Lost (Book 6 of the Forbidden Series)

3

Her mouth felt dry, and her head was pounding when she rolled over the next morning. Kat slowly opened her eyes and looked around the crummy room she was in. For a moment she couldn’t recall where she was. She sat up and looked around her head throbbing from the night before. She saw her suitcase on the table and her shoes on the floor. She was in her room, but she couldn’t remember coming back. Her jeans were draped over the chair, and her key was on the table.

Kat pushed back the covers and looked at the clock. It was well into the afternoon. She had slept away the entire morning. She stood up and walked to the bathroom where she started the shower. Kat stripped off what little she was wearing and climbed into the shower, the hot water running down over her body. She opened her mouth and caught the water, then spit it out trying to banish the dryness of her mouth. Kat stood under the shower, her head resting against the wall with her eyes closed until the water became cold.

She felt terrible, her head hurt, and she still felt dizzy. She was so thirsty, and her stomach would not stop churning. She had woken up so many mornings like this and still every night she returned to the bottle drinking herself into oblivion. Liquor inflicted numbness. She didn’t want to feel anymore, didn’t want to think; she wanted to feel anything but grief and pain.

Kat turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. She dried off then opened her suitcase. She picked out a short pleated white cotton skirt and a black buttoned corset styled shirt with long silk sleeves. She pulled out a pair of sandal style heels that laced halfway up her calves. She used a towel to dry her hair then ran a brush through it and left it down. She was thankful for her sunglasses because the sun coming through the ugly orange curtains was already giving her a headache.

She packed her suitcase and took the key from the table. It was time to check out and move on. Kat opened the door stepping out into the afternoon light. Opening her trunk Kat tossed the suitcase inside. Shutting the trunk, she turned around and was startled by a man standing directly behind her. “Good lord!”

“Sorry darling, I didn’t mean to startle you.” He said offering her a charming smile. He was much taller than her with broad shoulders and narrow hips. He was dressed in worn, faded blue jeans which were torn at the knee and pulled down over heavy black leather riding boots. He wore a light grey shirt and an old leather jacket that was covered with a chain on the right shoulder and zippers everywhere. There were some picture and writing on the back, but she could not see it clearly from where she was standing.

He had long blond hair that dusted his shoulders under a black bandana that was tied around his head. His jaw was covered with a day’s growth, and his skin was tanned from being out in the sun. His bright blue eyes smiled at Kat as he looked down from his towering vantage point over her. He was very attractive in a rough and thuggish sort of way.

“Damn girl you look better every time I see you.”

She lowered her sunglasses and stared at him with disgust over the frame of her designer shades. “Do I know you?” She asked.

He chuckled. “Oh yes. Last night you were all over me, I even took you to bed.” He said in a thick southern drawl and a wink of his eye.

She highly doubted that, but he did seem familiar. “Where did we meet?”

He nodded his head toward the bar and smiled, and then he flipped a coin. “Douche bag remember?”

Suddenly it all came back to her. Kat remembered him talking to her at the bar. The only one clever enough to try and bet his way into her favour. Had she not already been in such a terrible mood due to the prior attempts of the other men it might have worked. Kat smirked, she remembered little else after that. “So, you and I went to bed together?” She asked skeptically.

“You find that hard to believe?” He asked with a wicked grin.

“Yes, I do.” She said pushing her sunglasses back on.

“And just why is that?”

Kat offered him a brazen smile. “Because you’re upright. If you had gone to bed with me, you wouldn’t have the strength to stand.”

His smile widened, she had to admit he had a certain appeal. “Something about you tells me you would be a wild ride.” He said leaning against the trunk of her car. “You’re right.” He confessed. “I just carried you to bed. You passed out in the parking lot last night.”

She felt her cheeks flush red with embarrassment. So many bad things could have happened and thanks to this man she had made it to her bed safely. “Thank you for that.” She owed him that much. “I didn’t mean to drink that much.”

“How about some lunch?” He suggested.

She smiled and shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I am leaving.”

“Oh, come on now. I carried you to bed and behaved the gentleman and everything. The least you could do is let me buy you lunch before you run off.” He said tilting his head like a begging pup. “It’s just lunch, in that diner across the street.” He said pointing to the small train like restaurant across the road. “We don’t even have to go too far.”

Kat looked around unsure about continuing their conversation. She really should get back on the road, but then again, she had no destination and no deadline to keep. It wouldn’t matter much if she stopped to eat with this man. After all, he had been kind enough to see her safely to her room last night. “Ok.” She finally agreed. Some lunch wouldn’t hurt, after all, she hadn’t eaten anything in days and she probably should. “Just lunch and then I’m leaving.” She informed him.

“Sounds fair.” He agreed standing up straight and walking with her toward the street. “You got a sweet ride back there.” He said referring to her expensive car.

“Well, it gets me around. What do you drive?” She asked. He turned around and pointed to the Harley Davidson parked two stalls over. She supposed she should have expected that. After all, she had met him in a biker bar, as the girl next door had called it. They headed toward the diner, and he had opened the door for her. A rather gentlemanly gesture for a rather ungentlemanly looking man. “So, are you what they call a weekend warrior?” She teased as they slipped into an empty booth by the window.

He laughed and took the plastic menus from the rack on the table. “Far from it baby, I’m the real deal.” He said proudly passing her one. “You got a thing against bikers?”

“I don’t know. I only know one guy that rode a bike, and he turned out to be alright.” She admitted. She still remembered the day Alexander had ridden up on his motorcycle. She could not believe her daughter was interested in such a troublesome looking man. She had been sure he was going to be trouble, but he had surprisingly turned out to be the best thing for Layla.

“Old boyfriend?” He asked hopefully.

“No.” She smiled dashing his hopes.

The waitress came over to take their order, her notepad in hand, loudly chewing a piece of gum like some cow munching on cud. He leaned back in his seat and rested his arm over the back of the booth. “Order whatever you want. My treat.”

“I’ll just have a cheeseburger.” She said still not sure how much she would be able to keep down. She would eat slowly.

“I’ll have the bacon burger and a beer. Bring the lady one too.” He ordered as the waitress walked away.

“I’m not a beer drinker,” Kat informed him.

“I noticed.” He grinned. “Tequila straight up, that’s hardcore; but this place sells beer. If you like I’ll buy you something stronger later.” He teased as the waitress brought two beer bottles to the table.

Kat laughed and accepted the bottle. “No thank you. I will nurse the beer.”

“So where are you from?”

“Here and there.” She said evasively. She was raised in Alberta but had spent the last twenty-two years living in New York with vacation homes in California, Florida, and Europe; with dual citizenship in both Canada and America. Of course, she didn’t feel the long-detailed explanation to be necessary in this particular case.

“I see. Got any family?”

“Don’t most people?”

He grinned eyeing her thoughtfully. “Are you single?”

Her heart ached at the reminder. She lifted the beer to her lips and drank down a large amount. She returned the bottle to the table and made a face; she disliked the taste of beer. “I am now.” She said bitterly. He eyed her thoughtfully and then the drink in her hand. She was thankful he did not press the subject further. “So, what do I call you?” She asked. “I assume douche bag is not your name?”

He grinned, and she couldn’t help but think he had a very attractive smile. “My name is Zeke. What’s your name?”

“Kat.” She answered feeling it was better to go with her nickname than to reveal her true identity.

“Like a feline?” He asked lifting a quizzical brow.

“K-A-T.” She corrected.

“I see. Has anybody ever told you that you look so much like that frontwoman for that rock band, what’s it called?” He said snapping his fingers to help him think. “Quick Shot. It’s uncanny, but she is a redhead.”

Kat smiled, uncanny if he only knew how right he was. She had led Quick Shot for years. Won tons of awards and had plenty of albums go triple platinum, but he didn’t need to know all that. “Is that how you come on to women, you tell them they look like superstars?”

Zeke shifted in his seat and leaned on the table. “Not at all. I usually don’t have to do too much to get a girl, but you are not like the girls that usually walk into the bar. You are a whole other calibre of woman. I have to admit to being a bit out of sorts with you.”

“Why is that?” She asked leaning into the table mirroring his movement.

“You confuse me. You seem classy and cultured, but you radiate this vibe that screams crazy-sexy-cool. It’s like you’re two sides to the same coin and at any given moment you never know which side you’re going to get.”

“You know all this from carrying me to my room last night?” Kat asked skeptically.

“No from talking to you this afternoon and from observing you last night. The way you dress. The way you carry yourself when you’re sober. The way you talk in circles so that you don’t have to answer any questions about yourself. Very aloof, mysterious, and sexy as hell.”

At that point, they both sat back as the waitress brought them their meals. “So, you have been watching me?” Kat asked, taking the ketchup bottle and hitting the bottom to pour it out on her plate. She already knew the answer. Every guy in that place had been watching her last night she had felt their eyes on her.

“I admit it was hard to take my eyes off you and that butterfly tattoo peeking out of your jeans.” Zeke teased. She picked up a fry dipping it in the ketchup, and he shook his head. “You don’t blush easily like the other women. I admire that.”

Kat had spent her whole life around players and womanizers. There was little that she could not handle while dealing with a man. “What would be the point? I don’t care what other people think.”

“Admirable.” He said impressed. “Most women are all about what people will think of them or say of them. It’s the way they sit there and fuss over their appearance or the man they are with, the car they ride in; it’s enough to drive a man nuts. No offence but looking the way you do I would have assumed you were a material girl.”

“So, because I have material wealth and take pride in my appearance you assume I’m obsessed with approval?” Kat took a sip of her beer relaxing back in her seat. “I don’t need anyone’s approval. I’ve worked very hard for the things I have. No one gave them to me. No man bought them for me.”

Zeke held up his hands as if giving himself up. “Oh, back up baby, I’m sorry, it was just a general observation. You are intelligent, independent, and accomplished.” He observed.

“Well then if we are basing our opinions on general observation let us shine the spotlight on you. You strut around here looking grungy, unshaven, and unkempt. Cruising around on a Harley and kicking it in rowdy bars. At first glance, you look very much like a thug. I think it would be a safe bet that you probably have a criminal record. Maybe nothing serious, probably a DUI, maybe an assault or two from some of your barroom brawls. I would also bet that being a hardcore biker that you and many of your friends probably take great pride in your records. After all isn’t that the whole point, to be bad?” She said with a slick smile. Zeke’s grin told Kat she was correct about him and she popped a fry in her mouth.

“I see you are good with observation as well,” Zeke noted.

“I have common sense. Something a lot of people today lack.” She said taking a bite from her burger.

“So, what brings you to Tennessee?” Zeke asked picking up his burger.

Kat put up her finger for him to be patient as she chewed and swallowed the mouthful she had. “I’m just passing through.”

“Where are you going?”

“Nowhere.” She could see the confusion in his face. “I just go, you know, to get away.”

“What are you getting away from?” Zeke asked.

“Myself,” Kat answered. “I don’t feel comfortable with such a personal topic,” Kat said hoping to change the subject. “Do you live here in Bartlett?”

“Yeah, actually just upstairs from your room.” He admitted.

“You live in the motel?” She asked a little surprised.

“Two years now.” Dear lord why would anyone spend two years living in a motel, especially one like this? The question must have shown on her face because Zeke then explained. “A lot of us staying there are long-term guests. Folks that are down on their luck. Very little money, some work three jobs. Got such bad credit history they can’t get a real apartment. Can’t afford a real apartment. Lots of us get stuck here, especially with this crummy economy. Some rooms got single moms with four kids crammed in there with two beds.”

It was tragic she thought. So many people down on their luck. “Why are you stuck here?” Kat asked curiously.

Zeke shrugged. “Got no better place to be. Besides a lot of my boys kick it around here.”

“How do you pay for your room?” Kat asked quizzically.

Zeke smirked at her and picked up his burger again. “We all have our secrets baby. You tell me yours, and I’ll tell you mine.” He teased knowing she would not reveal anything.

They continued their meal with idle chit-chat. Zeke was very pleasant, and Kat caught herself smiling more than once. They didn’t talk about anything in particular but still found lots to say, about movies, music, and bad TV programs. It had been the first time Kat had smiled in months.

They both ate slowly and ordered another beer drawing out their time together in that diner booth. Even after the waitress had brought them their bill, they had both sat there talking for another hour before Kat reached for the bill. Zeke’s hand quickly slid under hers and snatched up the bill before she could pick it up. He shook his finger at her like a father scolding a child. “Now-now, I said it was my treat.”

“At least let me pay my half.” She offered.

“I wouldn’t hear of it.” He said taking some money for his pocket. Zeke tossed the money on the table with the bill, scooted to the edge of the booth and stood up. Standing right in front of her at that level, she couldn’t help but noticed how fit he was. Zeke’s worn out jeans hugged his narrow hips and drew her attention to a part of his anatomy she had been without for some time.

Forcing the thought from her mind, Kat stood up and followed Zeke out of the diner. He held open the door, and once they were outside, she noticed that the sun had gone down. “What do you say I buy you a few drinks?” He offered, looking across the street to the bar where they had met the night before.

“First a long lunch and now drinks.” She smirked. Kat looked around at all the street lights coming on for the night. “I don’t know I really should have been on the road a long time ago.”

“What’s your rush? You said yourself you don’t have any place to be. One more night isn’t gonna kill you.” Zeke said as they crossed the street. “Besides forgive me for saying, but you look like you could use a little fun.” He said once they reached the other side.

Kat looked at her car. She was ready to go, but she had not checked out yet, so she was paying for another night anyway, she might as well stay and start fresh in the morning. She looked back at the bar; it was surrounded by Harleys. She could already hear the beat of the music booming through the walls of the bar. “I assume your buddies in there are going to get drunk and rowdy?”

“Sort of the point.” Zeke chuckled. “I will personally guarantee you have a good time, regardless of whatever stupid things they may do or say… and I do promise they will get stupid.” Zeke laughed. She couldn’t help but smile. He dipped his head, so his gaze held hers. Zeke’s blue eye smiled mischievously. “Come on Park Avenue, haven’t you ever wanted to get stupid?”

Kat was sure she was doing just that, but regardless she accepted his offer. “Alright, a few drinks sounds like fun.” Zeke grinned victoriously and took her by the hand he led Kat to the bar.

She was probably making a terrible mistake, but he was right, she was having fun for the first time in a long time, and she didn’t want it to end. Kat entered the bar with Zeke and like the night before all eyes were on her. Lusty men and jealous women. The kind of attention that would normally bother a normal person, but Kat lived a less than normal life. She had spent her life in the spotlight since she was very young. She was used to being watched, wanted, hated; it didn’t even faze her anymore.

The jukebox was spinning some upbeat tunes, and the place was hopping. Women were dancing. Some men were shooting pool or throwing darts. A few tables had been playing cards. She even noticed one table in the corner of the bar where a man was tattooing another’s back. Biker bars were a bit different from the trendy nightclubs she was used to, but the point was the same, to drink and have fun.

Zeke bought a bottle of whiskey and had the waitress leave it at the small table they had taken along with two shot glasses. They had only been in the bar for a few minutes when a group of people Zeke knew came by to say hello and harass him. Zeke introduced Kat to everyone, but she had forgotten most of their names right after he had said them.

They didn’t seem to mind they had a problem remembering her name too, so she didn’t feel so bad. They stuck around and started a drinking game. A music trivia game where they had to guess the title and artist of each song played. A game that Kat was winning by a landslide. Granted, she had an unfair advantage coming from a musical family, and having been in the business for so many years. She had met so many artists, collaborated with many of them; her husband’s label had even produced some of them, of course, nobody here knew that she just appeared clever.

Zeke put down his money and challenged a big guy with a long grey beard and a huge beer belly for the pool table. The two men seemed to know each other. Zeke seemed to know everyone there. Kat watched as Zeke played the game to win the table. The other man broke, but it didn’t take long for Zeke to clear the table. He even showed off with some trick shots that looked rather challenging. Her father had taught Kat how to shoot pool when she was a teenager, and over the years she had perfected her game playing against David, but she had never seen trick shots quite like Zeke’s.

Zeke had won the table and the money after which the other man wandered off grumbling and drinking his beer. He racked up the balls once more and handed her a stick. “Do you know how to play?” He asked.

“I’ve played a few games.” Kat smiled. “I can’t shoot like you though. Those trick shots are something else.” She said sliding off her chair coming to the table. Kat leaned over, lined up her shot, and broke. The balls scattered across the table with two falling into the corner pockets.

“It’s not so hard.” He said. “I could show you.” Zeke offered, propping his stick up against the table and coming to stand behind her. Zeke aligned his body with hers, his arms coming around her. He placed his hands over Kat’s positioning her hold on the stick. Zeke’s hard body pressed against her back as he leaned her over the table her bottom nestled snugly into him. His face beside hers Kat could feel Zeke’s warm breath on her neck as he spoke softly in her ear. “It’s all about the angles. The angle of the balls, the stick, the way you strike the cue ball. Don’t hold it so firmly.” He said getting her to loosen her grip on the stick. “A gentle touch is all you need. Just let it glide. Let it slide through your fingers.” He whispered against her ear erotically sending shivers of pleasure throughout her body.

Kat took her shot and the trick did not work, but she hardly noticed as Zeke’s hand moved from her hand down her wrist over her elbow and to her waist slowly travelling down her side and coming to rest on her hip. She felt him pull her back lightly so she could feel him pressed against her bottom. The sensation was distracting. “It didn’t work.” She whispered.

“Want to try again?” Zeke offered his lips against her ear. She was sure he knew what he was doing to her. There was no way she could concentrate with him behind her.

“I think this lesson is over,” Kat said clearing her throat and walking away to the other side of the table. She needed the distance between them.

Zeke stood up straight with a chuckle. “What a pity.” He said picking up his stick. “I suppose it is my turn?” Zeke walked around the table to select his shot. “What do you say we place a little wager on the game?”

“Money?” She asked.

“I was thinking something a little more desirable.”

“And what might that be?” Kat asked playfully, she had a pretty good idea as to where he was going with this, but she decided to play along.

“Well if you win what would you like?” He asked, offering her first choice.

She thought and then smiled. “You have to dance with me.

Zeke looked over at the dancefloor shaking his head. “I don’t dance.”

“I do.” She smirked. “Afraid you’ll lose?” She goaded him.

“I’m not afraid of anything.” Zeke corrected her.

“Then we have a deal?”

Zeke looked at her, and she could feel his eyes undressing her. “Ok, and if I win you owe me a kiss good-night. Not one of those cheap cheek pecks you’d give your brother either but a real kiss.” Kat did not reply; she was not entirely sure if kissing this man was a good idea. She had already drunk too much tonight and allowed him to get far too close. A kiss was risky. “Afraid you’ll lose?” He mocked her.

Kat smirked defiantly. “I have no intention of losing.”

“Then we have a deal?” He asked. She nodded, and without a second thought he selected his shot and leaned over the table. Zeke smiled up at her. “Watch and learn baby, this is how you win a bet.” He took his shot sinking three balls. Then another sinking two. In a matter of minutes, he had cleared the table without giving her the chance to shoot even once. All he had left was the eight ball. He called the corner pocket and took the shot. The ball bounced across all four sides of the table and struck the eight-ball sinking it in the pocket he had called. She couldn’t believe it; he had won the game. Zeke grinned triumphantly at her.

“You didn’t even let me shoot,” Kat complained.

“The best way to win.” He told her. “I had a lot riding on it.” Kat walked around the table returning the stick to the wall rack. She couldn’t believe she had lost so easily. She turned to face Zeke who was leaning on the table watching her with a cocky grin. “Come now don’t pout baby; it’s not that bad.”

“Easy for you to say you won.” She pointed out as she thrust her bottom lip out.

“You are too much,” Zeke smirked walking over placing his stick on the wall rack behind her, his towering body trapping her between him and the wall at her back. “Has any man ever said no to you?”

Her lips curled into an innocent smile as she batted her long lashes at him. “One tried, but in the end, I got my way.” She purred.

Zeke’s hand slid around Kat’s waist and pulled her hard against him. His lips hovered back and forth over her lips, and she was sure he was going to claim his kiss. He held her there suspended in time for a moment; the feel of their bodies pressed against each other was hypnotic. “Come on baby let’s dance.” He said surprising her. Zeke took Kat by the hand and dragged her out on the small dancefloor.

Kat laughed with excitement as he spun her around and drew her back into his arms. She hadn’t expected him to dance with her anyway. The music was loud and fast, and the dancefloor was mostly filled with drunken women and the odd guy trying to cop a feel. Between the whiskey and the music, Kat was having a blast. She didn’t even mind the fact that Zeke held her far too close, or that his hands wandered over her body. For the first time in a long time she was excited, enjoying herself, of course, it was probably the whiskey, but at this point, she didn’t care it felt great to be smiling again.

When the bartender called last call some of Zeke’s friends suggested they take the party elsewhere, but Zeke said he had other plans. They left the bar and said goodbye to the others. It got loud listening to all those engines rev up at once. They watched as each bike tore out of the parking lot one after the other. The drivers and their riders making noise as they took off in the night. “You guys sure are loud,” Kat said as they walked across the parking lot to her suite. “No consideration for those who might be sleeping.”

“Well, no one has ever accused us of being considerate.” Zeke laughed.

“A selfish lot of self-serving pleasure seekers,” Kat said stopping at her car; she would have to take her suitcase in again.

Zeke just laughed and backed her up against the car door. “Biker.” He reminded her.

“Yes, how could I forget?” She cued, staring up at him staring down at her. “I believe this is where we say good-night.”

“You seem to be forgetting one other crucial detail.” Zeke drawled in that lazy Tennessee accent that made her quiver. Zeke was bad news, and Kat knew it but he was sexy with his bad boy image, and Kat could not deny the attraction between them.

“Am I?” She asked innocently, pretending not to know what he meant.

“I believe there is still the matter of our wager to be settled. I believe I won and that means you owe me a kiss.” He reminded her.

“Did I agree to that?” Kat asked playfully. “That doesn’t sound like me at all.”

“Really? I distinctly remember you agreeing.”

“Oh yes. A peck on the cheek was it?”

Zeke’s lips curved in a boyish smile. “You need a reminder.” His lips captured hers in a soft kiss. At first, it was tender, timid as if testing her reaction. His tongue slid over her lips coaxing them open begging his access. Her head was spinning; she wasn’t sure if it was the whiskey or the kiss. Her lips parted, and Zeke’s tongue invaded her mouth tasting her. His kiss deepened as he leaned into Kat crushing her body between his and the car.

Zeke’s hands moved down her sides and came to rest on her hips pulling her closer against him so she could feel his growing arousal. He was long and thick, pressed firmly against her belly. The feel of him reminding Kat’s body of what it felt like to be touched by a man. That old familiar throbbing had begun to grow, and her breast ached to be touched. Kat couldn’t bear it anymore.