I watched Em out of the corner of my eye as I drove. She was staring out the window at the desert, apparently fascinated by the vast expanse of nothing. Either that or she just wouldn't look at or talk to me because she was p.i.s.sed off.

Still p.i.s.sed off, that was.

We'd been on the road for three hours, and the only time she'd said a word was when she needed a pit stop. It'd felt like a huge victory this morning when she'd agreed to ride with me-like getting a second chance. Now I was starting to worry it was just a ride, that she'd never talk to me again. That f.u.c.king hurt. Hurt in a way I'd never experienced before. Like real pain, physical pain.

I was starting to hate this romance s.h.i.t. Life is just so much d.a.m.ned easier when you don't feel anything.

I had to make it end.

Spotting an exit up ahead, I flipped on my turn signal.

"What's up?" she asked, turning to me and frowning.

"You'll see," I murmured. We pulled off the freeway and I turned onto the small, lonely road and started driving. A few minutes later we pa.s.sed behind a big hill littered with exposed rock formations and tumbleweeds. I slowed and shifted the truck into park, swiveling to face her. She stared straight ahead.

"Em," I started.

"I'm not ready to talk to you," she said. "Just keep driving. I don't know how I'll feel after the weekend, but I just want a break from you right now."

"You want to kick me in the b.a.l.l.s again?"

Christ, did those words just come out of my mouth?

Em looked at me. Finally.

"What is this, some kind of joke?" she demanded. "You think me kicking you will change what you did?"

I shook my head slowly.

"Nope, I know it won't change a thing," I said. "But it might make you feel a little better, at least it seemed to last time. If it does, that's good enough for me."

"I won't promise to forgive you."

"That's okay."

She narrowed her eyes.

"You're insane," she muttered, but I could see her softening, her mouth twitching. Thank f.u.c.k for that. "Kicking you in the nuts won't fix anything."

My b.a.l.l.s agreed one hundred percent.

"But you know what? Last time it really did make me feel better. Let's do it."

I swallowed, then opened the truck door and stepped outside slowly. Em climbed out, and we met in front of the truck. I spread my legs, crossed my arms, and waited.

"Close your eyes," Em said, her voice cold. Somehow that was worse, but I did it anyway. "And pull down your pants. Briefs, too."

"That's not part of the deal."

"Fine," she said. "I'll get back in the truck. Let's go."

I looked up at the sky and swallowed, wondering how I could care about someone so much and want to strangle her so badly at the same time. Then I unbuckled my pants and dropped them, closing my eyes. Nothing. She walked back to the truck and I heard her digging around.

"Do it," I growled. "I can't just stand here forever, waiting."

"If you insist. Are you ready?" she asked, her voice soft.

"f.u.c.king do it already, Em."

"Okay, get ready."

I heard a strange, popping noise, and then icy cold liquid sprayed my b.a.l.l.s and c.o.c.k.

"The f.u.c.k!" I yelled, jumping back and opening my eyes. Em stood in front of me, spraying me with a can of Diet c.o.ke in one hand. The other held her phone.

Pictures ... f.u.c.king karma, biting me on the a.s.s.

"Jesus Christ, you're a b.i.t.c.h!"

"And you're a d.i.c.k," she said sweetly, starting to laugh. The pop ran out, but that didn't stop her giggles. I grabbed my pants, jerking them back up as I stuffed my wet d.i.c.k back inside.

"What the f.u.c.k was that all about?"

"Payback," she said, eyes bright. "You got bested by a girl, and I have the video to prove it. C'mon, you have to admit that was better than what you had planned?"

I scowled.

"I don't know," I muttered. "Are you going to show the pictures to Skid?"

"What, don't like naked pictures floating around that you can't control? Wow, that must really suck. I wonder what that feels like?"

"You know d.a.m.ned well I'll lose face if they think I can't control my woman. It's not the same thing."

The instant I said it, I knew I'd f.u.c.ked up. Again. Christ, I should just crawl into a cave and die, it'd be more efficient.

"You want to try saying that a different way?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips. "Only this time, listen to your words very carefully in your head first. Then ask yourself whether you ever want me touching your p.e.n.i.s again."

"I'm a d.i.c.k," I said, raising a hand to run it through my hair. "This is not a secret. But I don't want to control you, Em. You know that. f.u.c.k."

"And I don't want to humiliate you in front of your brothers," she said seriously. "I just wanted you to feel a little of what I felt. At least I didn't lie to you about it."

"You're right," I said, shaking my head slowly. "I don't know what else to say, babe. You were right, I was wrong."

"That came out a lot better this time," she said, offering me a smile. Then her face grew serious. "You know, when I kicked you before, it felt d.a.m.ned good, but it's not like it changed anything. Am I supposed to torture you-just because I can-every time you screw up? I f.u.c.king love you, a.s.shole. I don't like seeing you in pain. That's why lying to me was so horrible in the first place."

I took a deep breath, overwhelmed. f.u.c.k, I hated s.h.i.t like this.

"I don't deserve you, babe. But this last night? It's like I died. If you forgive me, I swear to you-I swear-I will never knowingly do anything to hurt you again."

"Knowingly?" she asked, c.o.c.king a brow. "That's a pretty big loophole."

"Let's be honest here," I said, throwing it all out. "We both know I'm gonna f.u.c.k up. But I'm pretty sure I love you, Em."

Her breath caught.

"What did you just say?"

"I love you," I repeated, the words tasting strange in my mouth. "At least, I think I love you. I've never felt this way before, but I can't imagine caring about anyone more than this. I want to be with you, Emmy. h.e.l.l, I offered to let you kick my b.a.l.l.s just so you'd feel better. Doesn't that count for something?"

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms tight around my neck. I reached around her hesitantly, then pulled her close. Shallow man that I am, my c.o.c.k immediately hardened, despite the cold Diet c.o.ke shower.

"I love you, too," she whispered. "But I need to know one more thing."

"What?"

"Which picture did you keep?"

I stilled. Now there was a trick question. All of them were d.a.m.ning, but I had a feeling she'd hate the one I kept the most.

"The one of your a.s.s all covered with my j.i.z.z," I muttered, feeling like a bigger p.r.i.c.k than ever before in my life. "It's really hot, babe."

She started laughing into my shoulder, or at least I hoped to h.e.l.l she was laughing and not crying.

"Will you erase it?"

"Yes."

"Okay," she whispered. "I'll forgive you. This time. But you don't get another pa.s.s. No more lies. It's a deal breaker for me, Liam."

"f.u.c.kin' love my name comin' out of your mouth."

"I know," she said. "I have a present for you."

"Really?" I asked, pulling back to study her face. "What? c.r.a.p, that's the wrong question. Why?"

"Maybe because I love you. Or maybe because you shouldn't get out of this totally free and clear. So you have a choice ... reunion s.e.x-right here, right now-or you can keep that one special picture, so long as you never show it to anyone."

h.e.l.lfire. And I thought the last one was a trick question.

"Can we got back to the getting-kicked-in-the-b.a.l.l.s option instead?"

EM.

"I still can't believe you picked the photo," I grumbled.

"Maturity is all about delaying pleasure to improve your situation long term," Hunter said, grinning at me. "Love you, Em."

I rolled my eyes. He'd said it something like ten times now, and as much as I enjoyed hearing the words, I was starting to feel like maybe we needed a new topic of conversation.

It was getting dark outside, and we'd just pa.s.sed through Post Falls. A nasty, freezing rain had started as we drove through Spokane, slowing traffic. I saw at least four cars in the ditch along the way-I'd never admit it, but I was actually kind of glad Hunter was driving.

I was kind of glad we weren't fighting anymore, too.

Not only that, Kit had texted a couple times, talking about all the different foods she'd bought for our dinner tomorrow. We loved cooking together, and while it wasn't the same without Mom, I never felt closer to her than in the kitchen with my sister.

"You're sure you're okay with this?" I asked Hunter yet again. "I know it sounds like a joke, but Dad seriously has a history of shooting my boyfriends. He says it's an accident, but after the second attempt you start to wonder."

"Your other boyfriends weren't like me," he replied without a hint of concern. "The fact is, I'm with you and that's not gonna change. Picnic and I will come to an understanding. Don't worry about it."

I tried to picture how that might play out.

"If he asks you for six goats in exchange for me, you don't have to actually buy real goats. He'd probably take kegs instead."

Hunter snorted, then reached over, putting his hand on my knee.

"Don't worry about it, Em. You said you'd give me another shot, so trust me on this one. I've got it covered."

My phone rang. Dad.

"I swear to G.o.d, he can hear when I'm talking about him," I said, rolling my eyes as I answered the phone. "What's up?"

"Where are you?" he asked, voice tight. Well, c.r.a.p. This wasn't a friendly call to check up on us.

"We just pa.s.sed through Post Falls," I replied. "What's going on?"

"I need you to come straight to the Armory. We've got a situation. There's been another shooting, right here in Coeur d'Alene. We don't have proof, but one of the Jacks has been in town for the past week."

"Oh f.u.c.k ..."

"What is it?" Hunter asked.

"Shooting," I said, my voice terse.

"Give me the phone," he demanded.

"Stop talking," my dad ordered in my ear. "I'll explain things to him in a minute. You will not tell him what I'm about to say to you, though. This is important."

Oh my G.o.d. It was happening. Right here, right now ... Things were falling apart between the clubs. Was I going to have to choose? I peeked at Hunter out of the corner of my eyes and swallowed.