Chapter 7 : Loverbeast

Harlow

Cyrus's lips met mine, and in an instant, a rush of desire overpowered my senses. I kissed him back, opening my mouth a little to let his tongue in. Our hands finally released one another, and I placed both of my hands at his jaw. He grabbed my hips, and soon I was straddling him.

I pulled away for a second. "I assume this is against the rules?"

He responded by pulling me back to him, kissing me harder. Adrenaline swept through me. I let out a soft moan as his rough hands traveled under my jacket to the bare skin on the small of my back. I quickly removed my jacket and pushed his chest back so that he reclined on the ground. As the sun set, a cool breeze sent shivers up my spine, so I pressed into his body for warmth. My hands soon found their way underneath his shirt, and my finger traced over every muscular crevice they could find.

Another moan escaped from my mouth as his lips made their way to my neck. When he reached my ear, he whispered, "Tell me you're real."

I laughed. "I'm as real as they come," I whispered back. I could feel myself just as aroused as he was. I wanted more, and when I looked into his eyes, I could tell he did too.

Just as I started to pull at his shirt, our makeout session came to an abrupt stop when his phone buzzed.

"It might be club business," he said as he reached in his pocket. I let him get it but continued to trail kisses down his neck. "Oh, hell," he let out.

I stopped and looked up to him as he read a text message on his phone.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I forgot, it's Monday," he said. "The Howlers always have dinner at Blayze's mom's place. If I'm not there, Blayze is gonna know something's up."

"You can't stay just a little longer?"

"I'm sorry. I really am."

"It's ok," I said, forcing my body to cool down.

He sat up, and I got off of his lap, picking my coat up and shaking off the dust.

"Hey," he said, reaching over and putting his hand on my shoulder. "I really like you."

The self-sufficient loner in me was suddenly pushed to the back, and my stomach did a little summersault.

"I like you, too," I replied. "But I'm not trying to complicate your life."

"Honestly," he said with a smirk, "my life got complicated the second I offered you that ride last night. Maybe..." I waited for him to be the one to say it. "Maybe we can just keep this under wraps for a little while," he concluded.

"Are you saying you wanna see me again?"

He nodded. "It's gonna be tricky, but yeah, I do. If that's what you want, too."

I couldn't hide my smile. Hearing him say "I do" made my body thirst for his touch.

"I can handle a little secrecy," I said as I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him in for one last kiss. "Let's get you to that dinner before you turn into a pumpkin."

We headed to his bike and hopped on. After putting my helmet on, I slinked my hands up under his shirt and onto his solid chest.

Riding into town, I held Cyrus tighter than ever before. I had no idea what we were doing. Or what this new relationship was supposed to look like. All of my previous experiences with romance came down to a couple of one night stands and a weekend fling with a surfer. I'd always left them and got back on the road. Now, I was going to be around for a month. "Or longer?" I thought to myself. Who knew?

When we got back, Cyrus dropped me off a couple of blocks from the bar. He apologized for not being able to take me all the way to my trailer, but I waved him off and wished him a good night. But not before putting my number in his phone under the name "X."

I stopped in at the bar to grab my backpack and had a quick shot with Red and the prospect, Brat. I hadn't gotten to talk to Brat much before that. She was a nice girl the Blood Dogs had helped get away from an ex-boyfriend involved in some shady sh*t. Instead of moving on to a new place, what was supposed to be a one-night stay in Gnaw Bone became permanent.

"Will the same thing happen with me?" I found myself wondering. The thought of settling down somewhere wasn't an unattractive idea.

After the drink, I headed down to my new trailer. Bonnie had given me the key, but I hadn't been inside yet.

As I approached the place, I saw Bonnie on the small porch holding a couple of plastic bags.

"Hey," she said with a smile. "Red told me you did good today. The members liked you, too. Especially Lola. That's a really good sign."

"Thanks," I responded, then motioned to the plastic bags. "What's this?"

"Nothing special," Bonnie said. "There's one of those Mega Marts on the highway about ten miles from here. Just thought you could use some stuff to get moved in."

No one had shown me this much consideration before.

"Seriously, you're too nice," I replied. "Thank you."

I pulled out the key and unlocked the trailer door. It smelled a bit musty inside, but it wasn't unbearable. Bonnie immediately opened a couple of windows to let it air out.

"It's the same layout as mine," she said as she placed the bags on the breakfast nook table.

There was an old plaid couch near the door, opposite the little kitchen. In the narrow hallway was a small bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower. Next to that was a closet with an old washing machine. Behind a folding partition was an elevated platform big enough to fit a Queen-size bed. The mattress and pillows looked new. There was a little closet in the corner containing a hanging rack and tiny dresser. All more than enough for me.

"The walls could use a new coat of paint," Bonnie said. "The cabinetry in the kitchen is old as hell, and everything kinda smells like moths balls, but-"

"This is perfect," I replied. "I've never had my own place before."

"I won't crowd you," she said. "Just wanted to make sure you had everything you needed to get settled." With that, Bonnie headed for the door.

Before she exited, I said, "Bonnie, I can't thank you enough. For everything."

"Just one bada** woman helping out another. It's what we do." And with that, she was gone.

I went over to the shopping bags she'd left, and my eyes watered as I looked through everything she'd bought me. A bunch of toiletries, bedding, a bath towel, a set of plastic dishes, silverware, paper goods, laundry detergent, dish soap, some frozen dinners, everything I'd need for sandwiches, milk, and breakfast cereal. And a bottle of Jack. It was the first time in a long while that I was starting to feel like I was home.

Later that night, after I'd showered and eaten, I put the new sheets on the bed. They still smelled like the plastic packaging, but I didn't care.

As I lay down, my phone buzzed. A number had texted the message "x."

Cyrus. I suddenly felt warm all over. I'd never given my phone number out, so this was my first ever text from a guy. I replied, "xx." Then I saved his number, also under "X." My first phone contact in years.

But the giddy feeling was quickly overshadowed by a pang of heavy guilt. Bonnie had been so kind to me, and I knew full well that what Cyrus and I were doing was against the rules.

Still, the physical exhaustion won out, and I began drifting off to sleep, musing over how much better this was than sleeping in my car.

A few moments later, I jolted awake when I heard a knock on my trailer door. I grabbed my switchblade, just in case, then got out of bed and walked to the door at the opposite end of the little trailer.

When I opened it, I gasped and felt my pulse quicken. Standing on my porch with a devilish grin and holding a bouquet of sunflowers was Cyrus.

"Mind if I come in?"