Left in the Dust: A Standalone Bad Boy Romance (12 page)

The sex was how I always dreamed it would be—my cock sinking into Taylor over and over again. Taylor moaning my name as she came around me. My engorged manliness unloading inside her. Life never tasted so sweet.

Taylor ran her fingertips along my skin. The sensation was so calming. Her fingers found the scars on my sides and she hesitated. “When did you get these?”

“First few days of prison.”

It was a hellish time of my life. The Dark Souls MC didn't have very many allies and that meant no help. I knew prison was going to be hard. And the first day I realized how hard.

The 809 MC had a lot of members in prison. I knew payback was inevitable. I always thought it would happen in the shower. At least that's how the movies always portrayed it. But it happened in the weight room. I was trying to keep a low profile and just work on my bench presses.

That's when three black guys from the 809 held me down and slid two shanks up my sides. The amount of blood that poured out of me was unimaginable. I should have died on that bench but the doctor was able to keep me alive.

After that, the 809s left me alone. I'd suffered enough in their eyes. If I had the power of the Dark Souls behind me, I'd have taken out every last one of those motherfuckers. But not knowing how long I'd be in prison, I knew the more enemies I made, the sooner my life would end.

“How did it happen?” she asked. The details were too gruesome for Taylor. She didn't have to hear it all.

“Retaliation.”

Her lips pressed against my scars and made everything all right. It was almost worth getting stabbed just so I could feel her mouth against my skin again.

“You have a lot more tattoos since the last time I saw you. What does the hand of playing cards mean?” Taylor pointed to the ink on my chest.

“One of the prizes of winning a poker game. Money doesn't mean much in prison. ”

Taylor nodded like she knew what I meant. But she'd never grasp the darkness of prison. And I had to keep that away from her.

Everything was how it should be with Taylor naked and back in my arms. Her tits were pressed against my side and I could feel her heartbeat. It was strong and confident. But Taylor was different somehow. She wasn't being her true self. I'd known her for a long time and could tell when she was hiding something from me.

“What are you not telling me, Taylor?”

Taylor raised her head from my chest and glanced at me. Her blue eyes sparkled. “What do you mean?”

“Don't play fucking games with me. What's on your mind?”

She ran her fingers through my hair. “Can't we just enjoy the moment, Carter?”

My eyes bore holes into her soul, forcing Taylor to give up her secrets.

Taylor sighed. “You always were a mood killer.” She got out of bed and collected her clothes from the ground. Her underwear was destroyed so she went to a drawer and pulled out a fresh pair. Taylor was pissed at me and I didn't know why.

I lay in bed and watched her get dressed. Her body was so fucking fantastic. The curves of her legs and hips. I couldn't help but be mesmerized.

“We were broken up, Carter,” Taylor stated, biting her lip to hold back tears.

I sat up, my hands clenching into fists. “What the fuck are you talking about, Taylor?”

“That's the reason I never visited you in prison. It's the reason I never went to your trial. Once you were arrested, my father explained that I was never going to see you again. That I needed to move on and forget.”

“It was your fucking father again!” My voice was raised and I couldn't help it.

“No, Carter. It wasn't his fault. It was yours. You were the one who got arrested and went prison. If it's anyones fault, it's yours.”

Her words dug a knife deep into my back. “You believe I did it. You believe I tried to kill that member of the 809.”

Taylor looked at the floor and didn't say a word. She twisted the knife around causing blinding Steel. The only woman I'd ever loved betrayed me.

“What was I supposed to think, Carter? You were in a motorcycle club. It wasn't a big stretch of the imagination to think that you tried to kill a man.”

“But if you had just come to see me. I could have explained everything.”

“I'm sorry, Carter. But we can't change the past.”

The sudden realization hit me like a ton of bricks. My blood curdled and nausea set in. “Have you been with another man?” The thought of Taylor being with someone else made me want to vomit. If I ever got my hands on him, I'd wring the life from his body.

She shook her head and a wave of relief washed over me. “I tried to date other guys but it didn't work out.”

“And what about the sex we just had? Did that mean nothing to you?”

Taylor couldn't even face me anymore. “Momentary weakness,” she replied.

“You got to be fucking kidding me! You're telling me what we just had was a lapse of judgment?”

Taylor finally looked up at me with tears rolling down her cheeks. “I never wanted to hurt you Carter. I never thought I'd see you again. When you showed up at my door, I forgot about everything.”

I got out of bed and walked over to Taylor. “You can't mean this.”

“I was finally getting over you, Carter. Then you just waltzed right back into my life. I can't deal with all this right now.”

“Not everything is about you, Taylor. I was in fucking prison for four years. For a crime I didn't commit. I thought about you every damn day. I thought you'd be waiting for me when I got out.”

“I'm sorry, Carter. I really am.”

The door to the bedroom swung open and in came Ivy, Taylor's best friend. She got a good look at my naked flesh and turned red instantly. She covered her eyes and turned away. “Holy shit, Taylor. I thought something happened to you. I didn't know you had a guy over.”

“What are you doing here, Ivy?”

I threw on my jeans and t-shirt. The conversation between Taylor and I was over.

Ivy kept her eyes closed. “I thought something bad happened. You went to answer the door and then the line went dead.” She peeked through her fingers and finally realized. “What the fuck! Carter! What the fuck are you doing out of jail?” Ivy reached for her phone. No doubt to call the police because she assumed I escaped.

“Ivy! Hold on,” Taylor yelled. “Carter was released from jail. You don't need to call anyone.”

“I was just leaving anyways.” I walked past Taylor without looking at her. Ivy blocked the door and made me squeeze by.

My legs were weak as I walked down the hallway and to the front door. I could hear Ivy and Taylor whispering to each other in the bedroom. Was that really how it was going to end between Taylor and I? That couldn't be the last time we spoke to each other.

I left her apartment, choking back the tears. I wouldn't cry over her. I went through worse in prison. I'd get by fine without her. It was time to see what the Dark Souls MC had been up to.

“What the fuck, Taylor!” Ivy shoved me against the wall. “Carter is out of prison for five minutes and you couldn't keep him out of your bed?”

I was still broken down after the argument with Carter. Could it really be over between us? The sex was so damn good and something I'd been craving for years. Was I right to tell him we'd been broken up?

“I don't know what I was thinking, Ivy. When he showed up at my door, my brain kind of shut off. I couldn't help myself. Seeing him again awakened something that I was lost forever.”

“How did he even get out of prison? He was supposed to rot in there for decades.”

I didn't want to talk anymore next to the bed where Carter and I just had sex. I led Ivy into the kitchen and put the tea kettle over the gas stove to boil some water.

“He told me it was because of overcrowding.”

“Be serious, Taylor. You can't really believe that. Carter was convicted of attempted murder and they just don't let those kind out for overcrowding.”

“I thought the same thing, Ivy. But I think he's telling the truth. He seemed just as surprised by it as I was.”

“What if he really did escape? You could be arrested as an accomplice.”

“Be serious. Carter wouldn't do that to me.”

The tea kettle began to screech. I took it off the stove and poured the hot water into two mugs. I dipped a green teabag into each cup and handed one to Ivy.

Ivy took a sip. “Okay, putting aside how he got out. Are you with him now?”

“No. I told him we were broken up. You walked in just as we were arguing about it. He thought I'd be waiting for him until he got out.”

“He thought you'd be waiting decades?”

The green tea was hot and soothed my throat. “Not exactly. He says he's innocent. Thought that I believed that.”

“That man has some serious delusions of grandeur.”

I wanted to agree with her. But Carter was convinced he was innocent. “He's never lied to me before, Ivy. Why would he start now?”

“For starters, his story his completely crazy. And two, of course he would say anything to get in your pants one last time. How was it by the way?”

“What?”

Ivy put her mug down on the kitchen counter. “You know what...the sex.”

I flashed back to Carter between my legs, fucking me hard, making me orgasm again and again. “Let me tell you, he never lost his touch. It'd been so long since the last time. I just really needed to be fucked again.”

Ivy giggled. “I have no idea how you lasted so long. Especially with all the fresh meat I dangled in front of your face.”

My phone began to buzz on the counter. I picked it up and it was my father. “Give me one sec, Ivy.”

I answered the call. “Hey Daddy.”

“Taylor, I thought I'd come over and we can talk about your art show.”

I looked over at Ivy and she hooked her fingers into the corners of her mouth and stretched, sticking out her tongue. Ivy always tried to get me to laugh with funny faces and it never worked. She wasn't nearly as funny as she thought she was.

“Now is not a very good time, Daddy.”

“Nonsense, Taylor. I'm already on my way. See you in twenty minutes.”

Arguing with my father was like talking to a brick wall. My dad never took no for an answer. I'd hate to actually work for him.

I clicked my phone off. “Sorry Ivy but my dad is coming over.”

“You're very popular today. Should I make an appointment for next time?”

“Very funny, Ivy. I'm sorry we have to cut this short.”

Ivy hugged me close. “Just make sure to stay away from Carter. Once he gets his claws in you, he'll never let go.”

“Don't worry. My entire focus will be on getting this painting done.”

“Still got nothing?” Ivy walked into the living room where the canvas was covered with a brown tarp.

I pulled off the tarp and revealed the blank canvas. “My finest masterpiece yet.”

Ivy bit down on a fingernail, studying the white rectangle. “There's something about it that just pulls you in.” She tried to keep a straight face but failed.

I pushed her away. “Get out of here before my father comes over.”

“All right. I understand. I'll get out of your hair.”

I walked Ivy to the front door. “Thank you for worrying about me and coming over. And for the talk. I really needed it.”

“Any time. Just remember to stay away from Carter.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Mom.” I closed the door before Ivy could say anything else.

I checked my phone and it had been five minutes since my father had called. I only had fifteen minutes to make this place look spotless. Artists aren't know for being clean. I also had to get rid of any trace that Carter had been here.

I stormed through the apartment, dusting and picking up all my paints and brushes. My bedroom was a disaster—sheets and pillows strewn about the room. A smile appeared across my face. Carter was so damn good in the sack.

I made my bed in record time and was able to fix my hair and makeup by the time my father knocked on the door. I looked at the apartment one last time and took a deep breath before opening the door.

“Hi, Daddy!” My father stood in the doorway wearing a black expensive suit. His head was full of gray hair that was combed to the side. He was always so proud that he hadn't lost any hair yet.

“Taylor,” he announced, taking me into his arms.

My father walked inside and took in the surroundings. “Did you have somebody over here?”

How did he always know?

“Yeah, Ivy was over when you called.”

He seemed satisfied by the answer and moved over to the couch. “I wanted to congratulate you on getting into the art show. I'm really proud of you, Taylor.”

I joined him on a brown chair next to the couch. “Thanks, Daddy. That really means a lot even if you were the one that got me in.” I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not. My father always wished he could have a son. A man to take over his growing empire.

When I told him that I didn't want to follow in his footsteps and pursue art instead, he tried to cut me off. It took a lot of convincing but he finally came around. But I knew deep down that he really didn't approve of my lifestyle.

“I heard some distressing news today,” he said, folding his leg over the other. “Your old ex-boyfriend, Carter, got out of jail.”

My whole body froze.
So that's the real reason my father came over.
I couldn't let him know that he had already been around to see me. Carter and my father were mortal enemies. “How did he get out so soon?”

Lying to my father was the last thing I wanted to do. But I had to do it to protect the both of them.

“Sheriff Buckley told me it was because of overcrowding. I have a sneaking suspicion that something is going on behind the scenes. Have you seen Carter since he got out?”

Here we go, Taylor. Keep a straight face and mean it.
“Nope I had no idea he was even out.”

My dad narrowed his eyes at me and twisted his head to the side. “Well I don't want you around that man. He's bad news.”

“Of course, Daddy. I've been done with him for years.”

Now if only I could convince myself of that
.

“And one more thing.” My dad produced an envelope from his jacket pocket and set it down on the coffee table between us. “Here's your allowance for the month.”

I picked up the envelope and didn't even bother to look at the check inside. It was always the same amount every month. I felt silly taking an allowance from him but it was the only way to keep painting without getting a full-time job.

“We should go out and celebrate. I can take you to that sushi place you love.”

“I'd love to, Daddy, but I really have to finish my painting.” I pointed over to the brown tarp covering the canvas.

My father stood and walked towards it. “Can I get a look at it?”

The last thing I wanted was for him to find out that I had done nothing so far. “No, Daddy. I want it to be surprise.”

That seemed to satisfy him for now. We embraced and my father finally left. Did he actually believe me about not seeing Carter?

After all these strange encounters in a row, my body had a strange energy about it. I couldn't put my finger on it. But I knew what to do with it.

I pulled off the tarp to reveal the blank canvas. I knew exactly what to paint for the art show now.