Joy Ride: A Virgin Romance (Let it Ride Book 3) Read online

  He tilted his head to the side, studying her.

  “Why you blushin’?”

  “I’m not blushing.” But Rose could feel the heat burning her cheeks.

  “Is the blush for me?”

  Startled, she glanced up. Her mouth had gone dry.

  “Calm down. I’m teasin’.” Duke reached for her, and she held her breath.

  She couldn’t quite decide if she wanted him to touch her or not.

  Duke seemed to sense this because his hand hovered there before he dropped it.

  “Let’s make tracks before your sister catches us.”

  They took off for Hades.

  Rose grinned like it was Christmas morning and she had a pile of presents to open. She’d left the hotel, scored a fake ID right under her sister’s nose, talked to somebody new, and hadn’t had a mental breakdown in the process.

  Things were looking up.

  ***

  When they pulled up at the hotel, it was nearly six o’clock, and a small crowd had gathered at the diner. Over the last few months, Voodoo had made a name for himself with the locals, despite a biker gang owning the joint. She’d even seen an increase in diner traffic since she’d been staying here. Rose could see why the patrons couldn’t stay away. Voodoo was an incredible chef. True, she didn’t have much of an appetite, but what she’d managed to eat had been delicious.

  “You hungry?”

  Rose thought about it. Other than a couple bites of donut this morning, she hadn’t eaten anything. She should eat, even if she didn’t feel like it. Maybe some fries?

  “Um, sure.”

  They headed in the diner and took a booth near the rear, far away from the crowd of locals by the jukebox. No sign of any other bikers except for Voodoo and one of the prospects Rose recognized, Fetch.

  The red-haired prospect wandered over to their table. “What can I get you?”

  “Chili, the extra hot kind.” Duke glanced in her direction.

  “I’ll have a side of fries.” It wasn’t the healthiest of meals, but nothing else appealed to her.

  “You have to eat more than some fries.”

  “I’m not that hungry.”

  He smirked. “Are you a vegetarian?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Just checking.” Duke turned to Fetch. “Bring her a burger too.”

  “No. I only want fries.”

  Rose didn’t need anyone ordering for her. She could decide what food she ate all by herself, thanks.

  Fetch, a lanky redhead, shifted back and forth on his feet uneasily, shooting looks between the two of them.

  “Do I need to repeat myself? Follow my goddamn orders, prospect.”

  Fetch shot her an apologetic look, and she slumped in her seat, far too tired to argue with Duke, especially about something as unimportant as food.

  “Whatever. Fine.”

  “What are you waiting for? Go.” Duke waved a hand in the direction of the kitchen, and Fetch scurried off. He scanned her face, and she got the distinct impression she’d somehow disappointed him.

  Had he hoped she’d argue with him? Make a fuss?

  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. All letdown. Like I didn’t live up to your expectations or something.”

  “I got no expectations, just curious is all.” He watched her with those black eyes. “You don’t always have to do what people tell you to, you know.”

  She snorted.

  His eyes widened.

  “Maybe you don’t. But I always have to do what people tell me to.”

  Having a disagreement with someone took so much effort, and she inevitably lost anyway. Any argument she’d had with her adoptive parents, her sister, and Kent ended with her eventual capitulation. So what was the point? Some people are meant to lead, and others are destined to follow. Rose guessed her lot in life was to take instructions, not give them.

  “No, you don’t. Life gets a lot easier when you do whatever the hell you want, and if someone doesn’t like it? Fuck ‘em.”

  “Then why’d you order a burger for me when I didn’t want it?”

  “Maybe it was a test.”

  “What kind of test?”

  He smiled, a big toothy one. “Figure it out.” Then he changed the subject. “At least you got out today. You usually hole up in your room.”

  Rose bristled. “Don’t make it sound like I’m a hermit or something. I’m not afraid, I’m—”

  “Hiding?”

  She didn’t like people noticing what she did with her time. If Rose had her way, she’d be invisible and free to do her own thing with no one the wiser.

  “You don’t know anything about me.”

  “Is that so?”

  His tone was teasing, but she didn’t take the bait by commenting, wishing their food would hurry up and arrive already. When it did, they’d have an excuse not to talk.

  “You got nothin’ to say?”

  “Nope.” He seemed to be trying to get a rise out of her, and she found it bewildering.

  Just to dizzy her, he switched topics yet again. “Your sister seems to like workin’ at the gun store and range.”

  “She does,” Rose said. She couldn’t tell where this thought train was headed.

  “And you? Got any plans?”

  Rose hadn’t thought much about it. Daisy had mentioned she could go back to school next semester, but Rose didn’t know if she could handle it. She didn’t know if she could cope with a busy school schedule. Rose knew she couldn’t be a recluse for the rest of her life, but it worked for her right now.

  She shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I’m still thinking it through.”

  “The MC has a lot of businesses. You could work for the club while you figure it out. It might be good to focus on something else.”

  Duke had a point. Maybe she’d start feeling better if she didn’t ruminate all the time.

  “I think you might be right.”

  “Of course, I’m right. I’m always right.” He tilted his head to the side. “You could work with me.”

  Where had that come from? “Um, my sister would hate the idea. No offense.”

  “I don’t give a damn what your sister wants. You’re an adult, and you can make decisions for yourself.”

  “Says the man who forces people to order cheeseburgers.”

  “Rose, you don’t have to eat it, but what good are fries without a burger? In my book, they’re a set. Like peanut butter and jelly or biscuits and gravy. You can’t have one without the other.”

  Damn, she hated it when other people sounded reasonable. “Maybe I’ll have a bite or two. What do you do, exactly?”

  “A little of this, a little of that. I have a highly specialized skill set I use for club business.”

  “Which means…?”

  He ignored the question. “I do some doctorin’ for the group. I could use an extra set of hands when there’s an injury. I also help out one of the local docs a couple of times a month. He does these low-cost mammogram days for women in the community.”

  “You help with mammograms?” She couldn’t picture him in a clinic for women.

  “Yeah, they’re very important.” He seemed intense about the subject.

  “Okay.”

  “Or you could find another club business to suit you. We’ve got a ton of them. You could wait tables, work a cash register, whatever you want.”

  “I’ll think about it.” It’d feel good to be useful again.

  Fetch arrived with their orders as well as a manila envelope addressed to her without a return address. “Hey, Voo said this arrived at the front desk for you.”

  “Thanks.” She tossed it on the seat beside her, figuring she’d open it when she got back to her room.

  Fetch set their plates down and then shuffled off.

  “Who sent the package?”

  “Not sure, but I’m betting it’s from my adoptive mother. I stopped
returning their calls so she’s stalking me via post office. I sent the last two letters back by marking them return to sender. I think she decided not to put a return address on it, so I’d have to open the stupid thing. I don’t want to have anything to do with them.”

  “Damn straight. It serves them right for not trying to find you.”

  Rose hadn’t expected such a vehement response. She figured he’d try to talk her into seeing them again. Forgiving and forgetting would be the adult thing to do—but she couldn’t bring herself to go through with it. Maybe one day she would.

  They wanted to see her again and pretend to be the doting parents. Daisy had told them off in no uncertain terms. Her adoptive parents had written her off as a bad seed when she disappeared a few months ago. True, Rose had dropped out of college and started using drugs, which were stupid decisions, but she’d hoped they’d at least tell her sister she’d gone missing or put some effort into trying to find her. Rose thought if she were their biological daughter, they’d have cared more.

  They finished the meal in pleasant silence. Rose ended up devouring all of her fries and half the burger.

  It was the most she’d eaten in weeks.

  Chapter Four

  Rose huddled in the closet, knees to her chest.

  Kent had gone to a meeting at the strip club and left a security guard with her—the one she dreaded, the one who wore the ugly, ill-fitting, cheap suits, Lester. The guards worked on a rotating basis, and it’d been a couple of weeks since she’d seen him. She’d avoided being alone with him.

  The last time Kent had left her in the guard’s care, Lester had made her strip and mauled her body–tweaked her nipples, ran his hands over her hips, splayed her legs open, and stroked the lips of her sex. Thankfully, his shift had ended before he’d been able to do more. She feared he’d complete his assault this time.

  “No time for games, slut. Your owner or whatever the fuck you call him will be home soon.”

  She hadn’t told Kent he’d touched her because she thought he’d blame her somehow. He constantly looked for excuses to punish her. The belt was bad enough, but when he got angry, he used the whip. She wouldn’t survive another hardcore session—the last time he’d left her back a bloody mess.

  “There you are, bitch.”

  Lester threw open the closet and seized her by the hair, nearly yanking it out by the roots as he dragged her out. They were way out in the country.

  No one would hear her scream.

  He stood behind her, breathing heavy. “It’s time to give you what you deserve. I’d beat the shit out of you if I could, but the boss would have my ass.” He plucked a knife from his pocket, laying it against her throat. “You’re gonna be a good girl, aren’t you?”

  “Y-yes.”

  Lester was a big man, just over six feet tall, with a bodybuilder physique. She didn’t stand a chance of fending him off.

  “Get down on your knees.”

  When she didn’t immediately obey, he withdrew the blade and pushed a booted foot against the back of her knee, sending her tumbling to the floor.

  He paced around her until he stopped directly in front of her and made a big show of unbuckling his belt and pulling down his zipper.

  She turned her head, but he grabbed her by the ponytail, wrapping it around his fist.

  “You’re gonna suck my cock like a good fuck-toy, aren’t you?” Lester exposed himself with the other hand. His penis was already hard, straining.

  “I’ll tell Kent.”

  But they both knew it was an empty threat.

  “No, you won’t. Know why?”

  “Why?” She couldn’t stop trembling, despite her brave words.

  “I’ll tell him you came on to me, and you wanted it. Wanted this. He touched the tip of his cock to her chin. He’d fire me, but he might kill you.”

  God, he was probably right.

  “No.”

  “I didn’t hear you. You want me to tell him?”

  “No!”

  Lester yanked her head back, exposing her throat, scraping the knife along the length of it. “This ain’t personal, I just need a blow job.” He tucked the knife back in his pocket. “So open up, bitch. I’m gonna fuck your mouth.” But he didn’t wait for her to comply, just shoved his penis between her lips, gagging her with it. “You’re a good cocksucker, aren’t you? Yeah, you like it.”

  She struggled at first, rearing back, but he held her steady, forcing his cock deeper into her throat until she choked. Using her hair as a handle, he drove himself down her throat relentlessly.

  After what seemed like hours, he flooded her mouth with semen. He clamped a hand over her lips and pinched her nostrils closed with his forefinger and thumb so she either gulped it down or suffocated.

  Rose managed not to vomit as she swallowed his sticky semen.

  “Such a good bitch. You drank the evidence. You love the taste of come, don’t you?” Lester zipped up and pulled her to her feet, then looked her dead in the eye. “You tell the boss about this, and I’ll kill you.” His beefy hand encircled her neck, squeezing it hard enough to make her panic. “If I lose my job, you won’t live to see another day. Are we clear?”

  She nodded furiously.

  “Good.”

  Lester shoved her, and she fell on her back. When he walked away, she crawled on her hands and knees back to the closet. With shaky hands, she shut the double doors and scuttled back into the corner, trying not to make a sound.

  A sharp knock on the hotel door woke Rose up. She sat up in bed with a cry, the nightmare still fresh in her mind.

  “Who's there?” she called.

  “Your sister. Open up.”

  Suppressing a shudder, she threw off the covers and blearily peered out the peephole to find Daisy standing there.

  She glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand. It was barely five in the morning.

  Rose needed to have a talk with Daisy about these early morning hours. She unlatched the door.

  “What’s up?”

  “This is what’s up.”

  Daisy had a pregnancy test zipped into a plastic baggie. The word pregnant showed in the display window.

  Wow.

  Daisy brushed past her and slumped down in a chair with her head in her hands.

  “Ha, I was hoping you might be. Congratulations.”

  Daisy shook her head.

  “Once the shock wears off, you’re going to be psyched too.”

  “Ro, I can’t be a mom. I’m not mother material. I’m a Marine—not a mommy.”

  “You’re a former Marine, and let me assure you, you know how to mother someone. You’ve been parenting me my entire life. The mom gene didn’t miss you.”

  “That’s different.”

  “How?” Rose didn’t see a distinction.

  “I was your older sister. You already had a mother. This is a hell of a lot more responsibility.”

  “Mom had a drug habit and a career as a prostitute. She might have been my mother, but you were the one who raised me. When we were kids, you used to get me dressed for school, you tucked me in at night, and you taught me how to tie my shoes. If food was scarce, you always made sure I ate first.” She placed a hand on Daisy’s white-knuckled one. “Trust me. You got this.”

  “I was being a big sister. This is a whole new level of nurturing right here.”

  “Yes, it’s a big step, but you can handle it.” Her sister looked doubtful, but Rose knew she’d rise to meet this challenge, once she’d accepted it.

  “I should see the gyno to confirm this before I tell Cowboy.”

  “How do you think he’ll react?”

  Daisy’s features smoothed, and a smile played about her mouth. She didn’t look nearly as worried. “I think he’ll be over the moon.”

  Rose settled her arms around Daisy’s shoulders and hugged her from behind.

  “I think so too. I’m already moonstruck over here. I’m psyched to be an aunt, and I’m so happy for you.
You have a man who loves you, a wonderful home, and a baby makes it perfect.”

  “I guess. I never thought I’d have any of those things.” She sighed, and her eyes widened in sudden realization. “Oh no.”

  “What now?”

  “He’ll want to get married too.”

  She chuckled, already seeing a whole new level of panic in her sister’s eyes.

  “Hmm, probably, but don’t you think you should make an honest man out of him? You’re living with the man and about to have his baby.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “No buts.”

  “I guess.”

  For all of her bellyaching, Daisy loved Cowboy. Sure, she’d freak out until she went down the aisle, but her love would prevail over any relationship issues.

  “I think it sounds pretty fantastic to me.”

  Daisy had serious commitment issues, but Rose had never felt the same way. She’d always wanted the white picket fence, the two children, and the handsome husband. Rose doubted she’d ever have it now. Being normal was no longer an option—she was just too damaged. Besides, how could she even bring herself to let a man touch her? Let alone sleep beside him every night and raise his children.

  “You think I can do this?”

  It’d been such a long time since she’d seen Daisy scared. Not since they were girls.

  Rose clasped her hand. “There is nothing to think about. I know you can.”

  “Okay. Okay, I got this.” Daisy smoothed her hair, tugged her shirt down, and blew out a long breath. “I’m going to head back to the house, do some chores, and then make myself an appointment.”

  “Sounds like a good plan.” Rose gasped as Daisy engulfed her in a big hug, nearly squeezing the life out of her.

  “Thank you for listening to me.”

  “Anytime, big sister.”

  “I wish I could help you.” Daisy kissed her forehead. “I love you, Ro.”

  Tears pricked her eyes, but she held them back. She’d cried her eyes out for two months, and she was sick of it.

  “I know, Daze.”

  Daisy grabbed her stuff and headed out.

  Rose thought she’d try to go back to sleep, but she couldn’t. She actually felt enthusiastic. She had a niece or nephew on the way.

  Maybe life was starting up again? This had all the makings of a great day.