Page 46 of Broken Saint

"Guess that makes you more of a city girl at heart," I joked as we walked the short trail head to the rock formation at the top. I spread out on the blanket and took a seat. When she started to take the spot next to me, I snaked my arm around her waist and pulled her into my lap. "It's chilly up here." That was the excuse I was making to keep her close when actually the only one I really needed was the fact that's where I wanted her.

She wiggled in my lap in response and made me groan. "If you say so."

I could hear the laughter in her voice and it made me smile. Her resilience and ability to embrace the moment seriously turned me on. A lot more than the tits, ass, and legs did. Well, kind of. Those were some serious assets she sported.

As she settled down, I started thinking about home and how nice it would be to have her with me in those mountains. "Where I grew up, the city was a little farther away. Only about an hour, but still it felt like a trip. I've always preferred fresh air and the outdoors."

"Where was that?" Her voice had a dreamy quality to it, like she was floating carelessly in the moment. I hoped it was true, considering we both needed the escape.

"About an hour outside of Seattle. A teeny tiny town called Sultan. It may not have seemed like much with its two stoplights, but what it lacked in amenities, it more than made up in outdoor activities. We were close to everything. Mountains for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter, a river for kayaking and fishing, not to mention hunting, and the various hot springs that fill the area.”

"And motorcycle riding?" She asked. "Is that a thing you did back home too?"

"Oh yeah. My father was the president of a motorcycle club. I learned how to ride a bike long before I ever drove a car."

"Sounds dangerous. How old were you?"

"I started out on dirt bikes when I was five and graduated from there. Didn't bother with a car until high school, and even that was only borrowed from my mom when I needed it. Didn't see the point."

"You mother let you do that? Oh wait. Never mind. You're a boy. Of course she did. Boys are allowed to do anything, and girls have to stay home and play quietly."

The bitterness she clearly harbored came out loud and clear. "I guess I know why you haven't ventured out much if your parents were that overprotective."

"My parents were and are assholes. If it was up to my dad, I would have been married for five years and probably popped out a few kids by now. Sons, of course, because in our family, girls just aren't worth a damn."

"Whoa." I don't know how we got on this track, but it was building steam and Nova was on a roll.

"I'm sorry," she said squirming to get away. "It's the liquor talking. I'll stop now."

"Bullshit. Your family sounds toxic, and it sounds like whatever is going on you need to get it out."

"I really don't want to talk about them. It doesn't make for a fun time. I'd rather hear more about you. Do you have family in Sultan or are they somewhere else?"

His family life wasn't easy to talk about either, but for her, he'd do his best. "My father is in Sultan. Still runs the MC. Although it's a little different than it used to be."

"How so?"

"Back in the day, they were probably just as you imagine. Up to their eyeballs in illegal businesses. Guns, drugs, and anything else that suited their fancy. They were younger and just didn't give a shit about the law. Eventually, that changed and now they do things a little more legal like strip clubs, coffee huts, distillery, even got themselves a fully legal marijuana dispensary now that recreational use is legal in Washington. My brother left Sultan shortly after I did. He joined the Marine Corps, got hurt, went back to the MC and then left again. He lives in Vegas now. But you know him, since he's married to Izzy now."

"That's right. I didn't realize until the party the other night. There was a lot going on that night, though, so I kind of forgot."

"You also didn't tell me it was your birthday. Found that out from my brother and then got blindsided by a fiancé at your party. I think I still owe you some birthday spankings."

She giggled. "Rock, are you just looking for an excuse to get me on my knees again?"

"I don't need an excuse, babe. If I want you there, I'll put you there."

While she didn't exactly squirm in my lap when I said that, I picked up a slight tremble.

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