Tainted Love Page 8

  I take a seat and check the map for my next landmarks, wondering where I will start looking once I get to Fairmount. I guess I could show his picture around and ask the locals.

  “Coffee for you, hun?” the waitress asks.

  “Please,” I say, pushing the mug toward her. “Would you happen to remember if this man came through here last Friday?”

  I hold up my phone as she glances over the picture of Pax.

  “No, sorry, hun. I don’t recognize him.”

  “It’s fine,” I shrug, “just thought it was worth a shot.”

  I hand her a ten and tell her to keep the change for the coffee as I fold up the map.

  I’m antsy to get there because it’s getting dark quickly, so I take a few sips and make my way back out to the bike.

  It’s close to eleven by the time I see the sign welcoming me to the town of Fairmount, population 720. I pull over and dig through my bag for the town map I printed.

  The sign looks as old as all of the buildings I can see on what looks to be the main street. Everything is weathered and decayed with the paint and letters missing from the bar, motel, and homes I pass as I idle down the road until I find a spot to park the bike.

  I enter the convenience store that doubles as the town motel. It’s shady as shit and creepy too, so I head right to the weird looking guy behind the till, and I smile.

  He’s pale and super skinny, maybe forty with dark eyes and hair, and he doesn’t seem too friendly.

  “Hi,” I say, holding up my phone, “have you seen this guy around by any chance?”

  He leans in closer as he pulls a pair of glasses from his pocket and slips them on.

  “Yeah, I’ve seen him around… question is, what’s a young thing like you doing looking for a dirtbag like Pax for?”

  My first instinct is to swallow down my excitement because this guy doesn’t seem to like my runaway drifter.

  “I have business with him,” I lie. “Any chance you could point me in the right direction of where he might be staying?”

  I don’t take any chances and slip him a hundred, hoping it’ll give him incentive to answer honestly.

  “What kind of business?” he asks, taking the money.

  “Repairs… on my bike, he told me to meet him by the sign just outside town, but I waited for a while and he didn’t show.”

  “Yeah well, you shouldn’t be out this late in this town, and you definitely don’t want to walk into the mess of a crowd that guy hangs out with, so I’ll tell you what…” he says, reaching behind him for a key, “take room twenty, last door down the hall on the left, and I’ll see if I can’t track him down for you in the morning.”

  I take the key as my heart pounds in my chest.

  “Are there cockroaches?” I blurt unintentionally.

  He laughs and shakes his head.

  “Honey, in this town it ain’t the cockroaches you need to be worried about… the sheets are clean and the TV works. Just smack the side of it if it’s fuzzy.”

  I nod and slip my phone in my pocket as I turn toward the hallway that leads to the rooms.

  “I didn’t catch your name, sweetheart,” he calls out from behind me.

  “Vixen,” I say back, waving the keys in the air, “and thanks for the room.”

  He mutters something but I just keep walking until I reach the last room on the left. The place is decked out in wood paneling board and unnerving wall sconces that flicker as I pass.

  If ever there was a time, I didn’t want to be handling shit on my own, this is it.

  I enter the room and lock the door behind me as I scan the place. It smells like musty old mothballs, but the bed looks clean as far as I can tell. I set my bag down on the wood chair and pull out my bottle of whiskey, knowing it is the only thing that will help calm my nerves. I’m curious as to what the guy at the counter meant when he said Pax’s friends are a bad crowd.

  I take a swig of whiskey and let the liquor sit on my tongue, hoping the familiar flavor of Pax will etch into my taste buds if I just don’t swallow. Man do I miss him, but one more night won’t kill me even though I’m not positive that’s true in this place.

  Startled by the roaring sound of bike engines, I choke down the whiskey and fly toward the window to check it out.

  Seems the bar across the street is a midnight hot spot, I think to myself.

  Thankful I came prepared for anything, I tie my hair back, grab my purse, bear spray, and keys before I make my way out of the room and exit through the back entrance of the motel.

  The bar looks like a shithole and as I cross the street, I feel the panic erupt in my stomach that says maybe I shouldn’t go in there, but I shove it down and tell myself to stop overreacting. Pax looks mean on the outside but really, he’s harmless and sweet… maybe everyone else is too.

  I step inside the bar and take a look around before I make my way up to the counter, seeing no sign of Pax, just a few burley looking dudes and their girlfriends shooting pool on the far end of the place.

  “Evening,” the bartender nods. “What can I get for you?”

  I take a seat, trying not to stare at all of the skull tattoos down his arms as I pull out my phone to show him the picture of Pax.

  “I’ll have a whiskey, make it a double, no ice, and have you seen this guy by chance?”

  He glances me over, his dark brown eyes narrowing before he pours me the drink and places it on a napkin.

  “That’ll be five bucks, and sorry, hun, never seen him.”

  I don’t buy it for a second, but hand him a twenty.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yep, I’m sure,” he says, as a woman enters the bar from the back room. “Hey, Verna, you ever seen this guy?”

  He hands the stocky, bright orange-haired woman my phone as she scans it over quickly.

  “Nah, never seen him, sorry, sweety… so, what’s a pretty girl like you doing looking for a guy like that in a shithole like Fairmount?”

  “I have business with him,” I say finishing my drink. “I’m staying across the street at the motel, so if you see him can you please tell him Vixen is looking for him?”

  I write my name and room number on a napkin and she takes it from me.

  “Sure thing… and hey,” she pauses, eyeing over the people in the corner playing pool. “Not everyone around is friendly, so watch your back when you cross the street.”

  I swallow as my heart pounds, and I nod in appreciation of her warning.

  Note to self, never travel to butt fuck Fairmount alone again.

  Taking no chances, I pull out the bear spray and pretty much jog my ass back to the motel, making sure no one followed me and then I double-check the locks once I’m back inside the room.

  How the hell Pax lives in a place like this is beyond me. I undress into my panties, throw on one of Pax’s old t-shirts and climb into bed, with the mace and the bottle of whiskey. All I can smell is his scent and all I know is that tonight is going to be one of the longest nights of my life, but if I get to see Whiskey tomorrow then it’s worth it. He’s worth anything this eerie shithole town wants to throw at me.

  ***

  A loud knock at the door jolts me awake as I look around, hungover, remembering where I am.

  Fuck, my head hurts.

  I stand and stagger my way to the door and peek through the peephole and instantly swing the door wide open to Pax’s angered expression.

  Ignoring it, I jump and throw my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist and hug him tight as he carries me into the room, kicking the door closed with his foot.

  He lets me down and grabs my waist, seemingly inspecting me as I cringe to the pain of his hand gripping my freshly inked tattoo.

  “Why in the fuck did you come here, Vix? This isn’t a nice place for you to be,” he growls.

  I inhale sharply to his angered tone.

  “So, you’re not happy to see me?”

  He jerks me closer and wraps his arms around m
e as I take in his intoxicating scent.

  “Of course, I am, I just don’t know what made you think coming here was a good idea. How did you get here anyway?”

  “My dad’s Harley,” I mutter into his chest.

  “You drove a fucking hog out here?”

  Now his tone is even angrier with a hint of shock mixed in.

  “Yeah, and it was fun as fuck,” I laugh. “But I think the Kawasaki is more my style if I’m being honest.”

  “You are such a naughty little vixen,” he says with a growl. “I should hate-fuck you right now just to show you how you make me feel.”

  “Don’t threaten me with a good time, Whiskey,” I wink.

  He laughs as he takes a seat at the table.

  “I was planning on coming home today. I just needed to clear my head for a while.”

  “Mmm, sure,” I mumble. “Could have fooled me… you do know that the words I’ll see you around can be taken many different ways, right?”

  I lift the bandage under my t-shirt to check on my tattoo that’s now stinging.

  “Not really,” he argues, “not when they come from me… I always come back and I wish you would trust me on that already.”

  He clears his throat to get my attention and I look up at his probing expression.

  “What the fuck happened? Did you wipe out?”

  “Of course not! I’m pretty sure I’d be dead, not standing here listening to you lecture me.”

  “Then what’s with the bandage?”

  I smile, feeling a little nervous about showing him now that I know he’s not still pissed at me.

  “I got restless while you were gone, and I went to the tattoo parlor… figured it would keep my mind off the liquor.”

  He stands and walks closer to me.

  “You got a tattoo? I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s hot that you’re into it, but fuck, Kirsten, I was only gone five days and now you’re riding hogs and getting inked! Lift your shirt, I want to see it.”

  I roll the bottom of the t-shirt up to my navel as he gently peels the bandage down my hip and smiles proudly.

  “Whiskey and Vixen,” he mumbles, kissing the fresh wounds. “And what is this?” he asks tracing the outline of the tattoo lightly. “A magic lamp,” he continues, “I love it, almost as much as I love you… but does this mean I owe you three wishes?”

  “Way more than three,” I laugh, “but enough about the tattoo, I want to meet your family Pax.”

  He sighs, carefully reapplying the bandage and pulling my t-shirt back down before he takes a seat at the table again.

  I can tell he’s hesitant as he pours us both a shot of whiskey and hands me one, raising his glass.

  “To Whiskey and Vixen,” he toasts, “and to taking my hog riding, ink-inspired girlfriend to meet the fam.”

  I raise my glass grinning like a moron.

  “Your girlfriend huh? Yeah, okay, I’ll go with that… but I want to trade bikes with you. The Kawasaki is much lighter than the Harley.”

  He glares at me and pushes the glass toward my lips, shaking his head.

  “Let’s celebrate first, and hate-fuck over the bikes later,” he growls.

  We both down our shot and stare at each other for a few seconds, me biting my lip and Pax looking at me as if I’m breakfast.

  I determine it’s now officially later, and lunge at him, jerking him up by the belt as I unbuckle it and whip his pants down, exposing his erection. I nudge him back onto the chair as he tears my panties off, lifts me like I’m nothing, and slides my already wet pussy onto his dick, his mating call leaving his throat in a low groan.

  “Fuck,” he moans, trying to get deeper, “it’s like you were built to ride this dick.”

  “I was,” I tell him, panting as I work to find my pace. His hands are gripping my hips, driving me up and down his length in support, and between the pain of him rubbing my tattoo and the pleasure of having him inside me, I’m already about to climax.

  “Let me see those tits,” he demands.

  I’m panting and moaning as I tug the shirt over my head and toss it behind me.

  Letting me take control, Pax slides one hand up my back, into my hair and onto the base of my skull and the other under my breast as he takes my nipple into his mouth and nips down on it.

  “Holy fuck, Pax,” I moan, “I’m going to cum.”

  “That’s the fucking point, Vixen, show me the hate, baby, and fuck me like you mean it.”

  I grip the back of his hair as my body begins to cease and shake, my release exploding through me like fireworks as I drop my head onto his shoulder until it subsides. He holds me tight against him, now back to controlling the severity of my movements as he brings himself to his own climax. I can’t help but bite his neck to the sound of the growling he does when he’s releasing inside me.

  “Ouch! Fuck, Vix, not so hard,” he gripes.

  “Sorry, it’s a bad habit, and also its payback for the pain you inflicted on my magic lamp.”

  He laughs and kisses the tip of my nose as I sit straddling him, admiring his compassionate gaze and the way he always makes me feel tough like I don’t have to answer to anybody for anything.

  He lets me handle my own shit even when I know it scares him.

  “So, now that you’re my girlfriend, I suppose it means I need to take care of you better… especially since you’re becoming an ink junky and riding a Harley now.”

  I kiss his sweet face and climb off of him so we can get dressed.

  “No… it’s you who needs to ride the Harley, Pax. I’m surprised I even made it here in one piece. It’s fun, for real, but the damn thing weighs a fuckton, so trade bikes with me please.”

  I cross my arms and squint at him, tapping my foot on the floor, waiting for his answer as he works on tying his hair back in thought.

  “Okay, I’ll agree to ride the Harley but only on one condition.”

  “Which is?”

  “You agree not to ask me questions when I tell you that you cannot offer my family a place to stay on the Hill.”

  “What?” I cringe, not fully understanding.

  “You heard me… we are not taking them back with us, Vixen… I know you, so just shake on it, and I’ll commandeer the Hog.”

  I shake, not even thinking about it. I just know that the beast of a bike is hard as shit to lift so I cave.

  I pack my bag and check the room over to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything as Pax hands me his jacket.

  “You have to wear it until you have one of your own.”

  “Fuck that, you said one condition and I’m good in my sweater, thanks, now let’s get moving… I want to meet your family so bad!”

  He grabs my wrist and stops me abruptly.

  “Wear it, or I am not taking you to meet them, it’s that simple.”

  I can tell by his tone he means it, so I snatch the jacket from his hand, throw it on and follow him out to the bikes.

  “Just be careful on the back roads and ride behind me… oh and make sure you don’t hit the throttle too hard, the Ninja has a strong kickback to it, unlike the Hog.”

  I lift my visor and stick out my tongue.

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ve ridden on the back a million times.”

  “That’s not the same and you know it. And you’d better not get the urge to try to race me either, Vix, understand?”

  I nod and roll my eyes, not that he can see me through the tinted visor as I climb on the Ninja and start the engine. Pax looks hella hot on the Harley, his tattered t-shirt and inked sleeves make him look like even more of a man-beast than usual.

  I wait for him to pull out in front of me and then hit the clutch and ease up on the throttle as the bike jolts forward scaring the shit out of me, and I slam hard on the brake. Stopping, Pax walks the Harley backward, gets off, and removes his helmet.

  “See… I told you, and I think you need a lesson.”

  “I don’t need a damn lesson. Just get on the Har
ley before I make you walk!”

  He growls and knocks on the side of my helmet like an ass but finally gets back on his bike as I follow him very slowly. He’s doing less than 20mph, and it annoys me, so I rev the engine, hoping he’ll pick up the pace.

  I feel like he’s screwing with me, testing my patience, so I speed up and go around him, flipping him the bird as I do.

  He speeds up, his engine’s deep rumbling vibrates through my head as he passes and wags his finger at me.

  I give in and let him take the lead, satisfied he’s going 50mph now as we head down a heavily tree-lined road. I wonder what his family will be like and hope they will like me. I have no clue what to expect, although it’s crossed my mind that they could live in tents since that’s how Pax used to live. I’m fine with whatever I’m heading into; as long as I’m with Pax I’m sure it will be okay. At least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

  I watch the right signal on Pax’s bike come on as he turns onto a dirt road barely visible from the street. It’s thick dense bush all around us and if I’m honest, it’s kind of creepy. We travel another forty minutes until we hit a field and up ahead, I see a cabin just as weathered as everything else in this town.

  It’s small and looks abandoned, with tarps half covering the windows and sleeping bags hanging on a clothesline. I’m positive it’s straight out of a horror movie, but then again, so was his childhood. All of theirs was.

  Eight

  Welcome Home

  Pax pulls over just outside the fence and hops off his bike as I park mine and remove my helmet. My heart is pounding with excitement. Or fear… could be both as I take in the smell of the campfire smoke that rises from behind the cabin.

  “Are you ready?” Pax asks, offering his hand.

  “Am I ever not ready? As long as I don’t have to dodge liquor bottles or vases, I think I can handle meeting your family.”

  He smiles as if I’m in for a surprise and drags me through the field until we reach the entrance and then he stops and pulls my lips to his. The kiss is like nothing I’ve ever felt; he’s gentle and controlled with his tongue. It’s a different connection with him almost as if he’s showing me a different side of him.