Ape brought her to a second orgasm and followed her into the abyss of pleasure. Afterward, they collapsed together on the bed. Both panting, needing air, but neither of them moving.
“I want to take you to the shower,” he said. “But I don’t know what state it is in. Piper said she cleaned it, but if Colonel distracted her, it may still have bugs in it.”
“I can’t move right now.”
They were silent.
She heard the ticking of a clock somewhere.
“That was incredible,” she said.
His cock was still inside her ass, but he propped himself up. One hand wrapped around her waist. “What will you do?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“If you don’t continue with your lease?”
“I don’t know. Probably do what I promised my mom I would.”
“Does your mom live in town?”
“She passed away a few years ago. She was sick for a long time.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“She was ready, even though she said life was way too short. She wasn’t the greatest mom in the beginning. For a long time, she lived her own life. When she got sick, and I took care of her, she became … someone I knew I’d miss.”
“What did you promise her you’d do?” he asked.
“It’s stupid.”
“Tell me.”
She licked her lips. There was nothing to lose. “I told her I wouldn’t stay in town. That I’d go and have an adventure. As a kid, I was always wandering off, doing whatever the hell I wanted. When she got sick, I stayed in one place. It was never my intention to still be here.” She shrugged. “Life throws us bumps in the road. We’ve just got to try and keep up. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.” She sighed. She lifted her arms above her head, trying to do anything to distract him from the very serious conversation. “Let’s go and see about that shower.”
Chapter Five
Ape checked over his bike as Piper came toward him. It had been four days since they had all met Charlotte, and each person said how great she was. She’d certainly fit in with the group. The morning after, she’d gone to the bakery and came back loaded up with coffee and baked treats. The guys would fall in love with any woman who brought food, especially if they didn’t have to go and get it.
Charlotte was a good woman. He liked her a lot.
“Hey,” Piper said.
“Hey.”
“Where’s Charlotte?”
“Probably working, why?”
“No reason.”
He glanced over his seat and looked at Piper. She sat on the ground, cross-legged, biting her lip.
“What is it?”
“I’m just wondering if you’re going to invite her, you know? To come with us in a couple of days.”
“What’s happening in a couple of days?” he asked.
“You don’t know?”
“Clearly not.”
“We’re moving on in a couple of days. I figured you and Charlotte had hit it off and, you know, I don’t see why she couldn’t come because she was talking about not continuing her lease, and getting the hell out of town—”
“Wait, what? When did you have time to talk to Charlotte?” he asked.
“While you were talking to Colonel. It’s not like it was a secret. We were sitting there chatting. Did you know how miserable she is here? Then there’s that guy. C something. Carl? No, that’s not right.”
“Calum?” he asked.
“Yeah, I heard about what that bastard did to her. Can you imagine? He’s been making her life miserable all because she won’t sleep with him again. How sucky is that?”
Ape clenched his jaw. He’d seen Calum a few times around town. On his arm had been the woman Charlotte had described. What he’d also noticed was the way Calum always looked at Charlotte. The bastard may have a different wife, but that didn’t mean his yearning for his woman had dissipated.
His woman.
Since when had Charlotte belonged to him?
He needed to clear his head. Get his shit together.
“Anyway, I just figured that you might invite her to join us,” Piper said. “It would be fun to have another woman on the road.”
“Not all women are like you,” he said.
“Then you need to talk to Charlotte because regardless of what you say, I think she’d be a really good fit. In fact, I don’t just think it, I know it. She craves traveling. What are your feelings?” Piper asked.
He started to laugh. “I don’t have to tell you.”
“I’m a friend and I can offer you advice.”
“No offense, but you were stuck in a town being treated like crap, and it was only when Colonel showed up that you even got out of that situation. I don’t need advice from you.”
“Whatever, I got out, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. What’s to say you won’t find the same kind of happiness, if you merely gave it a shot? I know you don’t think a woman’s place is on the road, but I’ve got a hunch Charlotte knows what she’s doing. You might want to ask her before you assume.” She got to her feet, and without saying anything more, left.