what Grier had been talking about… this wasn’t peace. This was heaven.