That made me feel some better, but I filed the fact that some viewed me as childish and crazy away to think about later.
We crawled through the two-mile parade surrounded by a sea of people in costumes. All shapes sizes and ethnicities dressed like devils and angels. Skeletons on stilts wore masks bigger than their faces. Kids, sitting on their parent’s shoulders dressed up, too. Folks had brought their dogs, as well, who’d they dressed up as little grim reapers and goblins. A fucking larger than life hog sported a silver cape. Lanterns swung and candles swayed. A group with their faces painted like mine walked along side of us, playing violins. Dancers lined the procession, juggling fire to the beat of drums.
It was all creepy as hell.
“I don’t like this,” I tried to tell Cowboy.
“What?” He couldn’t hear me.
The noise overwhelmed me. I screamed it this time.
“It’s okay. We’re gonna ditch them as soon as we can. I’ve made plans remember.”
Boy did I.
Thankfully, Cowboy left the procession to begin our date. When we got away from the crowd, he told me to hold on tight. My arms hooked around him, and he picked up speed. We went for a long ride. I’d forgotten how much I loved riding.
Before long, we headed back toward the big crowd. When Cowboy’s motorcycle rolled to a stop, I asked why we were back. He explained he’d wanted to take me to a bar in town before we headed to the hotel, and all of Tucson was packed tonight.
As we walked into El Chupacabra, I figured out Cowboy wanted to show me off. It’d been a while, but I’d grown up a biker brat, sort of, so I knew the posturing. He held me close, his hand on the small of my back as heintroduced me around. He knew about everyone here. Many of the patrons were members of the Asphalt Gods’ MC who I hadn’t met or seen before. They lived off the compound, Cowboy explained. He threatened a brother or two when they gave me a compliment, even punched a guy.
“This is fun.”
Everyone had their face painted, so I felt a little more relaxed about my makeup.
“I like your hair,” Cowboy remarked when we settled into a corner by ourselves.
“Thanks.” I breathed a sigh of relief. Cutting my hair had been on pure impulse, and this was a huge change. I already missed it being so very long.
“I’m only twenty years old,” I told him when he ordered our drinks.
“I know. It doesn’t matter here. When you’re with me.”
He had a couple of beers, and I had half of one. We played some darts and pool, things I hadn’t done in forever, and we couldn’t do back at the clubhouse while being watched.
“Just letting loose,” Cowboy called it.
I was having a blast.
After we ate some good chimis, he took me to the back where a man dressed as a grim reaper was giving tattoos. Where all the women I saw tonight had so many, I didn’t even have one.
“I’m not sure what I would want,” I remarked, looking at all the designs.
“It’s not a choice,” Cowboy explained, his voice flat. “I’m branding you.”
“You’re what?”
“You can pick where.”
While I didn’t know what I thought of having his road named tattooed on me, let alone burnt on, Cowboy seemed more than excited. His hand dropped to my waist to pull me close to him. He breathed in my ear, “After we get you a property patch, we’ll head to our final destination.”
I knew Cowboy had booked some fancy hotel where he planned to finally rock my world. That I could handle. The branding had been a surprise. I wasn’t sure I was upfor it. “What about you?” Are you going to get my name tattooed on your ass?”
“Is that where you want my brand, on your ass?”
I flushed, liking this flirty side of him. He’d been such a gentleman with me, I welcomed him being more possessive. I decided to push him. Walking away and crossing my arms, I said, “I’m not sure I want one at all.”
Cowboy was on me in a flash. “What do you mean? Don’t you want me to claim you?”
