Page 93 of All Your Firsts

“Fuck no. I was doing him a favor. Though I doubt his stupid ass will ever see it that way. Ah, speak of the idiot,” Trey says as Ax walks to the door.

“Should I be worried? You two never do anything alone together.”

“We bought Samuel a bike for his birthday. It’s pretty fuckin’ clean. He should be stoked,” Trey says with a smile. “Are we still on for tomorrow?”

“Yep.”

“See you guys then.”

“What’s tomorrow?” Rosie asks through another wince as I rub her side with a paper towel to clean the ink off.

“Nothing. We’re done.”

Rosie sluggishly rises from the chair and makes her way toward the mirror. I have no doubt her adrenaline is wearing off after the lengthy session, and she’ll be in need of some rest soon.

Her face lights up with a mixture of excitement and awe, exceeding all my expectations.

I hope she looks at this ten years down the road with the same expression and not the regret she seems to have.

As I walk up behind her, I hold my breath, patiently waiting for her to acknowledge my presence while her eyes remain fixed on her own skin. As if she can sense my gaze, her head snaps up in the mirror, meeting my eyes. I’m caught in a trance as I advance on her, our eyes never leaving each other.

Something raw and animalistic burns through me as I see her with the design we created together, with my own personal touch.

My fingers graze the side of her neck, and I feel her pulse beating strongly under my fingertips. I pull her flush against me so that she can feel just how turned on I am by her. She lets out a surprised squeal as I turn her around to face me.

To my surprise, she reaches her lips to mine and initiates the kiss.

“I regret nothing about being here with you, Vic. Nothing.”

Twenty-Two

Rosie

Isit on the back of Vic’s bike as we fly down the road. The sunshine I haven’t seen in what feels like too long is beating down on me and bringing me back to life. But despite the beauty of this day, there’s a shadow cast by the hourglass in my head, reminding me that Gage’s arrival is just days away.

Right here is where I want to stay, feeling the sun’s rays on me while the breeze caresses my body in this small town that feels like my sanctuary with my hands wrapped around this beautiful man.

Vic gives my leg a squeeze as if he can read my thoughts, which brings me back to the present.

This is the first ride I’ve been on with all the guys from the MC, and I can’t help but feel a little badass as I sit here with them. They give off anI don’t give a fuckair, and I can’t help but admire that.

After years of playing the part of the good girl, it’s exhilarating to let go and not worry about what others think or how theyperceive me. I’ve tried since I arrived to slough off the old me, and it finally feels like I am.

Trey, Julian, and Marcus are in the front, with Trey leading the way. Vic says it goes by order of rank. Vic and Axl are behind them, with Jess and me on the back of their bikes, and then more guys behind us.

When I voiced my concerns about Vic getting in trouble for riding with them, he shrugged it off. I can tell he misses this. His happiness has been undeniable all morning.

I look over at Jess, who sits on the back of Axl’s bike. She wraps her arms tightly around him, and a huge smile graces his lips as he says something to her through their mics. She, of course, rolls her eyes before giving a small smile. From what Vic told me, they’re attached at the hip these days.

It was hard to see her. I still feel immense guilt for what happened, even more so when I saw the stitches that are barely beginning to heal across her forehead.

The weather is chilly, but there isn’t a cloud in sight, just light blue skies in the late morning.

The desire to stretch my arms wide and experience the wind caressing my skin is overwhelming. After about twenty minutes of watching the trees on both sides of the highway zoom by, I say fuck it. I squeeze my legs tighter against Vic and lift my arms in the air as I always do on the back of his bike.

Feeling the wind fly between my fingers, like a bird flying high with no thoughts of coming down from the clouds.

All of my worries fade away. The pressure on my chest is not as heavy. I almost feel like myself again.

---