Winter's Touch (The Last Riders Book 8) (4 page)

“I think we need a new headboard, one that has padding.”

Viper shoved her pillow between her head and the headboard. “Next time, you can be on top.”

Another climax that had been a slow burn flared into a consuming blaze, engulfing Winter. At the same time, Viper stiffened on top of her, his cock jerking inside her as he came. The sensation of him coming was so beautifully sad, because no child would come from the lovemaking they had shared.

“She would’ve been beautiful,” she whispered achingly into the pillow.

“What did you say?” Viper asked, as he moved to her side.

“I said, ‘That was beautiful.’”

“It’s beautiful every time I make love to you.” He stared down at her before pressing a kiss to her lips.

“Summer break is a month away. Let’s plan a vacation, where we can get naked and drunk.”

“The fun about going on vacation is getting to do something you can’t do at home,” she teased.

“I haven’t seen you naked on the beach before.”

“I’d have to be more than drunk to do that. I’d have to be comatose.”

Viper laughed. “Just pick a place. I’ll schedule the time off.”

“Okay. That sounds like fun.”

He placed a kiss on her lips.

“Now you kiss me?” Winter teased softly.

“Pretty girl, I was too afraid you were still mad at me to kiss you when I came in.”

“You’re not afraid of anything,” Winter mumbled, before falling asleep.

Viper stared down at his sleeping wife. “That’s not true. I’m afraid of losing you.”

W
inter’s
empty stomach woke her before her alarm went off the next morning. She stared at Viper’s face as he continued sleeping. The dark shadow on his jaw made him look dangerously attractive.

She was relieved Sasha was gone, and his lovemaking last night had eased her fears.

After dressing, she left him sleeping. She would call him when she got to work to make sure he wasn’t late for his appointment.

Deciding to grab a cup of coffee to drink on the way to school, she stopped in the kitchen. When she saw the red light on the screen beside the door, she was glad she had stopped. She had forgotten the alarm would still be on. The noise from it was so loud it could be heard through the entire house, even to the bedroom in the basement, where Willa and Lucky slept, so it would have woken everyone. Usually, Genny would already be there, and have breakfast cooked and hot coffee brewing, which would mean the alarm was off for the day. Winter missed waking up to Genny’s shy conversation.

After starting a pot of coffee, she was reaching for a mug when Jewell came in.

“I miss Genny.” Jewell sighed.

“We just have to get used to doing things for ourselves again.” Winter handed Jewell a coffee cup before taking one for herself.

They then leaned against the counter, waiting for the coffee to brew.

Winter caught a sidelong look on Jewell’s face. “What?”

“You seem in a better mood this morning than last night.”

“I am. I know I made an ass of myself last night.” Winter blushed, disappointed in herself for overreacting.

Jewell shook her head. “You only did what the other women were dying to do.”

“Well, it’s good she’s not here anymore, then.”

Jewell avoided her eyes as she poured coffee into their mugs. “I better get to work. We have a big order to get out today.” She turned from the counter, heading toward the door where she keyed in the code.

“Jewell?” Winter called out, before she could leave. “Did something happen after I went upstairs last night?”

Winter saw Jewell’s hand tighten on her coffee as she turned back to her. She could practically see the wheels turning in her mind as she decided whether to tell Winter something or not.

Sighing, she stepped back from the door. “Winter, I love you like a sister. We’ve shared the same table, and even though it was a long time ago, we’ve even shared the same man.”

Winter stiffened in shock, a chill of foreboding going down her spine. She knew Jewell and Viper had shared a sexual relationship before he had married her, as well as all the women in the clubhouse; they just didn’t talk about it. None of the women had made any overt moves on him since they had married.

“I love you, too. If you think there is something that I need to know, please tell me.” Winter wanted to hear what was bothering Jewell, but at the same time, she wanted to run from the hurt she was afraid Jewell was going to disclose.

Her hesitation had Winter’s stomach sinking.

“Did Viper touch Sasha?”

“No! Or… I don’t think he did. He went into the kitchen after you went upstairs, so did Moon and Sasha. I went to tell Viper that Train was on the phone…” Whatever Jewell had seen brought a worried crease to her forehead.

“What did you see?”

“Viper was hugging Sasha.”

The coffee in her mug splashed on her hand.

“When they saw me, they broke away. It was the guilt on their faces that made me question if it might have been more. After Train’s call ended, Viper told us that Sasha would be taking Raci’s place at the factory, and Raci is going to stay at the clubhouse in Ohio for a while. The reason Sasha and Moon were leaving was so Sasha could pack the rest of her clothes and get out of the lease for her apartment.”

Winter felt numb from Viper’s betrayal. He wouldn’t have cheated on her—her husband loved her—so why had he told her Sasha left because she didn’t want her there? Why had he lied, instead of telling her Sasha would be a permanent fixture in the club?

“When will Raci leave?”

“Viper said Rider will take her to Ohio when Moon comes back with Sasha.”

“Maybe you misunderstood. Viper would have told me when we talked last night if Sasha was coming back. He’s taking me on a vacation when the term ends—”

“Wow. That’s cool. Maybe I was mistaken about everything. Whew.” Jewel gave her a delighted smile. “To be honest, I was dreading having Sasha permanently around the club. All the other women get along with each other. Hell, most of us are like best friends. The only friends Sasha wants all have dicks.” She looked down at her watch. “I’ve gotta go. Shade may be busy trying to find Raul, but since I have taken over the running of the factory, he checks the timesheets to make sure I’m not playing favorites.

Winter looked down at her own watch. Setting the mug down on the counter, she decided to confront Viper about Sasha returning. Why had he lied?

She opened their bedroom door to see the bed empty and heard the shower on. She was going to call work and tell them she was going to be late, but before she could reach for her phone, she heard Viper’s cell phone pinging.

Going to the nightstand, she picked it up, keyed in his password, and then covered her mouth as she sunk onto the unmade bed.

Let me know when you get rid of Winter. Don’t worry; I’ll make sure you don’t get lonely.

What did Sasha mean?

Scrolling upward, Winter saw the messages that had been going on between them.

The one above hers read,
Give your landlord a month’s notice. Winter is madder than I thought.

How can she not be jealous of this?

A picture below her text showed the bitch knew how to take a selfie. Winter wondered if Moon knew Sasha was texting pictures of her fucking him. Then she decided he probably didn’t care.

I’ll get rid of her. You just handle your end and get back here when I send you the date.

Winter set his phone back down on the nightstand when she heard the water turn off. She then quickly jumped off the bed, making her way out of the bedroom and closing the door softly behind her.

Winter went down the long hallway numbly. The text messages showed that Viper and Sasha were intimate, and if not, then it was only a matter of time.

Holding on to the rail, she was afraid her shaking legs wouldn’t be able to hold her. Stopping, she turned when she heard someone on the stairs behind her.

Rider gave her a curious look. “You need some help?”

“No, thanks.”

Rider’s concerned gaze caught hers as he moved to her side, taking her arm. “Heading to work?”

“Yes. I’m late.” He let her go when she reached the bottom of the steps then followed her into the kitchen. When he would have gone out the back door behind her, Winter stopped him. “I really am fine. Cash will be waiting to follow me into work.” Until Raul Silva was caught, Viper had Cash tailing her.

“Okay, then. Viper would kill me if anything happened to you.”

“I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.” Rider’s crestfallen look made her feel ashamed of herself. She hadn’t meant to sound so snippy. “I’m really fine. I just need my coffee.” Seeing his relieved smile, she picked up the mug she had left on the counter and strode through the door.

Cash was waiting in the parking lot in his pickup truck. After waving at him, she got in her car and started the engine. He shadowed her down the mountain and into town. She alternated between tears, anger, and doubt during the drive to Riverview High School. As principal, she had to maintain a cool and composed façade, even if she was filled with turmoil inside.

Winter didn’t want to believe her husband had cheated on her, despite the evidence to the contrary. Then she remembered the text Sasha had sent. No wife wanted to believe their husband was unfaithful. Was she like the thousands of wives before her?

“No!” she shouted out loud in her car.

She parked in the school parking lot as Cash waited, watching until she disappeared from view.

She greeted her secretary then went inside her office. It was going to be a long day. She’d had almost no sleep last night, and the turmoil of the morning had her nerves on edge. She wanted to take the day off, but she didn’t want to go home. She needed to talk to Viper, yet she wasn’t ready to hear his answers.

What if he told her their marriage was over?

Winter shook her head. Her husband had just told her last night how much he loved her. But if he did, why had he told Sasha he would get rid of her? Maybe he was just telling her he loved her when he really didn’t mean it. Was their marriage just a sham, and she had been too stupid to realize it?

She should go home and talk to him, but the thought of what he would say terrified her. He wouldn’t have time to talk to her right now, anyway. He had that meeting scheduled this morning.

She needed time to think. She loved her husband, but the doubts kept creeping up. Her marriage might not be as perfect as she believed.

A fight in one of the classrooms kept her busy in the morning, talking to the students and notifying the parents. That afternoon, she had started to answer emails, when Viper called.

She stared down at her cell phone, not answering. A minute later, his text came in.

The meeting went well this morning. Tell you about it tonight.

Winter took a minute before responding.
I’ll be late. I’m going to stop to see my aunt before coming home.

All right. I’ll tell Cash. He can follow you to Aunt Shay’s. Then you can call when you get ready to leave, and he can come back
, he replied.

That works. I’ll see you tonight.

Love you
, he sent.

Winter didn’t answer his text, putting her phone back down on the desk.

She answered her emails, trying not to fall asleep. When she finished, she closed her computer down, thankful it was the end of the day. She talked to the students as they left, and after the building was empty, she was finally free to leave.

Cash followed her to her aunt’s home, waiting until her aunt opened the door before driving off.

“Winter, it’s good to see you.” Her aunt’s kind face had Winter wanting to break into tears.

“You lost weight, Aunt Shay,” she scolded, hugging her frail body close.

Her aunt stepped back, letting her inside. She limped along beside Winter as they made their way into her formal living room.

The house was huge. Shay could have found a smaller home, but she clung to the one she and her husband had bought and raised their daughter in. Both were now gone, including her granddaughter. Other than Winter, Shay only had a great-grandson left.

“Is something wrong? You usually stop by to see me on Saturdays.”

“Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to see you. I hope that’s okay.”

Beth checked on her once a day. She used to come just three days a week, but Winter hired her to work the whole week instead. Winter spent every Saturday afternoon with her, and Holly would bring her great-grandson, Logan, on Sundays. That way, she had someone with her every day.

“Of course. I’m always happy to see you.”

“Have you eaten today?”

“Yes, Beth made me some soup.” She smiled at Winter’s concern.

“Which I bet you didn’t eat.”

Her aunt grimaced. “I ate a little. My appetite isn’t what it used to be.”

“How about some chicken and dumplings?”

Aunt Shay’s face lit up. “I wouldn’t want to bother you.”

“It won’t be a bother. I can put it on the stove, and we can talk while it cooks.”

“I knew you were my favorite niece for a reason.”

“I’m your only niece.” Winter brushed a kiss on her pale cheek before she went into the kitchen.

Beth kept her aunt’s freezer stocked. Winter knew her favorite was chicken dumplings and made it for her every month, freezing it so Aunt Shay could have it when she wanted some.

Taking out one of the freezer bags, she saw last month’s supply hadn’t been touched. She had been so occupied with her marriage that she hadn’t noticed her aunt was slipping away.

Briskly, she made them both a salad then heated some pre-made mashed potatoes as she reheated the chicken and dumplings. She then returned to the living room and watched Shay’s favorite game show until their dinner was ready.

Winter set the table outside with the food and plates before calling her aunt. “Dinner’s ready.”

Shay came outside, taking a chair across from her. “I love sitting outside in the sun.”

“I know,” Winter said, as she made her a small plate.

As they ate, her aunt bragged about how big Logan was growing.

“How’s Holly doing?” Winter asked.

“Putting up with Greer. I don’t know how she tolerates that man.”

“Everyone in town agrees with you.”

Greer Porter didn’t have any friends. He had a habit of becoming involved with women who only used him for sex or the pot he boasted about growing.

“Greer is a terrible influence on my great-grandson. I told Holly that she and Logan should move in with me, but Dustin wants him to stay with him.”

As much as she disliked Greer, he was a good uncle, and Dustin couldn’t be faulted as a father. The Porters might be weed farmers, but they loved Logan, and they had saved the Last Riders more than once.

“Are you getting lonely here by yourself?”

Aunt Shay picked at her food. “A little, but it helps that Beth comes by every day. So does Holly.”

“I wished you would move closer to me. Viper offered to build you a small cottage behind the clubhouse.”

“I’m too old and grumpy to live next door to a houseful of men.”

“It’s not only men. You met all the female members. You would be right next door to me and Beth and her children,” Winter encouraged. “And you’re the least grumpy woman I know.”

Aunt Shay looked away, saying, “I’ll think about it.”

It was always the same answer, but Winter thought she saw indecision in her eyes this time.

“It would be hard to leave your home behind, especially with all the memories it holds, but you can make new memories,” Winter encouraged.

“They all are good.”