Lost (Book 6 of the Forbidden Series)

2

Bartlett Tennessee…

The sun was starting to go down when Kat reached the city limits of Bartlett Tennessee. She was so tired; she had slept so little the night before, as she did almost every night. A few minutes here and there. If she was lucky an hour would pass by before her restless body would wake her once more. She had been driving since the morning, stopping a few times to use the restroom and gas up.

She decided she was too exhausted to go on today. Kat needed to find herself a room for the night. She pulled off the freeway and followed the street signs that pointed to lodgings. She must have driven for fifteen minutes before she found a two-level motel. She pulled in to the parking lot and parked outside the office.

Stepping out of her car, Kat looked around. Some of the rooms had ratted plastic lawn chairs and children’s toys out front. The balcony of the second level had laundry hung out to dry. There was a young black woman with a baby on her hip watching Kat from the second floor.

Two children around the age of six chased each other across the parking lot pretending to be Cowboys and Indians. There were a few cars in the area, and quite a few motorcycles lined up around the bar in the motel parking lot. Kat went inside the office to book a room. She found the office empty and dirty. There was nothing behind the desk but a partly closed door. She rang the bell and waited. The door opened, and a young dark-haired woman came out of the room in the back. Her hair pulled up in a high ponytail with the odd flyaway strands on the sides and her tiny frame draped in a blue sundress. “Can I help you?”

“I want a room,” Kat said assuming her purpose for being there should have been obvious.

“For one?” The girl asked taking out some forms from behind the counter.

“Yes.”

“How long? We have nightly rates, weekly, and monthly?” The girl explained.

“Just the night,” Kat said she didn’t want to spend more time then she had to in this dive.

The young girl handed her the forms and a pen. “Just fill this out.” The girl studied Kat for a moment. “You look familiar.” She said.

“Yeah, I get that a lot,” Kat said indifferently, hoping the girl would leave it at that. She signed a false name, handed the papers back, and waited for the key. Kat paid the girl in cash, and then the girl handed her a room key. She left the office and got back into her car, looking around to figure out where her room was. Spotting it across the parking lot, she moved her car to the space in front of her room and got out. Then she locked the doors and retrieved her bag from the trunk.

Kat slipped her key into the lock and pushed open the heavy door. She went inside the small suite. Like the last one, there was a double bed that looked hard and uncomfortable with thin blankets. A mini fridge that was empty and a microwave that looked like it was twenty years older than her, and a small television with bent rabbit ears that only got four fuzzy channels.

There was a small kitchenette, but the stove did not look like it worked at all. She placed her bag on the small round table, and it began to wobble with one leg shorter than the others. Kat went into the washroom. There were one small towel and a face cloth. The mirror was cracked, and the toilet bowl was stained. The tub was ugly lime green with rust built up around the drain. The shower curtain was some flimsy see-through plastic thing being held up by plastic rings.

Kat turned on the sink tap and cupped her hands under the cold running water. She splashed her face with the cold water trying to refresh herself. She felt so weary, but not enough to sleep. She couldn’t spend another minute on the road, but it was still too early to try for bed. Kat stared at the blonde woman in the mirror. A stranger looked back at her. She needed a drink, she decided, remembering the bar across the parking lot.

Leaving her things where they were Kat took her key and placed it in the back pocket of her blue jeans. She left her room and stood just outside the door looking around the parking lot.

“Hi, you are my new neighbour?” A voice drew her attention. Kat looked over to her side and saw a woman with short chocolate coloured hair. She must have been somewhere in her thirties with a trim figure. She wore a short jean skirt and a blue tiny-T that exposed her belly. She was carrying a brown bag of groceries and offered Kat a friendly smile. “You’re just moving in, right?”

Kat shook her head. “Just for the night.” She said.

“That is what I said too, six months ago.” She chuckled shifting the bag in her arms and offering her hand in friendship. “The name is Debbie Munch.”

Kat took her hand and shook it hello. “Kat.”

“Kat…?” Debbie said, waiting for a last name.

“Just Kat.”

Debbie shrugged. “Like Madonna.” She grinned. “Don’t worry dear. There are lots of people here with secrets. No one will press you for yours.” She said taking her keys from her pocket and unlocking her door. “Would you like to come in and have a cup of lousy coffee?”

Kat shook her head. “No thanks. I was looking for something a little stronger than coffee.” She said nodding toward the bar.

“Oh, honey, a nice girl like you wouldn’t want to go in there,” Debbie warned her.

“Why is that?”

“That is a bikers’ bar.”

“They don’t allow women?” Kat asked wondering what exactly was to keep her out.

“Well no, they allow women, even encourage it. If I remember correctly I think ladies get cheap drinks, but only biker guys are allowed in. It’s a rough and rowdy crowd, not exactly the upper crust of the gentlemen’s world in there. A pretty thing like you would be eaten alive by those brutes.” Debbie warned.

Kat had plenty of experience with rowdy men and wild parties. Her entire life had been one long party. Besides, their liquor was as good as anyones. “I think I will take my chances.” She said saying goodbye to Debbie and walking across the parking lot. She reached the door and could hear the music playing from outside. The place sounded like it was already hopping. She reached for the door handle and pulling the door open Kat slipped inside.

***

Zeke Smith skillfully lined up his shot. If he made this combination shot, he had a chance at the eight ball and at taking the game. He took his time making sure the angle was just right, and then he took his shot. The balls cracked against each other and rolled across the table into their respective pockets. A cheer went up from his buddy and the two girls they had been drinking with. “Looks like I got this game in the bag, Hank.” He teased the big biker he was playing with.

Hank Roberson was a hefty man in his forties; his beefy arms were crossed in annoyance over his huge gut. The man’s girth could crush Zeke if he were to body chuck him. The man had to weigh as much as a refrigerator. “Not if you miss this shot you don’t.” He said his voice was rough and gravely.

“Fat chance my tubby friend,” Zeke smirked lining up his shot. He was just ready to shoot when some drunk fell into him bumping his arm and costing him the game.

Hank broke into a boisterous laugh and picked up the money from the table. “I believe that is my game.” He mocked counting his winnings as he walked away.

Furious Zeke tossed the stick he was holding on the pool table and turned around grabbing the drunkard that had fallen into him. “You clumsy jackass.” He barked grabbing him by his grimy lathered vest and giving the guy a hard shake. “You owe me two hundred dollars.” He demanded. He was ready to forcefully take the money the man had cost him when something had caught his eye.

She walked into the bar, and her very presence commanded attention. Long, lean legs and an ample round bottom. Tiny waist and curvy hips, looking like she had been poured into those stonewashed blue jeans. Her white tank top hugged her shapely body. Her belly was flat, and her breasts were perky and perfect. Long strawberry gold curls tumbled down her back almost reaching her bottom. She had creamy ivory skin… flawless. Full pouty red lips and the most incredible piercing green eyes Zeke had ever seen. She was impossible to miss. The eyes of every man in the room were on her. Indifferent to the attention she commanded she casually crossed the packed room and headed for the bar.

Jimmy Oak’s girl slapped him upside the head as he gave himself whiplash watching the blonde walk by. Zeke released the guy he had been threatening and watched the woman take a seat at the bar. He took the empty seat at the small table where he and his friends had settled for the night and picked up his beer. His eyes never once leaving the mysterious goddess at the bar. “Damn, look at that.” His buddy Seth Nickels whistled. “What a hot piece.”

“Why don’t you look at me like that?” His girlfriend Heather Platter complained fixing her dark hair as she stared into the tiny compact’s mirror in her hand.

“If you looked like that I would.” Seth teased.

“You’re a pig.” She growled. The boys both laughed and began to make pig sounds mocking her.

Zeke watched as both Frank Iker and Rob Jenkins made a pass at the woman at the bar. She shot both men down coldly. She seemed to be uninterested in socialization, or she had high standards, then again looking like that she had every right to, but she had walked into the wrong bar because the men in here were horny and didn’t like being turned down. They were not going to give up with a prize that looked like that. If she wasn’t careful, she could easily find herself getting passed around.

“I should try my hand at her,” Seth suggested putting down his drink.

“Hello, I’m right here.” Heather snapped.

“Blow off Heather.” He growled not caring two cents for her feelings.

“It’s you that is likely to get blown off,” Zeke said pointing at the bar. “Look she has shot down Frank, Rob, Keith, Snake, and Toby. The girl ain’t interested in a man. I bet she’s a lesbian.”

“What a shame. She came into the wrong place then. Ain’t no one gonna leave her be unless they think she’s taken.” Seth pointed out.

He was right. Zeke drank down the rest of his beer and got up from his chair. “I’m gonna give it a go.” He said.

“I got fifty bucks says she shoots you down.” Seth mocked.

Zeke strolled over to the bar. He wasn’t sure how he was going to get into her good graces when everyone else had been turned away. He leaned against the bar beside her resting on his elbow as he spoke to the bartender. “Beer.” He ordered and then turned to face her. She was even more magnificent up close. Her creamy skin begged to be touched; her lips screamed to be kissed. She was the type of woman a man could lose his mind over. He felt his c**k growing stiffer just standing beside her.

“Not interested.” She said without looking at him.

She had shot him down before he had even opened his mouth. He was not accustomed to rejection. It had been a long time since any woman had rejected him, but luckily, he was not one to give up so easily. “I haven’t said anything.”

“You were going to.” She said taking a large drink of what looked like a glass of straight tequila. Hard liquor straight up. This girl just got better and better. “Every one of you leather bound baboons that come over here have.”

“I’m sorry, have we offended you somehow?” Zeke asked.

“Some of you.” She snipped. He imagined that a few of the boys could be pretty crude, but when she walked into a bikers’ bar what did she expect? They were not all the most respectful law-abiding kind of fellows. They all came here for the same reasons, to get laid and rowdy.

“My apologies for my friends. Some of these boys don’t know how to talk to a woman of obvious class. Let me buy you a drink.” Zeke offered.

“I can buy my drinks, thank you.” She said giving him an annoyed glare, it was the first time she had looked at him and for a moment he thought he saw something in those incredible eyes as she quickly looked him over and then looked away.

In all truth, a woman like this was definitely out of his league, but he lived for pushing his limitations. Unlike her clean and well-groomed appearance, Zeke was grungy and clad from the top of his shaggy blond head to his dusty booted toes in ripped jeans and leather.

“Do you just not like men?” Zeke asked boldly.

“Oh, I see; a woman is uninterested, so she must be a lesbian? Couldn’t just be that she lacks any decent options.” She snipped looking over her shoulder at the bar behind her. So, she was into men, but she was also in a bad mood. Perhaps more booze would soothe her temper.

“Easy let’s retract the claws kitten.” He laughed.

“Don’t call me that!” She barked harshly. “I just came in for a drink.”

“Ok,, a drink it is,” Zeke said taking a quarter from his pocket and showing it to her. He offered her one of his winning smiles that usually bowled women over but seemed to have no effect on this particular woman. “What do you say we flip for it? Heads, you let me buy you a drink. Tails, I leave you be and go back to my friends looking like a douche bag.” He proposed.

She stared at him for a long moment and then to his surprise she agreed. Zeke flipped the coin and caught it in the air. He slammed it down on the bar and smiled at her once more. He then lifted his hand, and for the first time since he started talking to her, she smiled. Her smile was absolutely dazzling. “Douche bag it is.” She said turning away from him and lifting her drink to her lips once more. Never before had he wanted more to be a glass pressed to her full sensuous lips? Zeke had lost, and a promise was a promise. He needed a new trick, he thought, noticing a butterfly tattoo at the small of her back, playing peek-a-boo over the back of her jeans. God how he would love to see the other half of that pale blue bug.

As promised, Zeke picked up his beer and headed back to his table, where his friends were all laughing at his rejection. He sat in the corner of that table for the rest of the night watching her turning down guys left and right, ordering one drink after the next. She was getting pretty drunk drinking straight up.

At last call he watched her slip off her barstool and pause a moment trying to catch her balance. She slowly began to walk toward the door, and Zeke noticed Toby McNeil deciding to take another crack at her now that she was intoxicated. Toby was a big guy and slimy. He was known for his cruelty. He treated his women like animals and had been tossed from the bar more than once for fighting. The man had recently gotten out of prison for manslaughter. He had stabbed a man in a bar fight and done five years for it.

Toby had headed toward the door to head her off, and Zeke saw his way in. Knight in shining armour swooping in and rescuing her from the beast. He got up and rushed through the crowd reaching the woman before Toby. He had startled her, and she stumbled, but Zeke caught her and held her against him for stability.

“It’s ok sugar; I got you,” Zeke said keeping her from falling.

“Oh, dear thank you.” She said holding on to him, her breast pressed against his chest as she used his body as a crutch. “Have we met?” She slurred looking up at him through hooded lids.

“Yes, sugar we have. Douche bag remember?” She felt firm and soft all at the same time. Zeke laced his arm around her tiny waist and helped her from the bar walking her right past Toby who was now glaring daggers at him for intercepting. Zeke shrugged his shoulders and stuck out his tongue. By their rules, he had beaten Toby to her fair and square. Zeke helped her outside and the cool night air washed over them both. He assumed she was staying at the motel and walked her across the parking lot. “What room are you in darling?” Zeke asked doing his best to hold her up. It was a good thing that she was so small or it would have been a trial.

She tried to stand on her own, and she looked around, confused as if she were trying to recall which room was hers and couldn’t. “It’s…” She paused her finger up as if she was ready to point to the right door but she didn't see it. “Um…oh I need to sit down.” She sighed, leaning against a car and began to sink to the ground, her eyes closing.

If she fell asleep, he would never find out where she was going, and he certainly couldn’t leave a woman like her in the parking lot. Zeke slid his arms under hers and lifted her back up on her feet. “No sugar, wake up. What room is yours?”

She giggled and looked up at him. “You’re cute.” She purred nuzzling his neck and sending an excited shiver down his body. She was way too drunk even for him.

“I know baby.” Modesty wasn’t his strong point. “Come on which is your room?” She didn’t answer him this time. “Where is your key?” Her key would have the room number on it. Her head fell forward resting on his shoulder, and Zeke knew she had passed out.

Zeke groaned and decided he would have to search her. Holding her up with one arm he searched her pockets with his free hand. First the front two and then the back pockets. Her jeans were snug, and as he slid his hand in her back pockets, he felt her firm bottom in the palm of his hand. Damn, she was fine. It was only a shame she was unconscious.

He found her key and read the room number. It was three doors down. He bent over and lifted her over his shoulder to carry her down to her room. Zeke slipped her key in the door, and then the door to the room next to him opened up, and Debbie Munch stuck her nosy head out. She was one of many guests that had made the motel home in these hard times. She had come into the bar a few times, and he had seen her around. She was nice enough but a busybody.

“What are you doing with her?” She demanded, clutching her pink bathrobe shut.

“She passed out. I’m taking her home.” He answered. “Go back to bed.”

“You can’t go in there alone with her.” Debbie gasped with disapproval.

“Oh really?” He said with a cocky smile. “And I suppose you can carry her?” He mocked. “I’m just going to put her to bed.”

“And take advantage of her.” Debbie accused. “I know how you Fiends are.”

Her accusation aggravated him. Zeke knew that a lot of the other guys were known for doing such things, but he had never taken advantage of any woman. “I prefer a conscious partner.” He assured the nosy neighbour. Pushing the door open he went inside.

“If you take too long in there I’m going to call the police.” Debbie threatened as the door shut behind them. What an annoying woman. Zeke carried the unconscious beauty to the bed, and with one hand he pulled back the blankets. He then carefully placed his cargo on the bed. Her golden mane fanned out across the pillows. She looked peaceful laying there.

Zeke knelt on the bed and reached for her belt. He carefully undid the buckle and unzipped her jeans. Running his hand down her leg, he gripped the heel of her tanned runners and pulled off the first one dropping it to the floor and then did the same with the next. He then grabbed the waist of her jeans on either side of her hips and worked her pants down pulling them off. Underneath she wore white lace panties, and he felt himself grow hard at the sight of her long bare legs and tempting body.

Zeke hung the jeans over the chair at the table and pulled the blanket up around her, tucking her in for the night. As tempting as it was to stay, he didn’t feel like dealing with the cops this evening. He tossed her key on the table and headed for the door. Opening the door, Zeke stepped out into the night smiling at Debbie who was still glaring at him from her open door. He rolled his eyes at her and headed to the staircase walking up to the second level. Conveniently he too was a resident of this fine establishment, and as hard as she had made him, he needed the privacy of his room.