Chapter Seven

Ringo

Yeah. I was totally fucked. This woman…

"Sweet Christ," Dom muttered. "Get her shit and get outta here, Ringo. I absolutely will not let you dry hump my daughter in my fuckin' quarters." Then he pointed at Calista. "You. If he hurts you, or doesn't make it good for you --"

"Right. Come see you."

"Actually no. Not unless you want him dead. Go to Lemon. Especially with the latter ‘cause I do not want to know."

That made Calista burst out laughing. "Point taken."

"Now. Ringo. Take care of my girl. You don't and you will answer to me."

"On it, boss." With a grin, I stood and crossed to Calista. "Why don't you rummage through that box Lemon gave you and find some jeans and socks. Get your boots back on and we'll take my bike." I smirked at Dom, knowing putting his daughter on the back of my bike was probably one more nail in my coffin, but he'd been the one to start this.

It didn't take her long to change. "Where we going?" We walked outside the clubhouse and she glanced over her shoulder like she was really having second thoughts about the whole leaving-with-me thing.

"On a ride around the compound. Thought you might like a little taste of what you're in for."

She stopped dead in her tracks. "This better not be some nefarious way to do something awful. Because you might hurt me, but unless you kill me, you have to sleep sometime. I will totally follow through on my promise to cut off your dick and shove it up your ass."

That got a bark of laughter from me. "Nefarious? Nah. Anything I do to you might be sinful, but I promise you'll enjoy it and beg me for more." I tugged her onward. "I think you'll enjoy the bike. Nothin' like the wind in your hair and a powerful machine between your legs." I gave her my best wicked grin.

Her eyes widened. "Oh, no, you didn't!" But she was grinning and continued on with me without more protest.

I helped her on the bike, showing her where to put her feet. "Do not touch the pipes. They will burn you even through thick denim."

She nodded, then I climbed aboard and reached down to start up my bike. The rattle of the pipes always got my blood pumping. Now, with a sexy woman on the back…

No. Scratch that. Not with a sexy woman. My sexy woman. She was thirteen years younger than me, the daughter of my SAA, and possibly a stronger woman than I was ever prepared for, but I wasn't giving her up.

When she put her hands at my sides, gripping my cut, I gently took one hand and tugged her forward until both of her arms were wrapped around me. One hand was flat against my stomach, while the other one gripped her wrist so she was locked to me. She didn't seem to know how she could touch me so she was tentative, but I pressed my hands over hers, letting her know she could touch me all she wanted. Then we took off.

The compound was completely fenced in on a crap-ton of land. With the sun just now coming up and the heat not so great, I thought she might like a tour around the various sections. Just so she could see the terrain.

We didn't have a road through the place, exactly, but a wide, dirt path packed hard. While I couldn't ride with a great deal of speed, it was a fairly smooth ride. Prospects walked the path two or three times a week to keep the weeds beat back and the trail maintained, especially after rain or in sections we'd had to build wooden trails over.

The longer we rode, the more relaxed Calista became. At one point, I felt her cheek rub up and down my back. I couldn't help but rub her leg as we continued.

It wasn't long before my phone buzzed with a text. We'd just pulled up outside the family section, fifty acres which were fenced off with a privacy fence, so I dug into my back pocket to fish it out. In the process, my hand brushed Calista's inner thigh. Even through our clothes, electricity seemed to arc between us. She shivered and tightened her grip around my waist. I looked back over my shoulder and winked at her. She buried her face in my back, but I saw the excited smile before she turned away from me completely. She still rubbed her face against my back.

I smirked to myself as I looked at the text message.

Lemon: Gt ur ass hr. 2nd [^] on lt .

Me: English please .

Lemon: FIO beoch

Heaven help me.

Turned out she and Apple had gotten the second house on the left ready for us. Whatever.

"Here." Lemon handed Calista a phone. "It's got mine and Apple's numbers programmed into it, as well as Dom, Ringo, and Rocket. Full disclosure: Rocket is mine. I really like you, but if you touch him without permission I'll have to hurt you. I don't want to hurt you, girl. You're gonna join me, Apple, and the other old ladies and we're gonna keep these guys from gettin' completely out of control." Lemon smiled brightly and, to my surprise, Calista laughed, her eyes dancing in merriment.

"Yeah. I think we are."

Apple grinned as she came out of the house. "Everything's ready. Place has been aired out and fresh linens are in the bedrooms and bathrooms. This one has a queen and a full, but there's plenty of room for a king in the master bedroom when you're ready." Apple was the milder sister, but she was still a handful. Especially since coming to Grim Road to live.

It was like, before a point in her life, she was one way. After that point, she was another. She was more abrasive than Lemon. Lemon had learned to joke. Somewhat. Apple meant every cutting barb she threw. And sometimes, she could be vicious. I was glad she was following Lemon's lead in taking care of Calista. Having Apple for an enemy wasn't advisable.

"Thanks, guys." I grinned at both women and, before either knew I was going to, pulled them both into an embrace for a full two seconds before Lemon shrieked, ducking out of my hold. Apple backed up three full steps, looking at me like I'd grown two heads.

"What the fuck? Eww!" Lemon did a little dance, like something had just creeped her the fuck out. "Ringo germs! I'll probably get the bubonic clap! Or a fiery, raging case of hemorrhoids! Bath! I need a bath! And liquor. And pot! OMG! Lots of pot!"

"That was just gross, Ringo." Apple brushed herself off with a frown. Like I'd gotten dog shit on them. Meanwhile, Calista was laughing like a loon, bent double as she guffawed.

I looked appropriately put out with the women as I snagged Calista's hand. "That was cold, y'all."

Lemon pointed at me, pointing to her eyes, then at me a couple of times. All kidding aside, I got the message. She was watching, and I absolutely would not do anything to hurt Calista.

As we entered the house, Calista was still wiping tears from her eyes. "Those women are awesome!" She stood with her back against the door, a huge smile on her face as she laughed. "You did that on purpose."

I snorted. "Right. ‘Cause I love setting myself up for ridicule from the tiny tyrants."

"Oh…" Her eyes got wider, and she started laughing again, like this was all the height of hilarity. "You better not let either of them hear you call them that. I have a feeling it won't work out so well for you."

I couldn't help the grin and knew there was likely some soft, goofy expression on my face. How the fuck had I decided I liked soft and sweet? ‘Cause this girl was so fucking sweet it was giving me cavities. Her reactions were genuine. She was scared, but brave. She'd had one small meltdown, but I thought she still needed to process everything that had happened tonight.

I let her calm down somewhat. She sat on the couch, plopped down like she was exhausted. Given that she'd been on the run all night, I was sure she was.

"You all right, baby girl?" I moved to the side table where I kept a bottle of Jack. I poured us both a shot, then handed her the glass, crouching in front of her, careful to go slowly so I didn't startle her.

She took the glass and sniffled, tears still leaking from her eyes. There was a smile on her face, but it started to falter. "Well, I'm on the run from my stepfather and whoever he thought he was gonna sell me to. When they catch me, they're going to do things to me I can't even imagine."

She shot the whisky, sputtering slightly before setting the glass down next to her. I quickly shot mine and set my glass beside hers. She rubbed her hand under her nose to catch a drip. I reached to the side table for a box of tissues someone had thought to bring. Apple, no doubt. She was turning into the hard-ass of the two, but she still had a soft spot. Mostly, when there was someone she thought needed taking care of.

Once Calista'd blown her nose she met my gaze. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this. It's not fair to you and, no matter how attracted I am to you, I don't think I'm ready for this yet."

"For what, baby? Sex?"

She closed her eyes and exhaled, like I was dancing on the very last nerve she had. "Yes, Ringo. Sex. You heard me. I'm a virgin. Can't say I haven't watched porn or anything. I know about all the stuff Borris promised the other guy he could do." She met my gaze again. This time, there was a wealth of emotions shining there. Fear. Curiosity. Shock. Anger. Despair.

I reached out, brushing a lock of hair off her cheek before stroking my fingers down her soft skin to tip her chin back. "Don't be afraid to be curious about those things. Just because he made them sound dirty and terrifying doesn't mean they have to be."

"It's hard to… to think about it because on some level deep down…" She sobbed, throwing herself into my arms. I caught her and wrapped my arms around her as I had just a couple hours ago. This time, though, I urged her legs around my waist and carried her to the bedroom.

I sat on the edge of the bed, holding her, letting her cry. She trembled in my arms. Maybe from fear, but I thought it was mostly in arousal. I also knew it shamed her.

"I want some of the things they described," she whispered, her voice a mere whisper of sound. "But not with that man. Not with anyone but whom I choose."

"Nothin' wrong with that, baby girl. In fact, that's exactly the way it should be. You want to try somethin' new, you do it with someone you trust. Someone you want."

"It's not wrong? And I'd never want to do those things with just anyone."

"Not wrong at all. Everyone likes to experiment, but you get to choose who and what."

Calista pushed away from me slightly, looking into my face. "Are we really doing this whole old lady thing? You claiming me or whatever?"

I grinned. "You heard the options. Besides, I don't think you're as opposed to the thought as you try to pretend. I think you want to belong to me."

She huffed out a breath. "Maybe I want you to belong to me."

"I can work with that." I grinned. "Now. I want to kiss you. May I?"

Sucking in a breath, Calista nodded. "Yes, Ringo."

I grunted, sliding my hand around the back of her neck and pulling her down for a long, sweet kiss.