Biker Chick by Dakota Knight Page B

“Oh, please, Cristal, I don’t need that right now. I’m under all kind of pressure and I don’t want to get into the future. I got to worry about the present. I got to worry about taking care of you and me.”
    Maybe it should have ended there, I don’t know, but the line had already been crossed, and I was still in the race.
    â€œSo when are we going to deal with it, Ray? Huh? I’m sick of these late nights and sitting here all by myself. I want us to go out. I want us to do things like we used to. I want us . . .”
    Ray pointed toward our bedroom. “And you know what else you want? You want those designer clothes, purses, and shoes. You want your ride looking good. You want to sit on your ass while I’m out there trying to get it done.”
    I raised my hands. “Hold up, Ray, that’s foul. You know I was hustling on my own. You’re the one that asked me to give it up. You’re the one that said ‘Let me be the man, baby, and take care of you.’ ”
    â€œYeah, and I didn’t hear you complaining too much about putting a halt to your gigs, did I?”
    I didn’t like where the conversation was going. I was hot and breathing heavy for all the wrong reasons. But the wound had been opened, and the blood was starting to pour.
    â€œOh, so it’s all on me?” I asked, my voice raised. “You’re the one that promised me the stars, Ray. You. And three years later, all I have to show for it is an empty bed and a stomach full of worry that one day you won’t be walking through that door.” My eyes began to water as I walked up to Ray and put my hands on his chest. “Ray, you said you were going to get out. Now is a good a time as any. We can live legit, like you said.”
    Ray stared at me for a moment before pushing my hands away and turning his head. “You think it’s that easy?” He asked, his tone low and serious. “You think I can just go up and say, ‘I’m done. It’s time for me to live the straight and narrow.’ You should know it’s not that easy to sever the ties with the Cruz.” He turned to look at me again, his gaze intense. “You, of all people, should definitely know that.”
    My lips began to tremble as tears fell down my cheeks. “Don’t you dare bring my dad into this! Remember, he did get out. He kept his promise. That’s what a man does. Keeps his promises.”
    If looks could kill, the look Ray gave me at the moment would have stopped my heart midbeat. Mom had told me never to question a guy’s manhood, that it was the surest way to totally piss him off. As usual, Mom was right. Instead of responding to me, Ray shook his head, dug into his pockets for his keys, and headed for the door.
    â€œOh, you can’t speak now? You had so much to say a minute ago. You’re the one that tried to drag the past into this conversation and now you’re headed for the door.”
    Ray turned around and opened his mouth as if he was going to speak. He looked sad, regretful even. He opened the door.
    â€œYou need to keep your damn promises!” I yelled as the door shut in my face.
    For the first hour after he left, I actually convinced myself that he would walk back through the door, ready to say he was sorry. I would apologize too, and all would be well with the world. I sat on the couch and stared in the direction of the door. I kept staring. During the next hour, I decided to take a nice bath. The stress of our argument had started to get to me. I felt bad. Maybe I had crossed the line. Maybe. And if I smelled good with some sexy lingerie on when Ray came home, maybe we could put our current troubles behind us for a while. Maybe.
    I bathed and slipped into a nice thong and lacy bra. Ray still hadn’t come home. For the next hour, maybe two, I lay in the bed, thinking about Ray next to me, on top of me, kissing me, caressing me, inside of