Shaking my head, I grab onto the rocks and start climbing. Almost taking it as a challenge, I try to get to the top first.
He’s so much bigger than me though, he makes it easily before I do.
Almost up, he reaches down and grabs my hand, pulling me past the last couple rocks.
Dusting my hands off, I look over the desert.
“Over here,” he whispers in my ear, pulling on my shoulder. I turn and that’s when I see it. Sitting afar is a large white billboard, with a movie projected on it. A drive-in movie.
A laugh escapes me, my hands cupping my mouth.
“It may not be public, but–”
“It’s perfect.” I smile. I think I like this more. It’s just us, and we don’t have to worry about getting caught.
He sits down on a large boulder and pats his lap. Stepping over, I settle myself right between his legs.
“Felix and I used to come here all the time when we were younger. We couldn’t afford to actually go to the movies.”
A frown hits my face. I bet he and Felix took all the girls here.
“You’re the first girl here, though.” Turning in my place, I look at him. He’s serious. I’m the first girl he’s taken here.
“I love it. All we’re missing is popcorn.” I laugh.
“Hmm. I might have something.” He pulls from me and I pout, my body instantly dropping several degrees.
He climbs down a couple of rocks before jumping down the rest. I hear his footsteps, but can’t see him.
I bite my lip, waiting for him to return.
“It’s not much, but I got these,” he pants, climbing up the rocks again.
He settles himself behind me and stretches his arm out. Turning his fist, he opens it, revealing a few Hershey Kisses.
I chuckle and take one.
“Why do you have these?”
Unwrapping one, he replies, “On the runs, we don’t get to stop very often. So when you’re hungry, you gotta resort to what you can stuff in your saddlebags that won’t go bad.”
I nod in understanding.
“I like the beef jerky sticks. Sometimes, it can get too hectic, and we don’t get to have dinner on the job.”
We look back at the movie, and a couple is having sex. A man with a chainsaw stands right outside their window. The couple is so into it, they don’t even see him.
It’s hot. In a weird, crazy way.
I look over my shoulder at Zeek, and as if he read my mind he lowers his lips and kisses me, hard and demanding. His tongue pushes through my lips and swipes at the Hershey Kiss dissolving on my tongue. I mimic the dance with my own, massaging the same piece. He licks at it one last time before kissing me then tugging on my bottom lip with his teeth.
“Excuse me!” I stiffen, and Zeek looks over his shoulder. “You can’t be here. This is private property.”
That’s when I hear a familiar static coming from a radio. It’s law enforcement.
“You, eh, got someone up there with you?” the voice questions from the ground.
Zeek doesn’t respond; his face is tight and jaw ticking. He’s angry.
“Now, I can be reasonable, but you and your friend better be gone by the time I get done making my rounds.” Hearing the voice more, it sounds like Chewie. Turning my head, I lift my hood to hide my face.
“We better go,” I mutter.
“What? Fuck him. He won’t be back.”
I shake my head, looking over the boulder to see if the car has left.
“I can’t take that chance. We can’t. If we get arrested, people will ask questions.”
Zeek scuffs. “He won’t take me in.”
I frown. “Maybe not you, but he will me.”
He swipes his hand through his hair. “That’d be stupid on his part.”
“And why’s that?”
“‘Cause I’d break his fucking arms for touching you.”
Grabbing me by the elbow, he stares at me with such intensity it makes me suck in a breath.
“Something you need to understand is you might have thought I was insane before, but now that you’re in my life, I’m ten times worse. You give me a purpose, and I’ll be damned if I let anyone disrespect you.”
Glancing down for a second, he looks back up at me through hooded eyes. “You’re the first light in my life after living a lifetime in the darkness.”
His words are so powerful, but so sad at the same time.
“Yeah, well, I never knew how alone I was until I met you. I lived so safely for so long that I never knew I wasn’t living. You tore down my wall of security, made me bleed love and curiosity.”
His lips curl at the end, and he cups my hand.
“Let’s go.”
He helps me climb down the rocks then puts the helmet on my head.
The ride back to my place is much more enjoyable knowing I’m not going to fall off. I’m actually saddened when he stops at the corner. I don’t want it to end.
Going inside, he heads toward the bathroom.
“I’ll make some popcorn,” I announce, Jinx hot on my tail when he sees where I’m headed.
“Bring it to bed. Naked.”
Chills run up my back, and excitement has my breasts aching.
“Watch it, Jinx.” I shoo him away with my foot as I grab a bowl from the cabinet.
“Don’t scream, or I will slit your fucking throat,” a voice whispers harshly in my ear before a hand clasps around my mouth.
Something cold and sharp presses against my throat.
SEVENTEEN