Chapter 1
I've been working at The Outpost for almost a year now. I've seen all kinds of people come in and out of those doors. Working the bar, you have your regulars and you have the occasional people that come in just for a drink and to talk. Those are the kinds I like. The ones that come in and actually have a story to tell. Then there are the ones that think that because you pour them a drink that they get to take you home and try relentlessly to get you to leave with them at the end of the night. Never once did the thought cross my mind to do it until he walked in. Tall, leather kutte, beanie and a beard you just want to grab and pull to you. Pure, unadulterated sex on legs. Broad build to match. He walks over to the bar and I walk up to him and ask "What can I get you?" He looks up at me and doesn't say anything for a minute and I can see the pain in his eyes. This man definitely has a story to tell. "Just a beer." he says. I reach in the cooler and get him a beer, popping the top and sitting it in front of him. "Thanks." he says. I just smile, nod and move on to the other patrons at the bar.
Three beers later, he speaks. "What's your name?" I look at him and say
Vivian. Most people call me Viv. You?" I ask. "Opie." he says. "Nice to meet you Opie." I say, holding my hand out to shake. He shakes my hand and says "You too." The bar starts emptying out a little and I have a few minutes in between customers. "Haven't seen you in here before. Passing through?" I ask. "Yeah. Taking some time to clear my head." he says, peeling the label off his bottle. "Making any headway?" I ask. "Not really?" he says. "Wanna talk about it? I hear talking shit out with a stranger helps. You know, someone that's not biased and attached to the situation." I tell him. He looks at me for a minute and says "Club sent me on a sabbatical. My wife was gunned down and I've not been handling it well." he says. "I'm sorry. How have you not been handling it?" I ask. He looks at me and I say "I have a degree in psychology." I tell him. He looks at me a little shocked. "Why are you here?" He asks. "Figured if I was going to deal with crazy people it should be somewhere that I could drink with them." I tell him laughing. He laughs a little too and I see his slight smile and it's beautiful. "So, tell me how you've not been handling it?" I ask again. "Can't look at my kids. Can't handle being in the house we shared. I don't sleep." he tells me. "I get that. Look, I lost my husband to a robbery. That shit ain't easy to deal with but it gets better. You just have to find your groove. When you're married, you have a double lane, so to speak. You have your lane and they have theirs and they run parallel. When you lose your person, you have to find that medium to handle both lanes. Seeing that leather on your back, tells me that you handled the rough lane while she handled the family lane and now you have to figure out how to handle both lanes." I tell him. "Yeah." he says. "How old are your kids?" I ask. "Ellie is nine and Kenny is six." he tells me. "They are young. They don't fully understand what happened then. As hard as it is, that's a good thing. Means that they aren't going to be as devastated as if they were teens. Who has them now?" I ask. "My mom." he says. "Okay. Have you talked to them?" I ask. He shakes his head no. "Call them. They already see mom isn't there so they need to know that you are still going to be there. That's your first step into finding that medium. You have to take it a step at a time or you'll get overwhelmed. Then that leaves you three steps in the negative." I tell him. "I get it." he says. I hand him another beer and call out last call.
He finishes his beer and we are still talking. "She wanted me out of the club but that was all I knew. My dad founded the club with his best friend. My best friend's dad. It was all I wanted from the time I could walk." he says. "I get it." I say. "I went away for five years and she was left with the kids and the bills alone. I think she resented me for it." he tells me, looking down. "I don't think it was that. I think, like you, she was having a hard time finding that middle lane. She spent five years doing it alone and even though it was an adjustment for you, being home, it was for her too, having you home." I tell him. He looks up at me and says "I didn't think about that." I smirk and tell him "Yeah, I'm pretty insightful sometimes." He laughs a little and I say "You found somewhere to crash tonight?" He shakes his head no. "Help me get these chair on the tables and you can crash at my place." I tell him. He looks at me shocked and I say "Look, you look like you need to relieve some pressure and so could I. Hell, I'll even make you breakfast in the morning." I tell him. He smirks and says "Okay."
Once we get the bar closed, he follows me to the upstairs apartment. Walking in, I take off my shoes at the door and he does the same. "Head on over to the couch and I'll grab us a couple of beers." I say and he does as I say. I head to the kitchen and get the beers before heading to the couch. Sitting next to him, I hand him his beer and once he takes it we both take a drink and sit the bottles on the coffee table. "How'd you end up living here?" he asks. "My uncle owns the bar. When my husband died, I couldn't handle living in the house anymore so he offered me this apartment and a job at the bar." I tell him. He nods his understanding. "It's hard being in that house. She's everywhere." he tells me. "That's good though." I say and he looks at me confused. "Means you have memories. There was love there." I tell him and he seems to understand. We sit and look at each other for a few minutes, neither of us saying anything when I decide to move things long. It's been a long time since I've been with someone and there's something about him that just seems...normal. I move to straddle him and he puts his hands on my hips. "This okay?" I ask. "Yeah." he says I cup his face and softly kiss his lips. I look at him and he nods his okay. He puts one hand on the back of my neck, his hand tangled in my hair, and pulls me closer to him and kisses me again. The deeper the kiss, he more I find myself grinding against his, now, hard member. "Bedroom?" I ask. He nods his head yes so I stand up and pull him to stand.
Pulling him to the bedroom, I lift my shirt over my head as I walk backwards towards the bed. He removes his kutte and shirt and I see just how sexy he really is. "Like what you see?" He asks, smirking slightly. "I kinda do." I tell him. "Kinda?" he asks. "I'd like a test drive before I give my honest answer." I tell him. He laughs and moves closer to me. I slide my jean shorts down my legs, leaving me in my bra and panties. He slides out of his pants and socks and leaving him in his boxers. My breathing hitches as he picks me up and my legs immediately go around his waist. Laying us down on the bed, he looks at me for a second. "We can take this at your pace." I tell him. He doesn't say anything but just kisses me, soft and slow. Something about this kiss tells me that he needs more than just sex. He needs a connection. Apparently, I need it too. He kisses down my neck and across my collarbone before reaching behind me to unclasp my bra. Tossing it to the side, he first runs his tongue around one nipple while rolling the other between his fingers before showing the same love to the other. Kissing down my stomach, he slowly pulls my panties down my legs and tosses them over his shoulder. He kisses the inside of one thigh before kissing the other before burying his face in my core. Running his tongue up and down my folds before licking and sucking on my little bundle of nerves, he inserts one finger and then another and I feel myself come undone. I start bucking against his fingers and face until I get close to my release. Before I reach mine, he stops. Hovering over me he says "I want to feel you." Sliding the condom over his impressive length, he enters me slowly. Kissing me slowly, he thrusts in and out just as slow. Breaking the kiss, he keeps his pace and I see so much in his eyes. Putting his forehead to mine, I caress his cheek as he thrusts in and out and I just let him take control. He needs this. Once we both reach our release, he removes the condom moves to the bathroom to clean up. Coming back to bed, I am on my back and say "Come here." He gets into bed and I pull him to lay his head on my chest. I run my fingers through his hair as he wraps his arms around me tightly. "Thank you." he says. "I needed this too." I tell him. He looks up at me and I say "Stay here as long as you need." He lays his head back down and I feel his thumb caressing my hip at I continue to run my fingers through his hair.
The next morning, I slide out of bed without waking him. Heading to the kitchen, I start breakfast. About the time I get it done, he walks in, already dressed with his kutte in his hand. He drapes his kutte over the back of the chair and I place his plate in front of him with coffee and juice. "Thanks." he says. I nod and turn to get my plate and he grabs my hand. I turn to look at him and he pulls me to him and kisses me softly. "I mean it." he says. I smile softly before turning to get my plate and joining him at the table. After we eat, in comfortable silence, I clean the kitchen and he says "I'm gonna step outside and call my kids." I look at him and smile and say "Okay." A few minutes later, he comes in and he's smiling a little. I look at him and he says "They said they miss me." I smile back and say "That's great Opie." He pulls me close and says "I think I'm okay to go home." I kiss him softly and say "That's good. They need you." He looks at me for a minute and then says "Come with me." I look at him shocked and pull away from him. "Opie…" I start and he cuts me off. "Just hear me out." he says. I sit back at the table and he sits next to me. "Look, I know we just met but I told you more last night about Donna and the kids and what happened than I have talked to my brothers in the club and that includes my best friend. I can talk to you. Last night was the first time I've been inside someone since Donna and not once did I feel like I was doing something wrong. It wasn't just sex. There was a connection there and I know you felt it." he says and I nod my agreement. "Last night is the first night since she died two months ago that I have actually slept more than an hour without being passed out drunk. Just this short time being around you, my mind is clearer than it has been in a long time." he says. I look at him and ask "What are you wanting here?" He looks at me and says "I want you there with me. Get to know me, my kids, and we take it a day at a time." He tells me. "Are you sure?" I ask. He pulls me close and kisses me softly and says "Yeah Viv. I'm sure." I look at him for another minute and say "Let me pack and call my uncle to let him know I'm leaving." I tell him. "Thank you." he says before kissing me again. I move to the bedroom and start packing. Everything I own fits in one duffle bag. Calling my uncle I tell him, "Uncle Ray? I just wanted to let you know I'm leaving...no, everything's fine...just got a chance to get out of here for a while...don't know when I'm coming back but as soon as I know, I'll call you...I'll be careful...love you too." I say before ending the call.
I carry my bag out to the living room and see him hanging up his phone. "Called my best friend to have some prospects take the bed out of the house and put a new one in. Didn't figure you'd want to sleep in the same bed as Donna." he tells me. "Opie, I could take the couch or something. You didn't have to do that." I tell him. He pulls me to him and says "You're sleeping with me. End of story. Didn't feel right being in that bed without her anyway." he tells me. I nod my understanding. He takes my bag and straps it to his bike with his and he gets on his bike. Holding out his hand, I take it and mount the bike behind him and we head out.