“It means dishonesty often looks like the simplest route, getting you out of the path of trouble. However, that simplicity is a fa?ade, ‘cause it eventually comes back to bite you in the ass, making you tell lies to cover yourself. Before you know it, your sins have not only betrayed you but condemned you.” I look at Lip. “I never knew how true those words were ‘til recently.” I think my mother spoke those words from personal experience.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry, Cherry. I’m sorry for everything.” His apology strikes me right in the chest. “I coaxed you into caring for me, into loving me. As much as I regret hurting you, I don’t regret having your love. Not one bit.” Emotions spill from the wound, and an uncontrolled sob escapes my lips.
“Come here,” he whispers, pulling me into his arms. I clench my eyes shut, my heart and mind playing a battle of what is right and wrong. I don’t want to be next to him. I don’t want to give into him this easily, but a piece of me is exhausted from being pissed off at him.
Tears stream down my cheeks, but the hurt isn’t nearly as bad as it was yesterday. There’s something about being in his arms that takes the pain away. Even though he caused the pain. The day I stole Lip’s wallet, he stole my heart.
CHAPTER TEN
LIP
My hands choke my coffee cup. Zane and Addie are already up and screaming their fucking heads off. My head feels clouded. Seeing her in that damn dress and the way the guys were eyeballing her, I went mad. The look on Cherry’s face yesterday when I went head-to-head with Stunt fucked with me above all else, seeing her care for me even after everything that’s happened. I know I have some feelings for her; the orders have been lifted and the cloud of what was business and what I honestly feel for her are displayed out before me. Do I tell her how I feel exactly and risk her rejecting us? I close my eyes, fucking confused. I don’t know what I want.
“Give it to me, brat!” Addie screams, running past me. I wince and take a small sip of my coffee. Seconds later, a Barbie flies past me, a small pink shoe falling into my cup.
“Dude, you fucking cheated!” Tom Cat yells at Kane over a game of cards.
I sigh and push up from the stool.
“Fuck. This,” I grit. I’ve been stuck in this fucking club too long. Shadow is taking his fucking time, I tell you. I need out of here. I stomp down the hall and into my room. Cherry is on the bed, her foot tapping as she listens to music. God, she’s beautiful. Her reddish-orange hair is down and fans out along her freckled shoulders. I love it when she wears red; it makes every freckle on her body stand out. Her head slowly trails from the window to me, and my stomach feels like it’s been fucking punched.
“Wanna get out of here?” I ask. She pulls an ear bud from her ear.
“Huh?”
“You wanna get out of here?” I repeat.
Her eyes give this weird look, and her brows furrow.
“Um, I thought we couldn’t leave. We’re on lockdown,” she responds.
“I gotta get out of here, I’m going to go nuts,” I state. She laughs and looks down at the iPod.
“I don’t know,” she mutters.
“Come on, come with me,” I insist.
Her eyes peer up from under her lashes, a small smile curling the corner of her lips.
“Okay, just one ride.”
***
Cherry’s arms are tight around my waist, the smell of her wafting around me is making my dick press against my jeans. I miss the smell of her. I miss everything about her.
I don’t know where the fuck I’m going; I just drive. Sometimes, just driving without a destination is what the soul really needs. No boundaries, no limitations—just freedom.
Clouds pour in overhead, and thunder booms. Cherry’s arms choke my abdomen, so I pull off onto some gravel side road. I haven’t seen a house or store for miles. Driving up the graveled passage, I spot a willow tree at the bottom of a hill.
I pull the bike over and park it.
“What are we doing? It’s about to storm, Lip; we should head back,” she encourages. Rain splashes off her cheeks, making her hair curl at the ends.
“We’d get hammered in the storm if we turned back now.” I point to the tree. “That’s our best option for now.” I press on the small of her back and walk toward a small barb-wire fence.
I push the wire down and she leans on my shoulder as she climbs over.
Lightning strikes with a loud crack, and she squeals. I laugh, grab her hand and sprint toward the tree.
“Oh, my God.” She laughs as we make it out of the rain. She bends over, throwing her hair down in front of her and shaking it loose of rainwater as I lean against the tree and smirk. She’s fucking beautiful. That red top is soaked and her nipples poke through her tiny bra perfectly. Little beads of rain slip down her long legs and my cock rises in my pants. I have to look away and adjust myself. Fuck, I miss her.
“Cherry,” I start.
She turns, pinning me with bright gray eyes.
“When I took that job to be your protector, I didn’t know what I was walking into.”