We squeezed tightly before she made her way to the truck. Some of the bikes followed, but Rooster stopped just feet away from me. I wanted to fling myself at him, but my mind told me to stay put. Partly because I was still confused, and partly because I didn’t want to seem needy and desperate.
He hurriedly took off his helmet, then dropped the kickstand, practically flying from his seat. The helmet hit the ground as he took three long strides, grabbed my face in both hands, and crushed his lips to mine.
My squeal was silenced in his mouth. Everything I had grappled with since I first saw him again slipped from my mind. My body melted into his and my hands clasped the soft leather of his cut. There were voices and sounds around us, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was he was there, kissing me the way I secretly longed for— the way my mind refused to admit, but so desperately wished for all those years.
He started to pull away, but I tugged him back, pressing up on my toes so he couldn’t pull away. He obliged, kissing me deeper, his tongue seeking mine. Tears squeezed from my eyes as I let my heart take over and my mind quieted.
Nearly out of breath, when he tried to pull away again, I gasped, but let him move. But he didn’t go far. He rested his forehead to mine, still gripping my face. “I can’t let you go again, Sparrow. I don’t deserve you, but I won’t let you go.”
“Rooster, I–”
“You may as well say yes, Sparrow. Because as hard as I fought to stay away all this time, I’ll fight a hundred times harder to make you mine again.”
Opening my eyes, leaning back enough to focus on his, I bit my lip before I said, “I never stopped being yours, Rooster.”
Chapter 10
Rooster
After I made my intentions clear and we decided to hit the road, Sparrow spoke to Bit. Just as I was trying to secure a truck to get my bike and both women back to their side of Jersey, Sparrow came and found me, dressed in her original outfit from the night we reunited.
Slicing her hands through the air, Sparrow said, “Apparently she’s staying. And Sawyer said it was fine.”
Texting Hawk back, I told him to hold off on the ride. “And you’re okay with this?”
She shrugged. “She’s an adult. He’s an adult. She’s letting me go home withyou,so there’s not much I can say.”
Heat filled my veins and sent blood rushing to my cock. We could take the bike, and it would be just the two of us. “Youready then?” Hawk already agreed I would skip the rest of the run to get the ladies situated, so there was no reason to waste any time there.
“Yeah.Myhome, though,” she said. “And this time, can you put my phone in the saddlebag? I freaked out the whole way here that it would fall out of my pocket. I didn’t even carry a small purse the other night since I thought I’d be gone for a couple of hours.” She dug something from her tight jeans. “And this. They made it here, but just in case, my keys.”
She handed me a keychain with two keys. Looking down, I smiled. “You kept it?” I’d gotten us matching keychains at the boardwalk in Atlantic City that summer. It was worn, but there it was.
“Yeah, well, I noticed when you left before you still had yours, too.”
“I held onto every piece of you I could.” I studied her face for a reaction.
She blew out a breath and shook her hair with her hands.
“You alright?”
“Yeah. This is still just… I don’t know.” She squinted as the harsh sun beamed down.
Grabbing her hand, I pulled her closer. “One step at a time. Let’s go check out your apartment.”
“Right. No rush. Just going home,” she said with a smile. “Helmet, please.”
After shooting a text to Falcon so I didn’t have to go socialize anymore and letting Hawk know we didn’t needa vehicle, I helped her with the helmet Falcon loaned me. I climbed onto my Harley, holding my hand out for her, and pulled her close once she was on. “Hold on tight,” I said over my shoulder.
Sparrow’s heat on my back was a warmth I’d missed for so long. As she wrapped her arms around my waist, a small crack formed in the icy walls that had held me in their grip for years.
The engine roared, and she squeezed tighter. With a grin, I turned and headed down the long driveway to the road.
Dust kicked up behind us until we finally found the pavement again. The part of Jersey we were in reminded me so much of home. Lush trees lined the road, but a small hint of fall was showing with a few touches of yellow and red scattered through them.
It was warm, but it was midday, and the sun was high. Just like back home, it was hot during the day, but starting to cool off at night.
For the first time in a long time, I enjoyed the ride. Sure, I loved riding with my brothers, but it was duty-filled. We rode with a purpose. I hadn’t had a joy ride in so long. Even though I still had a purpose for this ride, I damn sure was enjoying it.
