Page 34 of Old Flame

I nodded. “Fine. Is that all?”

His sigh sounded as jagged as he was. “Is that how it’s gonna be then?” he asked while he looked at me as if he was reading my thoughts instead of waiting for me to speak.

“How what is going to be, Rome? What is it you want from me?” I snapped, annoyed at how he could still stir things inside me that I did not want to feel.

The corner of his lips quirked. “You used to be sweet, Angel Face.”

I tensed. “I asked you not to call me that.”

He took a step toward me and slid his knuckles under my chin, tilting my head back. “I’ll call you what the fuck I want to.” His eyes drifted over my face, pausing at my lips.

“You already pointed out that I was old,” I reminded him. “I’ve done nothing to you to deserve you mocking me. And calling me Angel Face is just that.”

There was humor in his gaze that made me want to slap him.

“Are you needing a compliment? The mirror you look in every day ain’t enough for you? Come now, sweetheart. You’re not blind, and we both know your ego doesn’t need stroking by me.” He licked his bottom lip, and although it was quick, the silver bar in his tongue flashed at me.

I jerked my chin free of his hold and stepped back. “I don’t have an ego. I have feelings. Something you stopped caring about a long time ago.” The words came out bitter and gave entirely too much away.

His nostrils flared slightly, and he tensed. “Now, who is mocking who?”

I shook my head. “This is…” I threw up my hands in frustration. “This is ridiculous. That is what this is. We are adults. We have lived different lives. Loved other people. Can we just let the past go? Why are we acting like this? Is it our need for closure?”

He stood there silently while we looked at each other. Neither knowing the answer, it seemed.

“Not looking for closure. I don’t close a good book until the story ends,” he drawled, then put his cigarette back in his mouth. “Have a good day, Angel Face.” He said the last two words with a grin, then walked down the stairs while I stood there and watched him.

It wasn’t until he reached his Harley and threw his leg over it, then glanced back at me that I realized what I was doing. Spinning around, I opened the door and went inside.

14

Tex

Going to Ocala for two weeks had cleared my head. I was able to somewhat shake loose the Salem shit that had been trying to claw at me—or at least shove it back from the forefront of my mind. I wasn’t going to let her affect my life. It had been the shock of seeing her again—that was all. Nothing more. I’d been thinking about her as if I were still that kid who thought all that mattered was having Salem Gray.

She’d been right. We’d needed closure. I’d never fucking gotten it. Maybe that was it. We’d had it. I could move past her being in the same city.

Nixie’s arms tightened around my waist as my Harley roared beneath us. This was my life. Surrounded by my brothers, my club, my family. These were my people. My past would stay in the past. Mom had been right.

Micah was the only bike in front of me as we rode to Toxic Throttle for the evening. Dolly was tucked in behind him, and the idea of her going to a strip club made me chuckle. Not that Micah would be looking. More than likely, he’d end up keeping her in the office.

We were getting there early since Nixie was working tonight and had to get ready, as did Coco, who was on the back of Country’s bike, and Delight, who was on Pinch’s.

Grinder and Butch managed Toxic Throttle. It wasn’t our mostelite club, but the strippers were high-end. It drew in the middle class and tourists.

Earlier today, Nixie had mentioned doing one of our adult films, testing the waters to see my reaction. The girl could take a dick in any hole and moan like a pro. She’d be excellent on-screen. I had no problem with it. She wasn’t mine. I just happened to enjoy her tight cunt and how far she’d take my cock down her throat.

I’d learned she had major daddy issues. She liked that I was older, and she enjoyed doing the young-girl thing, like coming to me in nothing but a school-uniform miniskirt and socks pulled up to her knees.

I was guilty of bending her over the sofa in my room last night and pretending she was someone else. Another girl too young for me once. One I had wanted more than my next breath. I’d come so hard that I made her keep it on while I changed condoms, then took her ass.

Micah held up his hand to signal the group as he turned left instead of right. What was going on? Dolly glanced back at us, and with her helmet on, it was hard to see her expression, but I did know she wasn’t smiling.

Just before we reached Paradise Brew, Micah pulled into the empty parking lot of a souvenir store that had seasonal hours and was currently closed. He cut his engine and climbed off the bike, and then he made a slice with his hand for us to turn off our engines.

With a chin lift from him, the others did what I was already doing. Going to see what this was about. He looked unlike his normal easygoing self. There was a dangerous edge to him.

“The hidden alarm at Pep’s has gone off. The one I put there just for me. It’s silent, and it goes directly to my phone. I don’t know what the fuck is happening, but we need to treat it like a worst-case scenario. Our bikes pulling in the parking lot willalert whoever is an issue that they have company.

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